Land resources and use in the Chao Phraya basin

"Over 90% of the area of the Basin is either used for agriculture or covered with forest, with the proportions of these land uses being roughly equal. Within the Basin, the largest sub-basins (in terms of area) are in descending order, the Ping, Nan, Chao Phraya and Tha Chin. The Yom and Pasak sub-basins are intermediate in size and the two smallest sub-basins are the Wang and the Sakae Krang. Agricultural land is concentrated in the southern sub-basins and ranges from 78% in Chao Phraya, 63% in Pasak and 55% in Tha Chin compared to 20 to 45% in the four northern sub-basins (Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan). The majority of forest cover occurs in the northern sub-basins where the percentage of forest ranges from 50-75% in Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan to 30% in Pasak and only 7% in Chao Phraya. In recent years there has been steady encroachment of people into forest areas for conversion to agricultural purposes while cultivated land near urban centres has been converted to residential or industrial use. The need to protect the upper catchment of the Chao Phraya basin from degradation and soil erosion has already been identified as a priority by government. Urban land use ranges from 1 to 3% in all sub-basins except the Chao Phraya where it is 10% of the total area.

Water availability is the key factor constraining future developments in agriculture in the Central Plain, being the core of diversification and of multi-cropping. Water resources are coming under pressure and their management is the challenge for the future, involving the following main aspects:


Water quantity, which governs the possible extension of second rice cropping or other field crops in the dry season, and the pressure on underground water resources through increasing sinking of wells.
Water management, which must aim at achieving greater equity and efficiency in water deliveries at the basin, project and on-farm level.
Flood control and warning where improved flood management minimises damage to crops and to physical structures in urban areas particularly.
Water quality and sustainability, particularly pollution and salinisation which can have serious effects on agricultural production.
Patterns of land use where the attainment of high water use efficiency through crop diversification is dependent on much greater local level control on water deliveries.
Woman fish vendor at Kanchanaburi market
Livestock and fresh water fisheries are also important elements of the agricultural scene in the Chao Phraya basin. They provide important additional sources of family income."

from http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/chao_phraya/index.shtml

Socio-economic conditions

"With Bangkok located in the Chao Phraya Sub-basin, this is economically the most important sub-basin, contributing 78.2% of the total GDP of the Basin. Sub-basins can be divided into three economic growth rate groupings:
- Tha Chin, Chao Phraya and Upper Ping with higher growth rates;
- Pasak and Wang at about the national growth rate;
- Lower Ping, Upper Yom, Lower Yom, Upper Nan, Lower Nan, and Sakae Krang with lower growth rates.
The division of the basin into prosperous north and south and poor middle is reflected in socio-economic conditions. Formal employment and social services, such as health and education, are similarly concentrated, with a generally higher per capita provision, in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR) and the Upper Ping. Considerable variation exists in the Gross Provincial Product (GPP) and economic growth rates of provinces depending on the industrial and agricultural shares in provincial (sub-basin) economies; high growth sub-basins are industrial and low growth ones are agricultural. Considerable inequalities exists in per capita income between urban and rural populations. It must be stressed that although Thailand is considered to be economically relatively advanced among developing countries, rural people are still poor, with average per capita incomes of about US$1,000 per year. Typically, there is about a six-fold difference in average per capita income between the citizens of Bangkok and the rural areas."

from http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/chao_phraya/index.shtml

Population in the Chao Phraya

"The Chao Phraya basin is the most important basin in Thailand. The Basin covers 30% of Thailand's land area, is home to 40% of the country's population, employs 78% of its work force, and generates 66% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The total population of the Chao Phraya basin was 23.0 million inhabitants in 1996. The Basin can be divided into eight sub-basins based on the natural distribution of its river system. About 50% of this population (11.5 million) resides in the Lower Chao Phraya basin, in which the highly populated areas of Bangkok Metropolitan Area (BMA) and its environs of Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani are located. Similarly there is a large concentration of population in the Upper Ping where Chiang Mai (the second largest city in Thailand) is located. Overall, about 68% of the total population of the Basin is rural, but there is considerable variation with over 90% of the population being rural in the Upper Chao Phraya basin compared to 45% in the Lower Chao Phraya basin, It is projected in the next decade that the rural population will decrease by an annual rate of about 1.31% and that the population growth rate will remain low at about 1.0% per annum. These trends should ultimately induce aggregation of farming land with consequential increase in household incomes. Population density averages 136 persons/km2, but varies greatly from 44/km2 in the Nan Sub-basin to 533/km2 in the Chao Phraya Sub-basin. Bangkok and its vicinity have the highest population density of 1,497 inhabitants/km2."

