Little Known Facts About Thailand

[Highlander]

I had a discussion earlier with another well travelled BM about why certain things are the way they are in Thailand and it evolved into a very interesting conversation then searches of google and I learned a lot of thinks I did not know before.

 

Please feel free to contribute your explanations, but I would prefer people put a link to the source of this information as I have heard some other explanations by other BM's that have no basis of fact, it was simply an opinion they had.

 

Please keep this thread on topic and a flame free and the only topic I recommend avoiding is where the word 'Farang' originates from as there are many schools of thought and this thread will be closed down as it always gets out of hand when discussed, also please do not make any references to the king or any of the Thai Royal Family (Rule No 1).

 

Source - http://www.breakaway.cc/Asia/Thailand/Thailand-Facts.php

 

In 1939, Thailand changed its name from Siam to Thailand. In 1945 the country changed its name from Thailand back to Siam and again in 1949 the country changed its name again from Siam to Thailand. It is the only country in the world to have change its name 3 times in 10 years.

 

The City of Bangkok

Contrary to popular belief, Krungthep and Bangkok are not the same. Historically speaking, Bangkok is only the name of the area on the east banks of the Chao Phara River, on the west is Thonburi. King Rama joined Bangkok and Thonburi together and named this 'great new city', Krungthep. Founded as the new capital in 1782, Bangkok did not have one single paved street until 1863. Prior to this people travelled around the city in boats on the klongs (canals) that divided the city into a series of defensible islands. King Mongut allowed some of the klongs to be filled in following pleas from western merchants based in the city, for somewhere to walk and exercise and to practice a new craze that was sweeping Europe-bicycling.

 

Wat Arun Bangkok Yai, Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is the only city in the Kingdom of Thailand that has a different Thai and English name. The name Bangkok appeared on international navigation charts as far back as the 15th century as an outpost port of Ayuthaya, the former capital, where western merchant ships made frequent calls. However, Bangkok has got an official name, so auspicious and long that it goes into the Guinness Book as the longest in the world for a city. The official name "Krung Thep" meaning "The City of Angels", the same as Los Angeles, which has a sizable Thai community, the largest outside Thailand. The name Bangkok means 'Village of Olives' (Ban Mah-gork)

 

The Official and full name for Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand is:

'Krungthep Mahanakhon Bovorn Ratanakosin Mahintharayutthay Mahadilokpop

Noparatratchathani Burirom Udomratchanivetmahasathan Amornpiman Avatarns

Athit Sakkathattiyavisnukarmprasit'

meaning: "The land of angels, the great city (of) immortality, various of divine gems, the great angelic land unconquerable, land of nine noble gems, the royal city, the pleasant capital, place of the grand royal Palace, forever land of angels and reincarnated spirits, predestined and created by the highest Deva(s)".

 

Grand Palace Bangkok, Thailand

Contrary to some belief, Bangkok is a Thai word and not only English. The word Bangkok is still used in both southern and northern dialects. Originally, Bangkok, means 'Phra Nakhorn' or the eastern side of 'Krung thep'. Before Bangkok (Krungthep) became the capital. The country's capital was 'Thonburi' on the western side of Bangkok. When both Bangkok and Thonburi were joined, the capital was renamed 'Krungthep'. Foreigners, liking the word Bangkok, failed to adopt the new name.

Prior to 1913, most Thais did not have surnames.

 

The Ancient City of Ayutthaya

The Meaning of Ayutthaya

The City of Ayutthaya (Ayodhaya) is named after the city by the same name in the Ramkien. Phra Intr (Indra) was advised by four Phra Ruesi to build a city in the Twaaraawadii Forest, as it was an auspicious place. To add to the citys blessing, it was named using the first syllables of each of the Ruesi's names, A, Yod, Dha, Ya.

 

The Thai greeting Sawatdee (or Sawasdee) is derived from the Sanskrit (Hindu in origin) - Svasti. Svasti, meaning 'well-being' was invented during the Second World War. Before that, people greeted each other by asking if they had eaten yet.

