BIEN VENUE A LA THAILANDE
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A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th.
Century. Known as Siam
until 1939 , Thailand is the only.
Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by the
European power. The bloodless coup of 1932 brought an end to absolute
monarchy in Siam and
six years later the country changed its name to Thailand. However, despite
the introduction of constitutional monarchy, Thailand struggled for many
years to remain constitutional, with power slipping backwards and
forwards from the hands of corruptly elected politicians to military
strongmen for the next sixty years. It has only been in the last few
years that the government has been under complete and continuous civilian
control and, with the introduction of the new constitution in 1997, Thailand
is finally a fully functioning democracy
Thailand
is an extraordinary country of contrasts and surprises with glittering
temples, tropical forests, idyllic beaches, modern shopping malls and
friendly hospitable people.
From the high mountains in the north, to the
soft sand beaches in the south, the scenery will take your breath away.
Jungle covered mountains, deep mist covered valleys, island seascapes,
beaches and coral reefs, all part of Thailand’s rich tapestry.
And, it’s easy to get around.
Nestled between Laos,
Burma and Cambodia in the north, and bordering with Malaysia
in the south. Major northern cities are Chiang Mai and Khon Khen.
In-between the north and south is a long coastline lapped by the Andaman
Sea to the west (with Phuket, Krabi Phi Phi) and the Gulf of Thailand to
the east (Ko Samui, Pattaya, Ko Samet ).
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Official name:
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Kingdom of Thailand
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Area :
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514,000 sq.km.
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Capital :
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Bangkok (Krung Thep
in Thai)
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Administration:
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76 provinces
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Population :
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62 Million
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Government:
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Constitutional monarchy
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Ethnic groups:
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Thai 75% , Chinese 14% , Other 11%
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Location :
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Southeastern Asia . Sharing border with Myanmar to the North-West
, with Lao to the North-East and Cambodia
to the East and with Andaman sea and Gulf of Thailand
to the South.
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Language
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Thai (official),
English (business)
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Climate :
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Tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest
monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to
mid-March); Southern isthmus always hot and humid
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Local Time
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GMT +7
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Religion
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Buddhism 95%,
Muslim 3.8% , Other 1.2%
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Business Hours
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Monday-Friday;
9.30 am-3.30 pm (Banks),
9.00 am-5.00 pm (Businesses),
10.00 am-9.00 pm (Most department stores)
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Currency
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Thai baht
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Electricity supply
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220V, 50Hz
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Nightlife
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Bangkok's colourful nightlife is
generally safe, but avoid seedy bars and
live-show joints where drinks may turn out to cost more than one thinks.
The Thai Dinner with Classical Dances is a popular evening tour. Large
hotels usually offer their own entertainment.
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Tipping
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It is customary
to tip porters and hotel personnel who have given good personal service.
A 10%-15% tip is appreciated in restaurants, particularly where service
charge does not apply.
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Many of Thailand's annual events are
determined by the lunar calendar, so dates change from year to year, this
is particularly true of religious holidays. However, most
larger shops no longer close for public holidays, although some
smaller retail outlets and family shops close for Chinese New Year and
Songkran.
Provinces have their own
festivals in celebration of local harvests of the seasonal crops.
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Festivals & Events
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January
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Chiang Mai Winter
Fair
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Beauty pageants
boxing competitions, stalls selling a range of locally made goods and
very loud music make this an exciting, if unsophisticated, event.
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February
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Chiang
Mai Flower Festival
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More
beauty contests, handicraft sales, flower displays and a parade of
beautifully decorated floats take to the streets as Chiang Mai residents
celebrate the blooming of nature. Representing the day the Buddha was
born, the day He attained Enlightenment, and the day of His passing, this
festival falls on the day of the full moon of Kason in the Myanmar
calendar, in early May. Visits are made to pagodas to water the sacred Bo
Trees - under which species the Buddha is said to have attained
Enlightenment.
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Phra Buddhabat
Festival
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The Shrine of the
Holy Footprint near Saraburi draws Buddhists from all over the country to
make merit.
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March
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Asean Barred Ground
Dove Festival
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Dove-lovers from
across Thailand, and neighboring countries congregate at Khwan Muang
Park, in Yala Province,
to display their prize doves and take part in the dove-cooing
competition, which usually involves more than 1,400 participants.
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April
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Songkran
Festival
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This
is the traditional Thai New Year and usually falls around the middle of
the month. It is a time for local people to pay homage to Buddha images,
clean their homes, and sprinkle water on their elders in a show of
respect. This has developed in recent years into open water warfare, with
everything from hoses to ten gallon tubs used to guarantee a thorough
soaking of the target. This is particularly popular in the tourist areas
of Khao San Road, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai. The latter
also holds colourful parades and religious ceremonies.
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Pattaya Festival
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Usually a week after
the Songkran festivities in Bangkok,
this is a riotous celebration with parades, floats, beauty contests, food
festivals, and a spectacular fireworks display.
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May
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Royal
Ploughing Ceremony
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Presided
over by the King and Queen at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, this ancient Brahmin festival
marks the beginning of the rice-planting season. Predictions are made
about weather and harvests for the coming year on the basis of which of
the selected foods the sacred cows choose.
