James Baquet

Though the official slogan of Thailand is “Amazing Thailand: It begins with the people,” many of us think of it by its nickname, “the land of smiles.” Though I have never had the opportunity to visit, I have had dozens of Thai friends and students, and have always found them cheerful, gracious and eager to please. Friends who have visited the country confirm this impression.

The Kingdom of Thailand (once known as Siam) is on the Indochinese Peninsula of Southeast Asia, with Myanmar to the west and north, Laos to the north and east, Cambodia to the southeast, the Gulf of Thailand to the south, and — way down the Malay Peninsula — Malaysia to the south. The Andaman Sea and Malacca Straits make up part of the western border, along the Malay Peninsula.

The capital and largest city, Bangkok, houses over a fifth of the nation’s population in its metropolitan area. Thailand is the world’s 21st most-populous country with over 68 million people.

The Tai peoples, after whom the country is named, migrated from southwestern China in the 11th century. Mon, Khmer and Malay peoples competed with the early Thai states. By the end of the 15th century, the Ayutthaya Kingdom had become the greatest power in the region. It declined until its final destruction at the hands of the Burmese in 1767. A succession of kingdoms ensued until a constitutional monarchy was established in 1932. The current constitution, dating to 2017, is the 20th since then. The country is now considered a “partial democracy.”

Thailand has Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, and is considered “newly industrialized.” It has a high human development rating. Thai is the official language, though several others are spoken. Nearly 95 percent of the people follow the southern, Theravada school of Buddhism. There are also small numbers of Muslims, Christians and Hindus.

Attractions for tourists include sandy beaches with diving opportunities, jungles with flora and birdlife, archaeological sites and museums, and Buddhist temples and palaces.

Vocabulary:

Which word above means:

1. plant life

2. founding document containing a nation’s principal laws

3. developed, using modern manufacturing

4. verify, establish the truth of

5. incomplete, not total

6. physical remains of ancient buildings, etc.

7. enthusiastic

8. followed, resulted from

9. pleasant, polite

10. city and its surrounding urbanized area