The Kingdom of ThailandRatcha Anachak Thai, IPA is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia.
It is bordered to the north by Laos and Myanmar, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Myanmar. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast and Indonesia and India in the Andaman Sea to the southwest. The capital and largest city of Thailand is Bangkok. It is also the country’s center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities.
Thailand is the world’s 50th largest country in terms of total area (slightly smaller than Yemen and slightly larger than Spain), with a surface area of approximately 513,000 km2 (198,000 sq mi), and the 21st most-populous country, with approximately 64 million people. About 75% of the population is ethnically Thai, 14% is of Chinese origin, and 3% is ethnically Malay; the rest belong to minority groups including Mons, Khmers and various hill tribes. There are approximately 2.2 million legal and illegal migrants in Thailand. Thailand has also attracted a small number of expatriates from developed countries. The country’s official language is Thai.
Thailand is one of the most devoutly Buddhist countries in the world. The national religion is Theravada Buddhism which is practiced by more than 94.7% of all Thais. Muslims make up 4.6% of the population and 0.7% belong to other religions.Culture and traditions in Thailand are significantly influenced by India, as are Burma, Laos and Cambodia.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, as the ruling monarch. The king has reigned for more than sixty-three years, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch and the longest reigning current monarch in the world. The king is officially titled as the Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, an Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and the Defender of all faiths.
Thailand experienced rapid economic growth between 1985 and 1995 and today is a newly industrialized country with an emphasis on exports and a flourishing tourism industry, thanks to various world-famous tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Bangkok, and Phuket.
The Country’s official name was Siam Sayam, pronounced until June 23, 1939, when it was changed to Thailand. It was renamed Siam from 1945 to May 11, 1949, after which it was again renamed Thailand. Also spelled Siem, it has been identified with the Sanskrit Śyâma (meaning “dark” or “brown”). The names Shan and A-hom seem to be variants of the same word, and Śyâma is possibly not its origin but a learned and artificial distortion.
The word Thai is not, as commonly believed, derived from the word Tai meaning “freedom” in the Thai language; it is, however, the name of an ethnic group from the central plains (the Thai people).A famous Thai scholar argued that Tai simply means “people” or “human being” since his investigation shows that in some rural areas the word “Tai” was used instead of the usual Thai word “khon” for people. The phrase “Land of the free” is derived from Thai pride in the fact that Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia never colonized by a European power.
The Thai National Anthem Thai refers to the Thai nation as: prathet-thai . The first line of the national anthem is: prathet thai ruam lueat neua chat chuea thai and was translated in 1939 by Colonel Luang Saranuprabhandi as: “Thailand is the unity of Thai blood and body.”
While the Thai people will often refer to their country using the polite form prathet-thai , they most commonly use the more colloquial word ‘Mueang-Thai’ or simply Thai ; the word mueang meaning nation but most commonly used to refer to a city or town.
Ratcha Anachak Thai means “Kingdom of Thailand” or “Kingdom of Thai”. Etymologically, its components are: -Ratcha- (from Sanskrit raja, meaning “king, royal, realm”) ; -ana- (from Pāli āṇā, “authority, command, power”, itself from Sanskrit ājñā, same meaning) -chak (from Sanskrit cakra or cakraṃ meaning “wheel”, a symbol of power and rule).
A Thailand checklist is a guide for any travelers to prepare themselves before landing in Thailand, the land of smiles.
Getting There
There are several ways to arrive to this country depending on where you come from.
By air: The main airport of Thailand is in Bangkok called Suvarnabhumi International Airport. However, there are many other airports in every region around Thailand in order for travelers to connect to all parts of the country such as in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui and Krabi. A little trick is that as there is a high competition in domestic flight market, travelers should compare the air fares from more than one source before booking. Also, be careful with the initial price offered as there could be a large amount of extra taxes and surcharges applied in the further booking steps. So, make sure, you continue the booking process until the final total price is shown. The popular airlines for domestic flights are Thailand Airways, Bangkok Air, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air and Air Asia.
By train: If tourists travel from Malaysia, a train is another option to enter Thailand. Moreover, as the railway connects to every part of the country, if tourists do not mind spending a little more time on transportation, this is another option to travel around the country and enjoy scenery of Thailand.
By ship: This way is becoming more popular nowadays. There is the cruise line heading to South East Asia route, including visiting Thailand. The recommended 5-star service cruise is Costa Cruises.
