Country Facts of Thailand for TEFL Teachers
Thailand is an exotic Asian country well known for its gorgeous beach
resorts. The culture of Thailand is also very rich and the people of this
country are very amiable. Another most important factor which draws numerous
tourists from all around the world to Thailand is its delectable cuisine.
Let us now explore Thailand in brief.
Where is Thailand?
The geographic coordinates of Thailand is 15 degree north to 100 degree
east. It is on the south eastern part of Asia beside the Andaman Sea and the
Gulf of Thailand. This country shares land borders with Laos, Cambodia,
Malaysia and Burma.
Language of Thailand
Most people in Thailand speak Thai and it is also the
official language. However, English is very commonly used and is considered
the language of the elite.
Climate of Thailand
Thailand experiences a tropical kind of climate having hot summers and cool
winters. From the mid of May to September there is rain due to southwest
monsoon. The months between November and March are dry and cool.
Religions in Thailand
In Thailand most people practice Buddhism but there are about 5 % of Muslims
residing here also according to the 2000 census. There are also a few
Christians in Thailand and other religions constitute about 1 % of the
population.
Currency of Thailand
The currency of Thailand is Baht and the exchange rate of baht per US dollar
is approximately 34.85.
Airports in Thailand
There are in all seven airports in Thailand which are Suvarnabhumi Airport
in Bangkok, Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Phuket
International Airport, Hat Yai International Airport, Chiang Rai
International Airport and Chiang Mai International Airport. An airport tax
of 500 Baht is charged in International airports and at the domestic ones 40
Baht is charged.
Diseases and Vaccines
Most of the infectious diseases in Thailand are transmitted through food and
water. The risk of infectious diseases is high in this country. The
recommended vaccinations for Thailand are Hepatitis B, Rabies,
Tetanus-diphtheria, Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis and Typhoid.
Clothing for Thailand
Light cotton clothes are recommended for visiting Thailand as this country
has a more or less warm climate. In the winter months, warm clothes might be
required and if one is traveling in the Northern part of Thailand one might
also need it.