Exotic in the palm of your hand: 10 facts about Thailand

Asian countries are unique in their uniqueness – ancient culture and traditions make them very attractive to tourists from all over the world. Thailand is no exception. 10 short facts about Thailand that will surprise and arouse curiosity, as well as help you navigate the local traditions of such a colorful and vibrant country.

1. The capital

The local name of the capital of Thailand is Krung Thep or Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. And the full name is so long that it got into the Guinness Book of Records. The full name of the city, which is used to be called Bangkok: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintarayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Nopparat Ratchathani Burir Udomratchaniwet Mahasatan Amon Piman Avatan Satit Sakkathattiya Vitsanukam Prasit.

2. Independence

The people of Thailand are very proud of the fact that the Kingdom of Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that has never been colonized by Europeans. There were, of course, their own reasons, including political, geographical and economic ones, but the fact remains that Thailand has maintained independence since those times to this day.

3. Krating Daeng

It is not difficult to recognize two red bulls rushing at each other. This is what the Red Bull logo looks like. However, not everyone knows that the popular energy drink Krathin Daeng was developed in 1975 in Thailand by entrepreneur Chaleo Yuvidya and contained water, cane sugar, caffeine, taurine, inositol and vitamins of group B. Krating Daeng became the basis for the development of Red Bull, the best-selling energy drink in the world.

In 1982, during a business trip to East Asia, Dietrich Mateschitz (Austria) became interested in widespread energy drinks and acquired the license rights to the famous brand in Thailand "Krating Daeng" (translated from Thai as "red bull"). That's how the famous Red Bull appeared, which inspires.

4. "The King of Fruits"

Too-ree–an or durian in Russian made Thailand famous all over the world for its duplicitous character. According to thrill-seekers, the "king of fruits" has an amazing and subtle nutty-creamy taste, but the smell is able to discourage any desire to taste the curiosity. Durian smells like a combination of rotten fish, rotten onions and sewage and is referred to by the inexperienced as the "infernal stink". It's all about organic sulfur – durian is the only edible fruit that contains it in its composition. You will not be able to smuggle durian into a hotel or plane – this is unacceptable!

5. The Great Thai Buddha

The Great Buddha of Thailand is one of the five largest Buddha statues in the world and is called Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin Sakayamuni Sri Wisetchaichan. The height of the largest Buddha statue in Thailand is 92 meters, and the width is 63 m. The construction lasted for 18 years from 1990 to 2008. The attraction is located in Ang Tong province.

6. Orchids

Orchids are considered to be a symbol of Thailand, there are more of them here than in any other country in Southeast Asia. Orchids are presented in an amazing variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Hundreds of farms throughout Thailand grow orchids for export. The people of Thailand idolize the orchid, and more than 1300 species of these amazing plants grow in the country.

Orchids and other flowers in Thailand decorate facades and interiors, form compositions and flower garlands for offerings to deities, use flowers as serving dishes, as well as in spas. The Thai Airlines logo shows an orchid.

7. Elephants

Thailand is called the "land of the white elephant" for a reason — elephants here are a national treasure and one of the symbols of the country. At the beginning of the XX century, about 300 thousand wild elephants lived here and about 100 thousand were kept in captivity, but over time the numbers became smaller — largely due to the reduction in forest area, which led to a collision between an animal and a human. In 1986, the Asian elephant was listed as an endangered species in the Red Book. Currently, Thailand is home to about 6,000 elephants, only half of which are wild. In many regions (for example, in Phuket) there are elephant farms with domesticated animals that can be petted and fed.

8. Pig-nosed wing

The world's smallest bats live in Thailand – these are pig-nosed bats. The body length of the winged is only 3 centimeters, and the weight is about 2 grams. The skeletal structure and low weight allow these bats to hover in the air like hummingbirds. They feed on insects. Pig–nosed bats are listed in the International Red Book - they are not only the smallest, but also the rarest. Today, a population of pig-nosed bats lives in Sai Yok National Park, in Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand.

9. Thai massage

A real traditional Thai massage should not be associated with anything other than the oldest method of Thai medicine. In 1832, King Rama III founded the first university of Thailand at Wat Pho Monastery, where sixty marble slabs and frescoes depict diagrams of lines of impact on the body and acupressure points. At the same time, 80 statues depicting yoga poses were made, twenty-six of which are still kept on the territory of the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok. The rest is from the evil one.

10. Siamese cats

Surely you have heard the story of how Nicholas II, during the visit of King Rama V of Siam, presented him with 200 of the best guards, and he, in return, thanked him with a hundred Siamese cats, which is how the history of this breed in Europe begins.

Siamese cats, who are so loved for their peculiar beauty and wayward character, come from Thailand. According to legend, Siamese cats have the strength of a lion and the habits of monkeys. The inhabitants of the kingdom revered cats and even worshipped them. A pair of Siamese kittens in Thailand is still given to the bride on her wedding day.