| The Kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart
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| | Travel to Thailand
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| of Southeast Asia. It covers an area of
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| | Most visitors arrive through Bangkok's
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| 514,000 square kilometers. It is roughly
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| | Don Muang International Airport which is
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| equidistant between India and China.
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| | connected by daily flights to Europe,
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| Thailand shares its borders with Mynammar
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| | North America, Asia and Australia.
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| (Burma), Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.
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| | Flights, from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur,
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| Myanmar (Burma) is on the north-west side
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| | Penang and Hong Kong, land on a regular
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| , Laos on the north-east, Cambodia on the
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| | basis at Chiangmai, Koh Samui, Phuket and
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| south-east and Malaysia on the south.
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| | Hat Yai. Charter flights sometimes land
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| Topographically the country is divided
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| | in Bangkok, Phuket, and at U-Taphao for
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| into four distinct areas: the mountainous
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| | Pattaya.
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| North, the fertile Central Plains, the
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| | Regular rail services link Singapore and
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| semi-arid plateau of the Northeast, and
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| | Bangkok intermediary stops include Kuala
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| the peninsula South distinguished by its
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| | Lumpur, Butterworth, Penang and major
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| many beautiful tropical beaches and
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| | southern Thai towns.
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| offshore islands.
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| | Overland entry to Thailand is restricted
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| Climate
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| | to three road crossings on the Thai-
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| Thailand is largely tropical. It is hot
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| | Malaysian border, and the bridge spanning
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| and humid all year around.A degree of
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| | the Mekong River between Laos and
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| relief provided only in the mountains in
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| | Thailand at Nong Kai.
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| the far north of Thailand. Thailand's
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| | Travel within Thailand
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| climate is dominated by monsoons. There
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| | Thai Airways International (THAI)
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| are three seasons: the cool season
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| | operates a wide domestic network with
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| (November to February), the hot season
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| | daily flights linking virtually all major
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| (April to May), and the rainy season
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| | towns with Bangkok. Ground transportation
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| (June to October).
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| | is extremely comprehensive and quite
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| People
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| | cheap. There are convenient rail
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| The population of Thailand is about 60
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| | connections with the North, Northeast and
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| million. Ethnic Thais form the majority.
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| | South, while air conditioned coach and
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| Historically, the area has been a
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| | government bus services are operated from
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| migratory crossroads, therefore, strains
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| | Bangkok to all town throughout the
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| of Mon, Khmer, Burmese, Lao, Malay,
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| | country. Rental cars are also readily
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| Indian and, most strongly, Chinese stock
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| | available.
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| produce a degree of ethnic diversity.
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| | Recreation
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| Religion
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| | Golf, tennis, ice skating, and bowling
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| The national religion is Theravada
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| | are the main recreations of the people of
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| Buddhism. More than 90 percent of all
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| | Thailand. At the same time, boxing and
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| Thais practice this religion. The
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| | kite fighting are the most popular local
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| remainder of the population adheres to
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| | sports in Thailand.
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| Muslim, Christian, Hindu and other
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| | Thai Boxing is not only the most exciting
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| faiths. There is full freedom of
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| | spectator sport in Thailand but also a
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| expression in Thailand. Buddhism
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| | means of self-defense for the Thai
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| continues to cast a strong influences on
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| | people. It also the honor of being the
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| daily life.
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| | largest spectator "ring sport" in the
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| Customs
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| | world. Unlike the Western-style of
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| 'Wai' is one of the most distinctive Thai
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| | boxing, Thai Boxers are allowed to use
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| customs. It is similar to the Indian
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| | their feet, elbows, legs and shoulders.
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| namaste gesture. Generally, it involves a
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| | The Ratchadamnoen Stadium and Lumpini
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| prayer-like gesture with the hands and a
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| | Stadium are the main venues of the bouts.
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| bow of the head. It comes in several
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| | Kite fighting is an ancient local sport
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| forms showing greeting, farewell, or
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| | in Thailand. It has been played and
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| acknowledgment. Physical demonstrations
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| | patronized by the Kings of Thailand for
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| of affection in public are common between
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| | centuries. Kite fighting contest is held
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| friends, but less so between lovers. It
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| | from March to April at the Sanam Luang in
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| is thus common to see friends walking
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| | Bangkok. Hundreds of Kites of different
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| together holding hands, but couples
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| | forms and colors are made by the Thais.
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| rarely do so except in westernized areas.
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| | Each kite is huge in size and requires a
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| Visas
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| | number of people to fly it. Kites are
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| The Thai Government has adopted the
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| | classified as "chulas" (male) or
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| tourist friendly policies in order to
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| | "pukpaos" (female). The object of the
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| flourish Thai Tourism industry. Most
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| | contest is to force the opposition's kite
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| nationalities do not require a visa for a
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| | to land in your half of the field while
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| stay of up to 30 days provided they have
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| | thousands of people cheer. This makes the
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| a ticket for onward travel. Longer visits
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| | competion very interesting and excited.
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| require a visa which can be obtained from
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| | Another traditional Thai game is Takraw .
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| Thai embassies and consulates. Tourists
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| | It involves the use of a takraw ball,
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| visas permit stays up to 90 days. Thai
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| | made of rattan. The ball is five to six
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| immigration requires visitors passports
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| | inches in diameter. The players hit the
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| to have a minimum of 6 months validity
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| | ball over a net to another team by using
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| and at least one completely blank visa
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| | their head, feet, knees or elbows.
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| page remaining.
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