วันอาทิตย์ที่ 27 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2550
วันเสาร์ที่ 26 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2550
Sport
Most participation sports are available in Bangkok for those fit enough to perform in the tropical conditions, and the city is particularly well endowed with golf courses. A cooler alternative is ice skating, and the Thais have shown themselves to be skilful ice hockey players. Arguably the most interesting spectator sport is Thai Boxing - Muay Thai - and a major bout can empty the city streets of taxis until it is over as drivers flock to the nearest television set. Reserved for the daring rather than the dainty, a seat in one of Bangkok's two boxing stadiums will guarantee an evening of revelations into the Thai psyche.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Nightlife
Bangkok's racy nightlife has recently been hobbled by government attempts to uphold decency, and the notorious anything-goes bars are currently a shadow of their former self. This has happened many times over the years, and a return to the full formula may still be on the cards. Increasing numbers of tourists have also turned what was once rather spontaneous and charmingly amateur entertainment into something less appealing more commercialised, and less erotic. Nonetheless, Pat Pong is still worth a visit, not least for its night market. The Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy areas are smaller clones of the same thing. Most bars don't cheat, but a few are rip-offs with hidden charges. Go with a local person, or take advice before setting out. More sedate entertainment comes in the form of a Thai dinner of bland but nonetheless enjoyable Thai dishes, with an introduction to the subtleties of Classical Dance.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Shopping
Probably no other city in Asia offers such a vast choice of goods, much enhanced by the polite sales techniques, and the good-natured haggling that accompanies most transactions. Thailand is brimming with bargains, the more so since the devaluation of the Thai baht in 1997, and a simple stroll around the shops or local market may see you return with things that you never thought you wanted, but suddenly had to buy.
Provided you have sufficient time, following the standard tourists' shopping rules will help ie. a) First invest time only observing what there is to buy in various outlets (markets, shops, department stores etc.), b) Decide what you want to buy, and check prices in several different locations, bargaining where applicable, c) Make purchases when you are reasonably sure there are no better deals available.
One good starting point for this procedure is at Pratunam textiles market (next to the Amari Watergate Hotel) followed by a short walk to Naraiphand Thai Handicraft Center opposite the Central World Plaza. This is a joint venture between the government and the private sector, where local products are sold at reasonable fixed prices. A subsequent exploration of the myriad shops inside Central World Plaza will top off the first "shopseeing" impressions. The Bangkok Skytrain (see below) brings you quickly and efficiently to the many other main shopping areas.
There is a vast choice: clothing, silks, cotton, batik, lacquerware, pewter, carvings, ceramics, silver, gold, furniture, handicrafts, hill tribe articles, jewellery and Gemstones, to mention but a few. The latter should be bought from a reputable shop (ask local expats or your Embassy for recommendations) and made for pleasure rather than investment. Unless you are a qualified gemologist, forget about making a profit on your gemstone purchase in Thailand.
Which tailor? A valid question indeed. Bangkok's ubiquitous (mainly Indian Sikh) tailors now have such a high profile that many advertise in expensive glossy magazines, frequently splashing out with double-page features, and claiming to have won a variety of otherwise unlisted and unknown "awards". The high cost of such advertising coupled with the fact that they inevitably offer a 'Package Deal" where you can buy half a wardrobe for just over US$150 will tell you that something is wrong, and indeed it is. Mostly, this is a ruse to get you into the shop, and you emerge having spent a great deal more than you wanted to - these fellows are expert salesmen, and the expertise is not always reflected in what they are selling.
Quality is a key factor - some of the window displays exhibit such hideous bad taste and stitching quality (plus usually a few long-dead insects) that it is astonishing that they get any customers at all. The convenient "Made in 24 hours " offer may also see your bargain begin to unravel almost as fast. None of us will ever forget the guest at a hotel cocktail party who proudly appeared wearing his brand new just-delivered jacket, the sleeve of which slowly began to detach itself with each vertical movement of his gin-and-tonic. To our amused horror, it finally came apart in a haemorrhage of stuffing, and lay on his arm like some strange wounded animal. Housekeeping to the rescue.
Having said that, there are excellent tailoring possibilities in Bangkok, and again, recommendations from local residents or regular visitors are invaluable. For top quality fabrics and custom made articles created by craftsmen on the premises (and not by sweat shops in the bowels of the city) expect to pay a little less than you would back home, and for suits and jackets, anticipate 2-4 fittings.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Provided you have sufficient time, following the standard tourists' shopping rules will help ie. a) First invest time only observing what there is to buy in various outlets (markets, shops, department stores etc.), b) Decide what you want to buy, and check prices in several different locations, bargaining where applicable, c) Make purchases when you are reasonably sure there are no better deals available.
One good starting point for this procedure is at Pratunam textiles market (next to the Amari Watergate Hotel) followed by a short walk to Naraiphand Thai Handicraft Center opposite the Central World Plaza. This is a joint venture between the government and the private sector, where local products are sold at reasonable fixed prices. A subsequent exploration of the myriad shops inside Central World Plaza will top off the first "shopseeing" impressions. The Bangkok Skytrain (see below) brings you quickly and efficiently to the many other main shopping areas.
There is a vast choice: clothing, silks, cotton, batik, lacquerware, pewter, carvings, ceramics, silver, gold, furniture, handicrafts, hill tribe articles, jewellery and Gemstones, to mention but a few. The latter should be bought from a reputable shop (ask local expats or your Embassy for recommendations) and made for pleasure rather than investment. Unless you are a qualified gemologist, forget about making a profit on your gemstone purchase in Thailand.
Which tailor? A valid question indeed. Bangkok's ubiquitous (mainly Indian Sikh) tailors now have such a high profile that many advertise in expensive glossy magazines, frequently splashing out with double-page features, and claiming to have won a variety of otherwise unlisted and unknown "awards". The high cost of such advertising coupled with the fact that they inevitably offer a 'Package Deal" where you can buy half a wardrobe for just over US$150 will tell you that something is wrong, and indeed it is. Mostly, this is a ruse to get you into the shop, and you emerge having spent a great deal more than you wanted to - these fellows are expert salesmen, and the expertise is not always reflected in what they are selling.
Quality is a key factor - some of the window displays exhibit such hideous bad taste and stitching quality (plus usually a few long-dead insects) that it is astonishing that they get any customers at all. The convenient "Made in 24 hours " offer may also see your bargain begin to unravel almost as fast. None of us will ever forget the guest at a hotel cocktail party who proudly appeared wearing his brand new just-delivered jacket, the sleeve of which slowly began to detach itself with each vertical movement of his gin-and-tonic. To our amused horror, it finally came apart in a haemorrhage of stuffing, and lay on his arm like some strange wounded animal. Housekeeping to the rescue.
Having said that, there are excellent tailoring possibilities in Bangkok, and again, recommendations from local residents or regular visitors are invaluable. For top quality fabrics and custom made articles created by craftsmen on the premises (and not by sweat shops in the bowels of the city) expect to pay a little less than you would back home, and for suits and jackets, anticipate 2-4 fittings.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Eating & Drinking
The excellence of Thai cuisine needs little introduction, even though Thai restaurants overseas tend to serve blander variations of the art. One of the best ways of appreciating the subtleties is participating in a Thai cooking class where students first shop for the ingredients and herbs in the local market before learning how to blend and combine them into the simply extraordinary taste sensations they provide. Bangkok is home to some of the finest restaurants in Asia, from the simplest of servings, to the most sophisticated haute cuisine.
Alcohol consumption is high in Thailand, reflected in the wide range of beers and firewaters - the best known being the rice whisky Mekhong. Imported spirits such as Scotch cost much less than in Scotland, but imported wines are heavily taxed, and good vintages are very expensive. The locally produced Chateau de Loei brands however, are very acceptable.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Alcohol consumption is high in Thailand, reflected in the wide range of beers and firewaters - the best known being the rice whisky Mekhong. Imported spirits such as Scotch cost much less than in Scotland, but imported wines are heavily taxed, and good vintages are very expensive. The locally produced Chateau de Loei brands however, are very acceptable.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
The Canals (Klongs)
Visitors returning to Bangkok after an absence of a few decades are stunned to discover the exotic Venice-like city they once knew is now firmly embedded in concrete. Many of the long straight roads clogged with vehicles used to be waterways filled with boats. Few klongs remain, but those that do are worth visiting, particularly on the opposite (Thonburi) side of the river. Tours exist, but a privately arranged trip exploring the smaller lesser-known and often tiny channels is much preferable. For the pioneering traveller, numerous "longtail" public boats operate in this remaining network, and using these local services can be a wonderful experience. Unless you speak enough Thai to find your way around, a local guide is recommended.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
The Main River
The Chao Phya river, plus the wealth of natural and man-made attractions which line its banks, provide a non-stop panoply of fascination. Numerous tour options are available, including day trips to the former Thai capital of Ayuthaya, and dinner cruises which allow you to experience the big river as a combination of darkness, reflections, and city lights. Arguably the most fun and certainly the best value is a return ride on the public river boat the Chaophya Express or Reua Duan to its Nonthaburi terminus. The round trip takes approximately three hours, costs less than US$1.00 and you can get off at any of the numerous stops where something catches your interest.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Museums & Interesting Places
If you have time, your list might also include the National Museum, (largest in S.E. Asia), Wang Suan Pakaad (previously a royal residence), Jim Thompson' s House, (superb antiques and legacy of a disappeared American silk specialist), VimarnMek (beautiful golden teak building), the Snake Farm (fascinating venom extraction shows), Erawan Shrine, (roadside Brahman place of worship), Royal Barge Museum (wonderfully decorative boats used in royal processions), Dusit Zoo, Lumpini Park (to see Thai people at leisure) and the extraordinary enclave of Khao San Road, (to see backpackers at leisure, and possibly where your teenage son or daughter might be staying.)
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Chinatown
Bangkok's Chinatown area merits a whole, or at least a half day's exploration. During this time you are likely to sample every available odour on the planet, see numerous UNFO's (unidentifiable non-flying objects -"What on earth is that?") admire countless Asian countenances of every age, experience wonder, shock, curiosity, revulsion, admiration, reverence, amazement, and overhear a dozen different local languages. Not least, you'll have your lungs filled with some of the most traffic-polluted air in the city, sweetened by jasmine, and amply spiced by frying garlic. Not for the faint-hearted, this sprawling, crowded area guarantees a mega-buzz for those who enjoy feeling the pulse of a city directly through the jugular. Chinatown encompasses the equally worth visiting Thieves and Pahurat markets which are within easy walking distance. (Nancy Chandler's map is indispensable for exploring Chinatown.)
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Market
There is perhaps no better reflection of Thailand's abundance than that reflected in the dynamic cacophony of its local markets. Whether an up-country collection of shaky stalls, or a world-beater like Bangkok's Chatuchak, the sheer quantity overwhelms the senses, and defies rational thought. "Who is eating all of this food?" is the first question, followed by "Who on earth is buying all of this stuff?" Asking a local might bring the puzzled glance of somebody being asked a silly question. Consulting a long-toothed expat might result in a predictable "Well, even after 25 years here, I've never figured that one out."
Consumer mysteries notwithstanding, Bangkok's markets provide a touristic treat, and a few hours spent in any of the city's tightly packed mazes will keep your eyes and nostrils at full attention, your feet dancing regular quicksteps, and your camera devouring rolls of film. Like so many sightseeing pleasures in the Kingdom, day markets are inevitably best appreciated at sunrise, and it is worth rising at first light to enjoy them at their coolest, most colourful best. Amongst the many waiting to be explored are the wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market at Pak Klong Talaad, the plant market at Thewes, the clothes market at Pratunam (next to Amari Watergate), the markets of Chinatown (see below), the night market of Pat Pong, and of course the Mother of all Markets at Chatuchak every weekend. (see our member area of an ezine article on this subject.)
