Thailand is the world famous seaside resorts of Pattaya, the islands of Phuket and Koh Samui, a unique opportunity to visit the “City of Angels” Bangkok and experience the hospitality of the “Land of Smiles”. Local time in Thailand differs from Greenwich by 7 hours, and from Moscow - by 4 hours in winter, in summer - by 3 hours.
The territory of the Kingdom of Thailand stretches for 1500 km from north to south and almost 800 km from west to east. Thailand's geographical outline resembles the head of an elephant. The “head” occupies the southern part of the Indochina Peninsula, and the “trunk” is a strip of land (less than 13 km wide) on the Malacca Peninsula. It borders Thailand: Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar (Burma). In the north of Thailand there are forested spurs of the Himalayas. Their highest peak is Doi Inthanon (2595 m). In the east, surrounded by mountain ranges lies the Korat mountain plateau. In the west of the country, the mountain range is covered with impenetrable forests and serves as some kind of barrier between the central regions and Myanmar (Burma). The ridge also covers the northern part of the Malacca Peninsula, which determines the mountainous terrain of southern Thailand. The southern coast of the country, with countless bays and beaches, is washed by the waves of the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean in the west and the South China Sea with the Gulf of Thailand in the east.
Throughout its long history, Thailand has readily welcomed emigrants, many of whom were writers, painters, sculptors and architects. Their craftsmanship helped enrich the local culture. About 70 million people live here. The population of Thailand is homogeneous, more than 90% of the population is literate, and Buddhism predominates among religions. Today's population of Thailand belongs to various ethnic groups. These are mainly the Thais, Mons, Khmers, Laotians, Chinese, Malays, Persians and Indians themselves. As a result of this mixing, there are no Thais in Thailand with a typical Thai body type and face. Here you can meet tall and short, chubby, dark-skinned and fair-haired Thais. 80% of Thailand's population is associated with agriculture. In rural areas, many ancient traditions, religious rites and holidays are preserved. POPULATION
More than 90% of Thais profess Southern Theravada Buddhism. In addition to traditional morality that ensured social cohesion and offered spiritual support, Buddhism contributed to the active development of arts and crafts. The multi-tiered temples of Thailand are creations of high artistic skill. There is hardly a Thai family in which a male member of the family has not studied the teachings of Buddha in a monastery. According to ancient tradition, every Buddhist man over twenty years of age is ordained at least once in his life for a period of five days to three months. This usually happens during the rainy season, when all the monks refrain from traveling and remain in their monasteries. Thais have traditionally supported the idea of freedom of conscience and religion, allowing Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs to freely practice their faith. religion
To the average tourist, written and spoken Thai seem incomprehensible. However, English is widely spoken. In Bangkok, for example, it is the main business destination. English and other European languages are spoken by most staff in hotels, major travel agencies, shops and restaurants. LANGUAGE
The climate in Thailand is tropical and there are three distinct weather periods (seasons). Rainy season - lasts from May to October; southeast monsoons dominate throughout the country, bringing heavy rains. Dry winter - lasts from November to February, when mild weather sets in and daytime temperatures are not much lower than the annual average. In the north, temperatures can drop to 0 C at night, while in Bangkok and the central part of the country it is around 16 C. In the south of the country, temperatures are much higher. The hot season is from March to May. At this time, intense heat and high humidity sets in, and there is practically no precipitation.
In the eastern part of the country, its own special microclimate has formed (due to disturbance of the natural environment - deforestation). It is characterized by uniform rainfall throughout the year. In September there is a sharp increase in rainfall. The ideal place to holiday in Thailand is winter. There is practically no rain at this time, and it does not interfere with walking and a wonderful beach holiday. During the hot season, it is preferable to relax on the islands, where the sea protects vacationers from the scorching heat. Conclusion: the geographical position of Thailand is favorable, the total area is 514 thousand square meters. km, there is access to the seas.
