Thailand Travel: Popular Thailand Travel Information

Thailand Travel - Your Ultimate Source for popular Thailand Travel Information

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Facts About Thailand

Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand (Prathet Thai, or "Land of the Free"), country in Southeast Asia. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been occupied by any European or other foreign power, except in war.

Thai people form the large majority of Thailand's population, and most of them practice Theravada Buddhism. Other ethnic groups within the population include Chinese, Malays, and indigenous hill peoples, such as the Hmong and Karen. Thailand is known for its highly refined classical music and dance and for a wide range of folk arts. Traditionally based on agriculture, Thailand's economy began developing rapidly in the 1980s.

Thailand comprises five major natural regions. The first is the country's heartland: a wide alluvial plain whose fertile soils are replenished by the Chao Phraya and other rivers flowing out of the northern mountains. This central plain has been described as one of the "rice bowls" of Asia because of its high agricultural productivity.

Thailand experiences a typical monsoon climate. Winds blow from the northeast during the winter months of October to March or April (known as the "dry season"), while rain-bearing monsoon winds blow from the southwest during the summer months of April or May to September (the "wet season"). This remarkable annual wind reversal is related to changes in air pressure and temperature taking place above the high Tibetan Plateau. Due to these shifting winds, Thailand's climate varies markedly throughout the year.

Entry/Exit Requirements: U.S. citizen tourists staying for less than 30 days do not require a visa, but must possess a passport and onward/return ticket. A Passenger Service Charge, currently 500 baht (USD equivalent as of September 2002: $11.69), must be paid in Thai baht when departing the country from any of Thailand’s international airports. Thailand’s Entry/Exit information is subject to change without notice. For further information on Thailand’s entry/exit requirements, contact the Royal Thai Embassy, 1024 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20007, telephone (202) 944-3600, or Internet website http://www.thaiembdc.org, or the Thai consulates in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York City.

Popular places to travel in Thailand:

Bangkok City: Once known as the Venice of Asia for the network of canals or klongs crisscrossing the city, Bangkok is one of the most vibrant capitals of Southeast Asia. Bangkok or Krung Thep which means the City of Angels is considered one of the biggest city in the world. For a city of this size, Bangkok is surprisingly full of quiet escapes.
National Museum: Within walking distance of the Grand Palace, across the Phra Mane Ground, is the largest and most comprehensive museum in South-East Asia. The National Museum houses over 1,000 artifacts ranging from neolithic times to present Bangkok.
Phi Phi Island: Follow Thailand's long leg of land stretching down to Malaysia and you'll find Phi Phi Island to the west of the "knee" in the Andaman Sea. Technically, Phi Phi is two islands: Ko Phi Phi Don, and Ko Phi Phi Leh, Ko Phi Phi Don. The glorious South of Thailand offers endless exquisite beaches of golden sand, clear blue seas with colorful fish, coral reefs, and tropical islands. This is a region of spectacular scenery and totally relaxing lifestyle.

Fascinating beaches are what many people have in mind when talking about Thailand. Furthermore, Thailand’sabundant coral resources are among the world’s most beautiful top ranking. Some people just can’t stand going back to their city life with rush hours, bad traffic, elevators, and walls; and decide to live the rest of their lives on Thailand’s paradise island they have found.

Thailand’s marine tourist sites are located in the south and the east of the country. In the south, the peninsula lays southwards separating the Thai Gulf in the east from the Andaman Sea in the west. Each differs in its panorama. How the seas of the two sides are different, you must see for yourself. Phuket and Pattaya are recommended beaches destinations.

For the active traveller, Thailand offers endless opportunities for new and exciting adventure. Hiking, jungle treks, scuba diving, birdwatching, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, are just some of the ways to explore the country's immense natural and cultural wealth.

Thailand's location at the heart of Southeast Asia means the array of plant and wildlife it supports is very diverse. The mountains of the North form the southerly tip of the Himalayan range , making them a natural habitat for high-altitude species not seen in other parts of the country. The Southern Peninsula, on the other hand, is home to flora and fauna similar to those in Malaysia and Indonesia.

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