from http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/chao_phraya/index.shtml

the Chao Phraya

"A view of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok."

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chao_Phraya_River

the Chao Phraya

"The Chao Phraya (Thai: แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา) is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial river plain marking the mainland of the country.

It begins at the confluence of the Ping and Nan river at Nakhon Sawan (also called Pak Nam Pho) in the Nakhon Sawan province. The Nan and its biggest confluent, the Yom River, flow nearly parallel from Phitsanulok till Chumsaeng in the north of Nakhon Sawan province. The biggest confluent of the Ping is the Wang River which enters near Sam Ngao district in Tak province. The Chao Phraya system drains an area of approximately 160,000 km², of which the largest contribution is the Ping with 35,000 km².

The Chao Phraya runs from north to south for 372 km from the central plains to Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand. However in Chainat the river splits into the main river course and the Tha Chin river, which then flows parallel to the main river and exits to Gulf of Thailand the about 35 km west of Bangkok in Samut Sakhon. In the low alluvial plain which begins below the Chainat dam many small canals (khlong) split off from the main river, used for the irrigation of the rice paddies.

The cities along the river are Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Singburi, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Bangkok and Samut Prakan relatively.

On old maps the river is named as Menam or Mae Nam, the Thai word for river. The name Chao Phraya is also a Thai feudal title, which can be translated as General. In the English-language media in Thailand the name is often translated as 'river of kings'."

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chao_Phraya_River

Thailand Weather 25th April

from http://www.thailand-guide.org/weather.htm

What is the best time to visit Thailand?

"Generally speaking,the best time to visit Thailand is from November to February when the northeast monsoon is blowing cool, dry air which serves as a respite from the heat. During this cool season, the temperature ranges from 18ºC to 32ºC in Bangkok, while in northern and northeast Thailand, temperatures can get quite cool with morning temperatures as low as 8º C to 12º C with the occasional 20º C day. Nights can be particularly chilly and at high altitudes the temperatures can and do drop below freezing.

The summer period, or hot and dry season, is from March to June. At this time temperatures in Bangkok average around 34º C, but can often reach 40º C with the humidity levels of 75%.

Try and avoid April, unless you plan to be permanently submerged in the ocean, because this is the hottest month across the country.

From July to October is the monsoonal season when most of Thailand's annual rainfall is accumulated. The humidity averages just under 90%, with temperatures averaging around 29º C in Bangkok.

The monsoons finish when the wind direction changes, bringing dry weather from the northeast. At best this season can be described as unpredictable and not the constant downpour of rain like you would expect. The middle months of this season may hold particularly heavy rains for the north of the country."

from http://www.travelfish.org/thailand-weather.php

What's the weather like in Thailand?

"For interactive information, please refer to our animated Thai weather map -- an interactive map to the weather situation in Thailand with detailed monthly statistics on rainfall, minimum and maximum temperature and number of rainy days in a month. Otherwise, for more detailed information, including climatic charts, please read on.

Thailand can best be described as tropical and humid for the majority of the country during most of the year. The area of Thailand north of Bangkok has a climate determined by three seasons whilst the southern peninsular region of Thailand has only two.

In northern Thailand the seasons are clearly defined. Between November and May the weather is mostly dry, however this is broken up into the periods November to February and March to May. The later of these two periods has the higher relative temperatures as although the northeast monsoon does not directly effect the northern area of Thailand, it does cause cooling breezes from November to February.

