Thailand

Programs Available: Overseas English Tutor

Overview | Cultural Customs | Sightseeing | History
Important Safety and Health Tips | Monthly Expenses | Support | Map

Overview:

Thailand has so much to catch your interest. The chaotic but fascinating capital of Bangkok is alive with commerce and street-bustle nearly every hour of the day. The city and country are generally relatively safe. One reason Thailand is among the most visited countries in Asia (some 11 million visitors annually) is because of its accessibility and extensive tourism infrastructure.

In Thailand, you'll find fabulous architecture, beautiful beaches and islands, inexpensive shopping, fantastic food, exotic hill-tribe villages, ancient ruins - and all the amenities as well. The balance between comfort and excitement is near perfect. From the frenetic capital to the hill country gateway of Chiang Mai, Thailand is a place that can excite the mind, tantalize the senses and take care of most everyday needs.

The center of Thailand consists of flat plains no more than a few feet above sea level, watered by the Chao Phraya River and a number of smaller rivers and canals. There are mountains in the north stretching southward along the border with Myanmar, high plains in the east, and mountains and jungle covering the peninsula it shares with Malaysia.

Thailand's monsoons arrive around July and last into November and can be quite uncomfortable to deal with. This is followed by a dry, cool period from November to mid-February, followed by much higher relative temperatures from March to June.

Population: 62 million
Capital City: Bangkok
People: 75% Thai, 11% Chinese, 3.5% Malay
Language: Thai
Religion: 95% Buddhism, 4% Muslim

Cultural Customs:

Thai culture is based on Thervada Buddhism, which involves the remembrance and recognition of ancestors. The King and Queen are the most respected persons in Thailand. Thais also respect unselfishness and those who lead virtuous lives.

Religion and monarchy are the cornerstones of Thai culture, and they permeate everyday life, from the custom of standing for the royal anthem before films are shown and for the national anthem played across towns and villages twice daily, to the predominance of Buddhist temples all around the country.

Communicating

A sense of humor, laughter and a smiling attitude are highly regarded by Thais. Public displays of anger result in loss of face, and public criticism. One should never criticize the monarchy, even in private.

A traditional greeting is the wai: the palms of the hands pressed together with the fingers extended and held about chest-high, together with a slight bow and the honorary prefix Khun followed by your counterpart's first name. Do not use Khun in reference to yourself. A western handshake is also acceptable between men, followed by Mr. with your counterpart's last name.

Do's and Don'ts

Gesture taboos include touching another person's head or passing an object over it; pointing the sole of the foot at another person; stamping your feet or touching a person with your foot; crossing your legs while seated; and placing your arm over the back of a chair in which another person is seated. Shoes are removed on entering a home or Buddhist temple (avoid stepping on the temple doorsill when entering). When seated on the floor, men sit cross-legged, and women tuck their legs to the side. When finished eating, place your eating utensils together on your plate.

Food

Thai cuisine is pungent and spicy, seasoned with heaps of garlic and chilies 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 appetizers 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 favorite local tipples.

Music

Classical Thai music has similarities to Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Indonesian music. The traditional Thai orchestra is composed of woodwind, string and percussion instruments. The most significant is a double-handed drum; before a performance, the players make offerings of flowers and incense to the drum, which is considered to be the 'conductor' of the music's spiritual content.

There are several forms of classical dance in Thailand. Most are intimately connected to drama, particularly the epic journey tale of Prince Rama's search for his beloved Princess Sita, who has been abducted by the evil demon Ravana. These dance performances feature elaborate costumes and masks.

Sightseeing:

Ayuthaya Historical Park

Ayuthaya's historic temples are scattered throughout this once magnificent city and along the encircling rivers. Several of the more central ruins - Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mongkhon Bophit, Wat Na Phra Meru, Wat Thammikarat, Wat Ratburana and Wat Phra Mahathat - can be visited on foot.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai has a striking mountain backdrop, over 300 temples and a quaint historical aura. It's also a modern, friendly, internationally-flavored city with much to offer the visitor - food, accommodation and shopping are all top quality and cheap, and the nights are relatively cool.

Ko Samui

This beautiful island off southeastern Thailand is covered with coconut plantations and circled by palm-fringed beaches. Coconuts are still the mainstay of the local economy, and up to two million of them are shipped to Bangkok each month.

The most popular beaches are Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai: both have good swimming and snorkeling but are getting a little crowded. For more peace and quiet, try Mae Nam, Bo Phut and Big Buddha on the northern coast. The main town on the island is Na Thon.

Phuket

Dubbed 'Pearl of the South' by the tourist industry, Phuket is Thailand's largest, most populous and most visited island. A whirl of color and cosmopolitanism, Thailand's only island province revolves around and thrives on tourism, but still retains a spark of the real Thailand.