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Consumer mysteries notwithstanding, Bangkok's markets provide a touristic treat, and a few hours spent in any of the city's tightly packed mazes will keep your eyes and nostrils at full attention, your feet dancing regular quicksteps, and your camera devouring rolls of film. Like so many sightseeing pleasures in the Kingdom, day markets are inevitably best appreciated at sunrise, and it is worth rising at first light to enjoy them at their coolest, most colourful best. Amongst the many waiting to be explored are the wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market at Pak Klong Talaad, the plant market at Thewes, the clothes market at Pratunam (next to Amari Watergate), the markets of Chinatown (see below), the night market of Pat Pong, and of course the Mother of all Markets at Chatuchak every weekend. (see our member area of an ezine article on this subject.)
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Bangkok Temples
The appeal of Thai temples lies not only in their aesthetic allure, but also in their wonderful accessibility, since they are open to visitors of all faiths. As well as serving as a place for worship, religious ceremonies, education, and community ceremonies, their tranquil interiors offer sanctuary from an increasingly stressful exterior, and provide an excellent place for contemplation for Thais and tourists alike.
Organised excursions usually include the most famous, ie. Wat Po, (reclining Buddha) Wat Traimitr (Golden Buddha) and Wat Benjamabophitr (Marble temple) which can all suffer from visitor overload, and a return trip at dawn or dusk when the coaches have gone is worth the effort. But it is the smaller least-visited ones, often hidden in quiet corners of the city, where Thai Temple Magic is most often discovered - and since there are more than 400 temples in Bangkok, the potential for magic is considerable.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Organised excursions usually include the most famous, ie. Wat Po, (reclining Buddha) Wat Traimitr (Golden Buddha) and Wat Benjamabophitr (Marble temple) which can all suffer from visitor overload, and a return trip at dawn or dusk when the coaches have gone is worth the effort. But it is the smaller least-visited ones, often hidden in quiet corners of the city, where Thai Temple Magic is most often discovered - and since there are more than 400 temples in Bangkok, the potential for magic is considerable.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
The Grand Palace
The old part of the city - Rattanakosin "Island" (presumably because it was once encircled by canals) boasts the fewest hotels, but arguably contains the most interest, and this is perhaps the only part of the city suitable for a walking sightseeing tour. It will take you a half day at least to absorb the two main attractions here; namely, Wat Po, Bangkok's oldest and largest temple with its huge reclining Buddha, and the adjoining Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha Temple. Also within this area lies the National Museum, The National Art Gallery, The National Theatre, Wat Mahatat which is the centre of Buddhist studies, and a broad flat expanse of recreational parkland called Sanam Luang. Also worth noting is the Lakmuang Pillar, which commemorates the founding of Bangkok 220 years ago and is, now a popular shrine featuring regular classical dance performances.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Things to see and do
Detailed sightseeing information is beyond the scope and purpose of this web site, but the following outline may be useful. It is recommended that you purchase an updated guide book, and a good city map - Nancy Chandler's well-researched, detailed and regularly updated version is generally considered to be the best for exploring the city.
An organised tour booked through a reputable company can be a rewarding experience. Hiring a car with a driver-guide is a more expensive but preferable alternative to "seat-in-coach tours". This will permits tailor-made itineraries to be enjoyed in comfort. However, since the driver is likely to have his own shopping recommendations, the same aforementioned advice applies.
Bangkok's major sightseeing attractions and enjoyable pursuits can be categorised as follows:
1) The Grand Palace Area
2) Other Temples
3) Markets
4) Museums & Interesting Places
5) Chinatown
6) The River
7) The Canals (klongs)
8) Eating
9) Shopping
10) Nightlife
11) Sports
An organised tour booked through a reputable company can be a rewarding experience. Hiring a car with a driver-guide is a more expensive but preferable alternative to "seat-in-coach tours". This will permits tailor-made itineraries to be enjoyed in comfort. However, since the driver is likely to have his own shopping recommendations, the same aforementioned advice applies.
Bangkok's major sightseeing attractions and enjoyable pursuits can be categorised as follows:
1) The Grand Palace Area
2) Other Temples
3) Markets
4) Museums & Interesting Places
5) Chinatown
6) The River
7) The Canals (klongs)
8) Eating
9) Shopping
10) Nightlife
11) Sports
BTS skytrain and MRT subway
The BTS Skytrain
The elevated Skytrain solved most of its logistical problems by being built directly above the main city centre roads of Silom and Sukhumvit, and the two lines are named after them with an interchange at Siam Centre (Siam) To minimise chaos, the hundreds of huge spans were pre-cast outside the city, with the resulting jigsaw of segments trucked into place over many months in the middle of the night. Local people would wake up to darkened pavements outside, ugly concrete structures began to obstruct familiar skylines, and purists progressively puffed their disapproval.
But when the system opened on the 5th December 1999, the King's 72nd birthday, a wave of pride swept the city as the sleek air-conditioned carriages began to glide gracefully above the traffic jams an average of 14 metres below. Destinations which before could take hours now took minutes on the electric trains running quietly on welded tracks, and serving some of the most congested areas in the Thai capital.
This US$1.3 billion so-called Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) Skytrain or Rot Fai Fah ("train in the sky") in Thai, is a must-see, must-try visitor attraction in its own right. It provides comprehensive tourist information, maps, excursions, souvenirs and gifts, and even internet facilities at the BTS Tourist Information Centers (open daily from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm Siam, Nana and Saphan Taksin stations).
This comes in addition to the total of over 23 kilometres of excellent, user-friendly transportation, running efficiently from 6am to midnight at an average speed of 35 kph - slow enough to absorb the fascinating ever-changing views. The driver announces the upcoming station name in Thai and English just before the train arrives. Fares depend on distance, currently 10-40 Baht. There are a variety of packaged ticketing options, but the best bet for sightseeing is the 1-day unlimited travel pass, at present costing 100 baht. The 23 Skytrain stations are enhanced by pleasingly creative designs, and equipped with many thoughtful facilities, including a first aid room. Unless you have a helicopter, there is no better way to view the city.
The Skytrain has three interchange stations with the "Metro" or Bangkok Underground, and to top off the convenience, free shuttle buses link several stations with key destinations in the respective areas. Escalators are planned at all stations. At present however, some of the smaller stations are accessible by staircase only. The most popular stops for visitors are as follows:
Asoke
For the Siam Society research library and Khamtieng House, an old Chiang Mai residence. For shoppers: Robinson Department Store, and Times Square.
Interchange here with Underground Sukhumvit station
Chidlom: A convenient shop-stop, with walkway connections to Central Department store, Amarin Plaza, Gaysorn Plaza Central, Central World Plaza, and the fascinating Erawan Shrine.
National Stadium: A short walk brings you to the huge and fascinating chaos of Mahboonkrong Centre or MBK, with its bewildering buy-anything bargain stalls. The closest station to Jim Thompson's house, located in a small lane opposite the Stadium.
Phrom Pong: Linked to a large elegant department store - the Emporium - which offers hours of shopping and recreational possibilities.
Phya Thai: Alight here to visit Suan Pakkad Palace
Victory Monument: Busy, crowded shopping area mainly used by locals.
Morchit: The stop for the huge weekend market of Chatuchak, with its extraordinary kaleidoscope of products. Go early to beat the heat.
Interchange here with Underground Chatuchak station
Siam: (Change here for the Skytrain Silom Line) A trendy shopping area with a walkway into Siam Centre shopping mall, leading out to the maze of smaller shops in Siam Square's lanes and alleyways. Also close to this station, cinemas, bookstores, and The British Council.
Saladang: Linked to Central Department store's Silom Road branch, this area offers a wide variety of shopping by day, and is packed with roadside stalls at night. It is the closest station to Pat Pong night market and entertainment area. Interchange here with Underground Silom Station
Saphan Taksin
This terminal station links to ferries on the Chao Phraya River, with convenient connections to the "Chaophya Express" boats that go northwards to the jetties serving the Grand Palace area (Tha Maharat, Tha Tien, Tha Chang or Tha Phra Chan) Alighting at Thai Tien jetty gives you access to a smaller ferry boat to visit Wat Arun across the river.
The MRT Bangkok Metro Underground
The 'impossible' became a reality in April 2004. It had taken seven years to build, comprising 21 kilometres of bored tunnels, with 18 simultaneously-built stations, using top-down techniques up to 30 metres deep under the city's major roads. The cost was approximately US$ 2.75 billion.
Officially called the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and in Thai as rot fai fah mahanakhon ("metropolitan electric train") or more often as the rot fai tai din ("underground train") the line operates from 5am to midnight, and extends in a wide loop from the main railway station of Hualumpong, then tracks back via the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre to the smaller rail station of Bang Sue (pronounce Seu) to the north.
It has interchanges with the Skytrain at Si Lom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak Park stations. To protect against periodic flooding, station entrances are elevated above ground, and equipped with built-in floodgates. To prevent accidents and suicides, a glassed-in Automatic Platform Screen Door separates the platform and track, and opens only when the trains pull in and stop. All stations feature lifts and ramps for disabled people.
As with the Skytrain, there are a number of ticket types, which only need to be held close to the ticket barriers to operate them, thanks to a proximity sensor. Tokens are used for single journeys. An unlimited 1 day go-as-you please travel ticket currently costs Baht 120. A joint ticketing system for the Subway and Skytrain is planned.
The Main Bangkok Subway Stations.
(Bracketed figures indicate the depth underground)
Hua Lamphong (14 metres) Bangkok's main railway station serving all provinces. Permanent and interesting exhibition here about the Subway, and Thai transportation.
Silom (30 metres) Major shopping area, close to Robinson and Central Department Stores. Walking distance to the nightlife and street market area of Patpong.
Interchange with Saladaeng Skytrain station
Lumphini (26 metres) Close to the Suan Lum Night Market, the Lumpini Thai Boxing Stadium and to several foreign missions, including the Australian, Austrian, Belgian, Danish, French and German Embassies.
Queen Sirikit Convention Center (17 metres) Bangkok's main venue for exhibitions and trade shows.
Sukhumvit (17 metres) Robinson Department Store and 'Soi Cowboy' nightlife area nearby.
Interchange with the Asoke Skytrain station.
Phetburi (20 metres) Close to the Japanese Embassy at the junction of Phetchburi Road and Asoke.
Rama 9 (18 metres) Fortune Town shopping centre, IT Mall and Tesco Lotus.
Thai Cultural Center (19 metres) Close to Chinese Embassy, Carrefour, and Robinson Department Stores
Chatuchak (17 metres) This is Chatuchak Park, not the famous weekend market, which is the next stop.
Interchange with the Morchit Skytrain station.
Kamphaengphet (17 metres) The stop for Chatuchak Weekend Market, and the "Farmers Market" - excellent and inexpensive fruit and vegetable produce here.
Bang Sue (12 metres) Suburban State Railway station, located between Hua Lamphong main station and Don Muang Airport.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
The elevated Skytrain solved most of its logistical problems by being built directly above the main city centre roads of Silom and Sukhumvit, and the two lines are named after them with an interchange at Siam Centre (Siam) To minimise chaos, the hundreds of huge spans were pre-cast outside the city, with the resulting jigsaw of segments trucked into place over many months in the middle of the night. Local people would wake up to darkened pavements outside, ugly concrete structures began to obstruct familiar skylines, and purists progressively puffed their disapproval.
But when the system opened on the 5th December 1999, the King's 72nd birthday, a wave of pride swept the city as the sleek air-conditioned carriages began to glide gracefully above the traffic jams an average of 14 metres below. Destinations which before could take hours now took minutes on the electric trains running quietly on welded tracks, and serving some of the most congested areas in the Thai capital.
This US$1.3 billion so-called Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) Skytrain or Rot Fai Fah ("train in the sky") in Thai, is a must-see, must-try visitor attraction in its own right. It provides comprehensive tourist information, maps, excursions, souvenirs and gifts, and even internet facilities at the BTS Tourist Information Centers (open daily from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm Siam, Nana and Saphan Taksin stations).
