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Thailand.
Welcome to Paradise! |
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Facts
about Thailand: |
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No
of inhabitants: 62 million. |
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Area:
319 101 square miles with 1 626 miles of coastline. |
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Capital:
Bangkok with approximately 8 million inhabitants. |
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Second
largest city: Chiang Mai with approximately 180 000 inhabitants.
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Time
zone: GMT + 7 hours. |
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Currency:
1 pound = 69,82 thb (Dec 2006) |
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Climate:
Thailand has a tropical climate with three different seasons: the Summer
season (very hot) March-May, the Rainy season (still with lots of sun) June-Sept
and the Temperate season (high season) Oct-Feb. It doesn't rain constantly
during the rainy season, not even for a whole day. Instead, the rain normally
falls during 1-2 hours in the evenings or during the nights, of course with
some exceptions. The average temperature during this season is +28ºC.
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Religion:
More than 90 % of the Thai population profess Theravada-Buddhism, something
that has a strong impact on their daily life. Muslims, Christians, Hindus
and Sikhs are minorities, but enjoy complete religious freedom. |
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Population:
The Thai population is a great mix between different ethnic groups, mainly
Thais, Chinese, Malays, Persians, Latians, Indians and mountain tribes like
Mon, Khamer and Latian. |
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Language:
Thai is the official language. English is widely spoken, especially in Bangkok.
Major European languages are useful at most hotels, boutiques and restaurants
in the major cities. |
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Health
regulations: Vaccinations are not required unless you arrive from, or
have passed through, a contaminated area. Malaria experts in Thailand do
not recommend preventive treatment. In stead they recommend tourists to
use effective mosquito oil, mosquito nets, shirts with long sleeves and
long trousers if they are spending the evening outdoors. |
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Constitution:
Monarchy with a democratically elected parliament. The reigning King is
Bhurmibol Adulyadej (Rama IX).
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Airports:
International airports are available in Bangkok and in Phuket, having very
good domestic and inter-Asian connections. |
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Medical
care: All major tourist destinations and cities have well equipped hospitals
or clinics with well educated personnel. |
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How
to dress: The general recommendation is to use leisure wear. Only the
most exclusive restaurants may require a jacket and a tie, something which
is also mandatory at business meetings. Thin and loose-fitted cotton wear
is the best. Synthetic fibre should be avoided and even a pair of jeans
may be too warm. Never wear shorts, hot pants or similar clothing, and do
not appear bare-chested, when visiting temples or other religious buildings. |
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Shopping:
The department stores and a number of exclusive boutiques in Bangkok have
fixed prices, but in most other shops and market places bargaining is accepted
and expected. There are no distinct rules for how to bargain, it mostly
depends on the skill of the buyer and the mood of the shop keeper. A rule
of thumb is that the final price should be around 30 % lower than the original
price, except when you are buying something really cheap. |
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Remember
that people in Thailand appreciate a polite behaviour and a sense of humour.
They dislike loud voices and bursts of anger, so just stay calm and smile
a lot. |
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Golf:
Thailand has 200 golf courses of high quality. The green-fees vary between
£ 15 and £ 30. Fore more information about golfing in Thailand,
please visit www.thaigolfer.com. |
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Residence
permit: Swedish citizens holding a valid passport can stay up to 30
days without a visa or up to 120 days with a tourist visa. In general foreign
citizens can stay 15-30 days without a visa, but it is advisable to check
with your local Thai embassy, in order not to risk a penalty fee when leaving
the country. |
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