While respecting the past, Thais enjoy modern life to the fullest. And the greatest of all pleasures and pastimes is the ability to eat deliciously. Thai cuisine is a wonderful find for gourmets; it is rich in richness and all kinds of spices and offers a huge selection of different dishes. Seafood is an integral part of Thai cuisine: fish, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, etc.
Tin plays the main role among the country's mineral resources. The total possible reserves of tin ore are estimated at 1.5 million tons, and reliable ones - at 500 thousand tons. The ore is of very high quality. In terms of tin reserves, mining and exports, Thailand ranks third in the world after Malaysia and Bolivia and second in Asia. an export-oriented industrial sector was created, primarily for the production of labor-intensive goods such as textiles, clothing, shoes, wood and wicker furniture, and later plastic goods, electrical appliances, the next stage - the assembly of electronics, cars, etc. late 1990s The high-tech sector for the production of computer parts and parts for the automotive industry began to develop.
Thailand is an agrarian-industrial country with a strong export orientation. Main crop: rice Traditional export goods were rice, rubber, and tin. In addition to rice, the export of which Thailand ranks 1st in the world (in 2000 its exports amounted to 6.14 million tons), exports include tapioca, canned fruits, frozen seafood, poultry, palm oil, rubber, flowers (orchids ). Thailand occupies a leading position in the export of agricultural products.
reimburse imports. Rapid economic growth. Natural gas. Tourism. One of the world's main exporters of rice and rubber. Weaknesses: The economy is concentrated mainly around Bangkok. Insufficient fresh water supplies. Rapidly growing external debt. 60% of the population work in small peasant farms.
Industry The share of industry in GDP is 44.5%, it employs 14% of the working population. Mining Industry The share of this industry in total GDP is small (approximately 1.6%), but it provides a significant part of the country's export earnings. Thailand is one of the largest suppliers of tin and tungsten to the world market. Natural gas is being extracted in coastal waters. Manufacturing industry As in all “newly industrialized countries”, which includes Thailand, the most rapid development of the manufacturing industry occurred in the 1990s. However, the Pacific economic crisis of 1997 caused a significant decline in production. Today the country has developed electronics, car assembly, jewelry and petrochemical industries. The textile and food industries are also developed.
Slide 1
Slide 2
Slide 3
THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND is a state in Southeast Asia, located in the southwestern part of the Indochina Peninsula and in the northern part of the Malacca Peninsula. Until 1939 it was called Siam; the word "thai" (ไทย) means "freedom". The name justifies itself: Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that has retained its independence, while all neighboring countries were colonies of France or Great Britain.
Slide 4
CLIMATE air temperature - the closer you are to the equator, the smaller the temperature difference. So in the coolest months from +20 to +27, the night air temperature can drop to zero in the mountains in the north, while during the day it reaches +25. The highest temperatures are observed in April and May - then it is above +35 (norm), but it can also reach +40 in the shade.
Slide 5
POPULATION The population of Thailand is mainly composed of ethnic Thais (~80%) and Laotians. There is also a large community of ethnic Chinese (~10%). Other ethnic groups include Malays, Hmong, Khmer, and Vietnamese who have settled in eastern Thailand since the Vietnam War.
Slide 6
RELIGION 94.6% of Thai residents profess Buddhism. 4.6% are Muslim - mostly Malays living in the south of the country.
Slide 7
ARCHETECTURE Thai architecture, represented mainly by monasteries, intricately combines Indian and Chinese elements. They, like sculpture, differ in style in accordance with the period of construction and local traditions. The most striking example of the original architectural creativity of the Thais is the complex of temples and the Grand Royal Palace in Bangkok
Slide 8
MUSIC Music has always occupied an important place in the ceremonial, court and religious life of the Thai people. A traditional orchestra consists of gongs, bells, strings, and xylophones. For Europeans, Thai music sounds quite unusual. It still accompanies important public ceremonies and classical theater performances today.
