GETTING TO KNOW THAILAND

Source: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/academics/life-at-cu/getting-to-know-thailand/ Parent: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/academics/programs/international-programs/

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GETTING TO KNOW THAILAND

GETTING TO KNOW THAILAND

Name:

Thailand (or Pra-Thet-Thai : ประเทศไทย , in Thai meaning “Land of the Free”)

Head of State:

H.M. Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun (Rama X of the Chakri Dynasty)

Capital:

Bangkok (or Krung Thep: กรุงเทพฯ, meaning “City of Angels”)

Thailand is governed by a constitutional monarchy with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, or the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty, as the current Head of State. The King has reigned for more than half a century, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch. Thailand embraces a rich diversity of cultures and traditions. With its proud history, tropical climate and renowned hospitality, the Kingdom is a never-ending source of fascination and pleasure for international visitors.

Geography:

The Kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, making it a natural gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and southern China. It is divided into four geographical regions: mountains and forests in the North; vast rice fields in the Central Plains; semi-arid farm lands in the Northeastern plateau and the tropical islands and long coastlines of the Southern Peninsula.

The country consists of 77 provinces that are further divided into districts, sub-districts and villages. Bangkok is the capital city and the center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities. It is also the seat of Thailand’s revered Royal Family, with His Majesty the King recognised as the Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, the Upholder of the Buddhist religion and the Upholder of all religions.

Neighboring countries:

1. Myanmar – west and north
2. Lao P.D.R. – north and northeast
3. Cambodia – southeast
4. Malaysia – south

Area:

513,115 sq. km. (198,115 sq. mi)

Population:

Thais are well-known for their friendliness and hospitality. A large majority of the over 68 million citizens of Thailand are ethic Thai, along with strong communities whose ethnic origins lie in China, India and elsewhere. About 8-10 million people reside in the capital city of Bangkok.

People:

Thai (80%), Chinese (10%), Malay (3%), and the rest are minorities (Mon, Khmer, hill-tribes). Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area has historically been a migratory crossroads and has thus produced a degree of ethnic diversity. However, cultural and social integration has brought about unity of this diversity.

Language:

Spoken and written Thai can be incomprehensible to temporary visitors; however, English is widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is used as the means of communication with foreigners. English and some European Languages are spoken in most hotels, shops and restaurants in major tourist destinations and Thai-English road and street signs are found nationwide.

The Monarchy:

The Monarchy is regarded as the central unifying element in the triad of the nation, kingship and religion. The Thai people maintain a deep respect for their Royal Family, and a visitor should also be careful to show respect for the King, Queen, and Royal Children.

*Here is some advice:*Avoid doing anything that is considered by the Thais as disrespectful to the monarchy; for example, criticizing or making sarcastic remarks about the Royal Family, damaging their images that are displayed in public places or failing to rise when the Royal or national anthem is played.

Religion:

Buddhism (95%), Muslim (4%), others (1%)

Government and Administration:

Thailand has been governed by a constitutional monarchy since 1932. The Parliament is composed of 2 houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

National Flag:

The red, white and blue stripes symbolise the nation, religion and monarchy, respectively.

Time:

The time in Thailand is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+7 hours GMT).

Climate:

Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons – hot and dry from February to May (average temperature 34 degrees Celsius and 75% humidity); rainy with plenty of sunshine from June to October (average day temperature 29 degrees Celsius and 87% humidity); and cool from November to January (temperatures ranging from 32 degrees Celsius to below 20 degrees Celsius with a drop in humidity). Much lower temperatures are experienced in the North and the Northeast at night.  The South has a tropical rainforest climate with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius almost all year round.

Currency:

The baht (Thai: บาท, sign: ฿; code: THB) is the currency of Thailand. It is subdivided into 100 satang (สตางค์). The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand.

Electricity:

The electric current is 220 volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. Plug adapter kits should be used with items, such as electric shavers, hair dryers, tape recorders and other appliances.

Tap water:

The tap water is clean but for drinking, bottled water is recommended,

Clothing:

Light, cool clothes are sensible and a jacket is needed for formal activities/events. Shorts (except knee length shorts), sleeveless shirts, tank tops and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate when not actually at the beach or in a resort area. Neat attire is required when entering temples or palaces.

Weights & Measures:

The metric system is used throughout Thailand. Numerals on vehicle speedometers, highway markers and speed limits are all metric.

Telephone Services:

At present, home telephone numbers (for local calls and long distance calls within the country) have nine digits, while mobile phone numbers have 10 digits.

• For Bangkok calls, the code is 02 followed by XXX XXXX.
• For provincial calls, an area code is added to the existing numbers. For example, the area code for Chiang Mai is 053 = 0 53XX XXXX; the area code for Phuket is 076 = 0 76XX XXXX.
• For mobile phones, 08 or 06 are added to the existing numbers, for an example, 08 XXXX XXXX.
• The new system has no effect on international phone calls.
• The international dialing code for Thailand is 66.
• When making international calls to Thailand, dial 66 and omit the leading 0.
• When making international calls from Thailand, first dial 001+country code+area code+telephone number.
• For calling Laos or Malaysia, there is a special code which is charged at a semi-domestic rate.
• When calling Laos, first dial 007+856+area code+telephone number.
• When calling Malaysia, first dial 09+06+area code+telephone number.
• Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100 (international).

Emergency Telephone Numbers:

• Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 191
• Highway Patrol : 1193
• Crime Suppression : 195 or 0-2513 3844
• Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken) : 1155
• Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Call Center : 1672
• Immigration Bureau : 0-2287 3101-10

Thai Public Holidays:

The vocabulary of academic ranks:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Line

The sense of kinship and warmth found in the Chula community is priceless and a treasure worth keeping.

Prof. Dr. Pornanong Aramwit Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University