| |
| Travel Tips |
| |
| F A C T S A B O U
T T H A I L A N D |
| |
Geography
Thailand has a land area of 513,115 sq.km.and
is bordered by Malaysia (South), Myanmar (West & North), Laos
(North
& East) and Cambodia (Southeast).
Climate
Temperature varies from 38o C to 19o C and the humidity from 82.8 % to
66%.
Seasons
Hot
(March to May), rainy (June to October) and cool (November to
February).
Population
About 60 million. Of which, 9.45% live in
Bangkok.
Language
Thai is the national language. However English
is widely understood in the major cities.
Religion
Buddhist 94.82%, Muslim 4.00%, Christian 0.55%,
others 0.63%
Thailand has
Government
A constitutional monarchy headed HM King Bhumibol
Adulyadej, The country is divided into 76 provinces, each sub-divided into
amphoe, tambon and muban.
National
Flag
The red, white and blue bands symbolize the nation, Buddhism
and the monarchy respectively. |
 |
|
| |
| Largest
Provinces |
Highest
Peaks |
| Nakhon
Ratchasima |
20,493.96 sq.km. |
Doi Inthanon |
2,565 m. |
| Chiang
Mai |
20,107.06 sqkm. |
Doi Luang |
2,175 m. |
| Kanchanaburi |
19,483.15 sq.km. |
Phu Soi Dao |
2,102 m. |
| Largest
Islands |
Principal
Rivers |
| Phuket |
543.00 sq.km. |
Chi |
765 km. |
| Samui |
239.90 sq.km. |
Mun |
750 km. |
| Chang |
212.09 sq.km. |
Nan |
740 km. |
| |
Chao Phraya |
370 km.* |
|
| |
*or 1,110 km.
if the Nan, its main tributary, is included.
Clothing
Thin cotton is the best. A jacket or sweater may
be necessary in the cool season, especially in a mountainous area in the
North or Northeast.
Electricity
220 volts 50 cycles throughout the
country.
Water
Drink
only bottled or boiled water.
Dining
You
can find places to eat 24 hours a day, but it may be better avoid sidewalk
stalls where, though food is cheap and palatable, hygienic conditions may
not be up to standard.
Shopping
You
have wide range of good buys to choose from. They are beautiful b because
Thais are gifted artists, and inexpensive because the labour cost is
low. |
| |
| T I P S
& F A C T S |
| |
Custom
- Thailand
is a Buddhist country where Buddha images are held sacred. Sacrilegious
acts are punishable by imprisonment even if committed by foreign
visitors.
- Thai’s
have great respect for Their Majesties The King & Queen and members
of the Royal Family. Failing to show respect for the monarchy or making
a rude remark about them is an act of less majeste for which the
punishment is imprisonment. Even to crease a Thai bank note is an
offense as it has an image of HM The King.
- Generally
Thai women are conservative. So don't touch them without their
consent.
- Dress
properly when entering a Buddhist temple. Mini-skirts and shorts are not
allowed. Take your shoes off before going inside the hall of worship.
Ladies must not on any account touch a Buddhist monk, give things direct
to him or receive things direct from him.
- Intimacy
between men and women should not be displayed in public. Topless
sunbathing is not approved.
Thais
address each other using the title Khun and their first name. John Smith
would be addressed as Khun John and not Khun
Smith.
- A smile is
the Thai unspoken communication for happiness and pleasure. A wai is gesture of recognition of a senior person when the hands are put
together in a praying position, raised to the nose and the head lowered
slightly forwards. A younger person wais to an older person.
- Don't
touch a person's head, nor ruffle his hair. The head is the noblest part
of the body. A sincere apology should be offered immediately if you
touch someone's head unintentionally.
- Avoid
placing your feet on the table while sitting. Never use your foot to
point things out or to touch any part of the body of anyone, which is
considered rude.