1 slide
Culture: Thai Culture In Thailand, any head is sacred or supreme in the truest sense of the word, regardless of what it is intended for. According to Thai religion, there is a spirit in the head that protects human life. Therefore, touching someone else's head or stirring up someone's hair indicates that you wanted to offend the person. Under no circumstances should you hook a person with your foot or an inappropriate part of the body. For Thai people, a calm tone is considered normal. In no case should you give friendly pats on the shoulder, or especially raise your voice: such behavior will make the Thais feel uncomfortable and humiliated. If you are not satisfied with anything, you need to contain your ardor and explain everything quietly and peacefully in a calm state. Don't try to speak loudly - you won't be heard! The language in Thailand has something in common with singing, or rather with the chirping of birds. Make an effort to sing together in the same tones, this will have amazing success in the company and the staff. In this country, they are scrupulous about shoes: they must be removed before entering the temple and the house. Even in the case when they invite you to visit and tactfully offer “you don’t have to take off your shoes,” it’s still better to take off your shoes. Sitting with legs crossed (as is customary in India or Asia) in some villages - according to Thai customs, does not make sense even for a man because... this will be considered an insult to others. People in Thailand always smile. Restrained behavior does not interfere with the cheerfulness of the people of the country. In all other understandings, Thais are balanced and have a normal attitude towards some of the shortcomings of people, at least very kindly. They are extremely hospitable and happily welcome foreigners, especially if trips to Thailand enrich the country.
2 slide
3 slide
Culture: Thailand is famous for its unique culture, the origins of which go back to distant, mysterious antiquity. It is believed that the first historically significant monuments date back to the Bronze Age, and the active development of religion, art and worldview in general began in the Middle Ages. At this time, Buddhism appeared on the territory of the modern country, undergoing characteristic changes and becoming a distinctive Thai branch of the great teaching. In Thailand, many typical oriental traditions have acquired unique forms - this, in particular, applies to architecture. In the kingdom, which is rightfully considered a fairy tale, you will find many quaint palaces and amazing temples, the main feature of which is the rich decoration with mosaics and carvings. The Thai walls are also interesting with their expressive decoration - from the famous battlements in the shape of a lily to intricate paintings on religious themes. Of course, the capital provides the most opportunities to get acquainted with the architectural tradition of the country - Bangkok is literally crisscrossed with excursion routes and does not leave even the most sophisticated esthete indifferent. In addition, the city amazes with its harmonious combination of antiquity and modernity - despite a certain amount of Europeanization, both the state and its heart have managed to preserve its original features.
4 slide
Geographical location: The area of Thailand is 513.1 thousand km2 (50th place in the world). The population of Thailand is 67.1 million people (data for 2011, 20th place in the world). Official language - Thai Ethnic composition: Thais 75%, Chinese 14%, Malays 3.5%, others (Vietnamese, Laotians, Indians, etc.) 7.5% Capital of Thailand: Bangkok (13º54´ N, 100º36´ E; 9,100 thousand inhabitants. Large cities: Chiang Mai (700 thousand inhabitants); Chiang Rai (150 thousand inhabitants). Climate: humid tropical, in the south - subequatorial. From May to September, rainy, warm, cloudy season with southwest monsoons; from November to March - dry, cool weather with northeast monsoons; the southern isthmus is always hot and humid. The country is located in Southeast Asia, in the southwestern part of the Indochina Peninsula and the north of the Malacca Peninsula Bordered by Cambodia and Laos in the east and northeast, Myanmar in the northwest and west, and Malaysia in the south, Thailand is a country that is very long from north to south (about 1875 km from the northernmost to the southernmost point), with in addition, one of the longest coastlines in the region - 1875 km along the Gulf of Thailand alone, plus another 740 km along the Andaman Sea and about 400 islands (a total of about 3219 km of coastline). The northern and western regions of Thailand are occupied by the mountainous areas of the spurs of the Tanentaungi ridge (the highest point is Mount Inthanon, 2576 m), Dong Phrayafai, Kravan, Khunthan, Bilau and others, stretching in the meridional direction almost across the entire country. To the east rises the Korat sandstone plateau. At the same time, almost all of the central regions of the country are occupied by the vast Menam lowland, and the southern part is occupied by low plains from the lower reaches of Menam with characteristic low remnant mountains and ridges. The Malacca Peninsula is also mountainous - along its entire length there is a chain of low (up to 1793 m) mountains of Phuket, Luang and Bilau, in the area of the Kra Isthmus, descending to a height of only 25 meters above sea level. The narrow coastline of the peninsula is covered with low hills with lush tropical greenery.
