The Kingdom of Thailand cover an area of 514,000 square kilometers . Its shape and geography divide into four natural regions : the mountains and forests of the North; the vast rice fields of the Central Plains; the semi-arid farm lands of the Northeast plateau; and the tropical islands and long beautiful coastline of the peninsula South.
The country comprises 76 provinces that are further divided into districts, sub-districts and villages. Bangkok is the capital city and center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities.
Thailand is one of the most renowned healthcare providers in the region. It's not only because of the doctors' qualifications and qualities but it also due to the facilities, personnel and overall infrastructure. The government had created the policies and set up the organization to support the International Medical Hub in Thailand. Thailand is now number one in the region in medical tourism. We had 1.5 million foreign patients visiting Thailand each year which equal to US$ 2000 million. Among those patients, they are mainly from Japan, the US and UK.
Population : Thais are well-known for their friendliness and hospitality. A large majority of over 62 million citizens of Thailand are ethnic Thai, along with strong communities whose ethnic origins lie in China, India and others. About 10 million people reside in the capital city Bangkok.
Language : Spoken and written Thai is largely incomprehensible to the casual visitor. However, English is widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language. 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.
Useful words when you are in Thailand :
Sa-was-dee - Greeting remark, can be used any time
Kob-Kun - Thank you
Tao-Rai - How much?
Mai-Ped - Not spicy |
Weather : Thailand can best be described as tropical and humid for the majority of the country during most of the year. Average temperature about is 29 oC, ranging in Bangkok from 35 oC in April to 17 oC in December. There are three seasons: the cool season (November to February), the hot season (April to May), and the rainy season (June to October).
What to wear : Light, loose cotton clothing or clothing with good ventilation is best. Nylon should be avoided. Sweaters may be needed during the cool season evenings or if visiting mountainous areas or national parks. Jackets and ties are required in a few restaurants and nightclubs. Neat clothes are required for entering temples or palaces.
Thai food : Thai food is internationally famous . Instead of
a single main course with side dishes found in Western cuisine, a Thai full meal typically consists of either a single dish of rice (khao) with many complementary dishes served concurrently..Steamed rice is accompanied by highly |
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aromatic curries, stir-fried and other dishes, incorporating sometimes large
quantities of chillies, lime juice and lemon grass. Curries, stir-fried and
others may be poured onto the rice creating a single dish called "khao rad gang", a popular meal when time is limited.
Noodles, known throughout parts of Southeast Asia by the Chinese name khuaytiow, are popular as well but usually come as a single dish, like the stir-fried Pad Thai or noodle soups.
Thai food is generally eaten with a fork and a spoon. Chopsticks are used rarely, primarily for the consumption of noodle soups. The fork, held in the left hand, is used to shovel food into the spoon.
Drinking water : The water quality in Bangkok and major tourist destinations is good so you can drink coffee and tea, or brush your teeth, without any concerns. Drinking bottled water however is a common practice and you can buy from the convenient store.
Local Time : +7 GMT
Currency : Notes are issued in denominations of THB 1000 (beige), THB 500 (purple), THB 100 (red), THB 50 (blue), and THB 20 (green). There are 10, 5, 2 and 1 Baht coin, and 50 and 25 satang. Most foreign currencies and traveler checks are easily changed at banks, hotels or money changers. All major credit cards are widely accepted throughout the country.
Bangkok : Bangkok is one of the most culturally rich, complex and dynamic cities in the world. It has long been the gateway to Asia for foreign interests seeking new markets. The city is a major economic and financial center of South east Asia and has one of the fastest rates in the world for construction of high rise buildings. The city' s wealth of cultural sites makes it one of the world' s most popular tourist destinations.
International Airport:Don Mueang Airport, the long time international airport was recently changed to domestic airport after the launching of the new international airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can access to Suvarnabhumi Airport by taxi, car, limousine and CityBus. The Airport Express link train line is soon to come in the year 2009.