The other northern season is from May to November and is dominated by the southwest monsoon, during which time rainfall in the north is at its heaviest.

The southern region of Thailand really has only two seasons -- the wet and the dry. These seasons do not run at the same time on both the east and west side of the peninsular. On the west coast the southwest monsoon brings rain and often heavy storms from April through to October, whilst on the east coast the most rain falls between September and December.

Overall the southern parts of Thailand get by far the most rain with around 2,400 millimetres every year, compared with the central and northern regions of Thailand, both of which get around 1,400 millimetres."

from http://www.travelfish.org/thailand-weather.php

What to wear?

"For the Western visitor there is no such thing as "cool". Just cooler than "hot" and "drier than humid", so light cotton clothing is the order of the day. Don't worry about bringing too much clothing with you, as almost everything can be purchased locally, at a fraction of the price you will pay at home. Do remember that the tropical sun can be quite fierce so a hat is useful, and don't forget to use a good sun screen."

from http://www.southtravels.com/asia/thailand/weather.html

Thailand's climate

"Thailand's climate is tropical, high both in temperature and humidity, and dominated by monsoons. April and May are the hottest months of the year, when even the locals are moved to complain about the heat. June sees the beginning of the South West Monsoon, and brings with it the rainy season, which continues intermittently until the end of October.
From November to the end of February the climate is much less trying with a cooling North East breeze and a reduction in the humidity level. This is also the main tourist season, and the best time to visit Thailand.

The north and north-east are generally cooler than Bangkok in winter, and hotter in summer. In the far north, around Mae Hong Son temperatures can occasionally drop as low as 2 degree Celcius."

from http://www.southtravels.com/asia/thailand/weather.html

Capital: Bangkok

"Capital: Bangkok
Commonly called "BKK" for short. In Thai, it's called "Krung Thep" (means "The city of angels").
The ceremonial name is actually really long:
"Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuttaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanu Kamprasit" (Why is this so long ???)
This long name means "The city of angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukam." by Wikipedia about Bangkok.
Looks like even for Thai people, a little difficult to remember this, a musician made a melody for this long name to sing and remember. :-)"

from http://www.thaismile.jp/e_general_info_of_Thailand.html

National Anthem

"National Anthem: Phleng Chaat ("Phleng": song, "Chaat": country)
In Thailand, the national anthem is played in public places, on TV or radio.
If you hear this song, stand still until the song finishes.
(You don't need to be bewildered (like me :-D). Just do as people do.)

Related Links
- National Anthem (Be careful ! The music will start at a moment !)
- nationalanthems.info - Thailand lyrics"

from http://www.thaismile.jp/e_general_info_of_Thailand.html

National flag

"The current national flag of Thailand was adopted on September 28 in 1917 (B.E.2460) by Rama VI (King Vajiravudh).
(Until then, the design of a white elephant on a red background had been used since the era of Rama IV.)
Like the design above, the national flag of Thailand is called "Thong Trairong"; Blue stripe in the middle, white bands up and down of it, and red stripes sandwiches them.
Those colours have important meanings below:
- Blue: The monarchy of Thailand.
- White: Buddhism
(looks like it came from white elephant that is very sacred for Thai people)
- Red: Thai people
On week days (I don't know about weekends) , the national flag is raised at 8.00 a.m. and lowered at 6.00 p.m. at public places, offices and schools mostly with the Thai National Anthem.

Related Links
- Historical Flags (Thailand)"

from http://www.thaismile.jp/e_general_info_of_Thailand.html

King and the country

"King and the country
The current king is Rama 9.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) the Great)
Even while another countries around Thailand got colonialized by England or France, Thailand kept itself independent.
(The left photo is from the factory in Ayuttaya that Queen Sirikit manages.)"

from http://www.thaismile.jp/e_general_info_of_Thailand.html

official name

"Official name: Kingdom of Thailand (Prathet Thai)
Around until 1949, the country was known as "Siam".
Then it was changed to the current name, "Prathet Thai", or "Thailand", on May 11, 1949.
"Thai" means "free" and so, "Thailand" means "Land of the Free."