- When
entering a Thai house or a temple you are expected to remove your
shoes.
|
| |
Currency
- There is no restriction to the amount of foreign currency visitors can bring into Thailand and take out of the country. There is no restriction to the amount of Thai currency that can be brought into the country, however the amount is limited to Baht 50,000 without prior approval from the Bank of Thailand.
- Foreign visitors may bring in an unlimited amount of Thai currency. For travellers leaving Thailand, both Thais and foreigners, the maximum amount permitted to take out without prior authorization is 50,000 baht per person or, if they are going to one of Thailand's neighbouring countries, 500,000 baht per person.
- The basic monetary unit in Thailand is the Baht. A baht is divided into 100 satang. The following coins and notes are currently in use:
Coins: 25 and 50 satang; 1, 5 and 10 baht.
Bank notes: 20 (green), 50 (blue), 100 (red), 500 (purple) and 1,000 (grey) baht.
- Major foreign currencies can be exchanged for Thai baht with banks and authorized money changers. Major credit cards are also widely accepted in tourist centres.
|
| |
Customs Regulations
- Exports of
Buddha images (except small ones carried on person), antiques and
genuine works of art require export licenses from the Fine Arts
Department. The shop you deal with can provide such service for
you.
- Foreign
tourists are allowed to takeout gold ornaments free. But import and
export of gold other than jewelry are subject to licensing by the
Ministry of Finance.
- It is
prohibited by law to bring any of the following items into
Thailand:
1. Narcotics (e.g.,
marijuana, hemp, opium, cocaine, morphine, heroin)
2. Obscene literature
or pictures
3. Firearms or ammunition -- unless a permit has been obtained from
the Police Department or the local Registration Office
4. Piranha and certain
species of fruits, vegetables and plants. (Contact the Agricultural
Regulatory Division, Bangkhen, Bangkok for details.)
- One still
camera with 5 rolls of unused film, one movie-camera with 3 rolls of
unused film and used household effects may be brought in free of
duty.
Dining
- Most Thai
food is already cut into small pieces before serving or made soft enough
to be cut with a spoon or fork; thus, a knife is unnecessary.
- Salt-shakers are rarely found on Thai dinner tables, so add a
little cararnel-colour fish-sauce (called nam-pla in Thai) instead, if
you find your food not salty enough. 0 English is spoken in large
restaurants in tourist provinces; and most establishments have menus in
Thai and English, except street-side food stalls and some small
restaurants.
- Beckon
waiters with a wave of a hand. Don't clap, snap fingers or hiss.
- Normally,
a tip of 10-20 baht or 5-10% of the bill should be left when dining in a
middle or high-class
- Bargaining
is an art long practised in Asian countries including Thailand. So feel
free to ask for a proper discount when shopping in places where prices
are not displayed.
- Receipts
should be obtained for the goods you buy. For jewelry you must get a
certificate of guarantee
- Nationals
from 56 countries can now stay in Thailand for up to 30 days without an
entry visa, according to a new regulation adopted by the Immigration
Division in early February 1995. For visitors from 76 other countries,
visas valid for 15 days may be obtain( on arrival at any of the four
airports at Don Muang (Bangkok), Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai.
- Categories
of visas in Thailand are : Transit, Tourist, Non-Immigrant, Immigrant
and Non Quota Immigrant.
- Holders of
Transit Visitor Transit and Tourist visas are not allowed to work in
Thailand.
- A tourist
who wants to overstay his visa must apply to the Immigration Division of
the Police Department with the following :
(1)The duplicate copy of his or her passport
(2) One photograph
(3) The medical certificate (only in the
case of being sick) |
| |
Others
- Clothing --Thin cotton is the best. A jacket or pullover
may be necessary in the cool season, especially when you are in
mountainous areas in the North or Northeast.
- Electricity -- 220 v 50 cycles throughout the
country.
- Measurement of area -- Thailand has its own system of area
measurement. The basic units are square wa (=4 sq.m.) and rai (=400
sq.wa or 1,600 sq.m. or 0.16 hectare).
|
| |
| |
|
|
Information that help you plan your trips to Thailand
|