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racefan

Some interesting facts about Thailand.

I must remember to put on my underwear before going out.

> > The Thai
> > greeting “Sawatdee” was invented during the Second World
> > War. Before that, people greeted each other by asking if
> > they had eaten yet.
> >
> >
> >
> > The longest place-name in the world is the
> > full name for Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand:
> >
> > KRUNGTHEP MAHANAKHON BOVORN RATANAKOSIN MAHINTHARAYUTTHAYA
> > MAHADILOKPOP NOPARATRATCHATHANI BURIROM
> > UDOMRATCHANIVETMAHASATHAN AMORNPIMAN AVATARNS
> > ATHIT SAKKATHATTIYAVISNUKARMPRASIT, meaning:
> >
> >
> > “The land
> > of angels, the great city (of) immortality, various of
> > devine gems, the great angelic land unconquerable, land of
> > nine noble gems, the royal city, the pleasant capital, place
> > of the grand royal palace, forever land of angels and
> > reincarnated spirits, predestined and created by the highest
> > Deva(s).”
> >
> >
> >
> > You should only write the name of people in
> > red ink if they are dead, or you wish them to be dead.
> >
> > .
> >
> > According to the World Meteorological Organization, Bangkok
> > is the hottest city in the world.
> >
> >> >
> > Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of Rice.
> >
> > > >
> > > >
> > Thailand is the only country in the world where kite string
> > is still made by hand.
> >
> > According to the ‘Guinness Book of Records 1995, the Thai
> > language has the second largest alphabet in the world. The
> > largest alphabet in world – Khmer.
> >
> > Bangkok is the only city in the Kingdom that has a
> > different Thai and English name. The Thai normally refer to
> > Bangkok as “Krungthep”.
> >
> > The 1994 Guinness Book of Records contains the entry: the
> > world’s biggest restaurant – the Royal Dragon
> > Restaurant, Bangkok can serve 5,000 diners in its palatial
> > dining rooms at one time.”
> >
> > Thailand has the highest percentage of Buddhists. More than
> > 95% of Thais practice some form of Buddhism.
> >
> > The world’s smallest mammal is the bumblebee bat of
> > Thailand which weighs less than a penny.
> >
> > > >
> > Wat Traimitr (Temple of the Golden Buddha) is the world’s
> > largest solid
> > gold Buddha, cast about nine centuries ago. The image is
> > three meters high and weighs five and half tons.
> >
> > Thailand is the world’s largest rubber producer and
> > exporter.
> >
> > The Orchid is Thailand’s best flowering export. Exports
> > of the Orchid are valued at U.S. $250million per annum.
> >
> > Built on a marsh known as Cobra Swamp, 15.5 miles east of
> > Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi (pronounced “Su-Wana-Poom”) boasts
> > the world’s biggest passenger terminal under a single roof
> > and the tallest control tower.
> >
> > From inception to opening it’s runways for business
> > Suvarnabhumi airport took over 40 years to build.
> >
> > Thailand is the only country in South East Asia that has
> > never been colonized.
> >
> > Thailand is the only country in the world where Scouting
> > was directly founded by a monarch.
> >
> > Thailand is the world’s second largest market for pickup
> > trucks, after the United States.
> >
> > Thailand is the top exporter of farmed shrimp in the world,
> > producing a
> > round 240,000 metric tons per year.
> >
> > In 1939 the country changed its name from Siam to Thailand.
> > In 1945 the country changed its name from Thailand back to
> > Siam. In 1949 the country changed its name again from Siam
> > to Thailand.
> >
> > Thailand is the largest producer of pineapples in the
> > world.
> >
> > In 1955 it snowed in Thailand! In Chiang Rai Province.
> >
> >> >
> > > >
> > It is illegal to go out in public without wearing
> > underwear.
> >
> > It is against the law to not stand during the national
> > anthem.
> >
> > > >
> > Koh Samui produces about 3 million coconuts each month and
> > is said to have the worlds most varieties of coconut palms.
> >
> > Bangkok has the worlds largest Chinatown.
> >
> > Barbers are usually closed on Wednesday because Thais think
> > it will bring bad luck to cut their hair that day of the
> > week.
> >
> > The official year in Thailand starts from 543 BC. 2007 is
> > officially the year 2553.
> >
> > There are 80 national parks in Thailand. 18 of them are
> > marine parks.
> >
> > Thailand has about 26,000
> > temples.
> >
> > Thailand is called the land of smiles but the meaning of
> > the word Thailand is land of the free.
> >
> > Thailand has a penchant for Guinness World Records,
> > including: man with longest hair, largest aerobics workout,
> > largest mass scuba dive, biggest hamburger, and most linked
> > skydivers.
> >
> > The energy boosting beverage Red Bull has its origins in
> > Thailand and was originally called Krating Daeng, or Red
> > Gaur (a type of ox).
> >
> > Every Thai male is expected to become a monk for a short
> > period in his life, optimally between the time he finishes
> > school and the time he starts a career or marries. Women who
> > live the monastic life are largely outnumbered by males - by
> > 46 to 1. The first female ordination on Thai soil was in
> > 2002.
> >
> > Thailand has a burgeoning wine industry centered around the
> > cool hills of Khao Yai where chenin blanc grapes prosper.
> >
> > Thais only use chopsticks to eat noodle soups or other
> > dishes inherited from China. Most rice dishes are
> > eaten with a fork and spoon, and for certain northern Thai
> > dishes, with fingers.
> >
> > There’s an estimated population of around 2,000 wild
> > elephants in Thailand.
> > =
> >
>
>
>