from http://www.thaismile.jp/e_general_info_of_Thailand.html

History of Thailand

"Different indigenous cultures have existed in Thailand since the time of the Baan Chiang culture. However, due to its geographical location, Thai culture has always been greatly influenced by China and India as well as other neighboring cultures. However, the first Siamese/Thai state is traditionally considered to be the Buddhist kingdom of Sukhothai founded in 1238, following the decline and fall of the Khmer Empire in the 13th - 15th century.
A century later, Sukhothai's power was overshadowed by the larger Siamese kingdom of Ayutthaya, established in the mid-14th century. After Ayutthaya sacked Angkor itself in 1431, much of the Khmer court and its Hindu customs were brought to Ayuthaya, and Khmer customs and rituals were adopted into the courtly culture of Siam.
After Ayuthaya fell in 1767, Thonburi was the capital of Thailand for a brief period under King Taksin the Great. The current (Ratthanakosin) era of Thai history began in 1782 following the establishment of Bangkok as capital of the Chakri dynasty under King Rama I the Great.
European powers began traveling to Thailand in the 16th century. Despite European pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been colonized by a European power. The two main reasons for this is that Thailand had a long succession of very able rulers in the 1800s and that it was able to utilise the rivalry and tension between the French and the British. As a result, the country remained as a buffer state between parts of Southeast Asia that were colonised by the two colonial powers. Despite this, Western influence led to many reforms in the 19th century and major concessions to British trading interests. This included the loss of the three southern provinces, which later became Malaysia's three northern states.
In 1932, a bloodless revolution resulted in a new constitutional monarchy. During the war, Thailand was allied with Japan. Yet after the war, it became an ally of the United States. Thailand then went through a series of coups d'état, but eventually progressed towards democracy in the 1980s.
In 1997, Thailand was hit with the Asian financial crisis and the Thai baht was soon worth 56 baht to the U.S. Dollar compared to about 25 baht to the dollar before 1997. Since then the baht has regained some strength and currently trades around 33-35 baht to the dollar.
The official calendar in Thailand is based on Eastern version of the Buddhist Era, which is 543 years ahead of the Gregorian (western) calendar. For example, the year 2007 AD is called 2550 BE in Thailand."

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand#History

Business Hours

"Government and business offices are open from 8:30 to 16:30 hours, Monday to Friday."

from http://www.mfa.go.th/web/847.php?id=16

language

"The national and official language is Thai while English is widely spoken and understood in major cities, particularly in Bangkok and in business circles."


from http://www.mfa.go.th/web/847.php?id=16

population

"The population in Thailand is approximately 62 million, of which around 6 million live in the capital city, Bangkok."



from http://www.mfa.go.th/web/847.php?id=16

climate

"Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country with monsoonal climate. Temperatures are highest in March and April with average temperature of 28 degree Celsius to 38 degrees Celsius and humidity averaging between 82.8 percent to 73 percent"

from http://www.mfa.go.th/web/847.php?id=16

money

"It is advisable to bring to Thailand the US dollars, Euros and other world's major currencies, which provide secure and stable rates while exchanging to the Thai Baht at any local bank or the easily available currency exchange booths. International credit cards are generally recognized as well. Traveler cheques are widely accepted, but to cash them in, one should carry a passport along.
Thailand Money
10 Baht 20 Baht

50 Baht 100 Baht

500 Baht 1000 Baht

Apropos Thai money, click on the banknote's thumbnail to see its original size. Newly designed banknotes have been introduced recently, and in effect, both new and old are in use. Use this Currency Calculator, to check the exchange rates from various currencies to Thai Baht. And for actual rates offered in Thailand click on Bangkok Bank or Exchange Rates to Thai Baht."

from http://www.th4u.com/preparations.htmthe picture

the weather

"The best overall time for visiting most of Thailand climate-wise is between November and February when it is not too wet and not too hot. The south is best visited when the rest of Thailand is miserably hot (March to May), and the north is best from mid-November to early December or when it starts warming up again in February. If you're spending time in Bangkok, be prepared to roast in April and do some wading in October - probably most challenging two months, weather-wise, in the capital."

from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/thailand/essential?a=weather

Introduction of Thailand

"The Kingdom of Thailand draws more visitors than any other country in southeast Asia with its irresistible combination of breathtaking natural beauty, inspiring temples, renowned hospitality, robust cuisine and ruins of fabulous ancient kingdoms. Few countries are so well endowed.