Checklist before Thailand check in
1. Seek for some basic information
After choosing the transportation to enter the country, learning some basic information is always a wise idea to do before your arrival. Tourism Authority of Thailand or TAT is always a trusted and valuable source to seek for any information about the country. The main channel to connect to TAT is through its website. In addition, even when you have arrived to the country there are many branches of TAT around Thailand to serve tourists, starting from the one at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
2. Vaccinations preparation
In term of health preparation, vaccinations for hepatitis A and B, polio, rabies, typhoid and tuberculosis are advised but not necessary. If you plan to get into jungles around the border areas (connected to Cambodia, Burma and Lao), Malaria vaccination is also recommended.
3. Entry document check for Thailand Check in
For Visa, the regulations for visa can be changed without notice so when planning to visit Thailand, make sure to re-check with the Thai embassy before departing. For passport, it must be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive Thailand.
4. Prepare some money and know its currency
About currency, currency used in Thailand is Thai Baht. Its money includes both coins and notes, starting from “satang” coins, 100 satangs equal to 1 baht, 1 baht, 2 baht, 5 baht and 10 baht coins. For bank notes are 1,000 baht, 500 baht, 100 baht, 50 baht and 20 baht notes. One recommendation is that do not keep the large-denomination bank notes such as 1,000 or 500 notes or try change them to the smaller ones as street vendors or taxis don’t usually have large amount of changes. Exchange counters are also scattered around the country especially in tourist places. It is highly recommended to exchange your money at these bank counters rather than at hotels as the rate from the latter one would be more expensive. Besides cash, it is also a wise idea to bring cards with you as ATM machines are widely available everywhere around Thailand. Credit card is also accepted in many places however make sure you keep an eye on who handling your cards to avoid any cheating practices such as copying your card codes.
5. Clothes to match with the climate
The usual weather in Thailand is hot. There is a Thai joke that Thailand has 3 seasons: hot, hotter and hottest. As a result, clothes to be used in this country should be something light with short sleeves. However, trousers or a long skirt are something you should also bring at least one as some tourist attractions such as temples will not allow people with shorts or singlet to get in. Some winter clothes may be needed only if you plan to go up the hills in the northern part or north eastern part of the country during winter time, otherwise, they will be quite useless for your trip. To make sure with this, it is highly recommend travelers to check the weather forecast again before their departure.
6. Baggage check
To make your Thailand check in smoother, check the allowance of your baggage properly and make sure your bags are not overloaded. The baggage allowance is up to the airline policy so check this in your booking that issued by the airline.
After all the lists have been checked, you will be quite ready for checking in to Thailand. The final suggestion is that always find the promotional prices in advance for any services you are going to use in Thailand such as accommodations, transportation, limousines, spas or other activities. Many services are often offered great deals for advance booking.
Over the last six months, Thailand has reached the headlines across the globe. In November 2008, the “Yellow Shirts” held the International Airport at Bangkok under siege, and over the last few weeks, the country has faced another national emergency, when the “Red Shirts” decided to fight back with their protests in Bangkok. Yet, in many areas of Thailand, all seems peaceful and quiet, and there are no signs of these political protests. No sign that is, apart from the concern and worry of the locals, and the quieter bars, restaurants and hotels.
The issues behind these protests are complex, but to put it as simply as possible:
The Yellow Shirts (also known as The People’s Alliance for Democracy or PADs), agree with the concept of democracy, but also feel that people need to have some understanding of the long term economic, social and political consequences of their vote. They believe that Thaksin used corruption to gain the vote of the majority population of the rural regions of Northern Thailand, on the lead up to the 2001 elections that made him prime minister.
The Red Shirts, however, see Thaksin more as a Robin Hood character, who took from the rich and gave to the poor. They believe they would be financially better off both in the short term and the long term under the rule of Thaksin. Now, Thaksin faces corruption charges, and an unelected party and prime minister are ruling their country. As a result, they feel cheated.
Who is right and who is wrong is not for discussion here. We are currently more concerned with the impact these struggles could have on the economy of Thailand and on the number of tourists who want to visit. When the first major protests began in November 2008, many holidaymakers cancelled their trip, and having just recovered from the impact of the Tsunami, many businesses in the tourism industry of Thailand faced yet another season of lowering tourist numbers. The fallout from this is wide spread. Entire families rely on the income delivered by tourism to survive.
As such a high proportion of the population in the tourist hotspots of Thailand survive on the income of tourism alone, the majority of the locals in these places want nothing but a peaceful resolution. They want foreigners to continue to regard Thailand as The Land of Smiles.