This comes in addition to the total of over 23 kilometres of excellent, user-friendly transportation, running efficiently from 6am to midnight at an average speed of 35 kph - slow enough to absorb the fascinating ever-changing views. The driver announces the upcoming station name in Thai and English just before the train arrives. Fares depend on distance, currently 10-40 Baht. There are a variety of packaged ticketing options, but the best bet for sightseeing is the 1-day unlimited travel pass, at present costing 100 baht. The 23 Skytrain stations are enhanced by pleasingly creative designs, and equipped with many thoughtful facilities, including a first aid room. Unless you have a helicopter, there is no better way to view the city.
The Skytrain has three interchange stations with the "Metro" or Bangkok Underground, and to top off the convenience, free shuttle buses link several stations with key destinations in the respective areas. Escalators are planned at all stations. At present however, some of the smaller stations are accessible by staircase only. The most popular stops for visitors are as follows:
Asoke
For the Siam Society research library and Khamtieng House, an old Chiang Mai residence. For shoppers: Robinson Department Store, and Times Square.
Interchange here with Underground Sukhumvit station
Chidlom: A convenient shop-stop, with walkway connections to Central Department store, Amarin Plaza, Gaysorn Plaza Central, Central World Plaza, and the fascinating Erawan Shrine.
National Stadium: A short walk brings you to the huge and fascinating chaos of Mahboonkrong Centre or MBK, with its bewildering buy-anything bargain stalls. The closest station to Jim Thompson's house, located in a small lane opposite the Stadium.
Phrom Pong: Linked to a large elegant department store - the Emporium - which offers hours of shopping and recreational possibilities.
Phya Thai: Alight here to visit Suan Pakkad Palace
Victory Monument: Busy, crowded shopping area mainly used by locals.
Morchit: The stop for the huge weekend market of Chatuchak, with its extraordinary kaleidoscope of products. Go early to beat the heat.
Interchange here with Underground Chatuchak station
Siam: (Change here for the Skytrain Silom Line) A trendy shopping area with a walkway into Siam Centre shopping mall, leading out to the maze of smaller shops in Siam Square's lanes and alleyways. Also close to this station, cinemas, bookstores, and The British Council.
Saladang: Linked to Central Department store's Silom Road branch, this area offers a wide variety of shopping by day, and is packed with roadside stalls at night. It is the closest station to Pat Pong night market and entertainment area. Interchange here with Underground Silom Station
Saphan Taksin
This terminal station links to ferries on the Chao Phraya River, with convenient connections to the "Chaophya Express" boats that go northwards to the jetties serving the Grand Palace area (Tha Maharat, Tha Tien, Tha Chang or Tha Phra Chan) Alighting at Thai Tien jetty gives you access to a smaller ferry boat to visit Wat Arun across the river.
The MRT Bangkok Metro Underground
The 'impossible' became a reality in April 2004. It had taken seven years to build, comprising 21 kilometres of bored tunnels, with 18 simultaneously-built stations, using top-down techniques up to 30 metres deep under the city's major roads. The cost was approximately US$ 2.75 billion.
Officially called the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and in Thai as rot fai fah mahanakhon ("metropolitan electric train") or more often as the rot fai tai din ("underground train") the line operates from 5am to midnight, and extends in a wide loop from the main railway station of Hualumpong, then tracks back via the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre to the smaller rail station of Bang Sue (pronounce Seu) to the north.
It has interchanges with the Skytrain at Si Lom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak Park stations. To protect against periodic flooding, station entrances are elevated above ground, and equipped with built-in floodgates. To prevent accidents and suicides, a glassed-in Automatic Platform Screen Door separates the platform and track, and opens only when the trains pull in and stop. All stations feature lifts and ramps for disabled people.
As with the Skytrain, there are a number of ticket types, which only need to be held close to the ticket barriers to operate them, thanks to a proximity sensor. Tokens are used for single journeys. An unlimited 1 day go-as-you please travel ticket currently costs Baht 120. A joint ticketing system for the Subway and Skytrain is planned.
The Main Bangkok Subway Stations.
(Bracketed figures indicate the depth underground)
Hua Lamphong (14 metres) Bangkok's main railway station serving all provinces. Permanent and interesting exhibition here about the Subway, and Thai transportation.
Silom (30 metres) Major shopping area, close to Robinson and Central Department Stores. Walking distance to the nightlife and street market area of Patpong.
Interchange with Saladaeng Skytrain station
Lumphini (26 metres) Close to the Suan Lum Night Market, the Lumpini Thai Boxing Stadium and to several foreign missions, including the Australian, Austrian, Belgian, Danish, French and German Embassies.
Queen Sirikit Convention Center (17 metres) Bangkok's main venue for exhibitions and trade shows.
Sukhumvit (17 metres) Robinson Department Store and 'Soi Cowboy' nightlife area nearby.
Interchange with the Asoke Skytrain station.
Phetburi (20 metres) Close to the Japanese Embassy at the junction of Phetchburi Road and Asoke.
Rama 9 (18 metres) Fortune Town shopping centre, IT Mall and Tesco Lotus.
Thai Cultural Center (19 metres) Close to Chinese Embassy, Carrefour, and Robinson Department Stores
Chatuchak (17 metres) This is Chatuchak Park, not the famous weekend market, which is the next stop.
Interchange with the Morchit Skytrain station.
Kamphaengphet (17 metres) The stop for Chatuchak Weekend Market, and the "Farmers Market" - excellent and inexpensive fruit and vegetable produce here.
Bang Sue (12 metres) Suburban State Railway station, located between Hua Lamphong main station and Don Muang Airport.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Beware of "Other Magic"
Before venturing out to experience the city, visitors should remember this fact:
Bangkok is home to some of the most charming confidence tricksters in the world. They are out there in significant numbers at the main tourist sites, or in front of your hotel, waiting. They are usually well-spoken, and utterly convincing. Scores of otherwise intelligent tourists become their hapless victims every day, often "magically" parting with large amounts of money, and wondering for the rest of their life how they could have been so gullible.
Even long experienced travellers have been cheated by these ingenious rogues, and people who read this kind of warning yet still fell for the scam, can only mumble things like "I know, I read it, understood it, but these people were so nice, seemed so genuine - I just never thought......"
The technique employs a string of "friendly" people, the first contact often carrying fake but convincing papers introducing him as a university professor, a Thai Airways pilot, a police chief etc. In the eyes of the visitor therefore, he is a "genuine local Thai" and theoretically, interesting to get to know. This leads to a succession of other seemingly accidental encounters, inevitably ending in a jeweller's shop to take advantage of a once-only "special discount" on precious stones. At this visually impressive but disreputable establishment, other enthusiastic "buyers" - often foreigners employed by the crooks - reinforce the scam, and the trap springs in the expectation of a bargain purchase, or a large profit when the (worthless) stones are resold back home.
There are many variations on the above, plus other clever scams. You will be safe if you remember the Golden Rule:
Local people are basically shy, and reserved. No honest Thai person will approach you directly in a public place to offer unsolicited help, sightseeing tips, or advice.
If this happens (and it is very likely when you visit tourist sites) politely ignore the person - or enter into a conversation at your peril. He is a con man.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Bangkok is home to some of the most charming confidence tricksters in the world. They are out there in significant numbers at the main tourist sites, or in front of your hotel, waiting. They are usually well-spoken, and utterly convincing. Scores of otherwise intelligent tourists become their hapless victims every day, often "magically" parting with large amounts of money, and wondering for the rest of their life how they could have been so gullible.
Even long experienced travellers have been cheated by these ingenious rogues, and people who read this kind of warning yet still fell for the scam, can only mumble things like "I know, I read it, understood it, but these people were so nice, seemed so genuine - I just never thought......"
The technique employs a string of "friendly" people, the first contact often carrying fake but convincing papers introducing him as a university professor, a Thai Airways pilot, a police chief etc. In the eyes of the visitor therefore, he is a "genuine local Thai" and theoretically, interesting to get to know. This leads to a succession of other seemingly accidental encounters, inevitably ending in a jeweller's shop to take advantage of a once-only "special discount" on precious stones. At this visually impressive but disreputable establishment, other enthusiastic "buyers" - often foreigners employed by the crooks - reinforce the scam, and the trap springs in the expectation of a bargain purchase, or a large profit when the (worthless) stones are resold back home.
There are many variations on the above, plus other clever scams. You will be safe if you remember the Golden Rule:
Local people are basically shy, and reserved. No honest Thai person will approach you directly in a public place to offer unsolicited help, sightseeing tips, or advice.
If this happens (and it is very likely when you visit tourist sites) politely ignore the person - or enter into a conversation at your peril. He is a con man.
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Bangkok for Beginners
If we were asked to represent three South-East Asian capitals by tropical fruits, we might think of clean, green Singapore as a fresh lime, and richer-flavoured Kuala Lumpur, perhaps as a ripe pineapple. Employing this imagery, the association that immediately springs to mind for Bangkok is the king of tropical treats, the delicious, delightful and delectable durian.
Granted, this head-sized botanical wonder with its thick spiky skin and soft yellow flesh, is very much an acquired taste. It is like a smelly cheese is to a connoisseur, and the fruit's initial effect on a novice's nostrils can be just as overwhelming as the first impressions of the Thai capital on an unsuspecting new arrival, fresh from Don Muang airport.
The oft-intoned "Wow, they stink before even being peeled" is indeed true, and it is this fact which effectively bans the offending fruit from enclosed public spaces. Even following a durian-laden truck in a closed air-conditioned coach can fill the vehicle with more than just a tolerable whiff. "Hey, how can people eat this thing?" is a common question, posed almost as frequently as "Hey, how can anybody actually live in Bangkok?"
But beware, like the durian, Bangkok can be habit-forming. The teeming 220-year old Thai city not only has a strong and unique flavour, it possesses a potentially highly addictive mix of subtle qualities, which once experienced, can lure visitors back, time and again. "Aye, this is our 14th trip" I overheard an elderly Scots couple say to some fresh-faced honeymooners on a neighbouring pool bed the other day, adding: "Ye can get a real taste fir it"
Aye, and they are not alone. Hotels all over the city will tell you of again-and-again-guests who have become close friends of staff and management through repeated, often annual, visits. Given the air and noise pollution, the motorised chaos, and the often searing temperatures, it is not easy for "outsiders" to understand the attraction. Even if you ask those geriatric aficionados why they keep coming back, they tend to reply in non-specifics. "Oh, we just love it here" is a common response. If you dig deeper, it may be followed by any or all of the following:- the people, the food, the temples, the river, the canals, the smiles, the charm, the smells, the friendliness and the friends made, the sounds, the shopping, the atmosphere......and the magic. Don't forget the magic.
Years ago, I had to entertain some VIP British tourists to dinner. On meeting the middle-aged couple in the hotel lobby bar, they greeted me grumpily by blurting that they'd just arrived, hated what they had observed on the way from the airport, and had absolutely no desire to venture out at night into "this bloody awful place." Instead, they wanted to eat a "nice steak and chips" in the hotel grill room. After two rounds of drinks and much cajoling, I finally did persuade them to at least try Thai food at my local restaurant - with the promise that I'd take them home instantly any time they wished.
On arrival, they sat at the wooden table expressing a mix of utter dejection and intense fear, much like that of poor wretches about to be executed. Signs of cautious enjoyment appeared however when the aromas of our food order reached their noses, and relaxed if reluctant nods followed as they began to sample the rich, wonderful tastes. Laughter joined in as an adjoining table of jolly Thai students sent us over glasses of local "Mekhong" whisky to accompany our Thai beer, and all duly stood up charmingly to give us regular toasts, ensuring our maximum indulgence in the copious supply of spirits, which generously just kept on arriving. The previously stuffy Brits were suddenly convivial, charming company. The dinner turned into a huge, hilarious success.
Out on the street, with the now smiling pair metamorphosed into merriment, it was easy to coax them into a coasting "Tuk Tuk", Bangkok's open-sided three wheeled taxi. Seconds later, we were roaring three-up through the traffic to enjoy a great evening in the city's night spots, with the couple waving to all and sundry, and all and sundry happily waving back - in a way that only happens in Thailand.
As a finale, I took them to the Erawan shrine, a small open place of worship dedicated to a Brahman God, situated at Rajaprasong, one of the city's busiest intersections in Pratunam.
