Topography

Thailand is divided into four natural regions:
1. The North
2. The Central Plain, or Chao Phraya River Basin
3. The Northeast, or the Korat Plateau
4. The South, or Southern Peninsula.
The North is a mountainous region comprising natural forests, ridges and deep, narrow, alluvial valleys. The major city in the region is Chiang Mai.

Central Thailand , the basin of the Chao Phraya River, is a lush, fertile valley. It is the richest and most extensive rice-producing area in the country and has often been called the "Rice Bowl of Asia." Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is located in this region. It is also the country's largest city

The Northeast region is arid, characterized by rolling surfaces and undulating hills. Harsh climatic conditions often result in this region being subjected to floods and droughts.

The Southern region ranges from hilly to mountainous, with thick virgin forests and rich deposits of minerals and ores. The region is the center for production of rubber and cultivation of other tropical crops

Geography

Geography

Situated in the heart of the Southeast Asian mainland and covering an area of 513,115 sq. km., from North 5 o30" to 21o and from East 97 o30" to 105o 30", Thailand borders the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand to the east, Myanmar and the Indian Ocean to the west, and Malaysia to the south. Thailand has maximum dimensions of about 2,500 kilometers north to south and 1,250 kilometers east to west, with a coastline of approximately 1,840 kilometers on the Gulf of Thailand and 865 kilometers along the Indian Ocean.

Thailand is the world's 51st-largest country in terms of land area, making it about the size of Spain. It has a surface area of approximately 513,000 km2 (198,000 sq mi).It is the 20th most populous country.

Land Use
arable land: 27.54%
permanent crops: 6.93%
other: 65.53% (2005)

Thailand Historical Background

Thailand has a wide variety of fauna and flora and boasts wide ethnic diversity as well. Thanks to its abundant resources and fertile land, it has attracted peoples of many lands, who have settled and thrived here.

The origin of the Thais is not agreed on among academics. Three decades ago it could be said with presumed certainty that the Thais originated in northwestern Szechuan in China about 4,500 years ago and later migrated south to their present homeland. However, this theory has been altered by the discovery of remarkable prehistoric artifacts in the village of Ban Chiang in the Nong Han District of Udon Thani Province in the Northeast of Thailand. These include evidence of bronze metallurgy dating back 3,500 years, as well as other indications of a culture far more sophisticated than previously believed by archaeologists. It now appears that Thais might have originated here in Thailand and later scattered to various parts of Asia, including some parts of China.

"Siam" is the name by which the country was known to the world until 1939 and again between 1945 and 1949. On May 11, 1949, an official proclamation declared that the country would henceforth be known as "Thailand." The word "Thai" means "Free," and therefore "Thailand" means "Land of the Free."

Source: Thailand into the 2000's

http://www.boi.go.th/english/how/social_and_culture.asp

Thailand in Brief : Demographic

The population of Thailand was estimated at 65,493,298 in July 2008. Approximately 25 percent are under the age of 15.
This core population includes the central Thai (36% of the population), Thai-Lao (32%), northern Thai (8%), and southern Thai (8%).

Age Structure
0-14 years: 21.2% (male 7,104,776/female 6,781,453)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 22,763,274/female 23,304,793
65 years and over: 8.5% (male 2,516,721/female 3,022,281) (2008 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth
total population: 72.55 years
male: 70.24 years
female: 74.98 years (2007 est.)

Capital: Bangkok

Main urban areas: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima

Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Languages spoken: Thai, ethnic and regional dialects

Climate: Tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid


Population

Total Population (2006): 64.6 Million
Median Age: 30.5
Population Growth Rate 0.91%
Birth Rate: 16.04/1,000 Population
Death Rate 6.94/1,000 Population
Life Expectancy at Birth: 71.41 Years
Population Below Poverty Line: 10.4%
Source: National Statistical Office and Bank of Thailand

Thaiairways

 Domestic Offices


Bangkok

EurngLuang

Tel : 628-2456-7, 288-7152-3

Fax : 0-22887158

Office hours Mon - Fri except public holiday

08.00 A.M. - 12.00 A.M., 13.00 P.M. - 17.00 P.M.

Thaiairways Resvation Center

Tel : 02-356-1111

Bangkok (Head Office)

89 Vibhavadi Rangsit Road 10900

Tel : (02) 545-3691-2

Fax : (02) 545-3832

Office hours Mon-Sat except public holiday 08.00 A.M. - 17.00 P.M.