5 slide
Thailand Flag and coat of arms of the Kingdom of Thailand: Completed by: Semikopenko Yaroslav Yu-12 Siberian Polytechnic College
6 slide
7 slide
Economy of Thailand: Thailand is an agrarian-industrial country. Agriculture: The share of agriculture in GDP is 10.7%, employing half of the working population. The main agricultural crop is rice, the crops of which occupy a third of the cultivated land. Industrial crops include sugar cane, cotton and jute. Fishing plays an important role (3 million tons of fish per year). Industry: The share of industry in GDP is 44.5%, it employs 14% of the working population. Mining: The industry's share of total GDP is small (approximately 1.6%), but it contributes a significant portion of the country's export earnings. Thailand is one of the largest suppliers of tin and tungsten to the world market. Natural gas is being extracted in coastal waters. Manufacturing Industry: As in all “newly industrialized countries”, which includes Thailand, the most rapid development of the manufacturing industry occurred in the 1990s. However, the Pacific economic crisis of 1997 caused a significant decline in production. Today the country has developed electronics, car assembly, jewelry and petrochemical industries. The textile and food industries are also developed.
8 slide
Slide 9
Architecture: Before the formation of the first major Thai state of Sukhothai, regions of Thailand (and from the 12th century the whole country) were part of the Mon and Khmer states of Bapnom, Dvaravati, Chenla and Kambujadesh. After the fall of Kambujadeshi, the Thai states of Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Bangkok became the main heirs of Cambodian culture, since Cambodia did not have the conditions for its development. Thai architecture originates from Cambodian. The entire development of Thai artistic culture is associated with Buddhism, which in the Thai version also included some Hindu motifs. In monumental architecture, the main types of buildings are stupa and temple. Thai stupas go back to Mon and Khmer prototypes (prasang, prasat, chedi; the prefix “pra” means “holy”). The basis for the development of temples is the wehan - a building with brick or stone columns and a wooden roof. The most striking example of Thai architectural creativity is the complex of temples and the Grand Royal Palace in Bangkok. The buildings located on the territory of temples have different shapes and meanings - these are usually sanctuaries, halls for religious ceremonies, libraries and schools. The walls can be decorated with scenes from the Hindu epic (Ramakien: King Rama 2 translated the Ramayana into Thai) and images of mythological animals. The sacred Bodhi tree is often found in the courtyards of monasteries. There are also numerous sculptures of mythical creatures possessing supernatural powers who guard the monastery.
