70 Facts About Thailand

Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and formerly known as Siam, is a country with 76 provinces in Southeast Asia's Indochinese peninsula.

Thailand has a land area of 513,120 square kilometres.

Bangkok is the state's capital, and Thai is the official language.

The official currency is the Baht (฿) (THB).

Thailand shares borders with four countries: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Myanmar.

Between 1985 and 1996, Thailand experienced rapid economic growth. It ranks third among the ten ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries in terms of quality of life.

Thailand is one of the few countries that still has a monarch. With a reign of 70 years, King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world's longest-serving head of state. He is unquestionably an inspiration to anyone who aspires to live a king-sized life.

Thailand's King was not even born in Thailand. He was born in the United States and attended engineering school in Switzerland.

Thailand never developed a major army and, unlike Asian giants such as India and China, was never colonised by European powers. In fact, the word "Thai" means "free man."

In Thailand, there are over 100 state-owned radio stations. Private companies are given time slots in the shows on these stations.

On May 22, 2014, the Royal Thai Armed Forces staged a coup and deposed the government. This was the 12th coup since the first in 1932. Thailand appears to enjoy colonising itself!

It is illegal to step on or tear Thailand's currency. It may appear to be an unusual way to honour money, but the real reason is that its currency bears the image of Thailand's king. Disrespecting the monarch is actually illegal.

Thailand has one of the harshest penalties for drug trafficking: the death penalty. Many tourists and foreign nationals are currently serving lengthy sentences for minor drug-related offences.

If you leave your house in Thailand without wearing your underwear, you will be arrested because it is technically an offence in Thailand.

Thailand takes its respect for the King very seriously. When the king visits Downtown, monorails sometimes suspend service to uphold the traditional law that the king's head cannot be lower than anyone else's. Fortunately, there is no ban on flights that fly above the ground.

Before any cultural performance, including Hollywood movies at modern multiplexes, the king's anthem is played.

In Thailand, it is illegal to be shirtless in public, and driving a car without a shirt can land you in jail.

Thailand's national and official symbol is the Garuda, a half-man, half-eagle from the Indian epic Ramayana.

The country has its own patented cat breed, Siamese cats, which are indigenous to this island nation. Giving one to a bride as a wedding gift is also considered lucky!

PETA will undoubtedly appreciate this animal-loving country that worships its animals as gods. The annual Monkey Buffet Festival, a one-of-a-kind Siamese tradition, is exactly what it sounds like: a buffet for monkeys held in Lopburi, Thailand.

Siamese crocodiles are nearly extinct, but a few remain in Thailand's national parks.

Thailand is also home to the whale shark, the world's largest fish.

Thailand also has the world's tiniest mammal, the bumble bat.

Macaques, who are astute opportunists and excellent tool users, live in the Khao Yai National Park. Crab-eating macaques got their name because they were known to comb beaches for crabs. Keep your bottled water, food, and even your asthma inhaler out of their reach!

Thailand prefers its beer on the rocks. The majority of Thais drink beer mixed with nam keng, which translates as "ice."

Sato, the local alcoholic beverage, is sipped through a straw and is made from starchy rice.

Rice is not only a food grain, but it is also considered sacred. Leaving any rice on the plate is a sin. Even stepping on rice is considered a sin.

Local Thais adore instant MAMA noodles, which they even bring with them in bulk when they travel abroad!

Tough cuts of beef are marinated, grilled, and then beaten until they are forced to become the delicious dish known as Jîn đúp in Northern Thailand.

In Thailand, fairy floss crepe is very real. They call it Roti Sai Mai.

Thailand is the world's largest orchid exporter.

The king of tropical fruits, Durian, is native to Thailand but is prohibited in most hotels due to its strong odor.

Red Bull, the popular energy drink, began as a Thai brand created by a local.

With 1,300 species, the Mekong River is a biological hotspot for fish. The popular catfish found here weigh around 700 pounds each.

Thais have a sinful, lesser-known snack called Khao Mao Tod, which consists of deep-fried ripe banana slices with a coating of unripe sticky rice, coconut, and palm sugar. It is the 30-year-old creation of Mrs. Sanom, who first sold it from a boat.

The delicate Khao Kriab Pak Moh, or steamed rice skin dumplings, were once served to royalty, and their preparation is an art form. At street stalls and the Shangri-La Hotel in Chiang Mai, you can watch super thin, gauzy sheets of rice skin being steamed over stretched-out muslin.