 

The Gurney's Pitta

One of the world's rarest birds, can be found in Thailand, 'The Gurney's Pitta', Pitta gurneyi, is a medium-sized passerine bird. Found in Thailand and Myanmar (Burma), this beautiful bird has a blue crown and black-and-yellow under parts. The rest of the head is black, and it has warm brown upperparts. The female has a brown crown and buffy-whitish under parts. This bird is 'Critically Endangered', and stands on the edge of extinction. The population was estimated at nine pairs in 1997. A search for it in Myanmar in 2003 was successful and discovered the species at four sites with a maximum of 10-12 pairs at one location. This situation has been caused by te almost total clearance of forest in southern Myanmar and peninsular Thailand. It was thought to be extinct in 1952 but was rediscovered in 1986. The name of this bird commemorates the English ornithologist John Henry Gurney.

 

Buddhist Amulets 'Somdej Wat Rakhang'

All statues of the Buddha are leased from their makers because the image, considered too sacred to have material value, can never be "bought' or sold". Nakhon Pathom (56km) is the town that boasts the tallest Buddhist pagoda both in Thailand and in the world. Wat Traimitr (Temple of the Golden Buddha) this is the world's largest solid gold Buddha, cast about nine centuries ago. The image is three meters high and weighs five and half tons. The most expensive Buddhist Amulets are 'Somdej Wat Rakhang'. Some of them, around 150 years old, are valued at more than 30 million baht.

 

Ko Nang Yuan

Just one kilometre north of Ko Tao is the beautiful island of 'Ko Nang Yuan', the only place in the world where three islands are joined together by a sandbar.

[andyaus]

I would love to hear you pronounce the name of the Thai capital with a scottish accent.

 

 

Krungthep Mahanakhon Bovorn Ratanakosin Mahintharayutthay Mahadilokpop

Noparatratchathani Burirom Udomratchanivetmahasathan Amornpiman Avatarns

Athit Sakkathattiyavisnukarmprasit'

[jerry]

Great info , thanks .

[Highlander]

During the 2nd world war, Thailand declared war against the USA and the UK on january 25th 1942 and Bangkok (amongst other places) was actually bombed by the allies.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Bangkok_in_World_War_II

[sinbad5]

Thailand is home to the world's smallest mammal, the Craseonycteris thonglongyai (bumble bat), the world's hairiest child, Nat Sasuphan, and the Siamese Cat (wichen-maat, or 'moon diamond).

[Highlander]

• It is illegal to leave your house if you are not wearing underwear.
• You must wear a shirt while driving a car.
• You must pay a fine of $600 in Thailand if you're caught throwing away chewed bubblegum on the sidewalk. If you do not pay the fine, you are jailed.
• No one may step on any of the nation's currency.

Source:- http://www.lawguru.com/weird/part02.html

[Highlander]

People in Sakon Nakhon (isaan) can legally purchase dog meat at the market.

 

dog meat, ban tha rae (north of Nong Han lake on the road to nakhon phanom). dog meat is being sold in northern markets to those meat-eaters desperate to taste sour and spicy dog-bone soup or peppery dog meat salad. Gourmets say the meat is particularly succulent and tastes like deer. They order it fried or boiled, or in smoked sausages (difficult to identify the taste behind the spices and the smoke), dog oil made with dog fat is a traditional cure for cicatrization. The thought of eating dog horrifies most Thais and the promotion of canine cuisine is not something the Tourism Authority of Thailand is keen to support. Importantly do note that raising or collecting dogs for consumption is illegal and unregulated. It is a common source of disease transmission from contaminated meet. The dogs are often stolen pets. The conditions in which the dogs are transported and kept is barbaric and inhumane with the animals often tortured for hours in the mistaken belief that the adrenaline thus released enhances the flavour of the meat.

