Thailand: East Asian Country with Longest Reigning Monarch

In the 6th century Thais were the first to settled in Thailand, former Siam. By the end of the 13th century Thais ruled most of the western portion of Siam. During the next 400 years Thais fought intermittently with the Cambodians to the east and the Burmese to the west. In the second half of 14th century the small kingdoms of Thailand unified and became the Thai kingdom. In 1824 The British gained control over the Thailand but soon in 1896 an Anglo-French agreement made Thailand an independent nation. During 1932 bloodless revolution constitutional monarchy was established in Thailand, which still survives till today and Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the longest reigning monarch in the world.

Thailand Profile: Overview of Facts and Figures

· National Name: Kingdom of Thailand
· Capital: Bangkok
· Total area: 513,115 sq km (198,115 sq miles)
· Population: 64.3 million (UN, 2008)
· Currency: Baht
· Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
· Ethnicity/ Races: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
· Religion: Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)
· GDP (Per Capita): $8,700 (2008 est.)
· Life Expectancy: Male: 70.51 years, Female: 75.27 years (2008 est.)
· Literacy Rate: Male: 94.9%, Female: 90.5% (2000 census)

Geographical Information on Thailand:
Thailand is located in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Laos and Myanmar from the North, Laos and Cambodia from the east, Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia from the south, Andaman Sea and Myanmar from the west.

The climate of Thailand is very hot, particularly between March and May. The monsoon season is from June to October but the climate is still hot and humid even with torrential rains.

Culture, Cuisine and Tradition of Thailand:
The theology of Theravada Buddhism is central to Thailand culture. In the southernmost parts of Thailand Islam is prevalent and followings and practices of Islam dominate the life of the Siamese people. Khon is the masked drama evolved in the royal court of Siam and its roots lies in folk dances of the countryside. Through this dance one can see the glimpses of historical and cultural legacy of Thailand. The woodwork, sculpture, murals, pottery, bronze works are the popular handicrafts of Thailand.

Thai is one of the world's most exciting cuisines because of fine blend of by soups and noodle dishes from China, curries from India and satays from Indonesia. Rice is a common ingredient of Thai cuisine and it is also made with pasta recipes as well. In fact pasta in Thailand are made with rice, beans or eggs. Rice, fish, vegetables and herbs are prominently used in the Thai cuisine and meat is less used.

Economy of Thailand:
The economy of Thailand is export-dependent. The export of goods and services contributes more than 70% to the national income. Thailand diversified its manufacturing sector and became the leading producer of computers and electronics, furniture, wood products, canned food, toys, plastic products, gems, and jewelry. High-technology products such as integrated circuits and parts, hard disc drives, electrical appliances, vehicles, and vehicle parts.

Tourist Attractions of Thailand:
Thailand is a popular tourist destination and offers numerous attractions along with world-class facilities

Bangkok: is the capital of Thailand and one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the whole Asian continent.

Ko Samui: is a beautiful island located in southeastern Thailand. It is famous for its beautiful green coconut plantations and palm lined beaches.

Major Sight-seeing Places in Thailand include:

· Chiang Mai
· Ayuthaya Historical Park
· Phuket
· Krabi
· Koh Chang

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