From the stupa-studded mountains of Mae Hong Son and the verdant limestone islands of the Andaman Sea, to the pulse-pounding dance clubs of Bangkok and the tranquil villages moored along the Mekong River, Thailand offers something for every type of traveller."

from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/thailand/

Historical Background

"There are conflicting opinions as to the origins of the Thais. Three decades ago it could be said with presumed certainty that the Thais originated in Northwestern Szechuan in China about 4,500 years ago and later migrated down to their present homeland. However, this theory has been altered by the discovery of remarkable prehistoric artifacts in the village of Ban Chiang in the Nong Han District of Udon Thani Province in the Northeast. These include evidence of bronze metallurgy going back 3,500 years, as well as other indications of a far more sophisticated culture than any previously suspected by archaeologists. It now appears that the a Thais might have originated here in Thailand and later scattered to various parts of Asia, including some parts of China.
Siam is the name by which the country was known to the world until 1939 and again between 1945 and 1949. On May 11, 1949, an official proclamation changed the name of the country to "Prathet Thai", or "Thailand", by which it has since been known. The word "Thai" means "free", and therefore "Thailand" means "Land of the Free."
from http://www.mfa.go.th/web/847.php?id=16

location

"Thailand is situated in the heart of the Southeast Asian mainland, covering an area of 513,115 sq.km. and extends about 1,620 kilometres from north to south and 775 kilometres from east to west. Thailand borders the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Union of Myanmar to the North, the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand to the East, the Union of Myanmar and the Indian Ocean to the West, and Malaysia to the south."

from http://www.mfa.go.th/web/847.php?id=16

the water market

This picture is a state of the water market. I'm very interested in it. I want to see it and shopping there someday.

Bangkok

This is the Bankok's picture. I want to go and see them. It is very beautiful building.

the flag

"The flag of Thailand shows five horizontal stripes in the colours red, white, blue, white and red. The middle blue strip is twice as wide as the other four. The three colours red-white-blue stand for nation-religion-king, an unofficial motto of Thailand. The flag was adopted on September 28, 1917. The Thai name for the flag is ธงไตรรงค์ (Thong Trairong), which simply means tricolour flag.

The first flag used for Siam was probably a plain red one, first used under King Narai (1656-1688). Naval flags later used different symbols on the red ground—a white chakra (the Buddhist wheel), a white elephant inside the chakra, or a white disc with a sun inside.

Officially the first flag was created in 1855 by King Mongkut (Rama IV), showing a white elephant (a royal symbol) on red ground, as the plain coloured flag was not distinct enough for international relations.


1916 flagIn 1916 the flag was changed to the current design, but with the middle colour being the same red as the outer stripe. The story goes that during a flood King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) saw the flag hanging upside-down, and to prevent this from happening again created a new flag which was symmetrical. In 1917 the middle color was changed to blue, the colour for Friday, the day King Vajiravudh was born. According to other sources, the blue colour was chosen to show solidarity with the Allies of World War I, which also had the colours blue-red-white in their flags.

An interesting fact is that the flag is just like the flag of Costa Rica but with the blue and red colors inverted. Costa Rica often puts its coat of arms on it to avoid confusion from afar or in international settings."

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Thailand

Demographics

"Thailand's population is dominated by various Tai-speaking peoples. Among these, the most numerous are the Central Thai, the Northeastern Thai or Isan or Lao, the Northern Thai, and the Southern Thai. The Central Thai have long dominated the nation politically, economically, and culturally, even though they make up only about one-third of Thailand's population and are slightly outnumbered by the Northeastern Thai. Due to education system and the forging of a national identity, many people are now able to speak Central Thai as well as their own local dialects.

