THAILANDIA

Thailand is located in Southeast Asia. It is bounded by Myanmar to the north-west, by Laos to the north-east, by Cambodia to the south-east and by Malaysia to the south. The region of the Western coast is surrounded by the Andaman Sea, while the Eastern coast is on the Gulf of Thailand.

The whole country covers a total area of 513,115 square km.

Thailand counts 64 million inhabitants. More than 80% of the population belongs to the "thai" ethnic group, followed by Chinese and by other minor tribal groups.

Bangkok. With about 8 million inhabitants, the city might seem chaotic and wild at first glance, but after a closer sight it appears modern and interesting. The literal meaning of its name is "village where the kok is grown"; the kok is a fruit which remembers the olive for its shape and dimension.

Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya

Phuket International Airport - Phuket.

The history of Thailand has ancient roots, it seems that some regions of the country were inhabited already ten million years ago. The first descendants of the "Thai" race, Sino-Tibetan people, settled in the area around the end of the thirteenth century. Some ten years later they founded the kingdom of Ayutthaya, or Siam, thus starting a series of conquests. The first conquest dates back to 1431, with the occupation of the kingdom of Kmer and Angkor. In the eighteenth century Chao Phaya Chakri proclames himself King with the name of Rama I (this dynasty is still reigning today), and decides to move the capital to Bangkok with the aim of adjusting the state regulations and making the culture of its country, the "Thai" culture, flourish again. The absolute monarchy lasted till 1932 when, under the reign of Rama VII, a coup converted the country into a Constitutional Monarchy which started a long phase of political instability culminating in 1873 with the famous student riots. Such revolts caused the death of almost 400 people. The reinstatement of the popular sovereignty and the democratic elections occurred in 1992, when the current constitutional system was drawn.

The 6th of April, Commemoration Festival for the foundation of the Chakry dynasty with King Rama I.

Nowadays Thailand is a Constitutional Monarchy. The head of the State is the King Bhumibol Adulyadei, Rama IX.

The official language in Thailand is thai, but also Chinese, Malay and English are quite widespread. In the tourist areas it is even possible to meet Italian-speaking people.

The most professed religious cult is Buddhism with a percentage higher than 90%. Other professed religions are Islamism and Christianity.

The time zone is six hours ahead of Italy; when the Daylight Saving Time is in use, the difference is 5 hours.

Italian citizens visiting Thailand as tourists are required to hold a passport with at least
six-month validity and a round-trip ticket. For periods of staying shorter than one month, no visa is required; on the contrary for those who want to prolong their visiting period, it is necessary to require the "tourist visa", which has a validity of sixty days and is released by the Thailand Embassy or Consulate after paying a tax.

The country's monetary unit is the bath. Considering the current exchange rate, a holiday in Thailand is quite cheap for Italian tourists. Obviously it depends on the kind of holiday you want to spend.

CHECK THE CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE

In the recent years the most important international credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops, above all in the big cities and in the tourist sites.

No vaccination is required to visit Thailand, above all if your destination is a tourist site such as Bangkok, Phuket or Pattaya. Before leaving it is anyway advisable to drawn an insurance contract covering illnesses and accidents.

Considering its geographical position, the climate in Thailand is warm and humid and there are two alternating seasons: the dry and the rain season. The first covers the period from November to March, while the second from June to October.

CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST IN REAL TIME

The voltage is 220v. It could be useful to bring with you an adaptor for American-styled pin plugs.

To call Italy from Thailand is very easy: dial 001 followed by 39, then the Italian area code - including zero for fixed net numbers - and the number you wish to call (for example: to call a fixed net telephone number in Rome just dial 001 39 06 24... ; to call a mobile phone number dial 001 39 392 27...). To call Thailand from Italy, dial the international code 0066, followed by the area code including zero and the number you wish to call. The GSM network is active but it is advisable to get informed about coverage and costs before the departure.

Checking or sending e-mails will not be a problem. Each hotel is supplied with internet points which can also be found outside the hotels in the main cities.

There are no restrictions to take pictures or make amateur videos for private use. As in any other country, it is advisable to politely ask local people for their permission before taking pictures of them.

For shopping lovers Thailand is a real paradise. Gems, silk, hand-decorated objects and chinaware are among the things to buy. If you buy antiques, remember to ask for the purchase certificate necessary to go through the customs. The best shopping places are as usual the local small markets, the shopping malls and the duty free at the airport. It is forbidden to export sacred images or Buddha statues.

