Full Country Name:	Thailand (Prathet Thai, meaning "land of the free")
Capital:	Bangkok (Krung Thep, meaning " city of angels")
Geography:	Thailand has a land area of 513,115 sq.km. bordered by Malaysia (South), Myanmar (West & North), Laos (North & East) and Cambodia (Southeast).
Typography:	Thailand is divided into four distinct areas: 1) the mountainous North, 2) the fertile Central Plains, 3) the semi-arid plateau of the Northeast, and 4) the many beautiful tropical beaches & offshore islands of     the Southern peninsula
Climate:	Thailand has a humid, tropical climate, and it is hot all year round. Summer is from March to May with average temperatures around 34C, but the temperature can reach over 40C for extended periods. Summer monsoons begin as the warm humid air masses flow towards the north from the Indian Ocean. The monsoons end in the fall when the wind reverses direction with the dry south-westerly winds blowing in. The rainy season, with periods of sunshine, lasts from June to September, with temperatures ranging from 27C to 32.7C. The amount of rainfall varies with topography. The northeast receives the least rain, while the south is flooded during the summer months. The best time to visit Thailand is during the cool season, from October through February, when it is not as humid as during the summer and the rainy seasons. The average temperature is around 18C to 32C. During this season, it can be very chilly in the north, with temperatures dropping to 7C at night.
Seasons:	3 seasons: Hot (Mar-May), Rainy (Jun-Oct), and Cool (Nov-Feb)
Population:	Total 62,308,887 (end 2001), including 30,913,485 males and 31,395,402 females. Of the total, 9.15% lived in Bangkok
People:	Thai (80%), Chinese (10%), Malay (3%), and the rest are minorities (Mons, Khmers, hilltribes) Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area has historically been a migratory crossroads, and has thus produced a degree of ethnic diversity. Integration is such, however, that culturally and socially there is enormous unity.
Language:	Thai is the national language. English is widely understood in cities.
Religion:	Buddhist 92.55%, Muslim 5.29%, Christian 1.34%, others 0.79%
Government:	A constitutional monarchy headed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, with 76 provinces, each sub-divided in amphoe (district), tambon (sub-district) and muban (village).
Prime Minister:	Thaksin Shinawatra
National Flag:	The red, white, and blue stripes symbolize the nation, Buddhism, and the monarchy, respectively.
Clothing:	Thin cotton is the best. A jacker or sweater may be necessary in the cool season, especially in a mountainous are in the North or Northeast.
Electricity:	220 volts, 50 Hz cycles throughout the country.
Water:	Drink only bottled or boiled water
Local Time:	GMT = 7 hours
Business Hours:	Most offices open from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. General banking hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm.
Measurement of area:	Thailand has its own system of area measurement. The basic units are square wa (=4 sq.m.) and rai (=400 sq.wa. or 1,600 sq.m. or 0.16 hectare).
Public Holidays:	January 1         New Year's Day February 8       Makha Puja Day April 6             Chakri Day April 13-15       Songkran Festival May 1              Labour Day May 5              Coronation Day May 8              Ploughing Ceremony May 15            Visakha Puja Day July 13             Asalha Puja Day July 14             Khao Phansa Day (Buddhist Lent) August 12        H.M. The Queen's Birthday October 23       Chulalongkorn Day December 5      H.M. The King's Birthday December 10    Constitution Day December 31    New Year's Eve