In this incense-filled microcosm of Asia, the roar of the traffic was curiously muted by the music from the small Thai orchestra performing at one side. As we sat down to observe, dancers and worshippers obscured our view to the street outside. Offerings of sweet-smelling garlands, stacked up over the hours, rose higher than our heads. Although I had been there countless times, there was something undeniably special about this particular evening, something, perhaps, even verging on the mystical. The lady's very emotional voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts: "I have never experienced anything as wonderful as this" she was saying, over and over again. I looked over, and saw she was in tears. Her husband wasn't too far away from the same emotion. Two more Bangkok addicts were thus born. And it happens every day.
It is perhaps this undeniably magical quality of "Krungthep" as it is called by the Thais, that becomes so compelling - the unexpected experience in a relatively unattractive city, when the world freezes in a moment of arresting, unforgettable beauty.
Certainly, if the rough translation if its official name (which happens to be the longest place name in the world, and thus occupies a section in the Guinness Book of Records) is anything to go by, this is no ordinary spot on the globe:
Great city of angels, the supreme repository of divine jewels, the great land unconquerable, the grand and prominent realm, the royal and delightful capital city full of nine noble gems, the highest royal dwelling and grand palace, the divine shelter and living place of reincarnated spirits.
In other words - what better place for a fascinating holiday? Or a place to do business?
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
Granted, this head-sized botanical wonder with its thick spiky skin and soft yellow flesh, is very much an acquired taste. It is like a smelly cheese is to a connoisseur, and the fruit's initial effect on a novice's nostrils can be just as overwhelming as the first impressions of the Thai capital on an unsuspecting new arrival, fresh from Don Muang airport.
The oft-intoned "Wow, they stink before even being peeled" is indeed true, and it is this fact which effectively bans the offending fruit from enclosed public spaces. Even following a durian-laden truck in a closed air-conditioned coach can fill the vehicle with more than just a tolerable whiff. "Hey, how can people eat this thing?" is a common question, posed almost as frequently as "Hey, how can anybody actually live in Bangkok?"
But beware, like the durian, Bangkok can be habit-forming. The teeming 220-year old Thai city not only has a strong and unique flavour, it possesses a potentially highly addictive mix of subtle qualities, which once experienced, can lure visitors back, time and again. "Aye, this is our 14th trip" I overheard an elderly Scots couple say to some fresh-faced honeymooners on a neighbouring pool bed the other day, adding: "Ye can get a real taste fir it"
Aye, and they are not alone. Hotels all over the city will tell you of again-and-again-guests who have become close friends of staff and management through repeated, often annual, visits. Given the air and noise pollution, the motorised chaos, and the often searing temperatures, it is not easy for "outsiders" to understand the attraction. Even if you ask those geriatric aficionados why they keep coming back, they tend to reply in non-specifics. "Oh, we just love it here" is a common response. If you dig deeper, it may be followed by any or all of the following:- the people, the food, the temples, the river, the canals, the smiles, the charm, the smells, the friendliness and the friends made, the sounds, the shopping, the atmosphere......and the magic. Don't forget the magic.
Years ago, I had to entertain some VIP British tourists to dinner. On meeting the middle-aged couple in the hotel lobby bar, they greeted me grumpily by blurting that they'd just arrived, hated what they had observed on the way from the airport, and had absolutely no desire to venture out at night into "this bloody awful place." Instead, they wanted to eat a "nice steak and chips" in the hotel grill room. After two rounds of drinks and much cajoling, I finally did persuade them to at least try Thai food at my local restaurant - with the promise that I'd take them home instantly any time they wished.
On arrival, they sat at the wooden table expressing a mix of utter dejection and intense fear, much like that of poor wretches about to be executed. Signs of cautious enjoyment appeared however when the aromas of our food order reached their noses, and relaxed if reluctant nods followed as they began to sample the rich, wonderful tastes. Laughter joined in as an adjoining table of jolly Thai students sent us over glasses of local "Mekhong" whisky to accompany our Thai beer, and all duly stood up charmingly to give us regular toasts, ensuring our maximum indulgence in the copious supply of spirits, which generously just kept on arriving. The previously stuffy Brits were suddenly convivial, charming company. The dinner turned into a huge, hilarious success.
Out on the street, with the now smiling pair metamorphosed into merriment, it was easy to coax them into a coasting "Tuk Tuk", Bangkok's open-sided three wheeled taxi. Seconds later, we were roaring three-up through the traffic to enjoy a great evening in the city's night spots, with the couple waving to all and sundry, and all and sundry happily waving back - in a way that only happens in Thailand.
As a finale, I took them to the Erawan shrine, a small open place of worship dedicated to a Brahman God, situated at Rajaprasong, one of the city's busiest intersections in Pratunam.
In this incense-filled microcosm of Asia, the roar of the traffic was curiously muted by the music from the small Thai orchestra performing at one side. As we sat down to observe, dancers and worshippers obscured our view to the street outside. Offerings of sweet-smelling garlands, stacked up over the hours, rose higher than our heads. Although I had been there countless times, there was something undeniably special about this particular evening, something, perhaps, even verging on the mystical. The lady's very emotional voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts: "I have never experienced anything as wonderful as this" she was saying, over and over again. I looked over, and saw she was in tears. Her husband wasn't too far away from the same emotion. Two more Bangkok addicts were thus born. And it happens every day.
It is perhaps this undeniably magical quality of "Krungthep" as it is called by the Thais, that becomes so compelling - the unexpected experience in a relatively unattractive city, when the world freezes in a moment of arresting, unforgettable beauty.
Certainly, if the rough translation if its official name (which happens to be the longest place name in the world, and thus occupies a section in the Guinness Book of Records) is anything to go by, this is no ordinary spot on the globe:
Great city of angels, the supreme repository of divine jewels, the great land unconquerable, the grand and prominent realm, the royal and delightful capital city full of nine noble gems, the highest royal dwelling and grand palace, the divine shelter and living place of reincarnated spirits.
In other words - what better place for a fascinating holiday? Or a place to do business?
from www.amari.com/tta/desguide_bangkok.asp
วันพุธที่ 23 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2550
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Local Customs
There's a Thai proverb which says, "When you enter a country where everyone winks, wink back." Or as we say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." As with any foreign country, your life teaching English in Thailand will be a lot easier and you will make a lot more friends if you show respect for local customs and make the effort to adapt to them.
Here are some points that it’s worth bearing in mind not just in dealings with students, but with Thais in general.
The Monarchy
If you come from Britain, you’ll be used to making jokes about the reigning monarch and treating her and her family with a casual familiarity. Such behaviour is incomprehensible to Thais!
Thais from all walks of life still have deep respect and a genuine affection for their royal family. You will find pictures of the King adorning not just every public building but even holding pride of place in most private homes. All television channels devote at least half-an-hour every evening to a round-up of the royal family’s activities for the day and you will have to stand to pay your respects to His Majesty before every film or public performance of any kind.
The King’s words and political vision still carry great weight in today’s Thailand. If you are coming to work as an English teacher, you should thank the King for his support of a language that was almost unknown in Thailand until he spoke out in favour of its value and usefulness.
Speaking disrespectfully or jokingly about any member of the royal family in Thai hearing will very rapidly make enemies.
Religion
Thailand is officially a Buddhist country and some 95% of Thais are Buddhists. In many ways Thai Buddhism is a very laissez-faire religion, but if you are not a Buddhist there are some things you should be aware of. Always remove your shoes and dress smartly when entering a temple. Never allow your feet to point towards an image of the Buddha.
Monks are not allowed to have any physical contact with women. This means that whether on a crowded bus or as a student in your class, a monk cannot sit next to a woman. If you are a woman teacher and you have a monk as a student, you should not try to hand anything directly to him. Place handouts, for example, within his reach and allow him to pick them up himself.
Heads and Feet
Taboos exist on some parts of the body that have little significance in Western culture. For example, the head is regarded as the highest part of the body and you should never touch another person on the head.
By contrast, the foot is regarded as the lowest part of the body and you should take care never to point your foot towards anyone. This is an extremely insulting gesture! Try to get into Thai habits of sitting with your feet on the floor or tucked away under you. Even moving objects around with your feet is seen as very uncouth.
Among other actions that might seem harmless to you, passing things in front of people (instead of behind) or stepping over a sitting or lying person’s legs (even in crowded places) are considered very offensive. If you have to pass between two people, you should lower your head slightly as a mark of basic politeness.
Physical Contact
Thai and Western ideas about what constitutes acceptable physical contact in public are fundamentally different!
While people of the same sex can often be seen holding hands on the street, you will rarely see a man and a woman being so shameless as to do so. In stark contrast to the image some tourists have of Thailand as a kind of sexual theme-park, probably the majority of Thais have ideals of modesty and appropriate behaviour between the sexes that most Westerners would regard as nineteenth-century. On the negative side this can extend to a certain level of hypocrisy and an insidious sexism.
While attitudes are changing among the urban young, public displays of physical affection such as hugging and kissing are still generally regarded as coarse and distasteful. On the beach you will notice that most Thais prefer to wear brightly-coloured pyjama-style clothing rather than revealing swimsuits.
Thais have a more starkly contrasting idea of what is appropriate or not appropriate in certain contexts than the average Westerner and can behave very differently - to Western eyes, inconsistently - in different situations. You would be wrong to assume, for example, that what happens in the enclosed fantasy bubble of a girl- or boy-bar in any way represents some underlying ideal of sexual freedom.
With their cultural preference for avoiding confrontation, most Thais choose to turn a blind eye to what goes on in the sex-industry that mushroomed in their country in the wake of the Vietnam War. Few take any pride whatsoever in the fact that so many of their fellow countrymen and women are still forced through extreme poverty to make their living in this way.
Dress
In Thailand you will always be judged on appearances!
You will rapidly notice that, no matter who they are, all Thais put a great deal of effort into being well dressed and well groomed. If you want to fit in, you will need to do the same. To Thai eyes, if you wear the casual dress beloved of Western holiday-makers, you look like you’ve crawled out of an old laundry basket.
In particular, the standards of dress expected of a teacher are very different from those in Western countries. If you are a male teacher, you should always wear a shirt and tie, a belt on your trousers and formal shoes. If you are a woman, you should dress smartly and never wear anything that exposes your shoulders.
Wearing the kind of casual clothing that teachers tend to see as a welcoming gesture in the West will only earn you ridicule and disrespect in Thailand. If you turned up to teach in a T-shirt and jeans, your students would regard you much as you might regard someone who turned up to teach you in an old bathrobe and slippers - more deserving of a psychiatrist than a salary!
Expressions of Emotion
Thais admire serenity and regard overt expressions of emotion as immature and unsightly.
This is especially true in the case of anger or impatience. If you show anger, you will immediately lose the respect of Thais. Their first reaction will be to laugh at you, in the hope that you too will remind yourself of the absurdity of trying to solve anything in this way. You still have time to smile off your momentary lapse.
If you persist in being angry, Thais will simply disappear - in order to leave time for the childish hothead to cool off and grow up.
This can be hard to adjust to. In general, Western cultures are prepared to accept that if someone has become angry, they may have a point to make and should at least be listened to. In Thailand this simply isn’t the case. If you have a point to make, you will have to make it with quiet non-aggressive eloquence and show potential goodwill to the person you are talking to throughout.
from http://www.eccthai.com
Here are some points that it’s worth bearing in mind not just in dealings with students, but with Thais in general.
The Monarchy
If you come from Britain, you’ll be used to making jokes about the reigning monarch and treating her and her family with a casual familiarity. Such behaviour is incomprehensible to Thais!
Thais from all walks of life still have deep respect and a genuine affection for their royal family. You will find pictures of the King adorning not just every public building but even holding pride of place in most private homes. All television channels devote at least half-an-hour every evening to a round-up of the royal family’s activities for the day and you will have to stand to pay your respects to His Majesty before every film or public performance of any kind.
The King’s words and political vision still carry great weight in today’s Thailand. If you are coming to work as an English teacher, you should thank the King for his support of a language that was almost unknown in Thailand until he spoke out in favour of its value and usefulness.
