Rivers Of Thailand

The major river of Thailand is the Chao Phraya. It has low alluvial soil which marks the plains of Thailand. Chao Phraya originates from the meeting point of two other rivers Ping and Nan. The main tributary to Nan River is the Yom River.

Wang River is another river which flows in northern Thailand and this is 335 miles long. It originates from Ping River.

The longest river in Thailand is the Chi River which is 765 km but the water flow is very low. It runs through the Yasothon province of Thailand.

Chao Phraya runs for 372 km from Bangkok to the Gulf of Thailand. It bifurcates into two in a place called Chainat. The main portion of the river, known as the Chin River, flows parallel to Chao Phraya and ends in the Gulf. It is called by many names. In Chainat, it is called Makhamthao river and when it passes through Suphanburi, it is called Suphan. It becomes Nakhon Chaisi river when it enters Nakhon Pathon and after that it is known as Tha Chin river when it reaches the mouth of Samut Sakhon. Many canals are diverted from Chin River and the water from the canals is used for irrigation.

Nonthaburi Uthai Thani, , Singburi, Nakhon Sawan, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya and Chainat Pathum Thani are the cities along the flowing river. Nakhon Sawan is the city where the two major rivers Nan and Ping meet. Ang Thong is an agricultural land and Chao Phraya and Noi River meet in this city.

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Thailand Travel - 10 Interesting Facts About Thailand

It's certainly the mesmeric land of Thais that attracts more visitants than any other country in the Southeast Asia. Thailand is the country known for beguiling scenic beauty, stunning beaches, impressing culture, commendable hospitality, fantastic temples, ruins & souvenirs of fabulous ancient kingdoms, gastronomic riches, and lovely, smiling, and welcoming people.

Thailand certainly the destination that appeals you, bewitches you, captivates you, enthralls you....! It's the place that makes you visit it again and again. It's the vacation destination that you dream of. Surely, you can find oodles of interesting things in Thailand, but here are the 10 most interesting facts about Thailand.

It is often nicknamed as the "Land Of Smiles," because of the perceived gentleness of its people. The country is really populated by smiling, inviting, and receiving people. Thais are really gentle, polite, soft spoken, friendly, and hospitable human beings.

Siam was the old name of Thailand. It was the official name of the country until 1949, when it was changed to Thailand by official proclamation. 'Thai' in the Thai language means 'freedom'. So, Thailand means "land of freedom" or "land of the free".

The Mon ruled over what is now known as Thailand. The area was also held by Khmer. The Mon Empire was a great Buddhist empire, and the empire had trading relations with Indians for centuries.

Thailand retains much of its original culture, because it is the only Southeast Asian nation that has never been colonized. Thai culture is kin to the Cambodian culture & religion, which was adopted by Thais in the 13th century, after the fall of the Khmer Kingdom.

King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, established Bangkok as the capital in 1782. Bhumibol Adulyadej, the current King of Thailand, is also a Chakri Dynasty ruler. He is also known as Rama IX. He is the longest serving monarch in the Thai history.

95% of the Thai people are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. 4.6% of the people are Muslims. Malays are mainly concentrated on the southern tip of Thailand. 0.75% of the people are Christians, mainly Catholics. Sikhs & Hindus are tiny, but influential. The nation also has a small Jewish community.

Thailand is also known as the "Land of white Elephant." White elephants were highly esteemed and valued by the Thai Rulers. Elephants are still highly revered in Thailand. They are considered as the symbol of peace and prosperity.

Thais do not like someone touching them on head. They believe that soul, which is considered extremely sacred, resides in head. So, don't ever touch a Thai on the head, not even a Thai child.

Thailand is the 49th country area wise, with its total land area of 514,000 km² (198,000 sq mi). It is comparable to the size of France, and it is somewhat larger than the California State of the United States.

Thailand has 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which include Ban Chiang Archaeological Site near Udon Thani, Dong Phayayen - Khao Yai Forest Complex, Historic City of Ayutthaya & Associated Historic Towns, Historic Town of Sukhothai & Associated Historic Towns - including Kampang Phet and Si Satchanalai, and Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Author writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for Hotels, Villas, Holiday villas in Thailand, and Holiday villas worldwide.

