| About
Thailand |
Weather
The best overall
time for visiting
most of Thailand
climate-wise is
between November
and February when
it is not too
wet and not too
hot. The south
is best visited
when the rest
of Thailand is
miserably hot
(March to May),
and the north
is best from mid-November
to early December
or when it starts
warming up again
in February. If
you're spending
time in Bangkok,
be prepared to
roast in April
and do some wading
in October - probably
most challenging
two months, weather-wise,
in the capital.
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People
75% Thai,
11% Chinese, 3.5%
Malay; also Mon, Khmer,
Phuan and Karen minorities
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Culture
& History
Religion
and monarchy are the
cornerstones of Thai
culture, and they
permeate everyday
life. It's the custom
to stand for the royal
anthem before films
are shown, and the
national anthem is
played across towns,
villages and even
Bangkok Skytrain stations
twice daily.
For the beach-holidaymaker
and Bangkok fly-by-nighter,
it is often easy to
overlook these cultural
subtleties - the Thais
are a gregarious and
accepting lot - but
a little bit of respect
goes a long way in
finding out more about
Thailand's people
and culture.
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Visa
Most visitors can
stay for 30 days without
a visa. Visitors from
39 different countries
can stay for 30 days
without a visa. Check
with a Thai embassy
or consulate if you
plan on arriving without
a visa or visit www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php.
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Custom
Like most countries,
Thailand prohibits
the importation of
illegal drugs, firearms
and ammunition (unless
registered in advance
with the Police Department),
and pornographic media.
Electronic goods such
as personal stereos,
calculators and computers
can be a problem if
the customs officials
have reason to believe
you're bringing them
in for resale. As
long as you don't
carry more than one
of each, you should
be OK.
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Thai
Arts
The visitor to Thailand
has the rare opportunity
to witness exquisite
and unique forms
of artistic expression.
Traditional Thai
art can be seen
in museums and temples,
palaces and theaters,
or in the living
culture and day-to-day
activities of the
Thai people themselves.
Architecture:
In Thailand, scholars
and laymen alike,
consider architecture
to be one, if not
the most important
of all the arts.
Thai architecture
is a blend of different
influences, styles
and methods. Down
the ages, these
have been adapted
and improved upon
by various cultures
and kingdoms, and
as a result, Thai
architectural style
is both unique and
very memorable.
Crafts:
From practical,
household utensils
expertly woven from
bamboo to exquisite
gold ceremonial
objects and refined
bronzes, Thai artisans
have impressed their
unique style on
all manner of crafts.
Sensational, shimmering
Thai silk is only
the best known.
Muay Thai:
is known as "King
of the Ring"
in kickboxing circles.
These fights feature
punches, kicks,
elbows, knees, standing
grappling and head-butts
to wear down and
knock out their
opponent. Thai training
methods develop
devastating power,
speed and superb
cardio-vascular
endurance as well
as fighting spirit.
Muay Thai training
as also quite safe
thanks to sophisticated
pad training that
evolved to keep
fighters healthy
between fights.
Muay Thai has also
proven very effective
outside the ring
and has been embraced
enthusiastically
by practitioners
of a variety of
self-defense, sporting,
military and law
enforcement activities.
Click Here
for reserving a
class
Thai Music:
Exotic by Western
standards, Thai
music combines the
excitement of a
boxing match with
the serenity of
romantic drama.
With a surprising
depth and subtlety
of feeling, Thai
music is worth the
effort it takes
to fully appreciate.
Thai Dance: Simply
stated yet often
refined, Thailand's
dramatic arts are
a clear expression
of the daily cycle
of birth, death
and the day-to-day
life of people who
live by the land
and the sea.
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