Thailand -- the famous 'land of smiles', a Southeast Asian paradise of palm fringed tropical beaches -- not to be confused with Taiwan, located on the East coast of China. Thailand literally means 'land of the free'. Its name was changed from the familiar 'Siam' to Thailand in 1939 by the then military dictatorship, perhaps to persuade the people that they really were free. This was my home for nearly four years. I know it well and love it, both it's beauty and it's warts. I will here attempt to describe it briefly, giving you, Web Wanderer, my perspective on this wonderful land.
First, some important facts.
This land of 60 million people with an area roughly the size of France, is a geopolitical oddity in that it is the only country of Southeast Asia never to have been colonized. There is something in the Thai character that has enabled this; one might suggest Buddhist detachment and flexibility played its part. Anyway, it means that Thai culture is Thai culture, without the direct imposition of a foreign culture as one sees in Burma or Vietnam.
Thailand is a warm tropical country with temperatures that rarely drop below 30 degrees celcius. If you like fresh fruit and good food -- this will be your nirvana. Little needs to be said about Thai food that hasn't already been said. Only one word. Delicious. I am constantly astounded by the abundance and variety of the fruit that is harvested here. Coconuts, pineapples and bananas grow like weeds. Probably any fruit you can think of is grown here.
The people of Thailand are overwhelmingly (95 %) Buddhist, of the Southern, Theravada variety in contrast with the Mahayana sort one finds in Korea or Japan. One cannot escape the Buddhist flavour of the place when visiting Thailand. Beautifully ornate and glistening Buddhist temples and orange-robed monks are everywhere. There are said to be nearly 30, 000 temples and around 350, 000 monks and novices in Thailand.
Thailand is notable for its King, King Buhumipol (Rama IX), who is the world's longest reigning monarch, having ascended the throne in 1945. He is revered by his people and this reverence is well deserved, as he has dedicated his life to the service of his people. However, he still plays second to the democratic government. After 17 military coups between the establishment of constitutional monarchy in 1932 and the final uprising in 1992, when several hundred demonstrators were shot down in Bangkok, democracy solidly established itself. Thailand is now one of the most open and free countries in Asia, although its democracy is still maturing child.
Thai Values
The chief values that influence and drive thought and behavior here are:
1. appearance and presentation 2. fun 3. inter-personal moral debt
It is frequently annoying to the resident expatriates here that Thais care so much more about show than about substance. One is judged by one's appearance first and foremost. This is reflected in the importance attached to status. You've never seen so many Mercedes Benzes as there are in Bangkok for the Benz is the ultimate in status. If you drive a Benz, you must be a great, important and successful person, goes the perception. What you have is a sign of who you are. Thais pay great attention to personal appearance, naturally, as this reflects also on the quality of the person. This is more manageable, however, if you happen to be short or ugly, then the cards are rather stacked against you.
Two Thai words 'sabai' (pleasant or well) and 'sanook' (fun) describe the Thai attitude about how life should be. If the activity or situation you are in is not fun or pleasant, then the average Thai will have little interest in it. Managers and teachers be warned. This often runs counter to Western notions of efficiency and effectiveness. People in Thailand enjoy themselves, and this runs the gamut from dozing anywhere anytime, chatting at great lengths with friends and co-workers, eating, watching television. All of this can be done at home or work.
Much of what Thai people do is based on the third value of inter-personal moral debt, which basically means that a person is obligated to repay the favors that people do for you. And everything done that is not paid for is basically a favor -- nothing is done in Thailand without ssstrings attached. (If you are Thai, and even for many foreigners.) Children are indebted to their parents for raising them and so are expected to care for Mom and Dad in their old age. Disciples and students are obligated to repay their mentors and teachers. Younger friends are indebted to their older friends for the favors they bestow. Employee is indebted to boss. And so it goes. The personal independence and liberty that is paramount in America is a strange concept here. Here life is highly interdependent.
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Wondering into Thai Culture by Mont Redmond (1998)
Inside Thai Society: An Interpretation of Everyday Life
by Niels Mulder (1994)
The Tourist Authority of Thailand
A Map of Thailand (A large general map showing the main cities)
The Two Sides of Thailand (An essay
from the Bangkok Post)
The Top 10 Questions asked of a Foreigner in Thailand
The Good and Bad about Living in Thailand
A Thai Secondary School (My former school in Bangkok)
Living in Bangkok (A very good essay about life in the city by a local expat)
The Thai National Anthem (Words in Thai and English and the Music in midi format)
The Thai National
Anthem and Other Thai Music (Another version of the anthem as
heard every day in Thailand)
Leslie Barclay's Thai Pictures (Just the start of my digital collection)
I Love Thailand -- Martin's Slide Show (One traveller's collection of photographs)
Thailand Pictures (Another webpage of good pics)
Personal Essay #1 (Thai Impressions)
Personal Essay #2 (Thai Ruminations)
The Nation (Bangkok's other English language newspaper)
E-Thailand (A great source of information and the best list of web links about Thailand)
Thai Food (Recipes and Restaurants)
Teaching in Thailand: Ajarn.Com
Thai Tales (Stories about living and working in Thailand)
C.G. Moore (A writer of mystery stories based in Thailand)
Siamweb (A great and established site all about things Thai)
Thai Radio (An excellent webpage of Thai real audio music and radio and radio links)
IKAZZ -- Another Thai Radio Website (Very easy -- just click the radio stations at the top right of the page)
Mahidol University Homepage (Some very good information about Thai culture and society from one of its top universities)
Thailand - The Land of Smiles (An informative website with current information)
The
CIA Thailand website (A very detailed site of particular information
about Thailand)
