Fun fact#272
Thailand was never colonised
Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation never taken by a European power, partly through skilled 19th-century diplomacy.
Thailand
Never colonised, holder of the longest place name on Earth, and a new year fought with water.
6 entries · 2 stories, 4 fun facts
Thailand at a glance
The practical numbers, before the stories.
- Capital
- Bangkok
- Currency
- Thai baht (THB)
- Official language
- Thai
- Climate
- Tropical. Cool and dry November–February, hot March–May, wet June–October - and the two coasts are offset.
- Best time to go
- November–February
- Time zone
- UTC+7
- Driving side
- Left
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A / B / C / O, 220 V
Worth knowing: The Andaman and Gulf coasts have different monsoon timings, so one side is usually dry.
Planning a trip to Thailand
A day-by-day itinerary, and the guides that cover the decisions you make before you go.
Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation never taken by a European power, largely through skilled nineteenth-century diplomacy. Bangkok's full ceremonial name runs to 168 letters and holds the record for the longest place name in the world; locals simply say Krung Thep.
Songkran began as a gentle blessing with water and has become a nationwide three-day soaking in April, the hottest month, conducted with buckets and no remorse whatsoever. The most useful phrase in the country is mai pen rai - never mind, it's fine - and the most useful rule is to pick the stall with the longest queue of people not holding cameras.
Entries from Thailand
Fun fact#274
Bangkok has the longest official name
The city's full ceremonial name runs to 168 letters. Locals simply call it Krung Thep.
Fun fact#276
Thai new year is a water fight
Songkran began as a gentle blessing with water and has become a nationwide three-day soaking in April, the hottest month.
Story#441
The tuk-tuk negotiation
He named a price, I halved it, he laughed, we settled in the middle and then he took me to his cousin's suit shop anyway. The suit was actually quite good.
Story#445
Songkran ambush
We stepped out of the guesthouse dry and were soaked within nine metres by a five-year-old with a bucket and no remorse. It was 39 degrees. We thanked her.
Fun fact#964
Longest name for a capital is in Thailand
Bangkok's ceremonial name holds the Guinness record for the longest place name in the world.
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