The largest group of non-Tai people are the Chinese who have historically played a disproportionately significant role in the economy. Most have integrated completely into mainstream Thai society, and do not live in Bangkok's Chinatown on Yaowarat Road. Other ethnic groups include Malays in the south, Mon, Khmer and various hill tribes. After the end of the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese refugees settled in Thailand, mainly in the northeastern regions.

According to the last census (2000) 95% of Thais are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. Muslims are the second largest religious group in Thailand at 4.6%. Some provinces and towns south of Chumphon have dominant Muslim populations, including many ethnic Thai.[verification needed] Often Muslims live in separate communities from non-Muslims. The southern tip of Thailand are mostly ethnic Malays and they are mostly concentrated in the south, where they form a strong majority in four provinces. Christians, mainly Catholics, represent 0.75% of the population. A tiny but influential community of Sikhs and some Hindus also live in the country's cities.

The Thai language is Thailand's national language, written in its own alphabet, but many ethnic and regional dialects exist as well as areas where people speak predominantly Isan or Mon-Khmer languages. Although English is widely taught in schools, proficiency is low."

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand#Demographics

Culture

"Theravada Buddhism is central to modern Thai identity and belief. In practice, Thai Buddhism has evolved over time to include many regional beliefs originating from animism as well as ancestor worship. In areas in the southernmost parts of Thailand, Islam is prevalent. Several different ethnic groups, many of which are marginalized, populate Thailand. Some of these groups overlap into Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia and have maintained a distinctly traditional way-of-life despite strong Thai cultural influence. Ethnic Chinese also form a significant part of Thai society, particularly in and around Bangkok. Their successful integration into Thai society has allowed for this group to hold positions of economic and political power, the most noteworthy of these being the Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who held power from 2001 until September 19, 2006 when he was ousted by a military coup d'état.

Like most Asian cultures, respect towards ancestors is an essential part of Thai spiritual practice. Thais have a strong sense of hospitality and generosity, but also a strong sense of social hierarchy. Seniority is an important concept in Thai culture. Thais will bow to the feet of their parents or grandparents to honor them. When children leave to go to school, they bow to their parents to represent their respect for them. They do the same when they come back. In addition, the elders always rule in family decisions or ceremonies.

Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, is the national sport in Thailand and its native martial art. It achieved popularity all over the world in the 1990s. Although similar martial arts styles exist in other southeast Asian countries, few enjoy the recognition that Muay Thai has received with its full-contact rules allowing strikes including elbows, throws and knees. Association football, however, has possibly overtaken Muay Thai's position as most widely viewed and liked sport in contemporary Thai society and it is not uncommon to see Thais cheering their favourite English Premier League teams on television and walking round in replica kits. Another widely enjoyed pastime, and once a competitive sport, is kite flying.

The standard greeting in Thailand is a prayer-like gesture called the wai (see namaste). Taboos include touching someone's head or pointing with the feet, as the head is considered the most sacred and the foot the dirtiest part of the body. Stepping over someone, or over food, is considered insulting. However, Thai culture as in many other Asian cultures, is succumbing to the influence of westernization and some of the traditional taboos are slowly fading away with time.

Books and other documents are the most revered of secular objects - therefore one should not slide a book across a table or place it on the floor.

Thai cuisine blends five fundamental tastes: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty. Some common ingredients used in Thai cuisine include garlic, chillies, lime juice, lemon grass, and fish sauce. The staple food in Thailand is rice, particularly jasmine variety rice (also known as Hom Mali rice) which is included in almost every meal. Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rice and Thais domestically consume over 100 kg of milled rice per person per year [14]. Over 5000 varieties of rice from Thailand are preserved in the rice gene bank of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), based in the Philippines. The King of Thailand is the official patron of IRRI[15].

