HISTORY
The
earliest civilisation in Thailand is believed to have
been that of the Mons in central Thailand, who brought
a Buddhist culture from the Indian subcontinent. In
the 12th century, this met a Khmer culture moving
from the east, the Sumatran-based Srivijaya culture
moving north, and citizens of the Thai stateof Nan
Chao, in what is now southern China, migrating south.
Thai
princes created the first Siamese capital in Sukhothai,
later centres in Chiang Mai and, notably, Ayuthaya.
The
Burmese invaded Siam in both the 16th and 18th centuries,
capturing Chiang Mai and destroying Ayuthaya.
The
Thais expelled the Burmese and moved their capital
to Thonburi. In 1782, the current Chakri dynasty was
founded by King Rama I and the capital was moved across
the river to Bangkok.
In
the 19th century, Siam remained independent by deftly
playing off one European power against another. In
1932, a peaceful coup converted the country into a
constitutional monarchy, and in 1939 Siam became Thailand.
During
WW II, the Thai government allowed Japanese troops
to occupy Thailand.
After
the war, Thailand was dominated by the military and
experienced more than twenty coups and countercoups
interspersed with short-lived experiments with democracy.
Democratic
elections in 1979 were followed by a long period ofstability
and prosperity as power shifted from the military
to the business elite.
In
February 1991 a military coup ousted the Chatichai
government, but bloody demonstrations in May 1992
led to the reinstatement of a civilian government
with Chuan Leekpai at the helm.
This
coalition government collapsed in May 1995 over a
land-reform scandal but replacement Prime Minister
Banharn Silpa-archa was no better.
Dubbed
a 'walking ATM' by the Thai press, he was forced to
relinquish the prime ministership just over a year
later after a spate of corruption scandals. Ex-general
and former deputy PM Chavalit Yongchaiyudh headed
a dubious coalition until late 1997, when veteran
pragmatist Chuan Leekpai retook the reins.
Thai
cynics will tell you that, despite all the leader-swapping,
things never change. Widespread vote-buying and entrenched
corruption make a joke of democracy, and until this
is rectified Thailand's claims to democratic status
and political stability will remain as shaky as ever.
In
1997 the Thai baht pretty much collapsed, dragging
the economy (and many other South-East Asian economies)
down in a screaming heap. In August the International
Monetary Fund stepped in with a bailout package of
austerity measures, which - although it slowed Thailand's
growth dramatically and hit the poor hardest - seemed
to have turned things around by early 1998.
By
the turn of the new century, Thailand's economy had
stopped going into free fall, but rebuilding had only
just begun. Genuine attempts to weed out corruption
seem underway, but the poverty-stricken members of
Thailand are still wary of promises and agitating
for more reforms.
CULTURE
Monarchy
and religion are the two sacred cows in Thailand.
Thais are tolerant of most behaviour, as long as it
doesn't insult one of these. Buddhism is thedominant
religion, and orange-robed monks and gold, marble
and stone Buddhas are common sights.
The
prevalent form of Buddhism practised is the Theravada
school,which emphasises the potential of the individual
to attain nirvana without the aid of saints or gurus.
Make sure you are suitably dressed when visiting a
temple - no shorts or singlets.
Thai
is a complicated language with its own unique alphabet,
but it's fun to try at least a few words. The main
complication with Thai is that it is tonal: the same
word could be pronounced with a rising, falling, high,
low or level tone and could theoretically have five
meanings!
Thai
art, principally sculpture and architecture, is divided
into a number of historical styles beginning with
Mon (6th-13thC), Khmer (7th-13th C), Peninsular (until
14th C), Lan Na (13th-14th C), Sukhothai (13th-15th
C), Lopburi (10th-13th C), Suphanburi-Sangkhlaburi
(13th-15th C), Ayuthaya A (1350-1488), Ayuthaya B
(1488-1630), Ayuthaya C (1630-1767) and Ratanakosin
(19th C to present). Classical Thai music and theatrical
dance are also popular artistic forms.
