Thailand is one of the few nations where a monarch still reigns. King Bhumibol Adulyadej was one of the world’s longest-serving heads of state, with a staggering 70 years as king. He passed away last month and his son will succeed him December 1, 2016. The government has declared a year-long official mourning period, and public discussion of the succession is punishable by lengthy jail terms.
Thailand means “land of the free” but is anything but free as it is the human trafficking capital of the world. It also has one of the worst child trafficking records in the world. Will you pray with me as we proclaim God’s spirit and light to a dark world?
Fun and Interesting Facts on Thailand
- Capital: Bangkok – also the most visited city in the world! The full ceremonial name is also the longest place name in the world: Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit, and means “City of Angels, Great City of Immortals, Magnificent City of the Nine Gems, Seat of the King, City of Royal Palaces, Home of Gods Incarnate, Erected by Visvakarman at Indra’s Behest”
- Population: 67,959,000 – 342 people/sq mi
- Slightly larger than the state of Wyoming
- Official Language: Thai
- Religions: Buddhist (official) 93.6% (over 40,000 temples), Muslim 4.9%, Christian 1.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2010 est.)
- Life Expectancy: 74.7 years
- Literacy Rate: 96.7%
- Thai food is well renowned for dishes that include spicy curries with rice or noodles
- The weather in May is a tropical climate with an average temperature of 86° and 17 rainy days
- Thailand has 1,430 islands
- The world’s smallest mammal, the Craseonycteris thonglongyai (the bumblebee bat), is found here and weighs just two grams (~0.07 ounces)
- Thailand used to be known as Siam, and is the country where Siamese cats originated from
- One of the country’s most unusual festivals is the annual Monkey Buffet, where more than 600 monkeys are invited to feast on over two tons of grilled sausage, fresh fruit, ice cream and other treats. The locals see it as a thank you to the monkeys which inhabit the village and bring thousands of tourists there each year.
- The town of Kanchanburi is home to the famous “Bridge Over the River Kwai”, part of the Burma-Siam railway where an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 people died in the course of the project
- It is illegal to step on its currency or even tear it. It may seem like an odd way to respect money, but the real reason is that its currency carries the image of Thailand’s king and it is illegal to disrespect the monarch.
- The head is considered to be 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 best to lower your head in deference to show proper respect.
- Thailand’s national symbol is the elephant (my FAVORITE animal! :)). A century ago, more than 100,000 elephants lived in the country, with about 20,000 of them untamed; now, there are about 5,000, with less than half of them wild. Elephant polo is a popular pastime.
- Muay Thai (Thai boxing) is a form of kickboxing and is Thailand’s national sport; it is known as “the art of eight limbs” as it uses punches, kicks, elbows and knees