Whilst no one wishes to encourage you to walk into the middle of a conflict, I’m sure I’m speaking for the large majority when I ask you to consider the real impact of these struggles on your visit to Thailand. Neither the Reds nor the Yellows have an issue with tourists or expats, but if you are concerned about the recent troubles in Bangkok, I would like to highlight that you do not need to fly to Bangkok if you wish to visit Thailand. You can fly from Kuala Lumpur to Krabi, or fly direct into Phuket. From there you can go straight to your final holiday destination, where a warm welcome and a peaceful atmosphere awaits – just as tourists have grown to expect from Thailand – The Land of Smiles.
Grasp The Several Sorts Of Land Certificates In Thailand
Are you a foreigner, married to a Thai National and planning to retire in Thailand? In that case, in particular if you are contemplating to buy land and build a retirement house in Thailand this could be of interest.
To start with I am obliged to give you a few warnings!
Warning No. 1: All land in Thailand is does not have the same legal grade!
Warning No. 2: I am not a solicitor. This article is gained from my own research and is offered as is.
I have vigilantly checked the correctness of my investigations, but I can not be responsible for any consequences arising out of you making use of it. Please make certain that you conduct your own checks
Warning No. 3: Things in Thailand on occasion turn out in unexpected ways.
Just because the law says A, some people may take it as B!
The Significance Of Checking Title Deeds On Land In Thailand
You would be well advised to verify the title deeds before you agree to any land transaction in Thailand. Instances have been reported where some people understood they would actually fully own the land, yet they just received possessory rights. Other people understood that they were acquiring a particular amount of land however they really received a smaller size.Yet more people understood that the house is on the land they were buying, but the property was on somebody else’s land.
Right Of Possession And Ownership Of Land In Thailand
There are two completely separate rights that people can possess on a plot of land in accordance with the law in Thailand.
One is the right of ownership, the other is the right of use.
A person are able to have the right of use of land for whatever purpose even though it does not actually belong to them. Yet, the rights that you can hold over a plot of land, such as ownership or right of use, depends upon the sort of title deed. Accordingly it is critical that you can distinguish between the limitations of the varying types of land title deeds and what is the actual kind of title deed held by the land you are contemplating purchasing.
The Several Kinds of Land Title Deeds In Thailand
1. Sor Kor 1
2. Por Bor Tor 6
3. Por Bor Tor 5
4. Sor Por Kor 4-01
5. Nor Sor Saam
6. Nor Sor Saam Gor
7. Nor Sor 4 Jor (Chanoht)
1. Sor Kor 1
Sor Kor 1 is the form required to inform the State of a possessory claim to a plot of land.
This first appeared in December 1954 and was a tool of the state to confirm claims upon the land with the ultimate issuance of Nor. Sor 3 or Nor. Sor. 3 Gor documentation (see below). There are plans to get rid of this title and raise all Sor Kor 1 land to Nor Sor Saam. The form recognises the right for the holder to occupy and farm the land. The land can not be disposed of, it may only be moved to immediate heirs of the individual who owns it.
2. Por Bor Tor 6
This is certification that is mandatory for all land to have so that a tax number can be issued and tax be paid upon the use of the land. There is no inference of title, ownership or possessory right of the land, just that it has been recorded as taxable.
3. Por Bor Tor 5
This is farming land not documented as having ownership by the appropriate land office. The local village headsman will be used as the one and only Official and he needs to know about who owns the land by possessory rights title, and moreover the borders of the land. When disposed of, funds are handed over with the knowledge of the sheriff. By law development is not permitted, but often property developments have appeared with full knowledge by local Planning officials.
4. Sor Por Kor 4-01
This relates to land fixed by the Land Reform Committee. Land with this documentation cannot be purchased or disposed of, and may only be moved to rightful heirs of the individual who owns it.
5. Nor Sor Saam
This identifies that the land has been discharged to the holder by the administration and the land can be utilised for its benefits by the certificate holder of this title deed. Nevertheless, this is not an unambiguous document, and is appropriate only to the particular the holder of the land. Problems occasionally appear when aiming to confirm the real extent of such plots covered by this type of document as no coordinates are indicated and it refers to an identifiable piece of land with no reference to adjacent plots of land. Land of this form can be traded, but the extents are only marked with respect to the adjoining pieces of land and survey mistakes abound. Should you be constructing on land of this status, I suggest that you build well inside the boundaries so that you can be certainly positive the property is really on your land, not your next door neighbors.
6. Nor Sor Saam Ghaw
This type of land deed possess similar lawful status as Nor Sor 3, however, in this case the extent is marked by means of coordinates and is precisely drawn displaying neighbouring plots on a plan using a standard scale of 1:5000.