FlyFree

Beautiful. Amazing.

Can you hear the Angels sing? No, wait, it's not the voices of Angels. Its the hauntingly beautiful melodious voices of Loa Khoa greased Thai Karaoke.


Why do you insist on reposting a copy/paste of a pathetically short list of Thailand 'achievements'/positive points? Trying to market a crappy product?

barbaro

Thanks for the list, Racefan.

I have always wondered, why the name change: Siam --> Thailand.

Why is this

Marmite the Dog

Something to do with them pretending to have democracy.

slimboyfat

I thought it was quite an interesting list.

So up yours, FlyFree

malako

too bad it gets taxed so much it is not worth buying..

billy the kid

Wonder why it wasn't colonised . immmm.

helge

True

Funny list

The Fresh Prince

Hang on, isnt this year 53?

Loy Toy

Yes........pull your nose in big ears.

helge

Yes it is. And so was 2007.
They want us to catch up.

peter000

Brits colonised Burma and the French were in Vietnam. It's often said that Thailand was not colonised by either country because they saw it as a buffer zone.

November Rain

And that it tastes disgusting.

graym

Agreed, not worth buying anyway; better get some Lao Khao, at least it's unpretentious...

sunsetter

go market your brand of nonsense elsewhere,if your thai you should be ashamed, and if your a farang then you shouldnt be here on this site or in thailand for that matter

FlyFree

Fair enuff. Will do same.

FlyFree

You on the other hand, appears to be an idiot on so many levels I'd not bother to point them out.

SunTzu

Quite incomplete explanation, even if it's a part of the big picture :


The brits had surrounding countries west and south : Burma, Malaysia, Singapore. The french had the surrounding countries east and north : Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos.

Siam was the last spot that both western powers anted to have. The rulling Siamese king of these times managed to swiftly navigate between brits and french antagonisms, through a very subtle diplomacy.
Siam lost some land to France, had to sign a commercial treaty with Britain, but nonetheless remain whole.

It's quite an achievement to have fend off both most powerful and hungry powers of those times. If you ask me, thais are right to be proud of it.




The best you could do to know something about the country where you live is read some books. Even just the 20 first pages of any tourist guide...

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slimboyfat

Thats strange. I read that the British couldnt be bothered with Siam because they thought that rice was far inferior to the potato.

The French also didnt bother colonising Thailand because ladyboys hadnt been invented yet.

SunTzu

^ at that time the Brits were still starving, because Parmentier still hadn't taught them that potatoes were better eaten than given to the pigs.


Of course, as usual, english pride forbids mentioning the french saved them from starvation. My god, what a horrible thought...