Thai society has been influenced in recent years by its widely-available multi-language press and media. There are numerous English, Thai and Chinese newspapers in circulation; Thailand is the largest newspaper market in South East Asia with an estimated circulation of at least 13 million copies daily in 2003."
the picture

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand#Culture

Economy

"After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased pressure on Thailand's currency, the baht, in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the currency. Long pegged at 25 to the US dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the US dollar in January 1998 and the economy contracted by 10.2% that same year. The collapse prompted a wider Asian financial crisis.

Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1998, expanding 4.2% and grew 4.4% in 2000, largely due to strong exports - which increased about 20% in 2000. Growth was dampened by a softening of the global economy in 2001, but picked up in the subsequent years due to strong growth in China and the various domestic stimulation programs of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, popularly known as Thaksinomics. Growth in 2003 and 2004 was over 6% annually.[12]

"Thailand exports over $105 billion worth of products annually [12]. Major exports include rice, textiles and footwear, fishery products, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances. Thailand is the world’s no.1 exporter of rice, exporting 6.5 million tons of milled rice annually. Rice is the most important crop in the country. Thailand has the highest percent of arable land, 27.25%, of any nation in the Greater Mekong Subregion [13]. About 55% of the available land area is used for rice production [14].

Substantial industries include electric appliances, components, computer parts and automobiles, while tourism contributes about 5% of the Thai economy's GDP. Long stay foreign residents also contribute heavily to GDP.

The main natural resources of Thailand are tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, and arable land."
the picture

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand#Economy

Geography

"At 514,000 km² (198,000 sq mi), Thailand is the world's 49th-largest country. It is comparable in size to Spain, and somewhat larger than the US state of California.

Thailand is home to several distinct geographic regions, partly corresponding to the provincial groups. The north of the country is mountainous, with the highest point being Doi Inthanon at 2,576 metres (8,451 ft). The northeast consists of the Khorat Plateau, bordered to the east by the Mekong river. The centre of the country is dominated by the predominantly flat Chao Phraya river valley, which runs into the Gulf of Thailand. The south consists of the narrow Kra Isthmus that widens into the Malay Peninsula.

The local climate is tropical and characterised by monsoons. There is a rainy, warm, and cloudy southwest monsoon from mid-May to September, as well as a dry, cool northeast monsoon from November to mid-March. The southern isthmus is always hot and humid. Major cities beside the capital Bangkok include Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, Phuket and Hat Yai (Songkhla Province)."

The picture

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand#Geography

the basic information of Thailand

"The Kingdom of Thailand lies in Southeast Asia, with Laos and Cambodia to its east, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia to its south, and the Andaman Sea and Myanmar to its west. Its largest city is Bangkok, which is also one of the largest cities in the world. This is not the capitol as commonly accepted though. The actual capitol is the longest multi-word place name in the world. Spelled in English is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. The name roughly translates as "Great City of Angels, the supreme repository of divine jewels, the great land of unconquerable, the grand and prominent realm, the royal and delightful capitol full of nine noble gems, the highest royal dwelling and grand palace, the divine shelter and living place of the reincarnated spirits" wheras Bangkok translates as "Village of Olives" or "Village of Plums"

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand

the map

Bangkok is capital of the Thailand. It is located in near the Chao Phraya River. The Chao Phraya River is very famous.

Cadogon Guides Thailand

I'm borrowing "Cadogon Guides Thailand", the Thailand guide book from Mr.Tomei. I can take a lot of information by the book. The book tell me many important things of Thailand.

the Thailand alphabet

I think that the Thailand alphabet is very unique. It seems like signs.

number

I checked that how to count the numbers in Thai. I was surprised it, because it is quite different from how to count the numbers in English. It is very natural, but I was surprised.

Thailand

The reason why I was interested in Thailand is that I like ethnic clothes. I often go to the shops where ethnic items sell.
Thailand's capitai is Bangkok. Their official language is Thai.

I checked three countries. They are Thailand, Vietnum and Jamaica. I also interested in Jamaica.

seminar 2007

Hi. My name is Yuri Honda. I'm interested in Thailand and Vietnam, so I'll check them in this class.