Speaking disrespectfully or jokingly about any member of the royal family in Thai hearing will very rapidly make enemies.
Religion
Thailand is officially a Buddhist country and some 95% of Thais are Buddhists. In many ways Thai Buddhism is a very laissez-faire religion, but if you are not a Buddhist there are some things you should be aware of. Always remove your shoes and dress smartly when entering a temple. Never allow your feet to point towards an image of the Buddha.
Monks are not allowed to have any physical contact with women. This means that whether on a crowded bus or as a student in your class, a monk cannot sit next to a woman. If you are a woman teacher and you have a monk as a student, you should not try to hand anything directly to him. Place handouts, for example, within his reach and allow him to pick them up himself.
Heads and Feet
Taboos exist on some parts of the body that have little significance in Western culture. For example, the head is regarded as the highest part of the body and you should never touch another person on the head.
By contrast, the foot is regarded as the lowest part of the body and you should take care never to point your foot towards anyone. This is an extremely insulting gesture! Try to get into Thai habits of sitting with your feet on the floor or tucked away under you. Even moving objects around with your feet is seen as very uncouth.
Among other actions that might seem harmless to you, passing things in front of people (instead of behind) or stepping over a sitting or lying person’s legs (even in crowded places) are considered very offensive. If you have to pass between two people, you should lower your head slightly as a mark of basic politeness.
Physical Contact
Thai and Western ideas about what constitutes acceptable physical contact in public are fundamentally different!
While people of the same sex can often be seen holding hands on the street, you will rarely see a man and a woman being so shameless as to do so. In stark contrast to the image some tourists have of Thailand as a kind of sexual theme-park, probably the majority of Thais have ideals of modesty and appropriate behaviour between the sexes that most Westerners would regard as nineteenth-century. On the negative side this can extend to a certain level of hypocrisy and an insidious sexism.
While attitudes are changing among the urban young, public displays of physical affection such as hugging and kissing are still generally regarded as coarse and distasteful. On the beach you will notice that most Thais prefer to wear brightly-coloured pyjama-style clothing rather than revealing swimsuits.
Thais have a more starkly contrasting idea of what is appropriate or not appropriate in certain contexts than the average Westerner and can behave very differently - to Western eyes, inconsistently - in different situations. You would be wrong to assume, for example, that what happens in the enclosed fantasy bubble of a girl- or boy-bar in any way represents some underlying ideal of sexual freedom.
With their cultural preference for avoiding confrontation, most Thais choose to turn a blind eye to what goes on in the sex-industry that mushroomed in their country in the wake of the Vietnam War. Few take any pride whatsoever in the fact that so many of their fellow countrymen and women are still forced through extreme poverty to make their living in this way.
Dress
In Thailand you will always be judged on appearances!
You will rapidly notice that, no matter who they are, all Thais put a great deal of effort into being well dressed and well groomed. If you want to fit in, you will need to do the same. To Thai eyes, if you wear the casual dress beloved of Western holiday-makers, you look like you’ve crawled out of an old laundry basket.
In particular, the standards of dress expected of a teacher are very different from those in Western countries. If you are a male teacher, you should always wear a shirt and tie, a belt on your trousers and formal shoes. If you are a woman, you should dress smartly and never wear anything that exposes your shoulders.
Wearing the kind of casual clothing that teachers tend to see as a welcoming gesture in the West will only earn you ridicule and disrespect in Thailand. If you turned up to teach in a T-shirt and jeans, your students would regard you much as you might regard someone who turned up to teach you in an old bathrobe and slippers - more deserving of a psychiatrist than a salary!
Expressions of Emotion
Thais admire serenity and regard overt expressions of emotion as immature and unsightly.
This is especially true in the case of anger or impatience. If you show anger, you will immediately lose the respect of Thais. Their first reaction will be to laugh at you, in the hope that you too will remind yourself of the absurdity of trying to solve anything in this way. You still have time to smile off your momentary lapse.
If you persist in being angry, Thais will simply disappear - in order to leave time for the childish hothead to cool off and grow up.
This can be hard to adjust to. In general, Western cultures are prepared to accept that if someone has become angry, they may have a point to make and should at least be listened to. In Thailand this simply isn’t the case. If you have a point to make, you will have to make it with quiet non-aggressive eloquence and show potential goodwill to the person you are talking to throughout.
from http://www.eccthai.com
Link
For more information in Thailand and Thai Lifestyle check out:
Information for expats at eThailand.com
News and Events from the Bangkok Post
News and Events from the Nation
The Lonely Planet's Guide to Thailand
Phuket Gazette - news and events in Phuket
Phuket Tourism - where to stay and what to do in Phuket
Phuket Town
Tucked into the south-east corner of Phuket, close to the island’s main deep-water harbours but away from its beaches, the capital of Phuket province has a population of about 70,000. It is a well-tended, low-rise town, encircled by forest-covered hills, where the smell of the sea hangs on the damp tropical breeze.
While it has no sites of special interest, the so-called "Old Town", especially the two streets of Thalang and Deebuk, is one of the best preserved areas of traditional Chinese row-houses in Thailand. Like the elaborate Chinese temples that can be found dotted about the town, they were built by the many Hainanese and Fukienese who emigrated here in the 19th century to work in the tin mining business. Many of them have now been lovingly restored and house contemporary art galleries and restaurants as well as longstanding Chinese family businesses. Often built around a cool central light-well, their doors and windows are usually archetypically Chinese but European touches fashionable at the time, such as Ionic columns and Italianate floor-tiles, pop up here and there. On the fringes of this area and beyond, you can also see a few larger ‘Sino-Portuguese’ mansions, surrounded by extensive gardens. Commissioned by Chinese who had made their fortunes in tin, they were constructed mostly, in fact, by Italian architects but modeled on older Portuguese mansions in Singapore and Malaysia. One or two of these are occasionally opened to the public.
Further out, a ride or walk up Khao Rang will reward you with a panoramic view of the whole town and beyond, taking in the harbours, the beach at Rawai and its offshore islands and the mountains that close off the popular western beaches. You can wander a few paths cut through the forest up here or enjoy exceptional cooking (at a price) in the hilltop Tungka Café, which is especially popular at night when the lights of the town are strung out below.
Walking the central streets, it can seem at first that every second business is either a travel agency or an internet café. Given the extraordinary number of opticians, you might also be tempted to wonder if myopia is unusually prevalent in the island. In fact, the town’s shopping facilities are quite diverse for its size. In the centre, on Tilok Uthit 1 Road just beyond the clock-tower roundabout, a large branch of Robinson’s department store has outlets for most major brand names while the Ocean Shopping Centre almost next door has a wide range of cheaper clothing stalls. Both of these have supermarkets on their ground floors (TOPS in the Robinson’s building is the better of the two). On the north-western edge of the town, near the junction for Patong, you can find three large and lavish shopping complexes within a short distance of each other: Central Festival, Big C and Tesco Lotus. One of the town’s two bus routes will take you here from the centre or they can be reached by motorbike taxi for about 50 baht. All of them are new buildings and Central Festival, in particular, is attractively designed with an outdoor art exhibition on the balcony walkway surrounding its outer courtyard. For a different type of shopping experience, try the main market just beyond the fountain roundabout (at the intersection of Ratsada and Yaowarat Roads), which is also the terminus for public transport to and from the beaches. Even if you’re not hungry or are not sure what to buy, its food and spice stalls are a feast for the eye. There are also a lot of cheap clothes and souvenirs here too and these can also be found in the small night market that opens late in the day along Tilok Uthit 2 Road, near the Tavorn Grand Plaza Hotel. There’s an excellent second-hand bookshop on Phang Nga Road, near the On On Hotel and opposite the Kasikorn Bank, two or three minutes’ walk from ECC. Other bookshops around town and in the Central Festival building stock English-language newspapers and magazines and a small range of novels and books about Asia supplied by the Asia Books chain in Bangkok. Though it’s unlikely that you’ll be thinking of buying any original artworks while you’re doing your CELTA course, Phuket is home to many painters and Phuket Town is well-known for its many private art galleries. These can be enjoyable to take a look at even if you’re not planning to take any of the paintings home.
For its size, Phuket Town has a great variety of places to eat. In all but the most basic places, however, prices tend to be high, just as high indeed as in Bangkok. For those on a tight budget, noodle and khao man gai shops are as ubiquitous as anywhere in Thailand and the Muslim-owned roti and curry shops are also very cheap. Reasonably priced food stalls set up behind Robinson’s in the area known as Talaat Kaset from the middle of the day till late at night. This can be a good place to sample seafood in addition to the popular standards and most stalls have an English menu card giving you an idea of at least some of the dishes they can rustle up. As more expensive places tend to come and go in Phuket as elsewhere, it’s difficult to give a list of recommendations. Walk the central streets or ask the locals and in addition to upmarket Thai places (such as Le Café on the approach road to the Phuket Shopping Centre opposite ECC or the extensive Ta Yai by the canal on Soi Taling Chan), you'll find several Italian restaurants and at least one Indian and one Vietnamese. Of the Italian places, La Gaetana on Phuket Road near Robinson’s is worth seeking out if you can afford it, though it’s often full. The restaurants in the Old Town are worth splashing out on at least once during your stay, as much for their ambience as for their good quality food. The China Inn Café on Thalang Road, for example, offers Thai fusion cuisine in a delightful garden at the back of a Chinese row-house fitted out with period furnishings and photographs. If you like the distinctive food of Isaan (the north-east of Thailand), there are four long-established Isaan restaurants within a short distance of each other at the southern end of Mae Luan Road, not far from Khao Rang. Saep Bo is the biggest and most popular while Talung offers the option of atmospheric village-style dining on mats stretched out on the ground beneath its trees. At the beginning of the day, if you’re in need of a Western breakfast, you can pamper yourself in any of the big hotels while several restaurants near ECC along the stretch of Phuket Road between Ratsada Road and the clock-tower roundabout offer a cheaper alternative.
Good coffee is not too hard to find (try the Siam Bakery on Yaowarat Road near the fountain roundabout or Coffee Lovers on the ground floor of the Robinson’s building near the supermarket). For drinking in the evening, there are more bars than you might imagine from the generally sleepy atmosphere of the town, including several with live music. Check any of the websites providing tourist information about Phuket Town for a list (e.g. www.phuket-town.com) but before you make a special journey, bear in mind the list is unlikely to be up-to-date. Michael’s Bar on Takua Pa Road, a few minutes’ walk from ECC, has been recommended by trainees as a quiet and friendly place.
There are two cinemas in town, usually showing the same predictable selection of current Hollywood movies. The Grand Paradise is located in the Ocean Shopping Centre and the Coliseum in Central Festival. Check the details of films carefully as most showings are Thai-dubbed versions. However, there are usually two showings a day with the original English-language soundtrack.
The centre of the town is compact enough to explore on foot but if you want to venture out to the shopping centres on the edge of town, for example, or to Khao Rang, you’ll really need to use some kind of transport. There is, in fact, a rudimentary public bus service with two routes. Details of the routes and the frequency of buses can be found on www.phuket-town.com, for example. Taxis are everywhere but if you’re worried about your budget, they’re best avoided except in emergencies as they’re usually unmetered and the prices demanded by the drivers are extortionate. Motorbike taxis are even easier to find and very much more reasonably priced, though here as elsewhere in Thailand passengers are not provided with a helmet, so you take your life in your hands. If you want to get out of town to the beach at the weekend, small buses or sawng thaew, i.e. converted pick-up trucks with two rows of wooden seating, run to all the beaches from in front of the main market. These are cheap (20 – 25 baht) and frequent (about every 30 minutes). Taxis and motorbike taxis will also take you there but a taxi will ask about 300 baht for a one-way trip, a motorbike half this. However, these are your only option after 5 in the evening when all other transport stops. If you want to explore the island, the best way to do it is to hire your own transport. For those brave enough, motorbikes are available for rent for about 150 baht a day all over the place, including right next to ECC. Cars can also be rented, of course, but there are fewer places where you can do this.
