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A portrait of Thailand
 Set
within a lush tropical landscape, Thailand is a theatre
of cultural and sensual contrasts for the visitor. The long,
rich heritage and abundant natural resources of this proud
Buddhist nation jostle for space within the dynamism of
a country undergoing rapid industrialization. In turns zestful
and tranquil, resplendent and subtle, Thailand is always
compelling.
Thailand is located in a fertile monsoon belt midway between
India and China, the two civilizations that have moulded Southeast
Asia. But the This have long delighted in their distinctive culture.
For instance, though the Tai (rather than Thai) ethnic group probably
originated in Southern China sometime in the first millennium
AD, their tonal language is quite unlike any form of Chinese.
Moreover, the elegant Thai script, though derived from that of
ancient Southern India, is distinct.
 Today,
Thailand is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), though Thais still take pride in a long
tradition of independence. Unlike all her immediate neighbours,
Burma (Myanmar), Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia, the country
never fell to a European colonial power. More fundamentally,
though, the Thai sense of identity is allied with Theravada
Buddhism and the monarchy. Both have been dignified institutions
since the Sukhothai period (13th-14th century), an era when
the first real Thai kingdom flourished. Indeed, the colours
of the modern Thai flag (thong trai rong) symbolize the
three forces of Buddhism (white), the monarchy (blue) and
the nation (red).
Today, the great majority of Thailand's 60 million inhabitants
regard themselves as Thai. Hill tribes are the most obvious
ethnic minority groups, but it is the Chinese who form the
largest (and most integrated) group. The various peoples
live relatively peaceably nowadays, though in 1939, in a
wave of nationalism encouraged by Prime Minister Phibun
Songkram, the country's name was changed from Siam to Prathet
Thai (Thailand), or "land of the peoples and dialects of
the Central Plains, North, Northeast and South. Each region
also has its own topographical identity. The North is an
area of forested mountains, where hill-tribe minorities
coexist with mainstream society. In the South, the narrow
Kra Peninsula presents a 2,500 - km (1,500-mile) coast-line
with a hilly interior of rainforests and rubber plantations.
Malay-Muslim culture is a major influence here.
Between these two extremes are the Central Plains, the cradle
of Thai civilizatiion and a fertile, rice-growing region. Near
the mouth of the Chao Phraya River, the capital, Bangkok, sprawls
ever further each year. Though its 200 year-old palatial splendour
can still be discerned, the city is among the world's most congested
and polluted.Different again is Northeast Thailand (also widely
known as Isan), the poorest part of the country occupying the
Khorat Plateau, its eastern border with Laos defined by the Mekhong
River. In this semi-arid region traditional farming communities,
many of them Thai-Lao, eke out a subsistence living.
Economic Development
Rice and other agricultural crops were long the mainstays of
the Thai economy, and farming is still regarded with great respect
by Thais. From the mid-1980s, however, a concerted export drive,
backed by an attractive climate for foreign investment, triggered
and unprecedented economic boom. For several years Thailand enjoyed
double-digit growth, and, while the pace slowed in the 1990s,
the economy continues to grow at around eight percent annually
as Thailand consolidates its position as one of Asia's new "tiger"
economies. Raw materials top the country's list of imports, while
the leading exports include garments, electrical goods, mechanical
equipment, seafood products, gems and jewellery.
Tourism is now the single largest foreign exchange earner in Thailand.
The country annually hosts more than six million visitors, but
the tourist infrastructure has developed unevenly. Bangkok, Chiang
Mai and the beach resorts attract the vast majority of visitors,
and have deluxe hotels ranking among the world's best. Other regions,
such as the Khorat Plateau, see relatively few visitors and have
limited tourist facilities.
Economic success has, unfortunately, been achieved at a price.
Transport infrastructure in particular has lagged behind economic
growth, resulting in Bangkok's notorious traffic chaos. Commerce
and communications are concentrated in Bangkok, putting increasing
strain on a capital with a population of some seven million and
rising, while the rest of the country largely remains rural.
The new wealth remains concentrated in the hands of a few, and
if the rampant poverty associated with some Asian countries is
generally absent, there is nevertheless a widening gulf between
the haves and have-nots. Education is also failing to keep pace
with development. Though Thailand boasts one of the highest literacy
rates in Asia, schools and colleges now face the challenge of
producting a generation with the skills needed to maintain economic
growth in the 21st century.
