Henry's Home: Thailand Facts

Thailand facts reveals that Thailand has been voted the 13th friendliest place in the world to live and to visit. However, that’s not the case for every single part of the country. Some Foreign Offices advise travelers from overseas to strictly avoid travelling out to places like Preah Vihear, which is on the border with Cambodia. This is due, in part, to the threat of fighting there and also because of the constant presence of troops. Pattani and Songkhla are also off limits doe to the threat of terrorism. However, 16 million people still choose to fly into the country every year for vacation.

Communal Dining Is an Important Part of Thai Culture

In the West, we are used to set meals, especially when we go out to dinner. We are used to having a starter, a main and a dessert. Within Thai culture, however, this is unthinkable. Thai people see food as something that should be shared and enjoyed, with no one dish belonging to anyone. If you were to go out for a meal in Thailand, you’d probably be encouraged to eat in a large group and to share and taste everything laid out on the table. At the end of mealtimes, there are rarely any leftovers. Thai people believe leaving food is bad luck and will anger and enrage the God of Rice, leading to future famines and pestilence.

Thailand Was Once a very Densely Forested Country

Thailand Forest is Disappearing

Sadly, now, three quarters of the country’s forest has disappeared. Logging is now outlawed in Thailand, and also in some other Asian countries, to protect the remaining trees and make sure there is plenty for future generations to see and enjoy.

Thai People Call Their Country by a Special Name: Prathet Thai

In Thai language, the country is known as Prathet Thai, which translates into English as Land of the Free . It remains to this day the only country in South East Asia which was never colonized by a European country, and its people remain resolutely and justifiably proud of this claim.

Thailand Has a Constitutional Monarchy, Like the UK

King Bumibol Adulyadej, He Never Smiles

The current King of Thailand is King Bumibol Adulyadej. Thailand facts tell us that he has been on the Thai Throne since 1946, which makes him the longest serving monarch in the world. Up to 1932, the country had absolute rule from their royal family, but in that same year there was a coup by a group of people calling themselves The Promoters took control and demanded that the ruling King at the time (King Prajadhipok) give the people of the country a constitution. He agreed to this without a fight and from that date onwards the Monarch became purely a symbolic head of state, though the current monarch retains control of the Thai Army.

Thailand is the World’s Largest Exporter of Rice, With 10.8 Billion Tons Exported in 2014

Thailand has always been a prime exporter of rice, there are few nations to rival it’s production levels. Another very interesting example of Thailand facts is that last year, it exported 10.8 billion tons, which equates to USD$5.37billion. This is the highest figure in its history. Export levels were significantly increased last year due to the fact that the North East portion of the country had started to increase its production again, where in previous years it had waned. Usually, the main rice producer in the country was the central belt, but new road systems and transport networks in the North Eastern part of the country meant that export from their suddenly became much easier and more viable and are responsible for the sudden growth.

The Country Has a very Unusual Monkey Festival

Monkey Buffet Festival food pyramid

When we look at interesting Thailand facts we see that Thai people hold primates – especially monkeys – in great esteem. Therefore, they feel it appropriate to celebrate them once a year with an annual monkey festival, called The Monkey Buffet. It is held every year in Lopburi province and over 600 monkeys are invited to the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple to feast upon many different treats like ice cream, grilled meats and fresh fruit. The locals see this as a way of thanking the primates for bringing many thousands of tourists to the province every single year.

Thailand Holds the Record for Plate Smashing

Thailand facts show that back in the year 2010, Thailand smashed (pardon the pun) a record for the longest line of washed up plates. The number of plates washed was a staggering 10,488. However, the next year the record was beaten by India. The participants managed 15,295 in a straight line (that’s equal to 2.36 miles!)

20% of the Bangkok Police Force Have Lung Disease

It’s estimated that 20% of the Bangkok police force have some sort of lung disease. Traffic police in the country have to wear face masks to protect themselves from the onslaught of pollution, which is so high that some police stations are fitted with oxygen tanks in case officers are overcome by fumes while they work. Some estimates by financial institutions show that as much as $2.3 billion is lost in slowed down production or sick pay because of pollution problems

The King and I: A Famous Musical is still Banned in the Country

The King and I

One of the very interesting and little know Thailand facts is that popular musical film The King and I, starring Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner is actually banned in Thailand. It is believed that officials felt the film was insulting to Thai royalty, unfairly presenting them as uncultured. The ban has never been lifted!

Thailand is Home to 5 Record Breaking People and Features

Hoo Saetow is a medicine man who works in the country. He has the world’s longest documented hair – coming in at well over 15 feet (4.6 meters) in length. He claims it keeps him nice and warm. The country is also home to the world’s largest Buddha, Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin, found in the Wat Nuwang Monastery, Ang Phung. It is 300 feet (or 92 meters) high. The construction of the Buddha started in 1990 and ended in 2008. Thailand is also the place to go if you want to come face to face with the world’s largest fish – the whale shark, which is nearly 12 feet, or 3.6 meters, long. Thailand is also, remarkably, home to the world’s longest crocodile, which is 20 feet (6.17 meters) long, and the world’s largest restaurant, the Royal Dragon in Bangkok.

20 Is a Significant Age for the Men of this Buddhist Nation

For many years, all young men had to live as Buddhist monks for a certain period of time before they reached their 20th birthday. It was considered so important that even the monarch had to do it. Nowadays, there is a little more freedom around this notion and not every male adheres to it so rigidly, though there are some who still do.

Thailand Is the “Home” of Siamese Twins

Thailand was called Siam until 1939, then again in the later 1940s and as well as being famous for having a breed of cat named after it, it also lends its name to the phenomena of Siamese Twins. The first such pair were two brothers called Eng and Chang Bunker, born in the country in the 19th century. They were conjoined at the chest. Photos of the two exist online and they died in 1873. The term is now considered to not be appropriate, and doctors prefer to use the term conjoined twins instead.

Thailand Facts – Facts about Thailand Summary

Facts about Thailand show us that the country’s name means Land of the Free. Thailand holds primates, and particularly monkeys, in great esteem. Thailand facts also tell us that there are still parts of the country that are not safe for foreign travelers to visit. Thailand suffers from major problems with air pollution and smog, and 20% of the police force has some form of lung disease. The popular musical The King and I is still banned in the country. Finally, the country’s former name Siam, lends its name to the phenomena of Siamese Twins.

Thailand Facts

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Sunday, October 2, 2016