Blog about Thailand
Thailand does not have an independence day , since it did not fight for its independence from another country; however, as of 2014, the country celebrated December 5 as its national day .
3. Thailand was never colonized by Europeans. Thailand remains the only country in Southeast Asia not colonized by Europeans. All of its neighbors were controlled by either the British or the French.
While Thailand enjoyed a prosperous trade relationship with Britain, France was still looking to expand its territories. France went on to suggest dividing Thailand into two, but through diplomacy, a treaty was signed in 1896, which agreed to keep Thailand independent , acting as a buffer zone between the two powers.
The Japanese intention was to use Thailand and Indochina as their military base to invade Burma and Malaya in the future. The Thais were forced to accept only a quarter of the territory that they had lost to the French, in addition to having to pay six million piastres as a concession to the French.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, only Thailand survived European colonial threat in Southeast Asia due to centralising reforms enacted by King Chulalongkorn and because the French and the British decided it would be a neutral territory to avoid conflicts between their colonies.
Between 2015 and 2018, the poverty rate in Thailand increased from 7.2 percent to 9.8 percent, and the absolute number of people living in poverty rose from 4.85 million to more than 6.7 million. The increase in poverty in 2018 was widespread – occurring in all regions and in 61 out of 77 provinces.
Located in southern Asia it is known for great eats, martial arts, beaches, and many temples. Thailand also has many islands that are well known that have numerous resorts for tourists. If you have ever eaten Thai food you’ll know it’s a rewarding experience.
8 Things to Avoid in Thailand (and What to Do Instead) Places for backpackers to stay. Avoid : Khao San Road. Taking taxis. Avoid : Bargaining a flat rate with a taxi driver. Thai entertainment. Avoid : Ping Pong Shows. What to do in Pattaya. Avoid : Seedy areas of Pattaya. Shopping the markets. What to do in Phuket. Elephant tourist attractions. Tours and sightseeing.
The country faces problems with air, declining wildlife populations, deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity, and waste issues. According to a 2004 indicator, the cost of air and water pollution for the country scales up to approximately 1.6–2.6% of GDP per year.
Depending on how you define it, the only countries that were never colonies are Liberia, Ethiopia , Japan , Thailand, Bhutan, Iran , Nepal , Tonga, China, and possibly North Korea, South Korea and Mongolia. Some historians nitpick over this list.
1851–1868) reads SPPM (Somdet Phra Poramenthra Maha) Mongkut Rex Siamensium (Mongkut King of the Siamese), giving the name Siam official status until 24 June 1939 when it was changed to ” Thailand “. Thailand was renamed Siam from 1946 to 1948, after which it again reverted to ” Thailand “.
The name Siam came from a Sanskrit word, syam. A forceful nationalist and moderniser, he changed the country’s name to Thailand . The change was part of Phibun’s determination to bring his people into the modern world and at the same time to emphasise their unique identity.
Formerly known as Siam, the Kingdom of Thailand was never a European colony , although it was sometimes under Chinese or Japanese influence. 5. Throughout the 19th century, both the French and the British tried to exert their influence over Thailand , ultimately unsuccessfully overall.
The Thailand Flag has changed a bit over the past 200 years or so. The name of the country was changed from Siam to Thailand on 24th June 1939.