By.

Haley Pollock & Michael Kantorski

Geography
Located in the center
of Southeast Asia.
Total area: 514,000
square kilometers
(200,000 sq miles)
50th largest country in
the world.

Geography
The Borders form an Elephant
Head!
Mountainous regionNorthern & Northeast;

Doi Inthanon, 2,576-meter (8,451feet) is a limestone peak &

Thailand's highest mountain.

Coastal region- Southern;

Phuket (west) and Koh Samui (east)
islands are major tourist destinations.
Both coasts are comprised of:
national parks, sanctuaries,

Terrain & Vegetation

North- Mountainous, grasslands, rivers & forests
including: monsoon, teak, bamboo, evergreen
rainforest, montane, and conifer.
Many forest fires and agricultural deforestation occur.

Northeast- Shrub grassland, wetlands, rolling

hills, very poor soil quality.

Agricultural area- limited farm use, mostly rice is grown.

South- Tropical evergreen forest, wetlands,

rolling hills, beaches on the coast.
Coconut palms, tropical fruit, fig trees,
cashews.

North

Indigenous cattle- Zebu & Water Buffalo (Bubalus

arnee)

South

Northea
st

Climate;

Tropical Monsoon
Weather Pattern
Three seasons occur
Average Annual temperature 83 F
Average Annual rainfall 55 inches
Rainy season- May-October;

southwest
monsoons, warm humid air, a lot of rainfall.

Cool season- October-March;

northeast

monsoons, dry cool air.

Hot season- March-May;

and dry stagnant air.

75% humidity, hot

Demographics
Official name Ratcha Anachak Thai
(Kingdom of Thailand)
Capital Bangkok
Population ~67,956,000
Language Thai (dialects may be
different)
Many also speak English.
Ethnicities Majority since the 13th
century; Thai descendants. More diverse
ethnicities in the southern urban areas.

History
Thais migrated all the way from
Southern China at some point in
10 A.D.
Thailand gained sovereignty from
the Khmer Empire during 13th
century.
Burmese armies attacked the
capital in 1767.
For a short period of time,
Thailand was under the rule of
General Taksin until the first king
of Chakri dynasty.

Modern Government History

General Chakri established Bangkok as
the new capital in the early 1800s.
Built the Grand Palace in late
1800s.
In 1939 the country's name changed
from Siam to Thailand.
became a democratic government

Current monarch is King Bhumibol

Adulyadej (Jun. 9, 1946 - present)
Only Southeast Asian country not
colonized by the West.

Religion
Centered around Buddhism
95% practice Theravada Buddhism, 4% Islam, 1%
Other
Philosophy more than religion; no God.
Very welcoming & tolerant to others and their beliefs.
Temples are called wats.
Heart of social and religious life.
Senior monks are highly revered.
Most homes and businesses have a spirit house.
Offerings to spirits that may bless or inhabit the
building.
Buddhist holidays occur particularly on days of full
moons.
Based on meditation & self reflection.

Education
In 2005 the government allotted 22% of
the national budget to education.
12 years of free basic education.
Students are required to take NET
(National Educational Test) after each
level.
After graduating high school 2 tests are
also needed to be taken to continue
education.
O-NET (Ordinary National Educational
Test)
A-NET (Advanced National Educational
Test)

Higher Education
Various public and private
universities.
Courses in Medicine, Information
Technology, Humanities and the Arts are
highly sought.
Law and Business classes abroad are
also starting to gain popularity amongst
Thai students.
More than half of provinces in Thailand
have Rajabhat Universities.
Customarily a teacher training
college.

Entertainment
Drama/Theatre

Khon (traditional drama/masks)

Lakhon (local/folk drama)
Likay (comedy/more lively)
Nang (shadow plays)

Films/Cinema
Thai Boxing

Similar in popularity to baseball or

football in US.

Takraw

Played with a ball; dont let it touch the

ground.
Like hacky sack + volleyball in the US.
Played at schools, wats, streets, &
homes.

Customs
The Wai, pressing your palms together at chest
or nose level and bowing head slightly denotes
respect and can express a hello, thank you, or
goodbye.
Two daily broadcasts of the national
anthem.
Addressed by first names, preceded by an
honorific title Khun. In more casual settings
nicknames are used.
Never disrespect the royals.
Never step on a threshold through a doorway.
Believe spirits reside in the threshold.
Lucky Colour Day-wear particular color clothes
each day.

