Useful information for newcomers
CLIMATE
A conventional tropical climate with intense heat, high humidity and incessant
perspiration during the summer months of April and May best describes Thailand.
However, the onset of monsoon in June brings respite till the end of October.
The preferred months for visiting Thailand should be from November till February
when the heat and humidity subsides with the embalming effect of cooling North
Eastern breeze. The hilly north and northeast experience a dip in temperature below
10C with possibilities of touching the freezing point. The summer on the contrary is
incredibly hot. The Central region is warm around March – June with a scorching
April in between. July till October receives heavy rain. In South, the rainy season is a
stretch of eight to nine months from May till December on the side of the Gulf of
Thailand and from April to November towards the Andaman Sea. Being a peninsula,
the temperature in South doesn’t feature in extremes and plays in moderate.
What to wear
Light cotton clothing is a comfort to both your body and your purse in Thailand.
Team it up with a hat, an umbrella, sunscreen with a good Ph balance and a pair of
sunglasses to brave the tropical sun during Thai summer.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
the kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, making it a natural
gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and Southern China. Its shape and geography divide
into four natural regions : the mountains and forests of the North; the vast rice fields
of the Central Plains; the semi-arid farm lands of the Northeast plateau; and the
tropical islands and long coastline of the peninsula South.
The country comprises 76 provinces that are further divided into districts, sub-districts
and villages. Bangkok is the capital city and centre of political, commercial, industrial
and cultural activities. It is also the seat of Thailand's revered Royal Family, with His
Majesty the King recognized as Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder
of the Buddhist religion and Upholder of all religions.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or
King Rama IX, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty, the present king. The King has
reigned for more than half a century, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch.
Thailand embraces a rich diversity of cultures and traditions. With its proud history,
tropical climate and renowned hospitality, the Kingdom is a never-ending source of
fascination and pleasure for international visitors.
Neighboring countries:
1) Myanmar - west and north,
2) Lao P.D.R. - north and northeast,
3) Cambodia - southeast and
4) Malaysia - south.
EVENTS
Many festivals are linked to Buddhist or Brahman rituals and follow a lunar calendar.
New Year, Songkran, is celebrated in mid-April by 'bathing' Buddha images, paying
respects to monks and elders by sprinkling water over their hands, and generally
tossing a lot of the H2O in the air for fun. Expect to be soaked unless you want to
party-poop in your room. The sowing and harvesting of rice has given rise to a cycle
of festivals. To kick off the official rice-planting season in early May, the king
participates in an ancient Brahman ritual in a large field in central Bangkok. A Rocket
Festival is held in May in the country's north-east, using a volatile mixture of bamboo
and gunpowder to convince the sky to send rain for the new rice season. The rice
harvest from September through to May leads to joyous local celebrations throughout
Thailand. The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket and Trang, during which devout Chinese
Buddhists eat only vegetarian food, runs for nine days from late-September to early-
October. Merit-making processions are the most visible expression of this festival, but
there are also ceremonies at Chinese temples. The Elephant Roundup in Surin in
November is an elephantine festival popular with the kind of people who enjoy
watching pachyderms play soccer. During the Loi Krathong Festival, held after the
rainy season (usually in November), candle-lit floats are cast into waterways to bring
good fortune for the coming year.
CULTURE
Monarchy and religion are the two sacred cows in Thailand. Thais are tolerant of most
behavior, as long as it doesn't insult one of these. Buddhism is the dominant religion,
and orange-robed monks and gold, marble and stone Buddha’s are common sights.
The prevalent form of Buddhism practiced is the Theravada school, which emphasizes
the potential of the individual to attain nirvana without the aid of saints or gurus.
Make sure you are suitably dressed when visiting a temple - no shorts or minis
BASIC LIVING COSTS
One reason why Thailand is such a popular place with foreigners is that it's really
cheap. Basic costs of living here are significantly less than those of Europe or the US.
If you're careful and on a shoestring budget, you could manage on around 600 baht a
day including food and accommodation if you've got money to spend, then of course,
the sky's the limit, because resorts and hotels in Thailand, especially in Bangkok, can
get as expensive as anywhere else on earth!
You can get a very nice Thai meal with a drink for less than Bt 60. Eat western food
and you can expect to pay at least 100 baht a dish. A beer in a restaurant will cost
between 30 and 70 baht depending on the brand. Staple groceries also come cheap in
supermarkets - a dozen eggs: 40 baht, a liter of milk: 30 baht, bottle of beer: 30 baht,
loaf of bread: 30 baht, can of soft drink: 25 baht, bar of chocolate: 30 baht. Wine is
expensive; Bt 400 will be a cheap bottle. If you're tempted by culinary exotica, a bag
of crispy fried grasshoppers goes on the street for around 20 baht, snail curry for a
little more!
THAI FOOD
Thai food is known for its enthusiastic use of fresh (rather than dried) herbs and
spices as well as fish sauce.
Instead of a single main course with side dishes found in Western cuisine, a Thai full
meal typically consists of either a single dish or rice khao with many complementary
dishes served concurrently.
Thanks
John