WHERE IS THAILAND?

Thailand is in Southeast Asia just below China. It is bordered by Burma (Myanmar) in the west, Laos and Cambodia in the east, and Malaysia in the south. It is exactly on the opposite side of US's east coast on the globe, around 10,000 miles from the United States. Thailand is 11 hours ahead of EST time in spring and summer, and 12 hours in fall and winter. If you're living on the east side of the US, when you're just getting up in the morning, we would be eating supper on the same day. When you go to work or school, we go to bed; the same time!

STATISTICS

Official Name: Kingdom of Thailand
Population: 63 million (2002)
Area: 198,455 sq. miles, more than twice the size of Wyoming
Capital: Bangkok (population 13 million)
Largest Cities: Bangkok (13 m), Chiang Mai (?), Buriram (?)
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Religions: Buddhism (official) 95 %; Islam 3.8%; Christianity 0.5%; Hinduism 0.1%; other 0.6%
Ethnic Groups: Thai 80%; Chinese 10%; and the rest are minorities (Hmong, Khmers, hill tribes
Languages: Thai (official), English, ethnic and regional dialects
Per Capita Income: US $2,000

CLIMATE

The climate is tropical with long hours of sunshine and high humidity. There are three seasons:
Hot from March to June
Rainy from July to October
Cool from November to February

Average low temperature is 20°C (68°F) and high temperature is 37°C (98°F). Bangkok and many other provinces go as high as 40-42°C (104-107°F) in summer. The geographic and climatic conditions make the country suitable for the cultivation of a wide range of tropical and semi-tropical agricultural crops.

MONARCHY

In 1782 king Rama I was crowned. He moved the capital across the river to Bangkok, and ruled as the first king of the Chakri dynasty. In 1809 Rama II, son of Rama I, took the throne and ruled until 1824. King Rama III (1824-1851) began to develop trade with China and increase domestic agricultural production.

When king Mongkut (Rama IV) took the throne in 1851 he quickly established diplomatic relations with European nations, while at the same time astutely avoiding colonisation. He also began a period of trade reform and modernisation of the Thai education system. His son, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V 1868-1910), continued this tradition with the modernisation of the legal and administrative systems, and the construction of railways. During his 15 year reign from 1910 to 1925 king Vajiravudha (Rama VI) introduced compulsory education and other reforms.

In 1925 the brother of king Vajiravudha, king Prajadhipok (Rama VII 1925-1935) ascended the throne. Seven years later a group of Thai students living in Paris mounted a successful bloodless coup d'etat which led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy similar to that which existed in Britain. A key military leader in the coup, Phibul Songkhram, took power and maintained control until after the end or WW II.  Rama VIII, Ananda Mahidol, became king in 1935 but was assassinated in rather mysterious circumstances in 1946. He was succeeded by his younger brother Bhumipol Aduldej who became Rama IX. His Majesty King Bhumipol Adujdej remains on the throne today, and he commands great respect in both Thailand and throughout the rest of the world. In June 2006, His Majesty King Bhumipol celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ascension to the throne. He is the longest reigning monarch in the world.