Thailand Travel Resource

Geography

Situated in the heart of Southeast Asia and as a gateway to Indochina, Thailand borders Lao PDR in the north and northeast; the Union of Myanmar in the north and west; Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand in the east and Malaysia in the south. Thailand covers a land area of 513,115 square kilometres, roughly the size of France and extends about 1,620 kilometres from north to south and 775 kilometres from east to west.

Climate and Weather

Thailand's climate is tropical, high both in temperature and humidity, and dominated by monsoons. April and May are the hottest months of the year, when even the locals are moved to complain about the heat. June sees the beginning of the South West Monsoon, and brings with it the rainy season, which continues intermittently until the end of October.
From November to the end of February the climate is much less trying with a cooling North East breeze and a reduction in the humidity level. This is also the main tourist season, and the best time to visit Thailand. The north and north-east are generally cooler than Bangkok in winter and hotter in summer. In the far north, around Mae Hong Son temperatures can occasionally drop as low as 2°C.

Population

Thailand's population is now 61.5 million and relatively homogeneous. More than 85% speak a dialect of Thai and share a common culture. This core population includes the central Thai (36% of the population), Thai-Lao (32%), northern Thai (8%), and southern Thai (8%). The language of the central Thai population is the language taught in schools and used in government. Several other small Thai-speaking groups include the Shan, Lue, and Phutai. The largest minorities are the Chinese (about 12% of the population) and the Malay-speaking Muslims of the south (3%). Other groups include the Khmer, the Mon (who are substantially assimilated with the Thai), and the Vietnamese. Smaller, predominantly mountain-dwelling tribes, such as the Hmong, Karen, and Mein, number about 500,000.

Transportation

Thai Airways - the domestic arm of big sister Thai International Airlines - operates an impressive route network throughout Thailand. An efficient rail system links major northern and northeastern towns with the capital, Bangkok. The Thai rail system is surprisingly good and even offers overnight services to many cities from Bangkok. A southern route allows the visitor to travel by train into Malaysia and Singapore. A modern highway system reaches into all corners of the kingdom. Domestic bus services offer fast means of travel while air-conditioned tour coaches offer more comfort. There are many boats plying the Chao Phraya River. Some criss-cross between landing on opposite banks while the Chao Phraya Express boats travel upstream and downstream of metropolitan Bangkok. Others serve the many landing stages on both banks and cover a route that goes up as far as the northern suburb of Nonthaburi. Visitors possessing valid International Driving Licenses may prefer to hire automobiles. English-language road signs and maps are commonplace. There are many international car hire companies such as Avis and Hertz operating in major cities and resorts like Pattaya, Hat Yai, Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Samui Island.

Top Attractions

1. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
2. Royal Grand Palace.
3. Royal Barges National Museum.
4. The Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho).
5. Jim Thompson's House.
6. Kanchanaburi.
7. Doi Suthep.

Best Travel Time

The best time to visit Thailand is in the cooler months from mid-October to March. The heat is at bay during these months, and there is very little rain. It is best to avoid travelling in the hot month of April.

Food and Drink

National specialties:
• Tom yam (a coconut-milk soup prepared with makroot leaves, ginger, lemon grass, prawns or chicken).
• Gang pet (hot ’red’ curry with coconut milk, herbs, garlic, chillies, shrimp paste, coriander and seasoning) served with rice.
• Pad Thai (stir-fried rice-noodles) served with shrimp or chicken garnished with peanuts.
• Desserts include salim (sweet noodles in coconut milk).
• Well worth trying is sticky rice and mangoes (rice cooked in coconut milk served with slices of mango). This is a favorite breakfast dish in the mango harvest season (March to May).

National drinks:
• Local whisky, Mekhong and rum SamSong are very popular.
• Singha and Singha Gold are locally made beers which dominate the domestic market.
• Coconut milk straight from the shell during the harvest season is particularly refreshing in the heat and humidity.

Local Products/Shopping

Thailand is one of the best places in Asia for bargain hunting and visitors will be spoilt for choice with the huge, glitzy shopping malls, department stores, small shops and bustling street markets. Both Bangkok and Chiang Mai have excellent night markets. Good buys include Thai silks and cottons, leather goods, batiks, silver and gold, pottery with celadon green glaze, precious and semiprecious stones (in particular rubies and sapphires are indigenous to Thailand), pearls, dolls, masks, painted umbrellas, lacquerware, pewterware, bamboo and wood artifacts and bronzeware. The weekend market at Chatuchuk in Bangkok is a regular cornucopia with hundreds of stalls stocking items ranging from genuine antiques to fighting fish. Tailor-made clothes are also good value and can be made in a matter of days, yet the standard is very high. Duty-free shops are located throughout the country and items can be purchased there and delivered to the airport in time for the departure flight. Value Added Tax (7%) can be refunded on goods bought in shops labelled ’VAT Refund for Tourists’, where there is a minimum transaction of ฿2,000 including VAT. VAT Refund Application for Tourists forms are completed at the time of purchase and it is necessary to show one’s passport. Cash refunds (minimum ฿5,000) can be obtained in the airport departure hall and often the goods purchased must also be shown.

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