Information about Phuket’s beaches can be found in many places. The scenery is attractive all along the coast and the standard of accommodation is generally high, but so are the prices! Briefly, Patong has the longest stretch of sand but it’s also the most built-up and potentially crowded of the resorts. Karon and Kata are a little quieter and Rawai is more Thai-orientated. At once the most beautiful and the quietest beach with anywhere to stay within easy reach of Phuket Town is probably Naiharn. If you have your own transport, the tiny, secluded beaches of Laem Sing and Paradise Beach (to the north and south of Patong respectively) are worth a visit, though if you come to the latter by motorbike, you may think it so-called not so much for its otherworldly beauty as for the high likelihood of your arriving in paradise itself somewhere along its winding and precipitous approach road!
While it has no sites of special interest, the so-called "Old Town", especially the two streets of Thalang and Deebuk, is one of the best preserved areas of traditional Chinese row-houses in Thailand. Like the elaborate Chinese temples that can be found dotted about the town, they were built by the many Hainanese and Fukienese who emigrated here in the 19th century to work in the tin mining business. Many of them have now been lovingly restored and house contemporary art galleries and restaurants as well as longstanding Chinese family businesses. Often built around a cool central light-well, their doors and windows are usually archetypically Chinese but European touches fashionable at the time, such as Ionic columns and Italianate floor-tiles, pop up here and there. On the fringes of this area and beyond, you can also see a few larger ‘Sino-Portuguese’ mansions, surrounded by extensive gardens. Commissioned by Chinese who had made their fortunes in tin, they were constructed mostly, in fact, by Italian architects but modeled on older Portuguese mansions in Singapore and Malaysia. One or two of these are occasionally opened to the public.
Further out, a ride or walk up Khao Rang will reward you with a panoramic view of the whole town and beyond, taking in the harbours, the beach at Rawai and its offshore islands and the mountains that close off the popular western beaches. You can wander a few paths cut through the forest up here or enjoy exceptional cooking (at a price) in the hilltop Tungka Café, which is especially popular at night when the lights of the town are strung out below.
Walking the central streets, it can seem at first that every second business is either a travel agency or an internet café. Given the extraordinary number of opticians, you might also be tempted to wonder if myopia is unusually prevalent in the island. In fact, the town’s shopping facilities are quite diverse for its size. In the centre, on Tilok Uthit 1 Road just beyond the clock-tower roundabout, a large branch of Robinson’s department store has outlets for most major brand names while the Ocean Shopping Centre almost next door has a wide range of cheaper clothing stalls. Both of these have supermarkets on their ground floors (TOPS in the Robinson’s building is the better of the two). On the north-western edge of the town, near the junction for Patong, you can find three large and lavish shopping complexes within a short distance of each other: Central Festival, Big C and Tesco Lotus. One of the town’s two bus routes will take you here from the centre or they can be reached by motorbike taxi for about 50 baht. All of them are new buildings and Central Festival, in particular, is attractively designed with an outdoor art exhibition on the balcony walkway surrounding its outer courtyard. For a different type of shopping experience, try the main market just beyond the fountain roundabout (at the intersection of Ratsada and Yaowarat Roads), which is also the terminus for public transport to and from the beaches. Even if you’re not hungry or are not sure what to buy, its food and spice stalls are a feast for the eye. There are also a lot of cheap clothes and souvenirs here too and these can also be found in the small night market that opens late in the day along Tilok Uthit 2 Road, near the Tavorn Grand Plaza Hotel. There’s an excellent second-hand bookshop on Phang Nga Road, near the On On Hotel and opposite the Kasikorn Bank, two or three minutes’ walk from ECC. Other bookshops around town and in the Central Festival building stock English-language newspapers and magazines and a small range of novels and books about Asia supplied by the Asia Books chain in Bangkok. Though it’s unlikely that you’ll be thinking of buying any original artworks while you’re doing your CELTA course, Phuket is home to many painters and Phuket Town is well-known for its many private art galleries. These can be enjoyable to take a look at even if you’re not planning to take any of the paintings home.
For its size, Phuket Town has a great variety of places to eat. In all but the most basic places, however, prices tend to be high, just as high indeed as in Bangkok. For those on a tight budget, noodle and khao man gai shops are as ubiquitous as anywhere in Thailand and the Muslim-owned roti and curry shops are also very cheap. Reasonably priced food stalls set up behind Robinson’s in the area known as Talaat Kaset from the middle of the day till late at night. This can be a good place to sample seafood in addition to the popular standards and most stalls have an English menu card giving you an idea of at least some of the dishes they can rustle up. As more expensive places tend to come and go in Phuket as elsewhere, it’s difficult to give a list of recommendations. Walk the central streets or ask the locals and in addition to upmarket Thai places (such as Le Café on the approach road to the Phuket Shopping Centre opposite ECC or the extensive Ta Yai by the canal on Soi Taling Chan), you'll find several Italian restaurants and at least one Indian and one Vietnamese. Of the Italian places, La Gaetana on Phuket Road near Robinson’s is worth seeking out if you can afford it, though it’s often full. The restaurants in the Old Town are worth splashing out on at least once during your stay, as much for their ambience as for their good quality food. The China Inn Café on Thalang Road, for example, offers Thai fusion cuisine in a delightful garden at the back of a Chinese row-house fitted out with period furnishings and photographs. If you like the distinctive food of Isaan (the north-east of Thailand), there are four long-established Isaan restaurants within a short distance of each other at the southern end of Mae Luan Road, not far from Khao Rang. Saep Bo is the biggest and most popular while Talung offers the option of atmospheric village-style dining on mats stretched out on the ground beneath its trees. At the beginning of the day, if you’re in need of a Western breakfast, you can pamper yourself in any of the big hotels while several restaurants near ECC along the stretch of Phuket Road between Ratsada Road and the clock-tower roundabout offer a cheaper alternative.
Good coffee is not too hard to find (try the Siam Bakery on Yaowarat Road near the fountain roundabout or Coffee Lovers on the ground floor of the Robinson’s building near the supermarket). For drinking in the evening, there are more bars than you might imagine from the generally sleepy atmosphere of the town, including several with live music. Check any of the websites providing tourist information about Phuket Town for a list (e.g. www.phuket-town.com) but before you make a special journey, bear in mind the list is unlikely to be up-to-date. Michael’s Bar on Takua Pa Road, a few minutes’ walk from ECC, has been recommended by trainees as a quiet and friendly place.
There are two cinemas in town, usually showing the same predictable selection of current Hollywood movies. The Grand Paradise is located in the Ocean Shopping Centre and the Coliseum in Central Festival. Check the details of films carefully as most showings are Thai-dubbed versions. However, there are usually two showings a day with the original English-language soundtrack.
The centre of the town is compact enough to explore on foot but if you want to venture out to the shopping centres on the edge of town, for example, or to Khao Rang, you’ll really need to use some kind of transport. There is, in fact, a rudimentary public bus service with two routes. Details of the routes and the frequency of buses can be found on www.phuket-town.com, for example. Taxis are everywhere but if you’re worried about your budget, they’re best avoided except in emergencies as they’re usually unmetered and the prices demanded by the drivers are extortionate. Motorbike taxis are even easier to find and very much more reasonably priced, though here as elsewhere in Thailand passengers are not provided with a helmet, so you take your life in your hands. If you want to get out of town to the beach at the weekend, small buses or sawng thaew, i.e. converted pick-up trucks with two rows of wooden seating, run to all the beaches from in front of the main market. These are cheap (20 – 25 baht) and frequent (about every 30 minutes). Taxis and motorbike taxis will also take you there but a taxi will ask about 300 baht for a one-way trip, a motorbike half this. However, these are your only option after 5 in the evening when all other transport stops. If you want to explore the island, the best way to do it is to hire your own transport. For those brave enough, motorbikes are available for rent for about 150 baht a day all over the place, including right next to ECC. Cars can also be rented, of course, but there are fewer places where you can do this.
Information about Phuket’s beaches can be found in many places. The scenery is attractive all along the coast and the standard of accommodation is generally high, but so are the prices! Briefly, Patong has the longest stretch of sand but it’s also the most built-up and potentially crowded of the resorts. Karon and Kata are a little quieter and Rawai is more Thai-orientated. At once the most beautiful and the quietest beach with anywhere to stay within easy reach of Phuket Town is probably Naiharn. If you have your own transport, the tiny, secluded beaches of Laem Sing and Paradise Beach (to the north and south of Patong respectively) are worth a visit, though if you come to the latter by motorbike, you may think it so-called not so much for its otherworldly beauty as for the high likelihood of your arriving in paradise itself somewhere along its winding and precipitous approach road!
Siam Square
In contradiction to what you might expect from its name, Siam Square is not a public square graced with statues of national heroes but a grid of narrow animated streets devoted to the popular national pastimes of shopping and eating. It’s not square in any other sense either but one of the trendiest spots for Bangkok’s expanding middle-class youth to meet and be seen. It has sometimes been described as the closest thing Bangkok has to a centre and it is at least true that it is now the point where the two lines of the skytrain system converge and intersect.
Siam Square is built on a plot of land belonging to the adjoining Chulalongkorn University, whose well-heeled and often precariously high-heeled students still form probably half of its pedestrian population at almost any given moment of the day. The University was not slow to sense the commercial potential of the site and oversaw the erection of its current rows of traditional shop-houses some fifty years ago. It is part of the character of the place that some of its original businesses still remain while new ones on the cutting edge of juvenile fashion are constantly opening.
The original shop-houses are still there for the most part. While in many places they have become unrecognisable behind walls of advertising, in one or two others their traditional shutters have received coats of varnish to highlight their distinctive architectural charm. Most of the access roads recessed from the main central street have become crowded car parks patrolled by fearsome matrons in purple uniforms but towards the Novotel one has been paved over and its spreading trees shelter circular benches, ice-cream and drinks stalls and a particularly large and opulent spirit-house, where the resident spirit of Siam Square is regularly regaled with flowers, incense and plates of sticky desserts by grateful prospering shopkeepers.
The tastes of Chulalongkorn students dominate the Square. The tame, sentimental but inventively tuneful Thai pop they favour wafts all day from the corner loudspeakers of Siam Square Radio, whose youthful presenters occasionally give announcements in an English heavy with the accent of the US or Australian high schools they have recently left. Shop windows sport platform shoes (‘office block shoes’ in Thai) that should carry health warnings for the acrophobic, pink and turquoise fluffy handbags, colour-coordinated sunglasses. Unisex hairstylists wait to cosset you on every second corner while if that’s not enough, you can drop into one of the many skin clinics where trained professionals will fall over each other to give advice on banishing spots and freckles you didn’t even know you had. The unashamed cuteness of Thai youth culture comes into its own especially on St Valentine’s Day, when every pavement of Siam Square is clogged by students of both sexes staggering under the weight of padded pink hearts on glittery sticks, bunches of coy rosebuds swathed in white veils and winsome teddy bears.
The sois of Siam Square are numbered consecutively from west to east on the skytrain side and from east to west on the university side with the busy central soi being Soi 7. To either side of almost every soi, dimly-lit arcades lined for the most part with small trendy clothes stalls thread the blocks of shop-houses. Each has received its own name, ranging from ‘Siam Bypass’, appropriate enough for a short-cut, to the more quirky and inscrutable ‘Siam Carrot’. The well-known ‘Centrepoint’, on the other hand, is an open paved area between rows of shop-houses furnished with a small fountain at one end and a stage hosting weekend concerts at the other.
Along the north side of Siam Square, there are three cinemas. The three small screens of the Lido are the best place for finding some variety from the standard fare of Hollywood blockbusters, frequently showing US independents, European and Japanese movies. The magnificent sweeping screens and vast auditoriums of the Scala and the Siam, a little way to either side of the Lido, make them period buildings almost worth visiting for their own sake. All three cinemas regularly play host to the Bangkok Film Festival and other smaller festivals.