The environment has taken many blows in the last 50 years, during
which forest cover has declined from 70 per cent of the land area
to less than 20 per cent. Many animal species have lost their
habitats and been hunted almost to extinction. On the positive
side, conservation awareness is increasing, and measures are being
taken to preserve what remains of the nation's rich natural bounty.
Society and Politics
In spite of the pressures of change, Thai society is relatively
stable. The concept of the extended family is important in Thailand,
as in other parts of Asia. Children live with their parents, often
sleeping in the same room, until marriage. Living alone is rare.
Elders are always accorded respect within families and in society.
There is no caste system, but the social hierarchy, topped by
the monarchy , is quite rigid. Social standing is mainly dictated
by wealth and family connections. Women have less standing than
men, despite playing a major role in the economy, mainly as labourers
and white-collar workers.
Hierarchy permeates daily life in many ways. The traditional
greeting, the wai, in which the hands are brought together near
the chin, is always initiated by the inferior, and the height
of the wai reflects the social gap between the parties. If the
gap is extreme, inferiors may approach their superiors on their
knees, Other rulers of etiquette, such as never raising the voice,
transcend class. Despite such rules that they apply to themselves,
Thais are renowned for their tolerance of other cultures and friendliness
to visitors. Offence is taken only if there is any perceived disrespect
to the king or Buddhism.
There is no criticism of the king in Thailand's press. Constitutional
since 1932, the monarchy is revered almost as much as when king
were chakravatin, or "lords of life". Kingship and religion are
inextricably linked in Thailand. The present monarch, King Bhumibol
Adulyadej (Rama IX), served as a monk in his youth and presides
over some major religious ceremonies. He is the longest - reining
living monarch in the word, having ascended to the throne in 1946,
and has won widespread respect for his devotion to welfare and
environmental projects throughout Thailand.
The monkhood (sangha), some 250,000 strong, plays a crucial social
role. Most teenage boys become monkhood properly later in life
and may choose its austere precepts for life. Monks conduct numerous
Buddhist rites, ranging from festivals to everyday blessings and
other social events. In rural areas, they traditionally play an
important role as school teachers, a profession that in Thailand
is perhaps held higher in regard than anywhere else in the world.
In contrast, politicians are held in far less respect, and the
Thai press makes no hesitation in criticizing the running of the
country. Parliamentary politics are plagued by old - style patronage
and privilege and are still threatened by military coups: There
have been 19, mostly peaceful, coups or attempted coups since
1932. A mass pro - democracy demonstration in 1992 ended in bloodshed
when the army opened fire. A great tragedy, The event did at least
succeed in raising public awareness and securing a broader base
for democratic reform.
Thai Culture and Arts
Thailand's classical arts have developed almost exclusively (and
anonymously) in the service of theravada Buddhism. Accordingly,
the best showcase is the wat , where traditional architecture,
typified by sweeping, multi - tiered roofs, countless Buddha images
and murals, and decorative arts, such as woodcarving, stucco relief,
gilt, lacquer, colored glass mosaic and mother - of - pearl inlay,
are all usd to striking effect.
The literary tradition of Thailand is confined mostly to classic
tales, the most important of which is the Ramakien, an ancient
moral epic with its origins in the Indian Ramayana. Such sagas
provided the narrative content for the once - thriving performing
arts, best preserved today in highly stylized classical dance
- drama called Khon and lakhon. Thailand's most notable literary
figure is the 19th - century poet Sunthorn phu.
Avant - grade and neo- traditionalist painting is booming while
the film industry thrives on a diet of comedies, thrillers and
period dramas. One very popular novel, The Four Reigns (1953),
was written by for mer prime Minister Kukrit Pramoj. A few files,
such as Luk Isan (1978), set in the Northeast, and number of books
tackle social issues.
 On
the sporting front, Thailand's world - renowned, unique style
of kick boxing draws big crowds, while other traditional pastimes
range from takraw, a game not unlike volleyball, but using the
feet, to kite - flying. Numerous colorful festivals, many linked
to both Buddhism and the changing seasons, are celebrated with
exuberance.
Whatever the activity, Thais believe that life should in all
things, from eating - some thing for which Thais have a passion
to simply going for a stroll with friends.
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