Thailand hotel travel information and local guide

Thailand the land of smiles, where everyone is fun loving and happy go lucky and the country itself is as diverse and spectacular as the glossy postcards depict. It is a country where travel is reasonably cheap and there is something for everyone. A land where boredom has been forgotten, where the rain is warm, even pleasant and there is something for every taste or desire.

Thailand, a land of contrasts, a land of genuinely beautiful people, a land that once visited can be revisited again and again and one will never tire of its diversity, spectacular scenery, friendliness and affordability. A land that really is Paradise

Introduction

Geography
The Kingdom of Thailand, covering an area of 514,000 square kilometres, lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, roughly equidistant between India and China. It shares borders with Myanmar to the west and north, Lao P.D.R. to the north and northeast, Cambodia to the east and Malaysia to the south.

Climate
Thailand lies within the humid tropics and remains hot throughout the year. Average temperatures are about 29°C, ranging in Bangkok from 35°C in April to 17°C in December. There are three seasons: the cool season (November to February), the hot season (April to May), and the rainy season (June to October), though downpours rarely last more than a couple of hours.

Population
Thailand has a population of about 60 million. Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area has historically been a migratory crossroads, and thus strains of Mon, Khmer, Burmese, Lao, Malay, Indian and most strongly, Chinese stock produce a degree of ethnic diversity. Integration is such, however, that culturally and socially there is enormous unity.

Religion
Thailand is one of the most strongly Buddhist countries in the world. The national religion is Theravada Buddhism, a branch of Hinayana Buddhism, practiced by more than 90 % of all Thais.

The remainder of the population adheres to lslam, Christianity, Hinduism and other faiths - all of which are allowed full freedom of expression. Buddhism continues to cast strong influence on daily life. Senior monks are highly revered. Thus, in towns and villages, the temple (wat) is the heart of social and religious life.

Meditation, one of the most popular aspects of Buddhism, is practiced regularly by numerous Thai as a means of promoting inner peace and happiness. Visitors, too, can learn the fundamentals of this practice at several centres in Bangkok and elsewhere in the country.

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Topography
Thailand is divided into four distinct areas : the mountainous North, the fertile Central Plains, the semi-arid plateau of the Northeast, and the peninsula South, distinguished by its many beautiful tropical beaches and offshore islands.

Central Thailand - The central region is considered the heartland of the country. Basically it encompasses the alluvial plains created by the Chao Phaya River. The region is the most fertile of the country, and due to an extensive network of canals and small irrigation projects, the area is a major producer of rice. It is also the most densely populated region of the country, with the capital, Bangkok, in its midst. Other areas include Pattaya, Ayuthaya, Kanchanaburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.

Northern Thailand - This region is composed of a series of parallel mountain ranges with an average elevation of 1,200m (3,900ft) above sea level, incised by steep valleys of the Ping, Wang, Yom, and Nan rivers. A large part of these mountains is still covered with tropical monsoon forests, though the most valuable timber, teak, has been cut to a wide extent (the government has now imposed a full logging ban). Doi Inthanon, with an elevation of 2,595m (8,514ft) the highest point in the country, is located in the extreme northwest of the region. The first three Thai kingdoms in Indochina had their capitals in northern Thailand, at Sukhothai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Saen. The second largest city of present-day Thailand, Chiang Mai, is the center of the northern region. The northernmost corner of northern Thailand belongs to the region dubbed Golden Triangle - one of the world’s major producers of opium. Other towns in the area include, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai and Mae Sai.

Northeastern Thailand - Theregion principally consists of a saucer shaped plateau known as Khorat Plateau with an average elevations of 200m (650ft). The region’s soils are poor and sandy and rainfall is scant except for the rainy season from June to October when much of the land is flooded. Areas not used for agriculture are largely covered with savanna-type grasses and shrubs. The Northeast is the least developed region of the country, and the least favored by tourists. Accommodation in the area is available in a number of areas and some of these include, Khon Kaen, Roi Et and Surin.

East Coast - This part of the country, geographically the southern edge of northeastern Thailand along the Gulf of Thailand, has not traditionally been considered a separate region of the country. The division, often made today, is based on administrative and social factors more than on geological features. The region is distinguished from the Northeast in that it is far richer - the second richest region of the country, after the central plain. The East Coast has a well-established industrial and tourist infrastructure. Furthermore contributing to the region’s wealth are extraordinary fruits (durians and mangos) as well as extraordinary stones (rubies and sapphires). Phetchaburi, Hua Hin, Cha Am, Koh Samui, Koh Pangan, Koh Tao and Songkla are some of the areas on the east coast.

Southern Thailand - Occupying the northern half of the Malay Peninsula, the region has a rolling to mountainous topography with little flat land. The countryside is often breathtaking, and this asset is increasingly tapped for the development of tourism. Traditionally, the region’s relative wealth stems from its most important natural resources, tin and rubber. This is the most popular area for tourists and areas within this region include, Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Yao (Noi and Yai) and numerous other islands.