As mentioned above, Thailand used to be known as the Kingdom of Siam and is the country where Siamese cats originated from. The Thai people seem fascinated by these cats and a 14th- century poetry book describes how there used to be 23 different types of Siamese cats, although nowadays there are only six. It is also considered a gesture of good luck to present a bride with a pair of Siamese cats on her wedding day.
The sea-salt briny flavour of swiftlet nests are made from the strands of saliva from the male cave-dwelling swiftlet bird; and are one of the most expensive, coveted and sought after delicacies on the planet. Perhaps not for everyone, these nests are collected from Thai caves and are charged at more than USD per pound.
These nests are dangerous to harvest, painstaking to prepare and according to traditional Chinese medicine, have a long and extensive list of health benefits for those who can afford the salty dish.
The locals invite over monkeys to feast on a buffet of over two tonnes of scrumptious food that has all been lovingly prepared by the locals.
The festival is hosted out of the belief that good luck will follow from treating the furry creatures with respect.
The locals also do it as a means of saying thank you to the monkeys who bring thousands of tourists to the city each year. All those who appreciate any and all monkey business will get a massive kick out of this unusual festival.
Continuing along the theme of bizarre and weird festivals, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is held every year in the month of October and despite what the name suggests, is a rather grisly affair. A key feature of this festival are the people who get involved in very gory self-mutilation and parade in trace-like states in an attempt to purify their souls. Along with the self-mutilation of piecing their faces and body parts with strange and everyday objects, the locals walk barefoot across hot coals and abstain from eating meat for the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar out of the belief that they will be rewarded with excellent health and peace of mind.
Not for the squeamish, the woozy or the fainthearted. In Thailand the royal family is adored and deeply respected by its citizens and it is strictly against the law to criticise any member of the monarchy. Scroll on to read: 53 Interesting Facts About Thailand and why you should visit :.
Your support keeps me caffeinated so I can pump out more content. On 23rd June , Siam became Thailand following reforms which transformed the country from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.
Thailand was renamed Siam from to , after which it again reverted to Thailand. Most of them are active while others are in ruins, as is the case of many structures still standing in the historical parks of Ayuttaya and Sukhothai. Thailand is truly a land of temples. Visiting them requires modest clothing, meaning no shorts or sleeveless shirts.
There are It is home to about one-tenth of all bird species too. To put that in perspective, Thailand has more birds than Europe and North America combined! Elephants are widely associated with Thailand and they are an important part of Thai culture. More than half of all elephants in Thailand are domesticated.
Over years ago, there used to be over , elephants in the country. Thats according to the World Meteorological Survey, though this was not because of any particularly impressive peak temperatures, but because its consistently hot all year round. The reticulated python lives in Thai jungles, and the biggest one found was over 33 feet long. The longest poisonous snake in the world, the king cobra? Yep — you can find those in Thailand, too. The country is one of the most visited in Southeast Asia, with the number rising gradually year on year before the pandemic struck.
Source: statista. They are a peace-loving culture, desiring harmony over conflict. The smallest mammal in the world, the bumblebee bat, can be found in Thailand. Meanwhile the largest fish, the whale shark, resides in Thai waters. The first peoples to inhabit Thailand are the Mon and Khmer, and later came the Tai, who migrated from southern China to Vietnam and then into Laos and northern Thailand.
The first Thai kingdom, Ayutthaya, was established in the 14th century. The country was known as Siam until Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonised by a European power. Chang and Eng Bunker, the first known conjoined twins, were born on the 11th of May , in a province near Bangkok in the Kingdom of Siam. The twins married two different women, who were also sisters, and each couple were parents to more than ten children each!
At first, they lived together and shared a bed big enough for four, but after a number of years the two sisters began quarrelling, thus two separate households were established.
The Siamese twins ended up spending three consecutive nights at each home, until their death in Today, just one quarter of that forest remains. Only Singapore has lost more trees. For this reason, logging is completely banned in Thailand. The bridge was constructed as part of the Burma-Siam railway by the Japanese during WW2, and an estimated 80, prisoners of war died in the course of making that railway.
Source: Worlds Top Exports. One of the main reasons why Thai food is so delicious is the careful juxtaposition and perfect balance of aromas and ingredients in their dishes. Authentic Thai food relies on four prominent flavours in their cooking: sweet, sour, spicy, and salty.
The three meals per day concept is a Western one and is not recognised in Thailand. Thais eat whenever they feel hungry, and will literally drop whatever they are doing to satisfy their cravings. They eat little portions often throughout the day, and are renowned for their snacking!
