Travellers, upon arrival in this land, are safe from the turmoil of life. Even in Bangkok, the Thai uniqueness in its food, architecture language, customs and religion enliven and pleases the senses. Awary from Bangkok, at the pristine sandy beaches and emerald seas in the south, or in the northern mountains you drowse your days away in a long deep dream of peace. the past is a forgotten thing, the present is heaven, and the future you can leave to take care of itself.

The people inhbiting Thailand today share a rich ethnic diversity mainly theai, Mon, Khmer, Laotian, Chinese, Malay, Persian and Indian. Thai culture is evident everywhere in the Kingdom: in Buddhist rites which tack place in numerous Thai temples, the succession of festivals that occur through out the year, and the country markets where locals haggle, politely, ofr everything from food to clothing.

For travellers, Thailand is the only gateway in which to experience the special life of Southeast Asia Due to the fact that the country has never been conquered, the Thai in dividuality blooms and remains vbrant . When your journey is over, the Kingdom will leave you with the desire to return again and again, as the smells, sights, and momnories of a land and people remain indelible in your thoughts, for Thailand is a feast that you will always carry with you.take

LANDSCAPE Thailand is divided into four main regions detailed below:


Central Plains : Twenty - four provices make up Central Thailand with Bangkok as its center. Therain-fed network of rivers and canals mades this the most fertile part of Thailand, supporting vast fields of rice, sugar cane, pineapples and other fruit. Some of the oldest settlements are found here along with some of the most dazzling temples, day and night markets, and historical ruins.

GOVERNMENT

The government of Thailand is a Constitutional Monarchy inspired by the British democratic model. National polls elect the 500-member House of Representatives and the Prime Minister every four years, and the 200-member Senate every six years. The national voting age is 18.

THE MONARCHY

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the ninth king ot the Chakri Dynastry, which was founded in 1782 by King Rama I. His Majestry King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, is the longest reigning king in Thai history . Though Thailand'spolitical system is officially classified as a constitutional monachy, the Thai constitution states that the king be

HOLIDAY & FESTIVALS

Thailand has a large number of festivals and holidays. Exact dates for festivals may vary from year to year, either because of the lunar calendar, which is not synchronized with the solar calendar, or because local authorities decide to change festival dates.

The Tourism Authorityof Thailand publishes an up-to-date Major Events and Festivals Calendar each year.

The following are just a few of the major holidays and festivels in Thailand.

HISTORY

The earliest archaeological sings of human habitation in Thailand can be found in the northeast hamlets of Ban Chiang and Ban Prasat where evidence of rice cultivation dates back 4000 BC (China by contrast was growing and consuming millet at the time) Thailand is also credited for fostering the world's earliest Bronze Age cicilization during this period.

Over the next several thousand years, tree major groupsof people migrated south from China into present day Thailand-the Mon, the Khmer and the Thai. The Mon Settled in present day Myanmar, the Khmer in present day Cambodia, and the this by 1200 had established dominance in three northern Thailand states, Lanna, Sukhothai and Phayao.

Sukhuthai (Dawn of Happiness) is regarded as the first truly independent Thai state and the birthplace of Thai culture. The Sukhothai era, which declared its independent in 1238, saw the Thai's gradual expansion throughout the entire Chao Phraya River basin, the establishment of theravada Buddhism as the domonant religion, the creation of the Thai alphabet and the first true Thai art forms in cluding painting, music, architecture and literature.

Dering Ayutthaya's 417 years of prominence, the Thais brought their distinctive culture to fruition, ridding their lands of Khmer presence and fostering contact with Arabian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese and European powers, especially Portugal and Holland.

Ayutthaya's destruction in 1767 by the Burmese was a severe blow to the Thais. However, Burmese could not maintain control of the Kingdom. In 1769, King Taksin , ruling from the new capital in Thon Buri, on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, regained control of the Kingdom.

Two Chakri monarchs. King Mongkut (Rama IV), who reigned between 1851 and 1869 and his son King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), who reigned from 1869 to 1910, saved Thailand from Western colonzation through brilliant diplomacy and selective modernization. It is lrgely due to these two Monarchs that Thailand was able to retain dominance over its own destiny without the interference of foreign powers.

RELIGION

Theravada Buddhism, a descendant frm Dvaravati Buddhism of the 10th Century, is the professed religion of more than 95 percent of all This, and casts a strong influence on daily life. Thailand is the only ountry on the planet successfully incorporate this form of Buddhism into its legal and moral structure.

Besides molding morality, providing social cohesion and offering spirtual support, Buddhism has provided anincomeparable artistic foundation .As Christianity influenced medieval European cathedrals, Thailand's Buddhism has inspired innumberable artistic multi-roofed temples to honor Lord Buddha.

Another reason for Buddhism's strength is that Thai Buddhist families seriously study Buddha's teachings. It has long been a custom for Buddhist males over the age of 20 to be ordained for a period ranging from five days to three months. This usually occurs durring the annual Rain Retreat, a three-month preriod during the rainy season when all monks forego travel and remain within their temples.

Besides sustaining monastic communit ies, Thai temples have tradittionally served other purposes, such as the village shelter, village news center, employment information center, school, hospital, dispensary and community center. This gives Thai temples vital roles in Thai society.

The Thais respect all religions. Thus, sizeable minorities of Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs freely practice their respective faiths in Thailand, under the King's patronage.

LANGUAGE

Spoken and written Thai remain largely in comprehensible to the casual visitor, as it stands alone from al other forms of dialect. However, English is widely understood in most tourist areas, particularly Bangkok, Chiangmai, Pattaya and Phuket where it is an important language for commerce. English is sporken in most hotels, shops, restaurants, banks, international offices and car rental offices in major destinations. Road sings throughout the country are in both Thai and English.

CLIMATE

The Kingdom of Thailand enjoys one of the most pleasurable tropical climates in the world wiht three distinct seasons :

Summer Season from March through May brings hot and dry weather throughout Thailand with temperature averaging 28 Celsius to 33 Celsius.