10 slide
11 slide
12 slide
King Rama IX of Thailand from the Chakri dynasty. He was born in 1927, ascended the throne in 1946 and has since survived 20 prime ministers, 16 constitutions and 18 attempted coups. King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the longest reigning monarch in the world. And the richest King in Thailand is not only the head of state and supreme commander of the armed forces, but also the patron of all religions. Despite the fact that according to the constitution, the godlike king does not have real power, this does not prevent him from being its most powerful bearer. Some facts: The current king of Thailand is Rama IX. The king's wife is the daughter of the Thai ambassador to France; the king met her during his stay in Paris. Rama IX has ruled the country for more years than any other living monarch in the world, and his reign (1946+) is the longest in Thai history. Thailand's succession system allows women to rule; If the only son of the current king, after the death of the latter, renounces the throne, then his sister will rule the country. (Now, by the way, this is where it’s heading). The most respected kings of Thailand in its entire history are Rama V Chulalongkorn and the current Rama 9. The Thai state had its greatest military power during the reign of Ramkhamhaeng in the 13th century. The man who has ruled the country longer than any monarch in the world and who has earned the immense devotion of his people seemed very far from the throne at the time of his birth in 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA). By the way, he is the only Thai in the country who has dual citizenship - American and Thai. At that time, King Pratchathipok ruled the country, and several of his sons were first in line of succession to the throne. Also alive were his father, Prince Mahidon of Songla, who studied medicine at Harvard University, and his older brother, Prince Ananda Mahidon. It seemed that the future King Bhumibol Adulyadej would have a more or less ordinary life in relative obscurity, although no doubt strictly guided by his father, who wanted to use his education and social position to improve the social welfare of the Siamese people. The Lord, however, judged differently. Prince Mahidon died in 1929, followed by the abdication of King Prajjathipok in 1935. The young King Ananda Mahidon spent the first 11 years of his reign mainly in Switzerland with his mother, sister and younger brother, where he continued his education until he was called home at the outbreak of the Second World War. He died in 1946, and Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej, then 19 years old, unexpectedly became the ninth king of the Chakri dynasty. He subsequently returned to Lucerne to continue his education, taking up the study of political science in accordance with his new role. Two years later, during a visit to Fontainebleau, he met the young and beautiful Mom Rachawong Sirikit Kittiyakar, daughter of the Thai Ambassador to France, His Highness Prince Nakkatrmongkla Kittiyakar.
Slide 13
Political development: According to the constitution adopted on October 11, 1997, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king. He is also the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces. The current king is Bhumibol Adulyadej. Under the king there is a Privy Council consisting of 14 people. The highest legislative body is the bicameral National Assembly (parliament), consisting of the Senate (268 people), appointed by the king, and the House of Representatives (357 people), directly elected by the population of the country for 4 years. Executive power belongs to the government headed by the Prime Minister. The current Prime Minister of Thailand is Thaksin Chinwat. Political parties: Democratic Party (headed by Chan Likphau), Liberal Democratic Party (Seri Tam), Thai National Party (Chat Haik), etc. Historically, unlike neighboring countries, where in post-colonial times nationalist regimes arose that proclaimed democracy as a form of government (despite differences in the understanding of the word “democracy”, for example, in socialist North Vietnam and South Vietnam, monarchical Laos and “Buddhist-socialist” Burma), no less nationalistic rule was established in Thailand, which had never been a colony in the form of a harsh military dictatorship. Moreover, throughout post-war history until the end of the seventies, regularly occurring attempts to transition to democracy invariably ended in another military coup, of which there were 17 in total during the post-war period.
Slide 14
The violence was stopped only after the intervention of King Rama IX (Bhumibol Adulyadej), who called for an end to the confrontation. Suchinda Kraprayun lost the support of his supporters and resigned. His successor was again Anand Panyarachun. In the new parliamentary elections in September 1992, a bloc of civil parties won the majority of parliamentary seats. The government was headed by Chuan Leekpai, leader of the Democratic Party. As a result of the scandal that erupted around land reform, the coalition of civil parties collapsed, and the Prime Minister was forced to dissolve parliament on May 19, 1995. After the elections in July, the government coalition was led by former businessman and leader of the National Party Banharn Silpa-archa. However, a year later, due to corruption in the government and the inability to manage the country's economy, a vote of no confidence was expressed in him, and in September 1996 the parliament was dissolved. Following the November elections, a government led by General Chavalit Yongchayut came to power.
15 slide
Thailand at the end of the 20th century - at the beginning of the 21st century: Thailand at the end of the 20th - beginning of the 21st century: In the 1980s, political extremism began to decline and economic growth accelerated. The main source of foreign currency was foreign tourism, which was partly stimulated by the boom in sex work. Thailand's traditional export of textile goods has been relegated to the background. The emergence of a middle class accompanied the country's economic development and determined the revival of opposition to military power, although the government of Prem Tinsulanonda pursued a balanced and liberal policy. In 1988, the post of Prime Minister was taken by retired General Chatichai Chunhavan, whose government was overthrown as a result of another bloodless coup on February 23, 1991. Diplomat Anand Panyarachun was temporarily appointed to the post of Prime Minister. The constitution was suspended, martial law was introduced and both houses of parliament were dissolved. In March 1992, parliamentary elections took place. They were won by the Samakhi Tham military party, which nominated General Suchinda Kraprayun to the post of head of government. In May 1992, street anti-government demonstrations began in Bangkok. The government declared a state of emergency in the country and ordered army units to open fire to disperse the demonstrators. This action provoked unrest in the capital and other cities.