History:

Archaeological discoveries around the northeast hamlet of Ban Chiang suggest that the world's oldest Bronze Age civilization was flourishing in Thailand some 5,600 years ago. Successive waves of immigrants gradually entered the land mass now known as Thailand, most slowly traveling along fertile river valleys from southern China. By the 11th and 12th centuries, Khmers ruled much of the area from Angkor. By the early 1200s, Thais had established small northern city states in Lanna, Phayao and Sukhothai. In 1238, two Thai chieftains rebelled against Khmer suzerainty and established the first truly independent Thai kingdom in Sukhothai. Sukhothai saw the Thais' gradual expansion throughout the entire Chao Phraya River basin, the establishment of Theravada Buddhism as the paramount Thai religion, the creation of the Thai alphabet and the first expression of nascent Thai art forms, including painting, sculpture, architecture and literature.

Sukhothai declined during the 1300s and eventually became a vassal state of Ayutthaya, a dynamic young kingdom further south in the Chao Phraya River valley. Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya remained the Thai capital until 1767 when it was destroyed by Burmese invaders. During Ayutthaya's 417 years as the capital, under the rule of 33 kings, the Thais brought their distinctive culture to full fruition, totally rid their lands of Khmer presence and fostered contact with Arabian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese and European powers. Ayutthaya's destruction was as severe a blow to the Thais as the loss of Paris or London would have been to the French or English. However, a Thai revival occurred within a few months and the Burmese were expelled by King Taksin who later made Thon Buri his capital. In 1782, the first king of the present Chakri dynasty, Rama I, established his new capital on the site of a riverside hamlet called Bangkok (Village of Wild Plums). Two Chakri monarchs, Mongkut (Rama IV) who reigned between 1851 and 1868, and his son Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868-1910) saved Thailand from western colonization through adroit diplomacy and selective modernization.

Today, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. Since 1932, Thai kings have exercised their legislative powers through a national assembly, their executive powers through a cabinet headed by a prime minister, and their judicial powers through the law courts.

Important Safety and Health Tips:

Traveling

Although Thailand is a safe destination, travelers should be aware of occasional violence and banditry in some border areas, petty theft in cities and resort areas, and security issues on public transport, particularly in regard to women traveling on their own. Thailand's borders with both Cambodia and Myanmar contain a volatile mixture of land mines, bandits, smugglers and rebels, and are the scene of occasional low-level military clashes.

In Bangkok, unlicensed taxis, recognizable by their black and white license plates, should be avoided. This is most relevant for solo women traveling at night. Look for licensed taxis that have yellow and black license plates.

Disease

Malaria: This serious and potentially fatal disease is spread by mosquito bites. Symptoms range from fever, chills and sweating, headache, diarrhea and abdominal pains to a vague feeling of ill-health. Seek medical help immediately if malaria is suspected. Without treatment malaria can rapidly become more serious and can be fatal. If medical care is not available, malaria tablets can be used for treatment. If you do contract malaria, be sure to be re-tested once you return home as you can harbor malaria parasites even if you are symptom free. Thailand's high-risk areas for malaria include northern Kanchanaburi Province (especially Thung Yai Naresuan National Park) and parts of Trat Province along the Cambodian border.

Dengue Fever: The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the dengue virus, is most active during the day, and is found mainly in urban areas in and around human dwellings. Symptoms of dengue fever include a sudden onset of high fever, headache, joint and muscle pains, nausea and vomiting. A rash of small red spots sometimes appears 3-4 days after the onset of fever. Severe complications do sometimes occur. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you think you may be infected. A blood test can indicate the possibility of dengue fever. There is no specific treatment nor vaccine against dengue fever. Aspirin should be avoided, as it increases the risk of hemorrhaging.

Monthly Expenses:

Bargaining is customary in many markets and shops, and when catching non-metered taxis. Tipping is not standard in Thailand. Major credit cards are accepted in shops, restaurants and hotels. Travelers will be able to find ATMs that accept major credit cards such as Visa in larger cities.

Banks or legal moneychangers offer the best rates. For buying baht, US dollars are the most readily acceptable currency, though travelers cheques get a better rate than cash.

Street and restaurant food in Thailand is some of the best in the world. It's cheap ($2 - $7), and above all, it is Thai - one of the world's most favored cuisines. Travel in Thailand is also inexpensive. However, if you hunger for something a bit different, Thailand's restaurants offer a wealth of culinary experience offering food from almost every part of the world at affordable prices.

Long hauls from one end of the country to the other by bus or train can often cost only a few dollars. Catching a movie is cheap too: it will only set you back about $3.50 in the cinema!

Support During Your Placement:

We will be available to give you any support, advice, or guidance you may need with any issues. There will always be an emergency number for you to contact. Our aim is to ensure that you have a happy and successful experience during your stay in Thailand.

Some of the content on this page made possible by The Lonely Planet