Thailand

Currency: Thai Baht

Official language: Thai

EARLIEST History 

Fossilized remains of plants and animals have been discovered in many areas of Thailand, particularly in the Korat Plateau in northeastern Thailand. Most of the animal fossils found are of dinosaurs, which date primarily to the Jurassic era though some are from the late-Triassic, the oldest such evidence of dinosaurs in southeast Asia.  

The dinosaur bones encased in sandstone in the Phu Wiang hills of Khon Kaen province included Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae, a gigantic plant-eating dinosaur that had a long neck and tail and a small head.  

Four other species of dinosaur unearthed in Phu Wiang include Siamotyrannus isanensis, a smaller version of Tyrannosaurus rex, Siamosauraus suteethorni, a crocodile-like creature, Compsognathus, the world’s smallest dinosaur, and Ornithomimosaur, an ostrich-like dinosaur.  

In nearby Chaiyaphum province two other new dinosaur species were discovered: Psittacosaurus sattayaraki, a parrot-billed dinosaur, and Isanosaurus attavipachi, which is similar to Phuwiangosaurus.  

Homo erectus fossils have also been discovered in Thailand. Known as the Lampang man for its discovery in Lampang province, the remains have been dated to roughly 1,000,000 - 500,000 years ago in the Pleistocene Era.The first evidence of humans living in modern-day Thailand was discovered at Ban Chiang, near Udon Thani in northeastern Thailand; grave sites and artifacts including bronze tools and pottery provide evidence of a society that is thought to have had knowledge of rice cultivation and occupied the area continuously from 2100 to 200 BCE, spanning the Neolithic to the Iron Age.

PRE-THAI KINGDOMS 

Over the centuries leading up to the era of recorded history, Thailand was first peopled by Mon and Khmer groups and later by the Tai, an ethnic group that migrated from southern China to Vietnam and gradually into Laos and northern Thailand.  

In the first millennium of the Common Era, Tai people had dispersed across Yusearch-result/tagword/Nan">Nan, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar fragmenting into various linguistic sub-sects. Relatively minor players in the region throughout this period, the Tai inhabited the northernmost reaches of Southeast Asia, sandwiched between the kingdoms of Nan Zhao, Pyu, and Angkor.  

Beginning in around the 2nd century CE, the Srivijaya Empire of Sumatra expanded its reach up the Malaysian Peninsula into southern Thailand. Nakhon Si Thammarat and Chiaya, Surat Thani were founded during this period to facilitate trade across the Isthmus of Kra.  

Around the 6th to the 9th centuries, the fertile central plains were inhabited by a Mon civilization known as Dvaravati. Distinct from its neighboring kingdoms of Chenla and Angkor, Dvaravati remains a mysterious civilization that established cities surrounded by moats and earthen walls, with Lopburi serving as an important religious center and Nakhon Pathom near Bangkok possibly its ‘capital’. While much is unknown about this realm, the Dvaravati had well established internal and external trading routes that were important to the development of Thailand and left a wealth of Buddhist artwork that testifies to the great influence Indian Culture and religion had on the region.  

From the 9th to the 11th centuries the Khmers of Angkor expanded their kingdom to include most of modern-day Thailand, with important provincial cities established at Phimai, Lopburi and even Nakhon Si Thammarat. Over several centuries many facets of the Khmer culture were imposed on/absorbed by the native population, which was becoming increasingly Tai as those populations migrated south. The temples at Phanom Rung, Phimai, and Lopburi are enduring testaments to this period of Thai history.  

Throughout the reign of Angkor, Lopburi often asserted its independence and was clearly an important center for burgeoning Syam culture. The Chinese, who referred to emissaries from the region as representing “Hsien” or Siam (as it was apparently pronounced) documented a request from Lopburi requesting independence from Angkor as early as 1001.  

In northern Thailand, Buddhist scholars from Lopburi founded a city-state known as Haripunjaya in Lamphun, northern Thailand around the 9th century (a Mon enclave that remained independent until the 13th century). Elsewhere in the north, the Tai people were fanning out and establishing their own city states, notably at Chiang Saen, where one of the first powerful Thai kingdoms, Lan Na, was originally established in the 12th century. The establishment of Lan Na, Sukhothai, and Phayao, three allied kingdoms founded by contemporary leaders, represents the beginning of the Thai history as we know it. 

SUKHOTHAI 

Thais began to emerge as a dominant force in the region in the 13th century, gradually asserting independence from existing Khmer and Mon kingdoms.  Founded by Khun Pha Muang and Khun Bang Klang Thao in 1238, the Kingdom was named by its rulers "the dawn of happiness".  The Sukhothai Period is often considered the golden era of Thai history, an ideal Thai state in a land of plenty governed by paternal and benevolent kings, the most famous of whom was King Ramkamhaeng the Great (c.1279-98), who greatly expanded the Kingdom’s borders.  

