Thailand Diving - Sunrise Diving - PADI IDC - Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand

History:

Thailand's origin is traditionally tied to the short-lived kingdom of Sukhothai founded in 1238,

after which the larger kingdom of Ayutthaya was established in the mid-14th century.

Thai culture was greatly influenced by both China and India. Contact with various European powers began in the 16th century but,

despite continued pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power.

Western influence, however, including the threat of force, led to many reforms in the 19th century and major concessions to British mercantile interests.

This included the loss of the 3 southern provinces, which later became Malaysia's 3 northern states.

founded in 1238, after which the larger kingdom of Thailand was never colonised by a European power.

There are two main reasons for this. First, it was left as a buffer state between parts of Asia that were colonised by the French and the British.

Second, Thailand had a series of very able rulers in the 1800s.

A mostly bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy.

Known previously as Siam, the country first changed its name to Thailand in 1939,

and definitively in 1949 after reverting to the old name post-World War II. During that conflict Thailand was in a loose alliance with Japan;

following its conclusion Thailand became an ally of the United States. Thailand then saw a series of military coups d'état,

but progressed towards democracy from the 1980s onward.

The official calendar in Thailand is based on the Buddhist Era, which is 543 years ahead of the western calendar.

For example, the year AD 2006 is equal to the year 2549 BE.

On 26 December 2004 the southwest coast of Thailand was devastated by a tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

In places it was as high as 10 meters (30 ft). It killed more than 5,000 people in Thailand, half of them tourists.

Politics:

The king has little direct power under the constitution but is the anointed protector of Thai Buddhism and a symbol of national identity and unity.

The present monarch enjoys a great deal of popular respect and moral authority, which has on occasion been used to resolve political crises.

It is illegal to mock or criticize the King and doing so can bring about charges of lese majesty. The head of government is the Prime Minister,

who is appointed by the king from among the members of the lower house of parliament,

usually the leader of the party that can organise a majority coalition government.

The bicameral Thai parliament is the National Assembly (รัฐสภา, rathasapha) which consists of a House of Representatives

(สภาผู้แทนราษฎร, sapha phuthaen ratsadon) of 500 seats and a Senate (วุฒิสภา, wuthisapha) of 200 seats. Members of both houses are elected by popular vote.

The House of Representatives is elected by the first-past-the-post system,

where only one candidate with a simple majority will be elected in one constituency.

The Senate is elected based on the province system, where one province can return more than one Senator depending on its population size.

Members of House of Representatives serve four-year terms, while Senators serve six-year terms.

The court system (ศาล, saan) has three layers, the highest judicial body being the Supreme Court

(ศาลฎีกา, sandika) whose judges are directly appointed by the monarch.

Thailand is an active member of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

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Subdivisions:

Thailand is divided into 75 provinces (จังหวัด, changwat), which are gathered into 5 groups of provinces by location.

There are also 2 special governed districts: the capital Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon in Thai) and Pattaya.

However Pattaya is still part of Chon Buri Province. Some Thai people still count Bangkok as one province, making Thailand a 76-province country.

Each province is divided into smaller districts - as of 2000 there are 795 districts (อำเภอ, amphoe),

81 sub-districts (กิ่งอำเภอ, king amphoe) and 50 districts of Bangkok (เขต, khet).

However, some parts of the provinces bordering Bangkok are referred to as Greater Bangkok (ปริมณฑล, pari monthon).

These Provinces include Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon.

The name of each province's capital city (เมือง, mueang) is the same as that of the province: for example, the capital of Chiang Mai province

(changwat Chiang Mai) is " Mueang Chiang Mai. The 75 provinces are as follows:

North:

Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kamphaeng Phet, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son,

Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Sukhothai, Tak, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit.

Northeast:

Amnat Charoen, Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Loei, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima,

Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Yasothon.

East:

Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat.

Central:

Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Kanchanaburi, Lop Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom,

Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ratchaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram,

Saraburi, Sing Buri, Suphan Buri.

South:

Chumphon, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phang Nga, Phatthalung,

Phuket, Ranong, Satun, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Trang, Yala.

Special Governed Districts:

Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok), Mueang Pattaya (Pattaya).

Geography:

Thailand is home to several distinct geographic regions, partly corresponding to the provincial groups.

The north of the country is mountainous, with the highest point being Doi Inthanon at 2,576 metres (8,451 ft).

The northeast consists of the Khorat Plateau, bordered to the east by the Mekong river.

The centre of the country is dominated by the predominantly flat Chao Phraya river valley, which runs into the Gulf of Thailand.

The south consists of the narrow Kra Isthmus that widens into the Malay Peninsula.

The local climate is tropical and characterised by monsoons. There is a rainy, warm, and cloudy southwest monsoon from mid-May to September,

as well as a dry, cool northeast monsoon from November to mid-March. The southern isthmus is always hot and humid.

Major cities beside the capital Bangkok include Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani,

Phuket, Hat Yai and Songkhla Province.

Economy:

After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased pressure on Thailand's currency,

the baht, in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the currency.

Long pegged at 25 to the US dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the US dollar in January 1998

and the economy contracted by 10.2% that same year. The collapse prompted a wider Asian financial crisis.

Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1999, expanding 4.2% and grew 4.4% in 2000, largely due to strong exports -

which increased about 20% in 2000.

Growth was dampened by a softening of the global economy in 2001, but picked up in the subsequent years due to strong growth in China

and the various domestic stimulation programs of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, popularly known as Thaksinomics.

Growth in 2003 and 2004 was over 6% annually.

Substantial industries include electric appliances, components, computer parts and automobiles,

while tourism contributes about 5% of the Thai economy's GDP.

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