Thailand Exchange Rate Crises In 1990

According to economists, there are five principal reasons for the East Asian currency Crisis or IMF of July 1997 that caused a period of economic unrest and turmoil in Southeast Asian financial markets. The countries that were mainly affected during the crisis included Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea. Inadequate foreign exchange reserves, improper handling of fund allocations and inadequately developed financial sectors in the developing Asian countries have been held as the prime reasons for the drop in the local currency exchange rates against the US dollar during the period.

The entire episode of economy crisis started due to inappropriate speculations. Speculators forecasted a decline in international market growth and started selling South East Asian currencies. With this, there was a currency depreciation and sudden drop in the value of Thai baht, Malaysian ringgit, Phillipine Peso and Indonesian rupiah. Due to this, all these markets had to sell their dollars to buy back their currencies. This caused a rapid decline in the foreign exchange reserves. In the second stage of the crisis, the lower value of the neighboring currencies affected other Southeast Asian currencies like Taiwan dollar, South Korean Won, Singaporean Dollar and Hong Kong Dollar. Governments raised the interest rates for the purpose of defending the local currency and inviting foreign capital. Due to the rapid decline in the economy, investors started removing their investments from the markets, thereby initiating a fall in the stock prices. IMF with the assistance of World Bank and Asian Development Bank arranged support packages of around $120 billion in order to rescue these markets.

Certain economists believe that the distorted macroeconomic policies and the fixed exchange rate of the currency as a major cause for the economic crisis in 1997.

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Windsurfing in Thailand

Windsurfing is gaining popularity in Thailand.

Thailand is not a super windy place. You wont see the amazing freestyle moves of Bonaire or the Gorge, nor will you see hot wave sailing action. With average wind strengths of 8- 18knots Windsurfers here are mainly using sails from 6.0M to 8.5M. In the worlds top locations a 6.0M sail is considered large.

So why do core windsurfers from all over the world choose to settle in Thailand?

As manufacturing costs in China increase, medium to large size companies are choosing to set up in Thailand where their specialized engineers and top level management are happy to move with their families.

Thailand's perpetually warm water and even warmer people. Low cost of living and very comfortable healthy lifestyle make the choice of leaving their homes utterly bearable.

Many classic Mediterranean retirement destinations are more expensive after the Euro's introduction. Thailand, with it's Idealic Beachside lifestyle is becoming a popular place to make those pension Pounds, early retirement Euros', and dwindling Dollars go further.

Grass roofed beach-side sail racks, make tedious equipment preparation unnecessary. Residents sit around in the shade, talking or simply admiring the parade of International beach goers.

As soon as the wind is good, they are on the water in minutes on the latest windsurfing gear, some of which is designed especially for the lighter wind conditions. On good days when the wind is over 15 knots , there are over 20 sails on the water in the best spots. While this number is tiny compared to the world's classic destinations where windsurfers number in the hundreds. It is double what you may have seen 3 years ago in Thailand.

Thai people are enjoying the sport in larger numbers also. A club in "Tabsai" near to Bang San University is hugely popular among Thai's who have regular camp outs and parties there on weekends.

On Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, The government and City sponsored Windsurfing Association of Thailand has been revived by a team of ex Thai windsurfing champions, coaches and local politician's. The benefit of this work has gone straight into the local community where kids, are training and competing in local and overseas competitions. It is heart warming to meet these youngsters who are polite, happy, self-reliant and who will grow up with a close connection to sport and the environment. Everyone is welcome to join the local windsurfing races. With up to 70 entries and many international guests, Thailand is producing high-level athletes, often from poor or broken families.

Pattaya City, about 2.5 hours drive SE from Bangkok, is notorious for it's red-light district and the people it attracts. However it is brimming with international restaurants, world-class hotels, inexpensive shopping and is still one of the greatest places to learn Windsurfing.

About 10 km south of Pattaya you will find 2 of the largest Water sports clubs in Thailand. This area is where the locals, expats,(foreigner's living in Thailand) and tourists come to take windsurfing lessons, play and relax.

Kite boarding or kite surfing has brought more people to learn about windsurfing also. While some experienced windsurfers like to do both sports, many family people prefer the safety, greater challenge and independence of windsurfing.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding a water-sport anyone can learn in a few minutes is growing quickly here. Used for sightseeing, cross-training on no-wind days, surfing or as a simple yet diverse sport that gives you great at-one with nature time in any conditions.