In addition to developing some of the most beautiful Thai art, the Sukhothai Kingdom is credited with developing the modern Thai alphabet.  However, following the death of King Ramkamhaeng, the mightier state of Ayutthaya gradually exerted its influence over Sukhothai.  

Following the death of King Ramkhamhaeng, the kingdom of Sukhothai rapidly declined and Lan Na expanded its influence over its neighboring kingdoms, many of which were former suzerains of Sukhothai.   In the middle of the 15th Century Lan Na arts and literature reached a pinnacle during the King Tilokoraj period.   However, after the king's death, Lan Na weakened due to internal conflicts and Chiang Mai fell under Burmese control around 1564; while the Burmese occupied the northern region for a few centuries, they did little development, using Chiang Mai as a military base from which to battle the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, a mighty kingdom in the central plains that was gradually exerting its influence from the mid 14 th century onwards. 

AYUTTHAYA 

The Ayutthaya kings adopted Khmer cultural influences from the very beginning. No longer the paternal and accessible rulers that the kings of Sukhothai had been, Ayutthaya's sovereigns were absolute monarchs and assumed the title devaraja (god-king). The early part of this period saw Ayutthaya extend its sovereignty over neighboring Thai principalities and come into conflict with its neighbors.  During the 17th century, Siam started diplomatic and commercial relations with western countries. In 1767, after repeated attempts, the Burmese invaded and successfully captured Ayutthaya.  

Despite their overwhelming victory, the Burmese did not retain control of Siam for long. A young general named Phya Taksin and his followers broke through the Burmese lines and escaped to Chantaburi. Seven months after the fall of Ayutthaya, he and his forces sailed back up the Chao Phraya River to Ayutthaya and expelled the Burmese occupation garrison, though tragically the capital had been looted and nearly razed. 

THONABURI

General Taksin, as he is popularly known, decided to transfer the capital from Ayutthaya to a site nearer to the sea, a move that would facilitate foreign trade, ensure the procurement of arms, and make defense and withdrawal easier in case of a renewed Burmese attack. He established his new capital at Thon Buri, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, opposite modern-day Bangkok. The rule of Taksin was not an easy one. The lack of central authority since the fall of Ayutthaya led to the rapid disintegration of the kingdom, and Taksin's reign was spent reuniting the provinces. 

RATTANAKOSIN 

After Taksin's death, General Chakri (Rama I) became the first king of the Chakri Dynasty, ruling from 1782 to 1809. His first action as king was to transfer the royal capital across the river from Thon Buri to Bangkok and build the Grand Palace. Rama II (1809-1824) continued the restoration begun by his predecessor. King Nang Klao, Rama III (1824-1851) reopened relations with Western nations and established trade with China.  

King Mongkut, Rama IV, (1851-1868) may have achieved western fame through the story "The King and I", but won the hearts of Thais for his accomplishments including the establishment of treaties with European countries, thus avoiding colonialization, and modernizing Thailand through many social and economic reforms. King Chulalongkorn, Rama V (1869-1910) continued his father's tradition of reform, abolishing slavery and improving the public welfare and administrative systems.  

Educational reforms, including compulsory education, were introduced by King Vajiravudh, Rama VI (1910-1925). During the reign of King Prajadhipok, Rama VII (1925-1935), Thailand changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. The king abdicated in 1933 and was succeeded by his nephew, King Ananda Mahidol Rama VIII (1935-1946). The country's name was changed from Siam to Thailand with the advent of a democratic government in 1939. Our current monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (R. Jun. 9, 1946 - present), is King Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty.

Thailand is located between vast areas of land and water, so it is impacted by both the summer and the winter monsoons. As a result, Thailand weather consists of six months of rainfalls during the wet season, three months of dry and cooling breezes during the winter, and three months of heat during the summer. The average temperature of Thailand ranges from 18 to 38°C.

A Passport is an important official document that serves as an identity card when you visit a foreign country. For Thailand visa, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a new visa policy of Thailand, in which the fee for a visa on arrival is increased from THB 1,000 to THB 2,000 since 27 September 2016 onwards.

Passport holders of the following 18 countries and one special economic zone (Taiwan) are granted a visa on arrival entry to the Kingdom of Thailand. 