Transportation:
.BTS Sky train: The Bangkok Transit System (BTS) is the safest, most comfortable and convenient way to get around Bangkok. With the regular and punctual schedule, BTS offers its passengers speed and reliability and prove to be a very attractive alternative to road travel. The BTS Sukhumvit and the Silom lines help ease up the traffic in central Bangkok. You can transfer to the MRT underground train at Morchit, Sala Daeng and Asok stations. The sky trains run from 06:00 am to 12:00 midnight with frequent service throughout the day, increased during rush hours.The fare is based on the distance traveled. [www.bts.co.th]
.MRT train : MRT is the first railway system in Thailand that kept on underground level. MRT system makes travel in Bangkok city become even more convenient because of more extensive network and the link to BTS sky train. You can link to BTSsky train at Jatujak(BTS Morchit), Silom(BTS Sala Daeng), and Sukhumvit(BTS Asok). MRT trains also run from 06:00 am to 12:00 midnight daily with frequency of less than 5 minutes during rush hours. [www.bangkokmetro.co.th]
Taxi Meter: Metered taxis are available in Bangkok. The minimum expense is THB 35. Passengers must pay tolls in case of using an expressway. If taxis don't have meters, fares must be agreed upon before riding. The amount will vary depending on the distance, traffic, weather (if it got stuck in Bangkok traffic the fare will raise) and the negotiating skills of the hirer.
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Enjoy Bangkok and nearby provinces:
Shopping: Bangkok is known as the shopping capital in the region. Bangkok shopping area is not limited to one or two major streets. There are many areas throughout the city with wide variety of price range, styles and easy access. In addition, we would like to recommend you the two main areas in the city that you
can commute by BTS sky train and MRT.
Siam square, Ploenchit-Ratchdamri: Many department stores shopping malls and restaurants are locating in this area including Siam Center, Siam Paragon (Siam Square BTS station), Central World (5 minutes walk from Siam Square BTS station), Central Chidlom (Chidlom BTS station), etc.
Chatuchak Weekend market: AKA J.J market, it covers 1.13 km 2 and contain up to 15,000 stalls. Some stalls are not open on the weekday. Most stalls only open on Saturdays and Sundays. The market offers a wide variety of products including household items, clothing, Thai handicrafts, religious artifacts, collectibles, foods, and live animals. Chatuchak market is adjacent to the Kamphaengphet MRT station, or about 5-minute walk of Mor Chit BTS station and Suan Chatuchak MRT station .
Shopping Advice: Fixed price is the norm for department stores and a number of shops in Bangkok. However, special discount and VAT refund for tourist is common. Please check at the information counter for tourist special privileges. For other places like Chatuchak weekend market, bargaining is acceptable. You may ask for discount between 10 - 35% lower that the original price. Remember, when you bargain price, Thais appreciate good manners and a sense of humor. For example, a broad smile then you will not only get a better price but also you will enjoy your shopping. |
Sight Seeing: The interesting tourist attractions include Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Wat pho, where you can get truly traditional
Thai massage. Whether visiting palaces or temples, it is important to dress respectfully. Entry can and will be refused if this rule is not followed.
Royal grand palace: This is the perfect introduction to Thailand, the Buddhist faith, regal splendor and tradition. This palace was served as an official residence of the king of Thailand till mid of 20 th century when it changed to the new Chitralada palace. Though this place is no longer the royal residence, it remains a symbol of the Kingdom.
Pattaya: Locate about 165 km. southeast of Bangkok, Pattaya is one of the most popular beach area in Thailand. In addition to those beautiful beaches, tourist can enjoy golfing, go-cart racing and visiting other tourist attractions like Mini Siam, Sri Racha tiger zoo and Nong Nooch tropical botanical garden, etc.
Pattaya is renowned for its nightlife. The city has hundreds of beer bars, go go bars, night club, cabaret (male-to-female transsexual) show and much more.
Other tourist attractions: Please check the information from www.tourismthailand.org |
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Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
