Language
The Thai language is comprised of 44 consonants, 32 vowels and five tones in Thai
pronunciation, along with a script that has Indian origins. The Thai language, belonging
to the Tai family, is the main language in Thailand although there are several regional
dialects as well. Other languages spoken in Thailand are Chinese, Lao, Malay and
Mon-Khmer, while English use is becoming more prevalent in government and commerce.
English is also being taught as a second language in secondary school and universities,
which enables the English speaking visitor in Thailand to have little trouble conversing.
Climate
Thailand's climate is tropical, high both in temperature and humidity, and dominated
by monsoons. April and May are the hottest months of the year, when even the locals
are moved to complain about the heat. June sees the beginning of the South West
Monsoon, and brings with it the rainy season, which continues intermittently until
the end of October.
From November to the end of February the climate is much less trying with a cooling
North East breeze and a reduction in the humidity level. This is also the main tourist
season, and the best time to visit Thailand. The north and north-east
are generally cooler than Bangkok in winter, and hotter in summer. In the far north,
around Mae Hong Son temperatures can occasionally drop as low as 2oC.
What to WearFor the Western visitor there is no such thing as "cool". Just cooler than "hot" and "drier than humid", so light cotton clothing is the order of the day. Don't worry about bringing too much clothing with you, as almost everything can be purchased locally, at a fraction of the price you will pay at home. Do remember that the tropical sun can be quite fierce so a hat is useful, and don't forget to use a good sun screen. |
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Politics |
The first and foremost concept is the status of the monarch as head of the armed forces and upholder of Buddhism and all other religions. Every constitution provides that the monarch's person is sacred and inviolable. His sovereign power emanates from the people, and as head of state, he exercises his legislative power through parliament, executive power through the cabinet headed by a prime minister, and judicial power through the courts. The monarch is empowered with the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, | |
| and the right to warn whenever the government appears not to administer the state affairs according to his wishes and for the good of the people. | ||
| The second concept concerns the legislative branch. The new leaders of 1932 realized that the goal of popularly elected government could not be attained immediately, and that considerable experimentation and adaptation would be necessary before a balance could be struck. For this reason, the first constitution was a cautious document that created a bicameral National Assembly with two categories of members, the House of Representatives (the Lower House) which were elected by the popular vote, and the Senate (the Upper House) which were appointed by the King on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers (now called the cabinet). The number of members in the House of Representatives is determined by the size of the population, while the number of senators is normally restricted to no more than three-quarters of the total number of the representatives. This concept remains a basic principle of successive constitutions in Thai politics. | ||
| The third concept concerns the executive branch. Every constitution holds that the Prime Minister is head of government and chief executive. A slight difference between the Thai Prime Minister and those in other countries is that, since the creation of the post of Prime Minister in 1933. the Thais have often looked upon their Prime Minister as a protective figure, possibly due to their tendency to extend family structure into the sphere of government. | ||
| For the past six decades, Thailand has been adopting the Western democratic system to the needs of a nation with its own identity and time-honored culture. The constitution was amended in June 1992, making it mandatory that the prime minister be an elected member of parliament | ||