 Andorra (Principality of Andorra)

Bulgaria (Republic of Bulgaria)

Bhutan (Kingdom of Bhutan)

China (People’s Republic of China)

Cyprus (Republic of Cyprus)

Ethiopia (Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia)

India (Republic of India)

Kazakhstan (Republic of Kazakhstan)

Latvia (Republic of Latvia)

Lithuania (Republic of Lithuania)

Maldives (Republic of Maldives)

Malta (Republic of Malta)

Mauritius (Republic of Mauritius)

Romania

San Marino (Republic of San Marino)

Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

Taiwan

Ukraine

Uzbekistan (Republic of Uzbekistan)

Bangkok is home to many taxis, and you’ll never have trouble finding one in the capital. They are said to be among the best value in the world, trustworthy and usually use their meters honestly, but wear your seatbelt because they will definitely get you where you want to go as fast as possible. In the other tourist areas the opposite tends to be true, with mafia creating overpriced monopolies, making hotel transfers a better option. Some reliable cab companies in Thailand include Bangkok Taxi Cooperative (+66-2-8800-880) and Thai Taxi Cab (+61-2-910-0857).

Car rental is an option in Thailand if you don’t mind dealing with traffic. The major airports trusted suppliers like Budget and Avis. Tourists are advised to purchase full insurance coverage, and read the contract carefully. Roads are usually high quality, although the abundance of motorbikes and tuk-tuks means dents and scratches are common place. Reckless driving occurs due to low law enforcement, so be alert.

Water ferries are a common site in the capital of Bangkok. They are often the fastest way to get from one side of the Chao Phraya to the other, given the traffic jams that plague the roads. The many canals, or klong, can be navigated by water taxis. Ferries are the lifeblood for traveling between the southern islands.

Inner-city buses are available in the larger cities day or night, although they aren’t usually up to standards found in the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. It’s better to rely on new Skytrain or metro if you can, but lines are limited so opt for a taxi if it’s not rush hour. Songthaew are more popular than buses, which are shared pick-up trucks with a canopy, open sides and two rows of seats.

BKS is the bus network. The center of the system is in the capital, which has two main terminals – Bangkok North (Chatuchak) and Bangkok South (Ekamai). From here, every province in Thailand can be reached. Comfort levels and prices depend on the class and range from local to Super VIP.

The State Railway of Thailand connects all corners of the country via train. Even though rail can be slow and delays are common, this form of transportation is much safer than bus. First, second and third class carriages are available for most trips. From Bangkok, the system branches into several regional lines, including the Southern Line, the Eastern Line, the Northeastern Line, and the Northern Line.

Before you leave on your holiday, there are at least four health-related things you should do. Please check the handbook for specifics, but for now, here’s the short list:

Step 1: Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting.

Step 2: Have a medical checkup with your doctor.

Step 3: Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Step 4: Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less important than steps 1-3.)

DO

• A welcomed topic of discussion is one’s occupation. Inquiring into the type of work one does is quite a good icebreaker.
• Be sensitive to maintain the face of yourself and your Thai counterpart. To do so, avoid embarrassing someone by criticising or correcting them in public.
• Show gratitude through reciprocating favours or good deeds. This helps build trust in relationships.
• Be considerate towards Thais’ zealousness for their recently deceased king. Thais have the utmost respect for the king (see The King in ‘Core Concepts’) and defaming the king may offend your Thai counterpart.
• Show the utmost respect towards elders. Thais place a high value on observing social hierarchy.
• Remain cool, calm and collected when interacting with Thais. Raised voices, anger, worry, stress and other heated emotions are thought to lead to a loss of face in Thailand. If possible, be moderate in the displaying of unpleasant emotions.
• Try not to be offended if your Thai counterpart makes frank comments about people’s body shape. Unlike in Australia, it is not considered taboo or rude to make comments such as, “Oh, you’ve put on weight”. Such comments are not intended to be hurtful, invasive or offensive.

DON'T

• Avoid standing or looming above a figure of Buddha or an image of the king. Always bow your head as a sign of respect. Furthermore, do not point your feet at any image or depiction of the Buddha or the king. Using a single finger to point at the king or an image of the king is also disrespectful.
• Avoid directly criticizing people. Thais generally temper any negative comment with an apologetic statement (i.e. ‘I don’t mean to be frank, but…’).
• Approach questions about income, standard of living or things that would often be considered personal in Australia with sensitivity. These topics are not always welcomed in discussion. However, it is not uncommon for Thais to ask questions relating to age, work and level of education to ensure they address you correctly in future interactions.
• Avoid speaking loudly or raising one’s voice. It can lead to a loss of face.
• Females should avoid physical contact with a monk. If a woman must pass an object to a monk, it is best for her to hold the object with a tissue or handkerchief.
• Avoid insulting the king or the royal family. Not only is it disrespectful and inappropriate, but it can have legal consequences in Thailand.
• Do not assume all Southeast Asian peoples are the same. There are a variety of distinct countries and cultures across the region. Thus, avoid homogenising those from Thailand with people from neighbouring countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia or Myanmar (Burma)