To the north and west, the square is walled off by more recent shopping mall buildings. Shutting off the sunset, the gigantic Mah Boon Krong runs into the Patumwan Princess Hotel, a comfortable and stylish choice for those who can afford it. It’s easy to lose your way in the cavernous interior of MBK (as it’s often called), where labyrinths of small stalls specialize in electronic equipment and clothes at reasonable prices. For those who prefer the familiarity of a conventional department store, a branch of the Japanese chain, Tokyu, spreads over four of its floors at its northern end. You can access the National Stadium skytrain station direct from here. The National Stadium itself (there are football matches here on many Saturdays) is immediately to the west of MBK while from the other side of the skytrain station, you can descend straight into the surprisingly quiet Soi Gasemsan 1, where most trainees stay in a cluster of upmarket guesthouses. To the east of here, closing off Siam Square to the north, the Discovery Centre is joined by a bridge to the Siam Centre, which is linked to the Siam Paragon, the latest of Bangkok's glistening malls and which opened in 2006. The fashionable shops in these two buildings are far from cheap but the flagship branch of Asia Books on the fifth floor of the Discovery Centre sells a very wide range of English-language books at almost nothing more or sometimes even less than the cover price in pounds or dollars. There are plush, state-of-the-art cinemas showing Hollywood movies in both MBK and the Discovery Centre. Siam Paragon also has a branch of the Kinokuniya bookshop on the 3rd foor, which sells an enormous selection of quality books.
There is a wide range of places to eat in Siam Square. Both MBK and the Siam Centre have the crowded, noisy ‘food-courts’ typical of Thai shopping centres, where a range of stalls specialise in different types of Thai food at very low prices. In Siam Square itself you can find anything from gloomy Chinese restaurants complete with gangsters gathered in a dark corner, where the staff seem to have aged along with the building, to Kentucky Fried Chicken, Macdonalds and a range of copycat Western fast food outlets. More traditional Thai restaurants, such as the famous Baan Khun Mae (‘Mother’s House’), its interior a dark wooden treasure-store of Thai antiques, sit next to trendy fusion cuisine outlets, all brightly coloured plastic and soft music, that appeal to the tastes of slim-waisted fat-pursed ‘Chula chicks’. The second and third floors of the Siam Centre are also a good place for Thai fusion cuisine and for Japanese food but everything comes at a price here.
Even a few years ago you would have been hard-pressed to find a good cup of coffee in the whole area but its recent trendiness has caused cafés and stalls to spring up all over the place, offering latte, cappuccino and espresso alongside more typically Thai delights such as raspberry-flavoured coffee shakes. There is even a branch of Starbuck’s incorporated into the Kasikorn Bank (they call it "coffee banking"). Siam Square is not really a place for drinking in the evening but there are a few bars with music too loud for conversation that cater to students who are not yet ready to go home.
Because of its skytrain connections, Siam Square is within easy reach of the shopping and entertainment areas along Silom and Sukhumwit Roads and about twenty minutes from the weekend market at Chatuchak. The Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Wat Po can be reached easily by taxi (around 60 baht one-way), by air-conditioned bus or for the more adventurous, by canal boat from the pier at the Elephant Bridge, just beyond the end of Soi Gasemsan 1. Jim Thompson’s House, a collection of lovingly preserved and elegantly furnished traditional Thai teak houses, can be found in a small peaceful garden at the end of Soi Gasemsan 2.
Siam Square is built on a plot of land belonging to the adjoining Chulalongkorn University, whose well-heeled and often precariously high-heeled students still form probably half of its pedestrian population at almost any given moment of the day. The University was not slow to sense the commercial potential of the site and oversaw the erection of its current rows of traditional shop-houses some fifty years ago. It is part of the character of the place that some of its original businesses still remain while new ones on the cutting edge of juvenile fashion are constantly opening.
The original shop-houses are still there for the most part. While in many places they have become unrecognisable behind walls of advertising, in one or two others their traditional shutters have received coats of varnish to highlight their distinctive architectural charm. Most of the access roads recessed from the main central street have become crowded car parks patrolled by fearsome matrons in purple uniforms but towards the Novotel one has been paved over and its spreading trees shelter circular benches, ice-cream and drinks stalls and a particularly large and opulent spirit-house, where the resident spirit of Siam Square is regularly regaled with flowers, incense and plates of sticky desserts by grateful prospering shopkeepers.
The tastes of Chulalongkorn students dominate the Square. The tame, sentimental but inventively tuneful Thai pop they favour wafts all day from the corner loudspeakers of Siam Square Radio, whose youthful presenters occasionally give announcements in an English heavy with the accent of the US or Australian high schools they have recently left. Shop windows sport platform shoes (‘office block shoes’ in Thai) that should carry health warnings for the acrophobic, pink and turquoise fluffy handbags, colour-coordinated sunglasses. Unisex hairstylists wait to cosset you on every second corner while if that’s not enough, you can drop into one of the many skin clinics where trained professionals will fall over each other to give advice on banishing spots and freckles you didn’t even know you had. The unashamed cuteness of Thai youth culture comes into its own especially on St Valentine’s Day, when every pavement of Siam Square is clogged by students of both sexes staggering under the weight of padded pink hearts on glittery sticks, bunches of coy rosebuds swathed in white veils and winsome teddy bears.
The sois of Siam Square are numbered consecutively from west to east on the skytrain side and from east to west on the university side with the busy central soi being Soi 7. To either side of almost every soi, dimly-lit arcades lined for the most part with small trendy clothes stalls thread the blocks of shop-houses. Each has received its own name, ranging from ‘Siam Bypass’, appropriate enough for a short-cut, to the more quirky and inscrutable ‘Siam Carrot’. The well-known ‘Centrepoint’, on the other hand, is an open paved area between rows of shop-houses furnished with a small fountain at one end and a stage hosting weekend concerts at the other.
Along the north side of Siam Square, there are three cinemas. The three small screens of the Lido are the best place for finding some variety from the standard fare of Hollywood blockbusters, frequently showing US independents, European and Japanese movies. The magnificent sweeping screens and vast auditoriums of the Scala and the Siam, a little way to either side of the Lido, make them period buildings almost worth visiting for their own sake. All three cinemas regularly play host to the Bangkok Film Festival and other smaller festivals.
To the north and west, the square is walled off by more recent shopping mall buildings. Shutting off the sunset, the gigantic Mah Boon Krong runs into the Patumwan Princess Hotel, a comfortable and stylish choice for those who can afford it. It’s easy to lose your way in the cavernous interior of MBK (as it’s often called), where labyrinths of small stalls specialize in electronic equipment and clothes at reasonable prices. For those who prefer the familiarity of a conventional department store, a branch of the Japanese chain, Tokyu, spreads over four of its floors at its northern end. You can access the National Stadium skytrain station direct from here. The National Stadium itself (there are football matches here on many Saturdays) is immediately to the west of MBK while from the other side of the skytrain station, you can descend straight into the surprisingly quiet Soi Gasemsan 1, where most trainees stay in a cluster of upmarket guesthouses. To the east of here, closing off Siam Square to the north, the Discovery Centre is joined by a bridge to the Siam Centre, which is linked to the Siam Paragon, the latest of Bangkok's glistening malls and which opened in 2006. The fashionable shops in these two buildings are far from cheap but the flagship branch of Asia Books on the fifth floor of the Discovery Centre sells a very wide range of English-language books at almost nothing more or sometimes even less than the cover price in pounds or dollars. There are plush, state-of-the-art cinemas showing Hollywood movies in both MBK and the Discovery Centre. Siam Paragon also has a branch of the Kinokuniya bookshop on the 3rd foor, which sells an enormous selection of quality books.
There is a wide range of places to eat in Siam Square. Both MBK and the Siam Centre have the crowded, noisy ‘food-courts’ typical of Thai shopping centres, where a range of stalls specialise in different types of Thai food at very low prices. In Siam Square itself you can find anything from gloomy Chinese restaurants complete with gangsters gathered in a dark corner, where the staff seem to have aged along with the building, to Kentucky Fried Chicken, Macdonalds and a range of copycat Western fast food outlets. More traditional Thai restaurants, such as the famous Baan Khun Mae (‘Mother’s House’), its interior a dark wooden treasure-store of Thai antiques, sit next to trendy fusion cuisine outlets, all brightly coloured plastic and soft music, that appeal to the tastes of slim-waisted fat-pursed ‘Chula chicks’. The second and third floors of the Siam Centre are also a good place for Thai fusion cuisine and for Japanese food but everything comes at a price here.
Even a few years ago you would have been hard-pressed to find a good cup of coffee in the whole area but its recent trendiness has caused cafés and stalls to spring up all over the place, offering latte, cappuccino and espresso alongside more typically Thai delights such as raspberry-flavoured coffee shakes. There is even a branch of Starbuck’s incorporated into the Kasikorn Bank (they call it "coffee banking"). Siam Square is not really a place for drinking in the evening but there are a few bars with music too loud for conversation that cater to students who are not yet ready to go home.
Because of its skytrain connections, Siam Square is within easy reach of the shopping and entertainment areas along Silom and Sukhumwit Roads and about twenty minutes from the weekend market at Chatuchak. The Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Wat Po can be reached easily by taxi (around 60 baht one-way), by air-conditioned bus or for the more adventurous, by canal boat from the pier at the Elephant Bridge, just beyond the end of Soi Gasemsan 1. Jim Thompson’s House, a collection of lovingly preserved and elegantly furnished traditional Thai teak houses, can be found in a small peaceful garden at the end of Soi Gasemsan 2.
Living in Bangkok
Bangkok is different! On arrival your first coherent thought is often, "Run away!" The traffic seems chaotic, the air unbreathable, everyone’s trying to sell you something and you can’t get your bearings because everywhere looks the same!
But nose around down leafy sidestreets just a few steps from the concrete jungle or take a canal boat through the sleepy sprawl on the west bank of the river and you’ll still find poignant reminders of the vanished “Venice of the East”. Take a sincere interest in the people and you’ll find beyond the surface image of taxi-drivers trying to rip you off, clinging jewelry-shop touts and pushy sex-workers that in reality most Thais are gentle, considerate, humorous and inexhaustibly patient. You may soon find yourself joining the many who have already fallen for Bangkok’s idiosyncratic and dynamic lure.
There can be few cities of its size where you can feel so safe. You may need to keep your wits about you in commercial dealings and your eyes open when crossing roads, but for a city of at least 10 million people, street crime is still extraordinarily rare.
Thais look with contempt on any expression of aggression or anger - even mild irritation - in public and no matter how pressured the situation, they remain outwardly calm and gracious. Forget about attitude, forget about those scowling rush-hour crowds - for Thais there’s rarely any day so bad or job so tiresome it can seem reason to begrudge another human being the small gift of a smile.
In Bangkok, eating well is an obsession and it’s no exaggeration to say there are restaurants on every corner. Patronising them every night won’t burn much of a hole in your pocket, either. International cuisine is increasingly fashionable and readily available, though high quality western food comes with a western price tag.
Nightlife in Bangkok starts late and finishes later. There are bars and clubs to suit every taste from tango to techno, trampling over jazz, blues, dance and heavy metal. Bangkokians are also movie-crazy! There are 18 cinema screens within walking distance of our head office, for instance, but if your interest is in anything other than Hollywood action movies or Thai historical blockbusters, you’ll need to wait for the European, British, Australian or French Film Festivals which each come round once a year.
Apart from dancing, there are other ways to use your energy, swimming pools, sports and fitness centres, an ice rink, and the opportunity to practise martial arts. However, shopping is the national pastime and roundabout haggling a useful art to acquire.
There are countless palatial shopping malls to tempt the fashion-conscious and several huge markets for those in search of atmosphere and bargains. Things like English-language books, imported CDs and western foodstuffs can be found easily, but they don’t come cheap and don’t expect the range you’d get at home.
Bangkok's chaotic charm doesn't appeal to everybody. The traffic and pollution can be overwhelming. If you hold punctuality and prompt responses in high regard, or if you’re looking for up-to-the-minute efficiency in services, you won’t find life here easy. A sense of humour and an enjoyment of the absurd is also essential.
