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THAILAND
Wat Phra Kaeo, Grand Palace, Bangkok
Thailand is officially known as the Kingdom of Thailand
and was known as Siam until 1939. Its borders touch Myanmar
(Burma), Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. The country is ruled by King
Rama IX. Thailand has a population over 60 million and its capital and
largest city is Bangkok. Thai makes up the majority of its
poplulation and Thai is also the official language. Thailand is
about 95% buddist, which results in an abundance of monasteries and
temples, all denoted by the pre-fix "Wat" in their place
names. In a visit in 2012, the airlines
provided special boarding lines for monks, which highlights the importance
of buddism in this country. Civil unrest from 2008 - 2010 has subsided and opened
Thailand back up to tourists. It is a popular destination for its
beaches, temples, friendly and exotic atmosphere and because it is
inexpensive. The Phuket area was hard hit by a
tsunami in 2004 and the coastal regions of Thailand have long suffered
from seasonal flooding as well.
Popular things to do in Thailand:
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Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo, Bangkok
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Phang Nga Bay, Phuket
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Floating Market, near Bangkok
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Phi Phi Islands, Krabi, near Phuket
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Similian Islands - off the coast of Phang Nga
Bay
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Loi Krathong Lantern Festival, Chiang Mai
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Doi Suthep Temple, Chiang Mai
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Ayutthaya, ruins north of Bangkok
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Khao Yai National Park, north of Bangkok
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Ride an elephant in Bangkok, Phuket or Chiang Mai
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Thailand in a larger map
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