16 slide
Transport: Airports in total - 106, including: with hard surface - 65 without hard surface - 41 Highways in total - 57403 km, including: with hard surface - 56542 km without hard surface - 861 km. Only about 500 km remained unpaved. roads Railways total - 4071 km Water transport total - 405 vessels (over 1000 grt) with a displacement of 2,640,857 grt / 4,043,938 deadweight. Trade: Export: $128.2 billion Export items: ready-made clothing, fish and fish products, rice, rubber, jewelry, cars, computers, electronics Export partners: USA 15%, Japan 12.7%, China 9%, Singapore 6.4%, Hong Kong 5.5%, Malaysia 5.1% Imports: $113.4 billion Import items: capital goods, fuel Import partners: Japan 20.1%, China 10.6%, USA 6.7 %, Malaysia 6.6%, UAE 5.6%, Singapore 4.5% Energy: About 70% of electricity in Thailand is generated from natural gas. The gas is sourced from the offshore Platong field, located in the Gulf of Thailand, operated by Chevron. The second source of gas is LNG, the main supplier of which is Qatar. Natural gas consumption in the country is growing rapidly: if in 2004 Thailand used 24 billion cubic meters, then in 2010 it was already 37 billion cubic meters.
Slide 17
Political structure of Thailand Thailand is the only state in Southeast Asia that managed to avoid colonization. Thanks to this, they managed to preserve their original culture. The government of Thailand is a constitutional monarchy headed by His Majesty the King, who is currently Punipon Adulyadej Aphisit Vetchachiwa - the monarch of the Chakri dynasty. He has ruled the state for more than sixty years - this is the longest period of rule in the history of Thailand. Even though the king has lost absolute power, he still defends Buddhism, symbolizes unity and is the Supreme Commander. The current monarch has great authority, which is often used during political crises. The Parliament of Thailand is a bicameral National Assembly, which consists of a Senate with 150 seats and a House of Representatives with 480 seats. The leader of the party that has a majority in the House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister. Members of both houses are elected by the people. The exception is 50% of the Upper House, called the Senate, who are appointed by the monarch. The House of Representatives is elected for 4 years, and the Senate for 6 years.
18 slide
The Constitution was adopted and repealed, then adopted again, often in amended form. By the end of the seventies, however, the political reality in Southeast Asia had changed radically. In neighboring countries, by this time the word “democracy” had practically lost its original appeal, and a socialist united Vietnam, socialist Laos and Cambodia, which adopted the term “dictatorship of the proletariat,” and the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma, completely controlled by local armed forces, appeared on the scene. In another part of Southeast Asia - Malaysia and Indonesia, in the Catholic Philippines, the situation with democracy was no better. By the nineties, a purely military government already existed in Burma, democracy was being built in Cambodia with the help of a contingent of UN troops, Vietnam and Laos, following China, were looking for ways to combine the capitalist market with a socialist form of government, and in the south of the region, the proclaimed democratic ideals were silently sacrificed to intensive economic development. Thailand, having gone through the fire and water of internal political struggle, already in the eighties, during the premiership of Chatchai Chunhovan, turned out to be the closest of all its neighbors to realizing the dream of a truly functioning democracy. The greatest changes occurred in Thai society in the nineties. Despite the fact that the military coup of 1991 was still “scrambled” into the history of even the last ten years, however, it also took place under anti-corruption slogans, as a result of which the crystal clear and wise Anand Panyarachun became Prime Minister, and a little over a year later, power returned again to the hands of the people.
Slide 19