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Visakha Bucha
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Marked by night-time
processions of worshippers around almost every temple in the kingdom,
this festival celebrates the birth, enlightenment and passing of Lord
Buddha.
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Yasothon
Rocket Festival
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Villagers
from the poor northeastern province
of Yasothon compete
with each other to make the biggest, most explosive bamboo rockets during
this annual rainmaking festival. Prizes are awarded for the rocket that
reaches the highest trajectory.
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June
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Phi Ta Khon Festival
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Another rainmaking
festival, this one for the northeastern province of Loei,
though not quite so explosive. Local people parade in the streets in
highly decorated ghost masks and costumes.
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July
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Asalaha
Bucha Day
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Commemorating
the Buddha's first sermon, this also marks the beginning of Khao Pansa, a
period of three months during which monks must remain in their temples
and strictly observe their religious duties. This is also a popular time
for young Thai men to enter the monkhood for a short peiod.
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Candle Festival
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Coinciding with
Asalaha Bucha, this festival sees the streets of Ubon Ratchathani filled
with processions of huge, beautifully carved beeswax candles, some of
them several metres tall, that are to be
presented to local temples.
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August
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Birthday of Her
Majesty the Queen
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Also marking
Mother's Day in Thailand,
the 12th of August see the towns and villages of the country festively
decorated with lights and portraits of the Queen
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September
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Phichit Boat Races
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Though boat races
take place in several towns along the Mekong
River in September, the
spectacular annual rowing regatta in Phichit takes place on the Nan River, which runs through the
provincial capital. Low-slung wooden boats rowed with great gusto to the
hearty cheers of spectators make this an exciting day at the races.
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October
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Chulalongkorn
Day
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Commemorating
the death of King Rama V on the 23rd of October. The memory of this much
beloved king is honoured with thousands of wreaths laid at his Equestrian
Statue at the Royal
Plaza.
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Awk Pansa
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To mark the end of
the Buddhist Rains Retreat (Khao Pansa), monks at temples throughout the
country are presented with robes and other utility items by merit-makers.
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Vegetarian
Festival
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This
ten day Chinese festival in Phuket has become world-famous for the gory
pictures of people impaling their faces and bodies with everything from
swords, spears and even fish. Apparently unable to feel pain and in a
trance-like state, these people of Chinese ancestry parade in the streets
with the various arrays of sharp objects still protruding from their
flesh. A little less gory are the beauty pageants, fairs and food stalls
that line the streets of Phuket town.
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Wax Castle Festival
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The end of Buddhist
Lent is marked by the people in the northeast of Thailand with the creation of
miniature beeswax Buddhist temples and shrines. These "wax
castles" help them to gain merit, which will determine their future
rebirth. Sakon Nakhon has one of the most spectacular festivals with a
grand wax procession, boat races and traditional northeastern cultural
performances.
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Chon
Buri Buffalo Races
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A
chance for buffalos to do more than just plough fields as they compete in
races and contests pitting the strength of man against that of his
faithful farm animal.
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November
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Loy Krathong
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River spirits are
placated for another year with gifts of Krathongs floated on rivers,
canals and lakes on the night of the full moon. Made of banana leaves,
and decorated with incense and candles, thousands of these beautiful
boats light up the night. The most beautiful sights are at the Bang Sai
Arts & Crafts Centre near Ayutthaya,
and in the ruins of Sukhothai, the first Thai capital, where the festival
is supposed to have originated.
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Surin
Elephant Roundup
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With
tug-o-wars, demonstrations of logging skills, ancient warfare parades,
and even games of football, the elephants of Surin entertain the crowds
of visitors to this north eastern town.
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River Kwai
Bridge Week
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The River Kwai
bridge, in Kanchanaburi, is the setting for this week-long festival, from
November 21 to December 2, featuring spectacular sound and light
performances on the bridge, archaeological and historical exhibitions,
and vintage train rides.
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Golden
Mount Festival
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A
major Bangkok
festival with colourful sideshows, food stalls,
music and entertainment. The Golden Mount comes alive with flickering
lights after dark, as a candle-lit procession winds its way to the top.
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Illuminated Boat
Procession
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Elaborately adorned
boats containing merit-making offerings are set adrift at nightfall along
the banks of the Mekong at Nakhon
Phanom. This dazzling event marks the end of the Buddhist Lent.
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December
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Birthday of His
Majesty the King
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Flags, lights and
portraits of His Majesty the King adorn the streets and building of every
town and village on the 5th and the occasion is marked by a huge and
spectacular fireworks display near the Grand Palace.
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Trooping
of the Colours
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This
colourful parade of the armed forces in full dress uniform at the Royal Plaza is to confirm their allegiance
to the King and country.
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Phuket King's Cup
Regatta
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Southeast Asia's
leading regatta, held in the waters off the island of Phuket
and starting on the first Saturday of the month. Competitors come from
around the world to take part in this annual event.
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Ayutthaya Festival
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Designated
a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991, this former capital city
celebrates its glorious past with historical exhibitions, traditional
cultural processions and performances, light & sound presentations
around city ruins, and many other forms of entertainment.
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Chiang Mai Food
Festival
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Celebrating the
northern capital's great cuisine, with local specialities, fruit carving
demonstrations, and cultural shows.
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