7. Nor Sor 4 Jor. (Chanote)
This grade of land is the ideal certification for investing in land in Thailand. This is a deed defining the official owner of the land. It shows the GPS-verified extent of the plot of land. The property owner identified upon this type of title deed frequently uses the title deed as corroboration of ownership in official transactions. Lenders are regularly prepared to lend cash using this documentation as collateral. Land of this kind customarily has distinctively numbered government concrete posts to define the boundary of the area of land and maybe other locations as well. These will be shown on the title deed.
It is usually particularly O.K. for non Thais to acquire land of this class and you will commonly pay a premium over Nor Sor Saam Gor as it is so desired.
Chaing dao is at the northern end of Thailand. It is in fact only a short drive from Chiang Mai. The name Chiang Dao translates literally to “City of Stars”. Famous for so many tourist related things such as its caves, hiking, rafting and even elephant centres, many come to Chaing Dao for the flowers.
The Chaing Dao flowers of Thailand can be described as nothing short of exquisite. It is a largely agricultural town and the locals are a very hard working mix of people who rise as early as 3.00am and are well and truly in bed at night by 8.00pm For Thailand standards, this is not a party town in the least!
Many groups of enthusiasts have come to the Chiang Dao area in search of the famous parrot flower. A species of the Impatiens Psittacina, the rare parrot bird flower has captured not only many hearts, but many urban myths and legends also.
There are entire websites devoted to the accuracy of this plant being real or not. Thought to only grow on the Chaing Dao mountain top, it is by all accounts and otherwise unsightly plant. The flower is truly beautiful, and the name for this plant truly is representative of the flower. Many have offered thousands of dollars for the seeds to this rare parrot flower and yet no one seems to be able to get them.
Known for some of the most breathtaking views, many flower enthusiasts have fallen in love with the region and have returned year after year hoping to sight the flowering Impatiens Psittacina. One of the biggest draw cards to the area is that it is not as popular as many other areas of Thailand and therefore you are able to witness nature in all her glory without the trampling tourists. The most striking feature to the area is Doi Chiang Dao, Thailand’s third highest mountain which is a popular hiking and bird watching destination
You will no doubt have heard this said of Thailand and it is; by and large true, I say this with tongue in cheek because the Thais are a genuinely friendly people but you have to bear in mind their circumstances. Whilst they are a hard working race they get no help from their government. If they have not got, or cannot find work, then they do not eat. It follows therefore that if they get their hands on a foreign traveler with money they are gonna smile and make sure they do everything possible to keep them happy, while at the same time helping themselves to some of that money.
Most of my time is spent in northern Thailand, which is considered to be the cultural region. Should you be going to travel in Thailand please enjoy all it has to offer and believe me that is an awful amount but temper it with consideration for the local population. The King is the most respected individual in the kingdom and is loved by his subjects. Make derogatory remarks about any member of the royal family at your peril.
The second most important institution is the Monkhood of the Buddhist faith, 90%+ of the population follows Buddhism. Full of beautiful and ancient temples lavished with much adornment by the community it serves. There are more than 7000 Buddhist temples in Thailand. The wealth of the church in Thailand is probably greater than the monarchy. Every Thai individual will make “merit” by giving to the church at any opportunity. The theory being that they will get it back in the next world.
The Thais are devout Buddhists in the main with Muslims making up 10% of the population mainly in the Deep South and Christians and other religions making up the remainder. It must be born in mind that Thai style Buddhism is a mish mash of true Buddhism and paganism, which has filtered down from the days of the Lanna kingdom. Most Thais have their own spirit house in the garden for the spirits of the ancestors to reside in and offerings will be made to keep the spirits happy.
The temple is the hub of village and community life. Local government whilst centred in the Ampher House (town hall) gets its message across in the local temple. This is the same when election time comes around, it all centers on the temple.
Every family expects their sons to join the monkhood in their teens and consider it a great honour for the family. Great ceremony is placed on the son joining the church followed inevitably by a great party to which everyone is invited. The Thai way is to have a party for any reason however slight and I for one can see no problem with that.
Weddings are another great opportunity for a party. The day starts with members of the family going to the temple and collecting the community owned tables and chairs in their trucks and setting them up in the grounds of the brides family home. The previous evening the fatted pig would have been killed and cut into mouth sized portions and cooked in the largest Wok you have ever seen some five feet in diameter. It is monitored throughout the night to ensure it gets stirred occasionally, in between the rounds of rice whisky drinking.
The night before is rather like a disco with a group on stage and everybody dancing. The men dance together and not with the ladies. It is most disconcerting to have a Thai male come up to you and ask you to dance. I find it very difficult to say no without causing offence and so I end up dancing with them. They seem to be happy and the ladies accept it.
Ask anyone who has visited Thailand if they would return and I know they will say YES! emphatically!