 

Source:-  http://wikitravel.org/en/Sakon_Nakhon

[QuotaMan]

The term "Siamese twins," more formally known as conjoined twins, has its origin in the brothers Chang and Eng Bunker who were born in Siam (present day Thailand):

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang_and_Eng_Bunker

 

 

The Bunker brothers were born on May 11, 1811 in Siam (now Thailand), in the province of Samutsongkram, to a fisherman and his wife (Nok or [Nak]; Thai: นาก). Because of their Chinese heritage (as they were born from a Thai Chinese father and a Chinese-Malay mother), they were known as the "Chinese Twins" in Siam. They were joined at the sternum by a small piece of cartilage. Their livers were fused but independently complete. Although 19th century medicine did not have the means to do so, modern surgical techniques would have allowed them to be separated.

 

In 1829, British merchant Robert Hunter "discovered" them and paid their family to let them be exhibited as a curiosity during a world tour. Upon termination of their contract with Hunter, the brothers successfully went into business for themselves. In 1839, while visiting Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the twins were attracted to the area and settled on a 110-acre (0.45 km2) farm in nearby Traphill, becoming naturalized United States citizens.

 

Determined to start living a normal life as much as possible, the brothers settled on a plantation, bought slaves, and adopted the name "Bunker". On April 13, 1843, they married two sisters: Chang to Adelaide Yates and Eng to Sarah Anne Yates. This made their respective children double first cousins. In addition, because Chang and Eng were identical twins, their children were genetically equivalent to half-siblings, thus making them genetically related in the same manner as half-siblings who are also first cousins.

Their Traphill home is where they shared a bed built for four. Chang and his wife had 10 children; Eng and his wife had 11. In time, the wives squabbled and eventually two separate households were set up just west of Mount Airy, North Carolina in the community of White Plains – the twins would alternate spending three days at each home. During the American Civil War Chang's son Christopher and Eng's son Stephen both fought for the Confederacy. Chang and Eng lost part of their property as a result of the war, and were very bitter in their denunciation of the government in consequence..

 

Chang and Eng's sons both fought for the Confederacy:

 

https://sites.google.com/site/accsacw/Home/confederate-1

 

http://www.ourstate.com/chang-and-eng-bunker/

[PepeLePew]

Interesting thread H

 

Can all BMs posting here please make themselves aware of rule number 1 please. There are no exceptions!

[QuotaMan]

Depending on what sources you believe, one of the more iconic things about Thailand to foreigners, the tuk-tuk (auto rickshaw), was actually a Japanese invention.
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_rickshaw

 

 

Auto rickshaws of Southeast Asia started from the knockdown production of the Daihatsu Midget which had been introduced in 1957. Japan had been exporting three-wheelers to Thailand since 1934. Moreover, The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of Japan donated about 20,000 used three-wheelers to Southeast Asia. In Japan, three-wheelers went out of use in the latter half of the 1960s.

 

The word rickshaw originates from the Japanese word "Jinrikisha" (人力車, 人 jin = human, 力 riki = power or force, 車 sha = vehicle), which literally means "Human-powered vehicle".The word rickshaw originates from the Japanese word "Jinrikisha" (人力車, 人 jin = human, 力 riki = power or force, 車 sha = vehicle), which literally means "Human-powered vehicle".

 

http://www.bangkoksightseeing.org/tuktuk-in-bangkok/

[Highlander]

Thailands Weekday Colors and Gods
 
In Thailand there is a colour and a God to represent every day of the week.

Use the table below to find which colours and Deities are associated with the days of the week in Thailand.
 
 
 
Source:-  http://www.pattayaunlimited.com/2012/09/thailands-weekday-colors-and-gods.html

[Highlander]

Bangkok Haircut

 

Not what you might think, the Bangkok Haircut is the name given to a trend at which Thailand is a World leader, and that trend is cutting off penises. I guess it's not just a Thai thing because the most famous case of penis severing happened in the U.S.A. when John Wayne Bobbit had his penis cut off by his wife Lorena, her reason for cutting off his penis was years of mental and physical abuse. John Wayne Bobbit had his penis successfully reattached and went on to star in porn movies. Thailand though, leads the way in penis severing, there are more penises cut off in Thailand than in any other country.