Food Customs
Five fundamental flavors: hot (spicy), sour,
sweet, salty, and bitter.
Food served family style, shared dishes, can eat as
soon as served.
Everyone has their own bowl of rice.
Utensils- Spoon held in right hand and forks in left
hand. Knives not needed.
Condiment Caddy.
Should finish all of your rice because rice is seen
as sacred.
If food gets on fingers, wipe with a napkin.
If you lick your fingers others will stare at you.

Food Etiquette
Donts!

Eat from the fork (only used to push food onto

spoon.)
Do eat food from the spoon.
Take the last bite from the shared bowl.
Show affection towards opposite sex in public.
Pass anything over someones head or touch the head
of another; the head is considered sacred.
Point or touch anyone with the feet; considered very
unclean.
Pass anything with left hand; left hand is unsanitary.
Cross legs in the company of monk or elder.
Wave the hands while talking or speak loudly.
Split a bill at a restaurant.
Drink tap water; unless boiled.
Snap fingers or raise voice to attract waiter.

Meal Composition &

Cycle
Three regular meals a day- Mix of spicy and mild foods;
balance.
Breakfast- Prefer a milder meal.
Typical- Curry on top of rice and fried egg.

Lunch- Preferably something quick.

Typical- Grilled meat with sticky rice.

Busy lifestyle = quick/easy meal.

Dinner- Main meal, many different dishes.

Typical- steamed rice, curry dish, vegetable dish, cold salsa, &
soup.

Shared among friends/family.

Dessert- Very light

Typical- steamed rice w/fresh fruit and coconut milk.

Snacking- Very common between meals.

Food varies by region

North- Laos and Burmese influence.
More bitter flavors/herbaceous.
Brothy, steamed, boiled foods.
Sticky rice.
Northeast- Laos and Cambodian
influence.
Simple, spicy, & funky.
Entomophagy!
Sticky rice.
South- Malaysian influence.
Very spicy, thick rich coconut
curries.
Seafood
Jasmine rice.

Laap
Typical in Northern Thailand.
Laotian influence.
Minced meat salad.
Offal, blood, lots of herbs, fried garlic,
shallots and spices.

Som Tam

Papaya Salad

Typical in Northeastern
Thailand.
Laotian and Cambodian influence.
Spicy, savory, crisp
Listed #46 on World's 50 most
delicious foods by CNN Go in 2011.

Curry
Typical in Southern Thailand.

Curry dish and spices from nearby India, Buddhist religion.

Spicy seasonings: cumin, ginger, turmeric, cardamom,
coriander, chilis.
Mild ingredients: coconut, lemongrass, shallots, garlic,
kaffir rind, thai basil, cilantro, fish sauce, galangal.
Served with steamed rice!
Rice came from China.
Today Thailand is largest exporter of rice.

Yellow, green, red, panang, masaman

curries.

Pad Thai
Typical in Southern/Central
Thailand.
Thailand's National Dish!
Most popular street food in Bangkok
Developed for busy business men.
Quick, cheap, nutritious meal.
Chinese & Vietnam influence from
noodles.

Tom Kha Gai

Chicken Galangal

Soup
Like the western chicken noodle
soup comfort food.
Traditional soup.
Coconut milk broth infused with
galangal (kha), lemongrass, red chilies,
& kaffir lime leaves.
Vegetable, shrimp (goong), or chicken
(gai).

Health
Life Expectancy Males 71, Females 79
Death rate 8 per 1,000 people
Common Disease/Illnesses
Food or waterborne illness- Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid fever.
Mosquito born illness- Malaria, Dengue fever.
Tuberculosis
Influenza
Top 3 Causes of Death
1. Stroke 14% 2. Heart Disease 10% 3. Diabetes 7%
47% Adult Thai men smoke tobacco.
Traditional Medicine
Massage, Herbal Medicine practices.

Nutrition Deficiency
Plant based diet.

Mainly starches,
vegetables, & fruits.
Protein deficiency
Low birth weight
Iron deficiency/Anemia
Iodide deficiency
Iodine enriched eggs

kob kun

Thank
You!

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