The "Thai" gastronomic tradition is famous all over the world for its unique tastes: tasty and nourishing but with low calories. The local cuisine is based on rice, starting with the aromatic Thai rice, which is served both as a main dish and together with other courses. It is important to remember that the Thailand cuisine is very spicy and often hot. Among the dishes to be tasted there are the soups with fish or curry; the best of them is the tasty "tom kha" made with chicken and mushrooms, it is quite hot and is cooked in the coconut milk. Also noodles are very well known, they can be made with fish or meat and can be stewed or sautéed with vegetables. Grilled fish or chicken are also not to be missed, they are seasoned with different sweet-and-sour sauces such as ginger, curry and lemongrass.

In Thailand music is a cultural form rich in poetry and with ancient roots. In the past, and even today, it was normally played by group of people during theatre performances. Among the different music instruments played by the artists the percussions and the wind instruments were the most evident. The Thailand artists of the last generation have been obviously influenced by western music which is sometimes mixed with the rhythm of the ancient music tradition of their country thus creating songs with a real particular sound.

Nightlife in Thailand is in no way inferior to the big western metropolis. In tourist areas nights never end. The most famous clubs are on the islands visited by foreign tourists such as Phuket and Pattaya. Irish pubs, discos and "go-go bars" are other forms of entertainment together with traditional festivals, such as those dedicated to the moon.

Thailand offers a calendar rich in important festivals, feasts and fairs. Many are religious feasts, others have a remote origin and some of them are new. Here are the most significant and interesting.

January
Around mid January in the village of Bo Sang near Chiang, in the North of the country, there is the fair of the umbrella, a special occasion featured by songs and typical dances.

April
- The 6th of April Thailand celebrates the anniversary of the foundation of the Chakri dynasty. In order to honour their kings, Thailand people go to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha bringing flowers and incense.
- The Thailand New Year's Day is one of the most important celebrations in the country and it corresponds to the beginning of the Buddhist year.

September
- The annual pirogue race takes place every year in Phichit. It is one of the most interesting festivals to be seen in Thailand for the beauty of the boats decorated with scented flowers and for the strong presence of the local people.

November
- The "Loi krathong" is one of the most traditional events scheduled in Thailand. It is also well known as festival of lights. In order to honour the mother of water, Thailand people meet along the shores of lakes and rivers and to be purified from sins they put into water the krathong, which are typical boats finished off with one candle and some incense.

The famous "thai" massage was known in the past with the name of 'Nual Thai Phamboran' and was performed only and exclusively in the Buddhist temples. It seems that its origins have ancient roots and derive from the Indian culture. The massage, through a series of balanced hand stimulations, allows to restart some muscle functions of the body and to relieve pain. Today Thailand is famous for its massages and the wellness centres are countless, in particular in the tourist sites.

1) The Temple of the Emerald Buddha - Bangkok
2) The Phra Borom Maha Rajawang - Bangkok
3) The market in Patpong - Bangkok
4) The Caves of Chiang Dao - Chiang Mai
5) The Wat Phrathat Temple - Chiang Mai
6) The small city of Krabi - Phuket
7) The Phangnga Bay - Phuket
8) The Shell Museum in Rawa - Phuket
9) The Temple of Wat Chalong - Phuket.
10) The beaches of Phuket - Phuket

The island of Phuket is famous for its beaches, the sea and the soundings. It is equipped for any sort of water sport, from snorkelling to diving. For lovers of strong emotions the following diving points are suggested: the shark point, that is the point where it is possible to admire the leopard sharks, and the area hosting the wreck of the ferry boat King Cruiser. The divers will also have the occasion to make excursions to the neighbouring Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea.

- Water - It is advisable to drink water from sealed bottles or cans.

- Not to forget - A sweater may be useful. Do not forget a cap, your sunglasses and high-protection solar creams.

- Tips - Tips are not compulsory but beyond being highly appreciated, tipping the waiter is quite a common habit.

- Safety - There are no real dangers. No particular crime problems are to be signalled. It is anyway advisable to take the usual precautions in order to avoid dangerous situations.

Via Barberini, 68 - Rome (Italy)
Phone: 0039 06 4201 4422/26
Fax: 0039 06 4873 500
info@turismothailandese.it
www.turismothailandese.it

Via Nomentana 132 - Rome (Italy)
Phone: 0039 06 8622 051

399, Nang Linchee Road, Tungmahamek, Yannawa - Bangkok
Phone: 0066 2 2854 090/3
Fax: 0066 2 2854 793
www.italian-embassy.org.ae/ambasciata_bangkok
ambbang@samart.co.th - ambasciata.bangkok@esteri.it