This explains why you will not see them helping themselves to big servings of food during mealtimes. Thai food is one of the most popular cuisines in the world and is loved for its distinct and strong flavours. Chopsticks are only used to eat noodles, and never to eat rice. Food is served already cut into bite-size pieces, so there is no need for knives. You will struggle to find baked food anywhere in Thailand, since Thai people almost never own an oven, and they love to stir-fry, deep fry and grill their food.
The only traditional bakeries in Thailand are found in the Thai Chinese areas that mainly sell Chinese bread and filled buns. However, noodles have only been eaten in Thailand since as recently as 80 years ago! They were only introduced to the country during World War 2, to help alleviate a rice shortage that occurred due to the war and floods.
This means technically there is a democracy in which the Thai parliament led by the Prime Minister oversees the running of the country, and the King gives approval of legislation. However, Thailand has a very complex power structure that has seen numerous coups and military rule in the country in modern times.
Related post: 71 Fun Facts About England. The head is considered the most important part of the body, and Thai culture forbids touching anyone on the head, even a child. Should you meet someone who is older or more important than you, it is recommended to lower your head in deference to show proper respect.
Floating markets are not only a tourist attraction but part of Thai daily life. If you want to see how Thai people shop for groceries, you must rise early in the morning to not miss out on a wonderful experience! Some of the best hotels and restaurants are really quite inexpensive, and so is a lot of the entertainment.
Thailand is a year-round destination. The beaches are the most popular during the hot season, while the capital city of Bangkok, and the northern cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, are most popular during the monsoon season.
Regardless of the season one visits Thailand, it's never cold and there's plenty of sunshine. Learn more about best time to visit Thailand. There are more than mammal species, including elephants, tigers, leopards, Malaysian sun bears, deer, and otters, as well as a variety of primate species including gibbons, monkeys, and macaques.
The country currently has national parks. Khao Sok National Park is perfect for birdwatchers, and for spotting some rare apes like the white-handed gibbon. A trip to Khao Yai will mix sightseeing and wildlife watching. Khao Yai National Park in central Thailand, located just kilometers from Bangkok, is home to tigers, wild boars, elephants, porcupines, and gibbons.
A 1-day tour of the park includes hiking and safari drives, mixing wildlife watching and natural exploration. Always remember to be a responsible traveler and not to feed the wildlife, as well as steering clear of any tourist attractions you think are abusing animals for profit. The markets in Thailand are like no others in the world. Each has its own distinct character, from the crowds they attract to the items that are for sale.
The floating market is one of the most iconic. If you want to be closer to the lifestyle of the people of Thailand, the night market is one of the must-go places. The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market used to be a market for locals, but has now become a tourist attraction.
It is very crowded, but this makes it all the more fun. You'll be amazed at how people are able to maneuver boats through the jammed canals. It takes about 2 hours to get there from downtown Bangkok, but if you can get there early in the morning, you will not only avoid the water traffic, but also enjoy the most authentic market atmosphere.
The floating market is a great way of immersing yourself in local culture. With over eight million people residing in the city, Bangkok is usually the first stop for many travelers embarking on their journey of Southeast Asia. It's important to tour Bangkok from a different angle. Avoid getting stuck in traffic, by opting to take the Skytrain to visit the Grand Palace and the Temple of Emerald Buddha. A walk to the Amulet Market is also recommended if you're looking to buy souvenirs. If you have heard of Thailand, then you have no doubt heard of the famous Thai smile and Thai wai.
This is a big part of their culture. Thais are, in general, some of the politest and most well-mannered people you will ever meet, and this is why so many people love visiting Thailand.
One of their mottoes is mai pen rai , which means never mind. Thai people's carefree attitude is one that many Westerners envy. As opposed to many Westerners that tend to worry and live stressful lives, Thais tend to take stress and emotions with a pinch of salt. Even when Thais are losing in sports events, you rarely see them lose their temper and, instead, they just smile their frustration away.
It is this side of Thais that people fall in love with. It is also a big reason why so many people say that they cannot wait to go back to Thailand again after their first visit. People tend to go home and miss the welcoming and friendly nature of the Thai people. Although there is a very small percentage of scam artists and bad eggs, in general, if you befriend a Thai, you have a friend for life.
What is also amazing is that Thais never tend to forget a face. When you return to the same place, even after a couple of years, they always seem to remember you. Other aspects of Thai culture that are interesting include their respect for elders and their devotion to Buddhism.
All male Thais are encouraged to become a monk at some point in their lives. Sport is a surefire way to bridge culture gaps and break the ice. Luckily, Thais are big on sports and pretty much everywhere you go in Thailand, sports games are on the television or there is a sports event happening.
Most Thais love soccer, which suits many Europeans because it means they get to watch their favorite sports team with Thais who also support the same team. Another sport that is very popular is Muay Thai Thai boxing. There is no shortage of Thai boxing gyms or stadiums in Thailand.
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