Silom

485 Silom Road Bangkok 10500

Office hours Mon-Sat holiday 08.00 A.M. - 17.00 P.M.

Public holiday 09.00 A.m. - 16.00 P.M.

Krabi

133 Moo 5 Petkasem Road, Nua Khlong District, Krabi 81130

Tel : (075) 622-439-441

Fax : (075) 622-443

Airport: (075) 691-940


Khon Kaen

Hotel Sofitel Raja Orchid Khonkaen

9/9 Prachasamran Road, Amphur muang, Khonkaen 40000

Tel : (043) 227701-5

Fax : (043) 227708

Airport : 0-43238803, 0-4324-3037


Chiang Mai

240 Prapokklaow Road, T. Sripoom A. Muang Chiang Mai 50200

Tel : (053) 920-999

Fax : (053) 920-995

Airport: (053) 277-782, 277-640, 277-515

Chiang Rai

870 Phaholyothin Road, Chiang Rai 57000

Tel : (053) 711-179, 715-207, 715-734

Airport : (053) 793-058, 793-060

Nakhon Pathom

Bavorn Travel (Agent)

85 Nityo Road, Amphur muang, Nakhon Pathom

Tel : (042) 512-940, 512-494

Airport: (042) 513-357


Trang

199/2 Visetkul Road, Trang 92000

Tel : (075) 218-066, 219-923

Airport : (075) 210-804


NakhonSi Thammarat

1612 Rajdamneon Road, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80000

Tel : (075) 342-491, 343-874

Airport: (075) 344-045


Nakhon Ratchasima

40-44 Suranari Road, Amphur muang, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000

Tel : (044) 257-211-2, 252-114

Airport: (044) 254-834-5


Pattaya

Dusit Resort Pattaya Hotel 20150

Tel : (038) 420-994-7


Narathiwat

322-4 Phupha Pakdee Road, Narathiwat 96000

Tel : (073) 513-090-1, 511-161

Fax : (073) 513-091

Airport: (073) 565-157


Phuket

78/1 Ranong Road, Phuket 83000

Tel : (076) 211-195, 233-007-10

Fax : (076) 216-776

Airport: (076) 327-274, 327-230-7


Buriram

24/23 Romburi Road, Buriram

Tel : (044) 625-066-7

Airport: (044) 614-123


Sakon Nakhon

332/3 Sookkasem Road, Sakon Nakhon 47000

Tel : (042) 712-259/-60

Airport : (042) 714-739


Phitsanulok

209/26-28 Boromtriloknart Road, Phitsanulok 65000

Tel : (055) 258-020, 219-630, 251-671

Airport : (055) 258-029, 241-952

Nong Khai

206 Mittra Pab Thai-Loas Road, Tam bon Meechai

Amphur muang, Nong Khai 43000

Tel : (042) 411-530


Mae Hong Son

71 Singhanart Bamrung Road, Mae Hong Son 58000

Tel : (053) 612-220, 612-194

Airport: (053) 611-367, 612-221



Udon Thani

60 Makkhang Road, Udon Thani 41000

Tel : (042) 243-222, 246-697

Airport: (042) 246-567, 246-644



Surat Thani

3/27-28 Karoonrat Road, Surat Thani 84000

Tel : (077) 272-610, 273-355, 273-710

Airport : (077) 200-611, 200-612



Hat Yai

190/6 Nipat Uthit 2 Road, Hat Yai Songkhla 90110

Tel : (074) 233-433, 230-445-6

Airport : (074) 251-034, 251-900

Fax : (074) 232-392


Ubon Ratchathani

364 Chayanggool Road, Ubon Ratchathani 34000

Tel : (045) 313-340-4

Airport: (045) 243-037, 243-039

Thailand: Land of Smile

Land of smile, you will often see Thai people smile becasue it is our nature. You will always hear " How are you" becasue we care! You will feel warm and feel home when you visit. Welcome to Thailand.