If you’re not into new culinary experiences and your idea of hot food is adding a smattering of pepper, then Thailand may not be for you. And if you start to complain about the heat when the temperature reaches 25C, forget it!
from http://www.eccthai.com
But nose around down leafy sidestreets just a few steps from the concrete jungle or take a canal boat through the sleepy sprawl on the west bank of the river and you’ll still find poignant reminders of the vanished “Venice of the East”. Take a sincere interest in the people and you’ll find beyond the surface image of taxi-drivers trying to rip you off, clinging jewelry-shop touts and pushy sex-workers that in reality most Thais are gentle, considerate, humorous and inexhaustibly patient. You may soon find yourself joining the many who have already fallen for Bangkok’s idiosyncratic and dynamic lure.
There can be few cities of its size where you can feel so safe. You may need to keep your wits about you in commercial dealings and your eyes open when crossing roads, but for a city of at least 10 million people, street crime is still extraordinarily rare.
Thais look with contempt on any expression of aggression or anger - even mild irritation - in public and no matter how pressured the situation, they remain outwardly calm and gracious. Forget about attitude, forget about those scowling rush-hour crowds - for Thais there’s rarely any day so bad or job so tiresome it can seem reason to begrudge another human being the small gift of a smile.
In Bangkok, eating well is an obsession and it’s no exaggeration to say there are restaurants on every corner. Patronising them every night won’t burn much of a hole in your pocket, either. International cuisine is increasingly fashionable and readily available, though high quality western food comes with a western price tag.
Nightlife in Bangkok starts late and finishes later. There are bars and clubs to suit every taste from tango to techno, trampling over jazz, blues, dance and heavy metal. Bangkokians are also movie-crazy! There are 18 cinema screens within walking distance of our head office, for instance, but if your interest is in anything other than Hollywood action movies or Thai historical blockbusters, you’ll need to wait for the European, British, Australian or French Film Festivals which each come round once a year.
Apart from dancing, there are other ways to use your energy, swimming pools, sports and fitness centres, an ice rink, and the opportunity to practise martial arts. However, shopping is the national pastime and roundabout haggling a useful art to acquire.
There are countless palatial shopping malls to tempt the fashion-conscious and several huge markets for those in search of atmosphere and bargains. Things like English-language books, imported CDs and western foodstuffs can be found easily, but they don’t come cheap and don’t expect the range you’d get at home.
Bangkok's chaotic charm doesn't appeal to everybody. The traffic and pollution can be overwhelming. If you hold punctuality and prompt responses in high regard, or if you’re looking for up-to-the-minute efficiency in services, you won’t find life here easy. A sense of humour and an enjoyment of the absurd is also essential.
If you’re not into new culinary experiences and your idea of hot food is adding a smattering of pepper, then Thailand may not be for you. And if you start to complain about the heat when the temperature reaches 25C, forget it!
from http://www.eccthai.com
Thai Lifestyle
In Thailand you'll discover the rich and mysterious heart of South-East Asia. In this fast developing country the people have retained much of their traditional culture whilst absorbing many western ideas.
Buddhism is practised by 95% of the population and the shaven heads and saffron robes of the monks soon become a familiar sight. Thai Buddhism is renowned for its tolerance and compassion.
Thailand is also famous for its festivals - there's at least one a month somewhere in the country! Lion dances usher in the Chinese New Year in January. Exuberant water throwing greets the Thai New Year in April. In November moonlit lakes and waterways shimmer with the floating candles of Loi Grathong - if you and your lover launch a single candle, you will be destined for each other, if not in this life, then in your next incarnation.
The language is intriguing: the grammar seems telegrammatically simple but strange sonorous vowels and subtly varying tones keep it elusive. The climate can basically be described as steamy. There are three seasons: rainy, hot, and even hotter.
The food can be hotter still and Thai chefs get through chillies by the bucketful! Rich creamy coconut milk smoothes the fire of Central Thai dishes and lemongrass, coriander, galangal and Kaffir lime leaves add subtlety whilst lime juice, garlic and (for the strong of stomach) fermented fish make their contribution to the distinctive pungency of the popular North-Eastern cuisine.
There's adventure, too. You can go trekking into hill tribe territory in the North, snorkelling and diving in the South and exploring ruined cities in the central region or crumbling Khmer temples in the North-East.
Buddhism is practised by 95% of the population and the shaven heads and saffron robes of the monks soon become a familiar sight. Thai Buddhism is renowned for its tolerance and compassion.
Thailand is also famous for its festivals - there's at least one a month somewhere in the country! Lion dances usher in the Chinese New Year in January. Exuberant water throwing greets the Thai New Year in April. In November moonlit lakes and waterways shimmer with the floating candles of Loi Grathong - if you and your lover launch a single candle, you will be destined for each other, if not in this life, then in your next incarnation.
The language is intriguing: the grammar seems telegrammatically simple but strange sonorous vowels and subtly varying tones keep it elusive. The climate can basically be described as steamy. There are three seasons: rainy, hot, and even hotter.
The food can be hotter still and Thai chefs get through chillies by the bucketful! Rich creamy coconut milk smoothes the fire of Central Thai dishes and lemongrass, coriander, galangal and Kaffir lime leaves add subtlety whilst lime juice, garlic and (for the strong of stomach) fermented fish make their contribution to the distinctive pungency of the popular North-Eastern cuisine.
There's adventure, too. You can go trekking into hill tribe territory in the North, snorkelling and diving in the South and exploring ruined cities in the central region or crumbling Khmer temples in the North-East.
About Thailand
Full Country Name : Thailand (Prathet Thai, meaning "land of the free")
Capital : Bangkok (Krung Thep, meaning "city of angels")
Geography : 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 recognised 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.
Climate : Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons-hot and dry from February to May (average temperature 34 degrees Celsius and 75% humidity); rainy with plenty of sunshine from June to October (average day temperature 29 degrees Celsius and 87% humidity); and cool from November to January (temperatures range from 32 degrees Celsius to below 20 degrees Celsius with a drop in humidity).
Much lower temperatures are experienced in the North and Northeast during nighttime. The South has a tropical rainforest climate with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius almost all year round.
Neighboring Countries :
1) Myanmar - west and north
2) Lao P.D.R. - north and northeast
3) Cambodia - southeast and
4) Malaysia - south
Area : 513,115 sq. km.
Capital : Bangkok (Krung Thep, meaning "city of angels")
Geography : 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 recognised 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.
Climate : Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons-hot and dry from February to May (average temperature 34 degrees Celsius and 75% humidity); rainy with plenty of sunshine from June to October (average day temperature 29 degrees Celsius and 87% humidity); and cool from November to January (temperatures range from 32 degrees Celsius to below 20 degrees Celsius with a drop in humidity).
Much lower temperatures are experienced in the North and Northeast during nighttime. The South has a tropical rainforest climate with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius almost all year round.
Neighboring Countries :
1) Myanmar - west and north
2) Lao P.D.R. - north and northeast
3) Cambodia - southeast and
4) Malaysia - south
Area : 513,115 sq. km.
วันศุกร์ที่ 18 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2550
Topography
Thailand is divided into 4 natural regions : The mountainous North, with its profusion of multi-coloured orchids, fascinating native handicrafts and winter temperatures are sufficiently cool to permit cultivation of temperate fruits such as strawberries and peaches; The high Northeast Plateau, which still jealously guards its many archaeological and anthropological mysteries; The Central Plain, one of the world's most fertile rice and fruit-growing areas with colourful traditional culture and way of life as well as the sandy beaches of the East Coast and vibrant cosmopolitan Bangkok; The peninsular South where the unspoiled beaches and idyllic islands complement economically vital tin mining, rubber cultivation and fishing.
Thank information from http://www.tourismthailand.org
Thank information from http://www.tourismthailand.org
National Flag
The red, white, and blue stripes symbolize the nation, Buddhism, and the monarchy, respectively.
Telephone Services and Emergency Numbers
At present, all telephone numbers (for local calls and long distance calls within the country) have nine digits.
For Bangkok calls, 02 is added to the existing numbers i.e. 0 2694 1222.
For provincial calls, an area code is added to the existing numbers. For example, area code for Chiang Mai is 053 = 0 5324 8604; area code for Phuket is 076 = 0 7621 1036.
For mobile phones, After september 1,2006, all Thai mobile phone numbers will be extended to 10 digits. Simply add an 8 in the middle of the existing two-digit prefix, followed by the existing seven-digit number.For example, numbers starting with (66) 01 will become (66) 081 XXX XXXX
The new system has no effect on international phone calls.
The international dialing code for Thailand is 66.
When making international calls to Thailand, add 66 and omit the leading 0.
When making international calls from Thailand, first dial 001+country code+area code+telephone number
If calling Laos or Malaysia, there is a special code which is charged at a semi-domestic rate.
When calling Laos, first dial 007+856+area code+telephone number
When calling Malaysia, first dial 09+06+area code+telephone number
Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100 (international)
Emergency Telephone Numbers :
Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 191
Highway Patrol : 1193
Crime Suppression : 195 or (662) 513 3844
Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken) : 1155
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Call Centre : 1672
Immigration Bureau : (662) 287 3101-10
** International Roaming Mobile Phone : A Subscriber Identity Module Card (SIM Card) is now available for Thai and foreign customers who are travelling around for work. The SIM Card must be used in conjunction with a Digital GSM mobile phone within the 900-MHz range or a Digital PCN mobile phone within the 1800-MHz range.
For Bangkok calls, 02 is added to the existing numbers i.e. 0 2694 1222.
For provincial calls, an area code is added to the existing numbers. For example, area code for Chiang Mai is 053 = 0 5324 8604; area code for Phuket is 076 = 0 7621 1036.
For mobile phones, After september 1,2006, all Thai mobile phone numbers will be extended to 10 digits. Simply add an 8 in the middle of the existing two-digit prefix, followed by the existing seven-digit number.For example, numbers starting with (66) 01 will become (66) 081 XXX XXXX
The new system has no effect on international phone calls.
The international dialing code for Thailand is 66.
When making international calls to Thailand, add 66 and omit the leading 0.
When making international calls from Thailand, first dial 001+country code+area code+telephone number
If calling Laos or Malaysia, there is a special code which is charged at a semi-domestic rate.
When calling Laos, first dial 007+856+area code+telephone number
When calling Malaysia, first dial 09+06+area code+telephone number
Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100 (international)
Emergency Telephone Numbers :
Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 191
Highway Patrol : 1193
Crime Suppression : 195 or (662) 513 3844
Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken) : 1155
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Call Centre : 1672
Immigration Bureau : (662) 287 3101-10
** International Roaming Mobile Phone : A Subscriber Identity Module Card (SIM Card) is now available for Thai and foreign customers who are travelling around for work. The SIM Card must be used in conjunction with a Digital GSM mobile phone within the 900-MHz range or a Digital PCN mobile phone within the 1800-MHz range.
Government
Thailand has had a constitutional monarchy since 1932. Parliament is composed of 2 houses, The House of Representatives and the Senate. Both representatives and senators are elected by the people. A prime minister elected from among the representatives leads the government. The country is divided into 76 provinces. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration comes under an elected governor. Appointed provincial governors administer the other 75 provinces (Changwat), which are divided into districts (Amphoe), sub-districts (Tambon) and villages (Mu Ban).
Head of Government : Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont
Head of Government : Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont
Population, People and Religion
Thais are well-known for their friendliness and hospitality. A large majority of over 62 million citizens of Thailand are ethic Thai, along with strong communities whose ethnic origins lie in China, India and elsewhere. About 7 million people reside in the capital city of Bangkok
Thai (80%), Chinese (10%), Malay (3%), and the rest are minorities (Mons, Khmers, hill tribes) Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area has historically been a migratory crossroads, and has thus produced a degree of ethnic diversity. Integration is such, however, that culturally and socially there is enormous unity.
Buddhism (95%), Muslim (4%), others (1%)
Thai (80%), Chinese (10%), Malay (3%), and the rest are minorities (Mons, Khmers, hill tribes) Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area has historically been a migratory crossroads, and has thus produced a degree of ethnic diversity. Integration is such, however, that culturally and socially there is enormous unity.
Buddhism (95%), Muslim (4%), others (1%)
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