Why do they sever so many penises in Thailand

Thai men are famous for their infidelity, it is not uncommon for a Thai man to have 2 or more Girlfriends at the same time. Many married Thai men have a Mia Noi or even 2 Mia Nois, just depends how wealthy he is, a Mia Noi is basically a second wife or 'minor wife', depending on the mans wealth he will keep her in a place of her own and pay for her needs. Polygamy was made illegal in Thailand in 1935 but that has failed to stop most Thai men from having a second wife and Girlfriends. It is still largely accepted in Thailand today that a man has a second wife or girlfriend. Counteracting this, it is illegal so women don't have to tolerate this no more and may feel that they are entitled to exact their revenge, women seem to have a much higher footing in Thailand than they did years ago, and with that may come some self respect and dignity. Face, or loss of face probably plays a part as well, maybe women feel that their husband cheating on them is a bigger loss of face now than it was.

 

Source:-   http://www.pattayaunlimited.com/2010/07/bangkok-haircut.html

[PepeLePew]

Bangkok Haircut

 

Not what you might think, the Bangkok Haircut is the name given to a trend at which Thailand is a World leader, and that trend is cutting off penises. I guess it's not just a Thai thing because the most famous case of penis severing happened in the U.S.A. when John Wayne Bobbit had his penis cut off by his wife Lorena, her reason for cutting off his penis was years of mental and physical abuse. John Wayne Bobbit had his penis successfully reattached and went on to star in porn movies. Thailand though, leads the way in penis severing, there are more penises cut off in Thailand than in any other country.

Why do they sever so many penises in Thailand

Thai men are famous for their infidelity, it is not uncommon for a Thai man to have 2 or more Girlfriends at the same time. Many married Thai men have a Mia Noi or even 2 Mia Nois, just depends how wealthy he is, a Mia Noi is basically a second wife or 'minor wife', depending on the mans wealth he will keep her in a place of her own and pay for her needs. Polygamy was made illegal in Thailand in 1935 but that has failed to stop most Thai men from having a second wife and Girlfriends. It is still largely accepted in Thailand today that a man has a second wife or girlfriend. Counteracting this, it is illegal so women don't have to tolerate this no more and may feel that they are entitled to exact their revenge, women seem to have a much higher footing in Thailand than they did years ago, and with that may come some self respect and dignity. Face, or loss of face probably plays a part as well, maybe women feel that their husband cheating on them is a bigger loss of face now than it was.

 

Source:-   http://www.pattayaunlimited.com/2010/07/bangkok-haircut.html

 

I suspect the fact that Thailand is a world leader in gender correction surgery also accounts for a lot of those detached members!

 

My legs are firmly crossed as I read and type this!!!

[Highlander]

I suspect the fact that Thailand is a world leader in gender correction surgery also accounts for a lot of those detached members!

 

My legs are firmly crossed as I read and type this!!!

 

LOL mine too, my ex TGF threatened me with the "Bangkok Haircut", but she told me she'd to feed my severed dick to the dog, so not even a Thai doctor could sew it on after that.

 

Suffice to say, I never cheated on her as I believed her.

[andyaus]

Thailands Weekday Colors and Gods

 

In Thailand there is a colour and a God to represent every day of the week.

 

Use the table below to find which colours and Deities are associated with the days of the week in Thailand.

 

Untitled.jpg 

 

Source:-  http://www.pattayaunlimited.com/2012/09/thailands-weekday-colors-and-gods.html

 

I always thought that the Beer Bar Girls wore a certain colour top as a uniform. The girls would turn up for work and disappear to the back of the bar where they changed shirts. Apparently they follow this chart to decide he colour of the day so all girls wear red on a Sunday or Blue on a Friday. 

 

Even if you are pissed you can still tell the day of the week by looking at the bar girls.

[Highlander]

Another installment.

 

It’s generally not considered rude to ask someone their age or salary.

 

The world’s biggest Chinatown is located in Bangkok.