Bangkok, Thailand's largest city, is the abbreviated version of its original name, which is a total alphabet soup — Krung Thep Thep Ayuthaya Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Mahadilok Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.

Despite its small size, it is currently the world's second-largest rice exporter. It was first before falling to India in 2015.

Eng and Chang Bunker, two Thai residents, were dubbed "Siamese Twins," a term for conjoined twins.

Both India and China have a strong influence in Thailand. They combined Indian religious ideas with Chinese traditional values to create their distinct identity.

Thailand values the third gender and has public restrooms for transgender males as well as traditional male and female. These are referred to as pink toilets.

Bangkok is also the most visited city in the world, surpassing top cities such as London and Paris.

Thailand's national sport is Muay Thai. It is known as "The art of eight limbs" because it is frequently lethal. The knees, elbows, shins, and hands are all treated as distinct limbs.

The country has a long history of civilization, dating back to the time of the Bible. It all began in the first century CE, with the formation of the Kingdom of Funan.

It has always been a global trade hub, with ancient ties to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Ayutthaya, Thailand's ancient city, was once a world-class centre for international trade.

The Siamese people's primary religion is Buddhism, which is practised by approximately 95% of the population, but the state is secular. It is one of the most religiously tolerant countries in the world.

Thailand is the world's prostitution capital, and its red-light districts are well-known.

The Academy Award-winning film The Bridge on the River Kwai is based on a real bridge near Kanchanaburi, Thailand. A staggering 100,000 people are said to have died during the bridge's construction.

Thailand has Asia's second highest rate of deforestation. Once a thriving tropical forest, the tree cover has been reduced to 25% of the total land area. Logging is currently prohibited in Thailand.

Bangkok is becoming increasingly dense. Thailand's capital city is home to nearly one-tenth of the country's total population.

Fake monks prowl the streets of Bangkok, duping tourists and posing a threat to authorities.

Tiger Woods, the world's most famous golfer, has Siamese blood running through his veins because his mother is Thai.

Personal appearance is a type of gesture in Thailand. Wear proper attire to demonstrate respect.

It is impolite to point your leg towards any god or holy place; footwear is strictly prohibited inside temples.

Thailand has the highest number of HIV+ patients, and the number is growing by the year.

Buddhists believe Buddha was originally an elephant before assuming human form. An elephant tattoo is a powerful symbol, so if you're in Thailand, consider getting one.

The gold statue of Gautama Buddha, Phra Phuttha Maha Suwan Patimakon, weighs an incredible 5,500 kilogrammes. Given current gold prices, it is approximately 86% pure and is worth $250 million.

Bangkok was once crisscrossed by canals known as 'khlongs.' Buildings and houses were raised on stilts. And since we must compare everything we see, it is not surprising that Bangkok was called the Venice of the East.

Thais adore their homeland. When the national anthem is played twice a day, you must stop and pay your respects.

According to local customs, locals wear yellow shirts on Mondays because auspicious colours are associated with specific days of the week.

The 'Bridge on the River Kwai' is located in Thailand, near Kanchanburi.

Thailand is home to over 40,000 temples. Don't worry; no one has ever visited them all.

When a Thai man stole a Saudi royal family's diamond. It triggered a chain of events that culminated in the Blue Diamond Affair. Saudi-Thai relations have deteriorated, and Saudis are no longer permitted to visit Thailand. The Thai national, on the other hand, became a monk in order to atone for his sins.

In Thailand, Mother's Day has nothing to do with your mother. It is done to show respect for the royal family.

It is illegal to touch a local on the head; in Thailand, it is best to lower your head — even to a child!

Twenty minutes by speedboat from crowded Phuket is the pristine island of KOH YAO YAI, where the word "pristine" still has meaning!

There's a hidden jungle in Bang Krachao, across the river from crowded Sukhumvit, where you can rent a bike and a hand-drawn map of bike trails to explore the place that literally means "green lung."

Secret full-moon parties can be found on the island of Ko Pha-Ngan.

Thailand and James Bond appear to be inseparable. Bond and Thailand appear in The Man With the Golden Gun and Tomorrow Never Dies.

Two Brothers (2004) is a heartbreaking Thai film about two infant tiger cubs.