Windsurfing in Thailand is just another reason why people consider working or retiring early in one of the worlds most famous travel destinations.

Craig Thompson, born in England, raised in Australia, married to Thai National Windsurfing Champion. Has been living and breathing water-sports in Thailand since late 2003. For information about Windsurfing contact Craig and Amara at am@windsurfing-thailand.com or visit http://iwindsurf.asia/

Medical Travel Jobs - Highly Paid Modern Employment

Medical tourism is becoming more and more common, therefore people are looking at travel with a different perspective than they used to. Previous travel was linked to either solely work function or vacation. Now, because of medical tourism, healthcare can also be linked to travel, which has changed the economy in many different areas of the world. Singapore, a small island, has a new operation to encourage and sponsor a program called "Singapore medical tourism" through the health and travel world.

Thailand and Philippines are becoming more and more popular spots as well, not only as vacation destinations, but due to the high quality, friendliness and affordable prices for medial procedures. People are traveling to other countries to get better healthcare services. So medical tourism sector requires people to cater to these travelers. People working in this sector are able to get handsome salary besides respectful job. You ought to have a good understanding about people's needs and how all this actually works to get a decent job in this sector.

Medical travel jobs are not meant for everyone. The requirements to be a successful nurse or in medical travel jobs are being laborious, generous and having a supreme respect for humanity. You will also need to learn about different cultures and be able to speak foreign languages fluently.

Learning foreign languages helps you communicate with people who have traveled to your country of work for healthcare. Understanding their culture helps you develop a bond with them and therefore allows you to serve them better. When they get good service, you stand to gain good rewards from them as well as your employer.

Paperwork is ubiquitous for all workers in the medical field, as well as work permits and never more so than when you are working with patients who are tourists or immigrants. An in-depth knowledge of visa documentation and travel insurance is crucial when trying to ascertain the travel insurance medical condition of the foreign patient.

Medical tourism has become popular in many countries such as India, Thailand, the Philippines, Columbia, New Zealand, Jordan, Panama, Portugal, Spain and Canada. Instead of just working in your own country, you can look for medical travel jobs in other countries. It is a dream actually when you think about it: being able to travel and see different cultures, meet new and interesting people while still make a living! Instead of returning "home" after a travel broke (as many of us tends to do..), you can actually return with more money in the bank then when you left!

The author has been writing online articles since 2006 as well as publishing websites on a number of topics since 2004. Check out the latest website at Overstock promo codes which helps people find the best Overstock free shipping coupon code deals as well as the information they might be searching for before getting Overstock coupon codes.

Hmong of Thailand

Hmong are one of the hill tribes that live in Thailand. There are two major sub groups in Thailand namely the White and Blue. These people are found mainly in China, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. The Hmong have supposed to have migrated to Thailand from China and Laos. They settled in the hills of Thailand and carried out their traditional shift cultivation in relative peace and isolation. There are approximately 60,000 Hmong living in the northeast Thailand. In addition, there are another 50,000 living as refugees in Thailand. They came in small groups, crossing the Mekong River. Later they moved to the northern province of Phetchabun and joined their relatives in Ban Huay Nam Khao.

They live in houses that sit on earth not on stilts like other hill tribes. Their main occupation is cultivating opium poppy. After a government initiative, the Hmong have gradually changed their ways and have started to sell needlework, which is exquisitely designed.

The Hmong people are experts in needlework. They make clothes for themselves as well as sell them. Their clothes are decorated with rich embroidery work and silver. Each sub group has its own way of dressing. The Blue Hmong women wear rich embroidered clothes with attractive colors, while the White Hmong women wear black baggy pants and simple jackets. The Hmong men produce musical instruments and items of wood. They are also skilled as blacksmiths and gunsmiths.

The Hmong people are animists and are strong believers in spirits. The Hmong shamans perform many unknown rituals to invoke spirits.

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10 Unknown Facts About Thailand

1. Rainmaker King
Some years ago the rice farmers of Thailand experienced a severe drought period. The king, who since many years had been involved in helping the rural population of Thailand invented a method to make rain, for which he also filed an international patent. Airplanes are used to shoot silver iodide chemicals into the clouds in specific ways, so that they are stimulated to rain. This method did proof successful.