 

Thai people are obsessed with having a light complexion.

 

In ancient Thailand, they had moveable type printing presses. The type was made from baked cow dung.

 

It’s illegal to own a copy of the Movie “The King and I” in Thailand as the movie is banned.

 

Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that wasn’t colonized by a Western power.

 

Most Thai people believe that if you run someone over with a car at night, it’s better to keep on going as they fear that it might be a setup for a robbery.

 

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand

 

Source:-   http://www.thaixperience.com/web/guest/xperience/artandculture/topten

[sinbad5]

The greeting 'sawadee krap/ka" is a recent addition to the lexicon. Thais used to greet each other "Have you eaten today" (in Thai).

[andyaus]

.............

 

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand

 

Source:-   http://www.thaixperience.com/web/guest/xperience/artandculture/topten

 

Don’t want to nit pick but too many people believe that this is true and we keep hearing that as an excuse for other bad behaviour.

 

Truth is that it is both illegal and legal depending on circumstances.

 

This extract from http://www.sexwork.com/Thailand/contents.html outlines the two acts.which have a bearing on the matter.

 

 

Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, B.E. 2539 (1996) passed due to Western morality pressure making prostitution illegal but it did not revoke The Entertainment Places Act of 1966 that exempts special services at Entertainment Places which is all the gogo bars, massages places etc where Westerners usually go.

[missedherB]

The greeting 'sawadee krap/ka" is a recent addition to the lexicon. Thais used to greet each other "Have you eaten today" (in Thai).

 

Hahahahah, and 90% of the time the reply would be...Yes i hab!.......Having spent a bit of time in Thailand and now knowing about that old greeting....it was just perfect...hahahah

 

Nice Thread Dave.

[dave-]

You can't get your hair cut on a Wednesday as the Thais consider it a day of growth.

Source - a recent TV advert in the UK

 

You shouldn't wear black to a party

source - Thai sweetie as she told me off for wearing black to a party.

[Highlander]

Hahahahah, and 90% of the time the reply would be...Yes i hab!.......Having spent a bit of time in Thailand and now knowing about that old greeting....it was just perfect...hahahah

 

Nice Thread Dave.

 

Thanks mate, just wanted to clear up a few misconceptions and educate myself more in the process.

[Highlander]

You should only write the name of people in red ink if they are dead, or you wish them to be dead.

 

Source:- http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/showthread.php?10139-200-Things-You-Didn-t-Know-About-Thailand

[Davie Duke]

The great national tragedy:

From Wiki:

"In Thailand, the government of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram issued a series of cultural standards between 1939 and 1942. Mandate 10 issued on September 8, 1941 instructed Thai people to not appear in public places "without being appropriately dressed". Inappropriate dress included "wearing no shirt or wearing a wraparound cloth." Before the westernization of dress, Thai women were depicted both fully clothed and topless in public. Until the early 20th century, women from northern Thailand wore a long tube-skirt (Pha-Sin), tied high above their waist and below their breasts, which were uncovered. In the late 19th century the influence of missionaries and modernization under King Chulalongkorn encouraged local women to cover their breasts with blouses."

[Highlander]

The great national tragedy:

From Wiki:

"In Thailand, the government of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram issued a series of cultural standards between 1939 and 1942. Mandate 10 issued on September 8, 1941 instructed Thai people to not appear in public places "without being appropriately dressed". Inappropriate dress included "wearing no shirt or wearing a wraparound cloth." Before the westernization of dress, Thai women were depicted both fully clothed and topless in public. Until the early 20th century, women from northern Thailand wore a long tube-skirt (Pha-Sin), tied high above their waist and below their breasts, which were uncovered. In the late 19th century the influence of missionaries and modernization under King Chulalongkorn encouraged local women to cover their breasts with blouses."

 

Damn, I wish they kept that tradition going LOL

[Davie Duke]

Damn, I wish they kept that tradition going LOL

Yes, what a great incentive to explore the North

Too bad the boiling of missionaries did not catch on

They probably were similar the to the Balinese: