Blog 
Site Map
Sponsored Links
Thailand is a Southeast Asian, predominantly Buddhist, kingdom almost equidistant between India and China. For centuries known to outsiders as Siam, Thailand has been something of a Southeast Asian migratory, cultural and religions crossroads.
With an area of some 200,000 square miles and a population of 60 million, Thailand is approximately three-fourths the size of Texas. Thailand shares borders with Burma to the west and north, Cambodia to the west, and Malaysia to the south. There are forested mountains in the north and west, rain-forest in the south, and long, white-sand beaches along the coast. Thailand has coasts on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.
Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with 3 distinct seasons; summer from roughly March through May, rainy with plenty of sunshine from June to September and cool from October through February. The average annual temperature is 28 C (83 F), ranging in Bangkok, for example, from 30 C in April to 25 C in December. The north of Thailand is generally several degrees cooler than the rest of the country whereas Hua Hin tends to get less rain than other regions.
Theravada Buddhism is the religion of more than 90% of all Thais and has a strong influence on all daily life. There are also sizable minorities of Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs freely following their respective faiths.
Thailand enjoys very much its own distinctive culture with drama, literature, music, architecture, sculpture and painting, basket and silk weaving, lacquerware, bronzeware, pottery and jewelry. There is also the unique Thai language and alphabet, cuisine, martial arts, beliefs and attitudes.
There are also four relatively distinct regions of Thailand; the central plains, the north, the northeast and the south. Though the Thai language is spoken throughout the kingdom, each region has its own dialects and culture.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliamentarian system. His Majesty, King Bhumipol, is popularly held to be sacred and inviolable, and reigns as Head of State, Upholder of Religions, and Head of the Armed Forces.
Thailand has long been basically an agricultural country, with over 70% of the labor force engaged in farming or related activities. Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rice. Exports of agricultural products are declining in importance as foreign exchange earners however as exports of computers and electric circuits, garments, plastic products and jewelry increase. Tourism is also an increasingly important part of the economy with over 13,000,000 arrivals expected in 2009.
Spoken and written Thai remain largely incomprehensible to the casual visitor. English is widely understood, however, at least in Bangkok and most tourist destinations where English and other European languages are spoken in most hotels, shops and restaurants. Thai-English road and street signs are found almost nationwide.
January 1 |
New Year's Day |
January 2 |
Hua Hin Centennial Invitation tennis match |
Mid February |
Makha Bucha Day (Buddhist Holy Day) |
Mid to late February |
Chinese New Year |
Early to mid March |
Thai Sky Festival |
Early to mid March |
Kite Festival |
Early April |
Cricket Sixes |
April 6 |
Chakri Day |
April 13-15 |
Songkran (Thai New Year) |
May 1 |
National Labor Day |
May 5 |
Coronation Day |
Mid May |
Visakha Bucha (Buddhist Holy Day) |
June 12 - 14 |
Hua Hin Jazz Festival 2009 |
Mid July |
Asalaha Bucha (Beginning of Buddhist Lent) |
August 12 |
HM the Queen's Birthday |
Mid October |
Ok Pansa (End of Buddhist Lent) |
October 23 |
Chulalongkorn Day |
Late November |
Phra Pathom Chedi Fair, Nakhon Pathom |
Late November |
River Kwai Bridge Week, Kanchanaburi |
November 14 |
Loy Krathong |
December 5 |
HM the King's Birthday |
December 10 |
Constitution Day |
December 19 |
Hua Hin Rock Festival |
December 24-27 |
Boat Racing at Khao Tao Lake, Hua Hin |
December 28-January 5 |
Hua Hin Countdown & Food Festival |
December 31 |
New Year's Eve |
| Dining |