The Thai Calendar

Thailand has adopted the western calendar to divide the year into days, weeks and months, using Thai names for these units. Years are numbered according to the Buddhist era (BE) which commenced 543 years before the Christian era. Therefore 2007 AD is BE 2550 and 2008 is BE 2551.

National public holidays Thailand's national public holidays are linked to religious or agricultural traditions and follow the lunar calendar, therefore the dates for some of the holidays change each year. For the precise dates of the lunar holidays and festival locations, check www.tourismthailand.org

The following are national public holidays in Thailand :

24 November 2007
(Saturday) Loy Kratong
Not a national holiday, but an evening when Thais pay respect to the goddess of the waters by floating candlelit offerings on any and all waterways around the kingdom.

5 December 2007
(Wednesday) King's Birthday
His Majesty the King's birthday is celebrated throughout the country and also serves as the nation's Fathers Day.
National Holiday

10 December 2007
(Monday) Constitution Day
December 10th celebrates the date in 1932 when the country was granted its first constitution.
National Holiday

31 December 2007
(Monday) New Years Eve
The day before the western new year day is always a national holiday.
National Holiday

1 January 2008
(Tuesday) New Year's Day
The beginning of the western new year is a national holiday in Thaland, one of three "new year" holidays celebrated every year.
National Holiday

8 February 2008
(Friday) Chinese New Year
The beginning of the Chinese lunar year is celebrated in the Chinatowns of every city throughout Thailand. Some businesses close for the day, but it is not a national holiday.

21 February 2008
(Thursday) Makha Bucha
Makha Bucha celebrates the Buddha's first sermon in to his disciples.
National Holiday

6 April 2008
(Sunday) Chakri Day
Chakri Day commeorates the founding of the current dynasty, Rama I.
National Holiday

7 April 2008
(Monday) Chakri Day (Substitution)
Some businesses may be closed.

13 April 2008
(Sunday) Songkran
Songkran is the traditional Thai new year, generally celebrated as a water festival.
National Holiday

14 April 2008
(Monday) Songkran
Second day of this three-day holiday.
National Holiday

15 April 2008
(Tuesday) Songkran
Third of the three days of Songkran.
National Holiday

1 May 2008
(Thursday) Labor Day
International labor day is celebrated as a national holiday, even though there isn't much ado about it
National Holiday

5 May 2008
(Monday) Coronation Day
Celebrates the day in 1949 when the current king was crowned.
National Holiday

19 May 2008
(Monday) Visakha Bucha
The holiest Buddhist holiday celebrates the birth, enlightenment and entry into nirvana of the Buddha.
National Holiday

12 August 2008
(Tuesday) Queen's Birthday
Her Majesty the Queen's birthday is a national holiday, also serving as the country's Mothers Day as well.
National Holiday

16 August 2008
(Saturday) Buddhist Lent
This day marks the beginning of the Buddhist 'lent' period, a time when monks are supposed to retreat to their temples while new life springs forth.
National Holiday

18 August 2008
(Monday) Buddhist Lent (Substitution)
Some businesses may be closed.

23 October 2008
(Thursday) Chulalongkorn Day
Celebrates the birthday of one of Thailand's most revered kings.
National Holiday

24 November 2008
(Monday)
Loy Kratong
Not a national holiday, but an evening when Thais pay respect to the goddess of the waters by floating candlelit offerings on any and all waterways around the kingdom.

5 December 2008
(Friday)
King's Birthday
His Majesty the King's birthday is celebrated throughout the country and also serves as the nation's Fathers Day.
National Holiday

10 December 2008
(Wednesday)
Constitution Day
December 10th celebrates the date in 1932 when the country was granted its first constitution.
National Holiday

31 December 2008
(Wednesday)
New Years Eve
The day before the western new year day is always a national holiday.
National Holiday

http://www.tourismthailand.org