10 Things you didn’t know about Thailand

I complied a short list of things I thought were either interesting, strange, or just worth mentioning.

1) Thailand used to be called Siam until June 23, 1939, when it was changed to Thailand. It was renamed Siam from 1945 to May 11, 1949, after which it was again renamed Thailand much to the frustration of globe and map makers everywhere. In case you were curious this is the same Siam as the now politically incorrect Siamese twins (the famous conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker 1811–1874) the Siamese Cat (which is said to be descended from the sacred temple cats of Siam) and the novel Anna and the King of Siam which was made into the musical The King and I.

2) The capital of Thailand is Bangkok (which you might have known) but to the Thai the city’s real name is “Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit” if you force them they will shorten it to just “Krung Thep”. As you can imagine I am sure there aren’t a lot of pen pals in Bangkok because most people get wrist pains from just addressing the letter.

3) There are savage breakfast stealing birds at the Marriott Café that will take your food from your plate if you leave it unattended. No need to worry though the meal is all you (and apparently the bird too) can eat. Also Thai food is HOT check out the picture of the guy below after he ate a spicy spring roll.

4) Apparently the Thai like long names (or titles) this is the title for the King Bhumibol Adulyadej (the guy on their paper bills) “Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Bhumibol Adulyadej Mahitalathibet Ramathibodi Chakkrinaruebodin Sayamminthrathirat Borommanatbophit” (Or if you prefer in Thai) พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช มหิตลาธิเบศรรามาธิบดี จักรีนฤบดินทร สยามินทราธิราช บรมนาถบพิตร. Imagine having to write that as your last job title.

5) Bill written in Thai is “เรียกเก็บเงิน” and Anne (well technically Ann) is “แอน”

6) I learned to hold fire in the palm of my hand (or at least force Anne to take a cheesy picture of me looking like I could do so)

7) Thailand is the 20th most-populous country, with approximately 63 million people, but like most Asian countries it is pretty dense being the 51st largest country.

8) Thailand is one of the most devoutly Buddhist countries in the world. The national religion is Theravada Buddhism which is practiced by more than 95% of all Thais.

9) Taxi drivers (as least in Phuket) don’t drive taxi’s. The look just like regular cars and they have no meters, so you either have to know how much it is to get somewhere or learn to bargain.

10) If you take your camera out of your air conditioned room and try to take a picture in the first couple of minutes the condensation on your lens caused from the rapid humidity and heat change result in your camera taking what I like to call Glamour Shots.