ThailandMina and Jessie

Religions

•94.6% are Buddhists•4.6% are Islamic•0.7% are Christian•0.1% are other

Economy

•The economy is emerging after being newly industrialized

•The economy collapsed then recovered

• Is the 2nd largest economy in southeast Asia

•Exchange rate is 33.00 Baht= 1 US dollar

Language/Time to Visit

• The official language of Thailand is Thai

• Other languages include Chinese, Malay, English, Lao

• The best time to visit is November through February

Climate•Tropical•Monsoons•Southwest monsoon season=

May to September•Northeast monsoon season=

November to March

Geography

• High mountains

• Central plains

• Chao Phraya River and it’s tributaries

• Peninsula has varied geography

Brief History

• Thais moved from China in 10th century AD

• They created individual states which caused many wars

• European colonial powers threatened the Thai in 19th and 20th centuries

• Thais avoided colonial rule unlike surrounding countries

• The monarchy ended in1932 which led to 60 years of military rule, followed by a democracy

Requirements/Phrases

• Passport• Visa• Recommended Typhoid vaccination• Hello!→ sa-was-dee• How are you?→ sa-bai-dee-mai• Thank you!→ kob-kun-(mak)• Where is the bathroom?→ you-tee-nai-ka• How much does this cost?→ an-nee-tao-

rai

Cuisine

• Aromatic components

• 5 taste senses

• Influence form Burma, China, Cambodia, Laos

• Ingredients include fresh herbs and spices like ginger, tamarind, garlic

• Seafood is also commonly found in Thai food

Attractions

• Zip-line Through Rainforest

• Visit the Grand Palace

• Snorkeling along the Andaman Sea

• Shop at local market places

• Visit the Doi Suthep

Current Events

• Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno a loved monk of a forest temple passed away at the age of 98 on the January 31, 2011 at 3:53 am. Luangta set up a donation fund whose proceeds go to preserving Thailand’s countysides.

• Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gave orders for Cambodians to remove their natioinal flags posted in an area of dispute near Preah Vihear temple.

Flights

• From Denver to Chiang Mai is $1,762 for 2 people with Korean Airlines

• From Bangkok to Denver is $1,022 for 2 people with Delta Airlines

• We will depart February 4, 2011 and we will return February 14, 2011

• We will ride motorcycles through Thailand for 10 days for a total of $141.30 with North Wheels Rental Service

Days 1-3 Chiang Mai

• We will stay at the Imperial Mae Ping hotel for $57 per night for 2 nights

• We will dine in our hotel and also at The Moxie, a modern Thai restaurant. Meals cost approximately from a $5 lunch to a $20 dinner

• While we’re here, we’ll visit the Doi Suthep temple, and the Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens

• Total Cost for Chiang Mai is approximately $300

Days 4 and 5 in Phitsanulok

• We will stay in the Pailyn Pitsanulok hotel for 2 nights for $26 per night

• We will dine in our hotel and also at Pae Pha Thai Floating Restaurant ,a floating restaurant on a riverbank. Meals cost approximately from a $5 lunch to a $20 dinner

• We plan to visit Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat a monastery, Wat Chulamanee and Wat Yai, both Buddhist temples

• Total cost for Phitsanulok is approximately $177

Days 8-10 in Kamphaeng Phet• We will be staying Orchid Hibiscus Guest House for $63 a night

for 3 nights

• We will dine in our hotel and also at The Night Market ,a bazaar of foods and adornments. Meals cost approximately from a $5 lunch to a $10 dinner

• We will visit the Night Market, the Kamphaeng Phet National Museum, the Kampaeng Phet historic park, and the Khlong Lan National Park, full of waterfalls.

• The total cost in Kamphaeng Phet will be approximately $385 (this includes gas money for the long distance and for our shopping spree)

Days 11-14 in Bangkok

• We will be staying at the Lebua at State Tower for 3 nights for $139 per night

• We will dine in our hotel and also at 100° East ,a modern and relaxing seafood experience. Meals cost approximately from a $10 lunch to a $30 dinner

• We plan to visit the Grand Palace which includes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, an elephant ride in Bangkok for $100 per person and will spend a day in the floating market which will cost about $100 each.

• Total cost for Bangkok is about $917

Budget Breakdown

• $6,000- $2,784 for plane tickets• $3,216- $141 for motorcycles with helmets• $3,075- $300 for Chiang Mai• $2,775- $177 for Phitsanulok• $2,598- $385 for Kamphaeng Phet• $2,213- $917 for Bangkok• We will have a total of $1,296 left over,

meaning we spent $4,704

Bibliography

• "Bangkok Tours & Things to Do in Bangkok | Viator.com." Tours, Sightseeing Tours, Activities & Things to Do | Viator.com. Web. 30 Jan. 2011. <http://www.viator.com/bangkok-tours/d343-ttd?pref=02&aid=g1785>.

• Drive, Dynamic. "Best Time to Visit Thailand." Thailand Travel Information. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://www.discoverythailand.com/best_time_to_visit.asp>.

• Expedia Travel: Vacations, Cheap Flights, Airline Tickets & Airfares. Web. 30 Jan. 2011. <http://www.expedia.com>.

• "Forest Monk Passes Away at 98." Bangkok Post. Web. 30 Jan. 2011. <http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/>.• KAYAK - Cheap Flights, Hotels, Airline Tickets, Cheap Tickets, Cheap Travel Deals - Compare Hundreds of Travel

Sites At Once. Web. 30 Jan. 2011. <http://www.kayak.com/>.• "Our Car Rental Rates." North Wheels Chiang Mai Rent-A-Car : Explore The North On Your Own Wheels. Web. 30

Jan. 2011. <http://www.northwheels.com/rates.html>.• "Phuket Snorkeling - Snorkelling in Phuket, Phi Phi, Similan Islands." Phuket Hotels & Travel Guide - Phuket

Hotels and Tourist Information. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. <http://www.phuket.com/sports/snorkeling.htm>.• "Places to Eat in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand. A Restaurant, Entertainment and Eating out Travel Guide."

Backpacking Travel Guide for Southeast Asia. Travelfish.org. Web. 30 Jan. 2011. <http://www.travelfish.org/eatandmeet/thailand/northern_thailand/kamphaeng_phet/kamphaeng_phet/eat>.

• "Thai Phrases and Common Sentences." Learn Foreign Languages. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://www.linguanaut.com/english_thai.htm>.

• "Thailand." NetDoctor.co.uk - The UK's Leading Independent Health Website. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/asia/thailand.shtml>.

•   "Thailand People 2010." ITA - Information Technology Associates Immigration USA for Windows. Countries of The World. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/thailand/thailand_people.html>.

• "Thailand Places of Attraction -- Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai." Thailand International and Domestic Discount. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. <http://www.travexnet.com/sites/doi_suthep.html>.

• "Thailand: Thai Language, Religion, Culture, Customs and Etiquette." Professional Translation Services | Interpreters | Intercultural Communication & Training. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/thailand-country-profile.html>.

• "Things to Do in Bangkok - Bangkok Attractions - TripAdvisor." Reviews of Hotels, Flights and Vacation Rentals - TripAdvisor. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. <http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g293916-Activities-Bangkok.html>.