Thai
cuisine is pungent and spicy, seasoned with heaps
of garlic and chillies and a characteristic mix of
lime juice, lemon grass and fresh coriander. Galanga
root, basil, ground peanuts, tamarind juice, ginger
and coconut milk are other common additions.
Fish
sauce or shrimp paste are mainstays of Thai dishes,
and of course rice is eaten with most meals. Main
dishes include hot and sour fish ragout, green and
red curries, various soups and noodle dishes.
Thai
food is served with a variety of condiments and dipping
sauces. Snacks and appetisers include fried peanuts,
chicken, chopped ginger, peppers and slices of lime.
There
is an incredible variety of fruit available, either
fresh or juiced. Sugar-cane juice and, for something
stronger, rice whisky are favourite local tipples.
ENVIRONMENT
Thailand
shares borders with Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Laos
and Cambodia. The country's east coast borders the
Gulf of Thailand and the west coast abuts the Andaman
Sea.
The
country is divided into four main zones: the fertile,
central plains of the Chao Phraya River; the poorer
region of the 300m (985ft) high northeast plateau;
the fertile valley and mountains of Northern Thailand;
and the rainforested southern peninsula.
The
highest peak is the 2596m (8512ft) Doi Inthanon in
Chiang Mai province.
A
quarter of Thailand is covered by monsoon forest or
rainforest, and the country has an incredible array
of fruit trees, bamboo and tropical hardwoods. There
are 66 national parks and 32 wildlife sanctuaries,
covering 11 per cent of the country.
They
contain more than 850 resident and migratory species
of birds and dwindling numbers of tigers, leopards,
elephants and Asiatic black bears. Unfortunately,
attempts to stop the logging of rainforests and illegal
trafficking in endangered species are fighting an
uphill battle against corruption, officials only too
happy to make a buck on the side, and tourists packing
an exotica or two down their dacks as they walk through
customs. The tiger, for instance, is one of the most
endangered of Thailand's mammals but the market for
tiger organs, particularly in China, is so lucrative
that poaching is still a viable career option.
Overdevelopment
on Ko Phi Phi is starving the coral reefs of sunlight
and smothering the surface in pollutants: the destruction
of the reef is a micro-example of the problems occuring
on a national scale, with the finger being pointed
in the direction of tourism.
In
May 1999, protestors packed the beach where the filming
of 'The Beach' was taking place: environmentalists
were concerned that filming would destroy the delicate
eco-balance of the beach.
Ironically,
the film was about the destruction of native cultures
and environments by hordes of dropped-out, alternative
life-seeking backpackers (curiously, the filmmakers
were silent on the issue of hordes of filmmakers destroying
delicate eco-balances).
One
of the main culprits according to the Alex Garland,
author of the best selling novel, is Lonely Planet.
Thailand's
climate is ruled by monsoons that produce three seaons
in northern, northeastern and central Thailand and
two in southern Thailand. Generally the 'dry and wet
monsoon climate' arrives sometime between May and
July and lasts into November.
It
is followed by a dry season from November to May in
which temperatures are relatively lower until February
and then begin to soar from March to May.
NATIONAL
HOLIDAYS
Thailand
Public Holidays Year 2002
|
|
January
1
|
New Year
Day |
|
February
26
|
Makha Bucha
Day |
|
April
6
|
Chakri
Day |
|
April
13-15
|
Songkran
Festival |
|
May
1
|
National
Labour Day |
|
May
6
|
Substitute for Coronation Day |
| May
27 |
Substitute for Visakha Bucha Day |
|
July
24
|
Asamha
Bucha Day |
|
July
25
|
Khao Phansa
Day (Buddhist Lent) |
|
August
12
|
H.M. The
Queen's Birthday |
|
August
13
|
H.M. The
Queen's Birthday |
|
October
23
|
Chulalongkorn
Day |
|
December
5
|
H.M. The
King's Birthday |
|
December
10
|
Constitution
Day |
|
December
31
|
New Year's
Eve |
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