50 FUN, INTERESTING, AND CRAZY FACTS ABOUT THAILAND.
- In the Thai language, the name ‘Thailand’ is Prathet Thai, which translates to “Land of the Free.” In fact, Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia never conquered or colonized by a European country.
- - Every year, more than six million foreign tourists travel to Thailand, which makes it one of the most visited countries in the world.
- - Four countries border Thailand: Cambodia to the southeast, Malaysia to the south, Myanmar (Burma) to the north and west and Laos to the north and east.
- - Thailand is home to the Craseonycteris thonglongyai (the bumble bat), the world’s smallest mammal.
- - In 1999, a 38-year-old elephant stepped on a landmine in Thailand, severely injuring her foot. 30 veterinarians came together and volunteered to provide medical care and restore the elephant to health.
- - At the Pattaya International Fashion Week in 2010, Thailand established the record for the longest in the world with a 1,584 meter-long runway for models to walk.
- - The law in Thailand allows 15 year olds to enter a club or drinking establishment if they are accompanied by both parents – but they still cannot drink.
- - The full name of Bangkok, Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit, means “City of Angels, Great City of Immortals, Magnificent City of the Nine Gems, Seat of the King, City of Royal Palaces, Home of Gods Incarnate, Erected by Visvakarman at Indra’s Behest. It’s the longest city name in the world.
- The alphabet of the Thai language 44 consonants and 32 vowels.
- - Mudskippers are indigenous to Thailand, one of the world’s most interesting species. Even though they are fish, Mudskippers can walk onto land using their fin to propel their body and even climb trees. Unlike any other fish, they absorb oxygen through their skin.
- - The population of Thailand is 67,091,089, which ranks it as the 20th most populated country in the world.
- - 75 % of Thailand’s population are Thai, 14% Chinese, and 11% other, including residents of from other Asian countries as well as a significant expat population from Europe, Australia, the U.S., U.K., and other nations.
- - One-tenth of all the animal species on earth live in Thailand.
- - Thailand is the top orchid exporter in the world, with more than 1,500 species of orchids growing wild in the country.
- - Travel and Leisure magazine ranked Thailand the best city in the world in 2008.
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Bonus wild and crazy Thailand fact:
In recent times, there was a serial killer that was so feared by the people that when they caught and publically executed him, they put his corpse in a clear box, so that everyone could confirm he was dead and alleviate their fears.
- - Known as the Land of Smiles, Thailand is ranked as the 13th friendliest country in the world according to the World Economic Forum.
- - Thailand has won just seven Olympic gold medals – four in boxing and three in weightlifting.
- Thailand is home to an astounding 1,430 islands, the most famous of which is Koh Phi Phi, which was featured in the movie The Beach.
- - Thailand’s largest religion is Buddhism, with 94.6% of the population practicing the faith. 4.6% of the population is Muslim and 0.7%, Christian.
- - The flag of Thailand has two horizontal red stripes, symbolizing the land and the people, white horizontal stripes represent the purity of Buddhism, and a wide blue stripe across the center that represents the monarchy.
- - There are a startling 77 provinces in Thailand.
- - In 2004, a tsunami struck Phuket in island, killing more than 8,000 people and creating 1,500 orphans when a 30-foot high wall of water. These days, Thailand has a sophisticated tsunami warning system and you’ll see tsunami evacuation signs in every hotel and office building.
- - According to Thai law, leaving your house without wearing underwear is illegal, an offense you can be arrested for.
- - Thailand used to be known for its abundant elephant population with more than 100,000 of them roaming around a century ago. But now, there are only about 5,000 elephants in Thailand, less than half of them in the wild.
- - The term “Siamese twins” comes from two brothers born in a village near Bangkok in 1811, twins born conjoined at the chest who later emigrated to the United States and had 22 children between them.