2. Mysterious Fireballs
At a certain time of the year, a strange phenomenon occurs that hasn't been scientifically explained yet. Well, there were scientific theories, however, scientists in are still baffled by this phenomenon and unable to explain it properly. It's in the north-eastern part of Thailand, and the locals there have their own explanation for the mysterious fireballs that emerge from the Mekong river: they say these are fireballs from the legendary Naga serpent.

One time a TV team tried to uncover "the hoax" and said that the phenomenon was simply Cambodian soldiers shooting into the air. However, they quickly got proven wrong. There are records of this phenomenon occurring for hundreds of years, and It's kind of Thailand's version of the "Loch Ness"

3. Thai Bonsai
Most people are aware with the Japanese bonsai trees. But Thailand also has it's own tradition of miniature trees, which is called mai dat. Historic evidence shows that this tradition has been around already since the 13th century. Mai dat have their own style - there are not as tiny as the Japanese bonsai, but rather often bigger. Also, while with Japanese bonsai the aim is usually to make the small tree look at natural as possible, mai dat are supposed to look particularly well-trimmed. It is the aim of the mai dat artist to create a tree which is made according to human shapes. Thailand is a country which used to be covered almost completely in forest and swampland - it was a tropical wilderness. Only in recent decades have the forests been cleared and turned into farms and cities. Thus, imitating nature is not what Thais consider beautiful.

4. Demigod-King
It is a traditional Thai believe that the King is a human reincarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. All kings of the present dynasty, since the 18th century, have been called "Rama" - the current King being Rama XI. Rama was the name of a halfgod from the Indian epic Ramayana, which has it's own Thai version, the Ramakien.

5. Can't Touch This (Monk)
It is forbidden for woman to touch a Buddhist monk. Some women feel offended by this or think that this is because woman are considered unworthy, but this is not the case. It's simply about avoiding to stirr up feelings that wouldn't be appropriate for monks, feelings like sexual desire.

6. Bangkok Tram
There once was a tram in Bangkok. Nowadays, Bangkok is known for chronic traffic-jammeritis, and pretty much the only way to avoid being stuck in traffic is the ultra-modern skytrain (BTS) or the even newer subway (MRT). However, once upon a time, there was a tram running through Bangkok. The Tram network in Bangkok was established in 1894 and got closed down in 1968. Actually, even as early as 1888 there was a guy called Alfred John Loftus (Phraya Nithetcholthee) who operated a tramway line in Bangkok - drawn by horses! However, after a couple of changes of ownership, the horse-drawn wagons where replaced with electric wagons. New routes were opened and built, until in 1968 the last tramway in Bangkok was stoped.

You can still see some of the railways in the area of Thanon Charoenkrung Soi 39.

7. Thai-Tomboys
While almost everybody knows about the ladyboys in Thailand (and quiet a few men can tell stories of surprise when they found that the "woman" they were hitting on all night was actually not a woman at all), not so many people know that there are also a lot of tomboys: woman or girls who dress, act and look like men. Whole books have been written on Thai gender roles, and while some ladyboys and tomboys and gay feel that they are not treated equally, they are treated much more tolerantly than in probably any other country in the world. For example, I know of the case of a 15 year old boy who decided to be a ladyboy - and indeed dressed, talks and behaves like a woman now. However, schoolmates never made fun, teased or bullied him about it. This being a remote village and not modern Bangkok, it speaks a lot of the tolerance of Thai people towards people who decide to "be different".

9. Long-nailed Fingernails of Men
This might be odd: but many (completely straight) men grow long fingernails. Most commonly is the nail of the small finger. Part of this is because in rural Thailand, long fingernails where indeed a sign of a certain social status: a farmer can't grow long fingernails, because they will simply break during the hard work on the fields. In fact, in Isaan (North-East Thailand) it is even believed that a long nail at the small finger is lucky. Apart of that, many men also told me upon my question why they had a long fingernail that it is useful: it's easy to scratch yourself with a long fingernail, and sometimes just useful to open something.

10. White Is Beautiful
While in the Northern hemisphere, many people would like a stronger tan and use every opportunity to lay in the sun and make their skin darker and more exotic, for Thai's, white and bright skin is beautiful. In fact, Thai's spend about 50 million US-Dollar a year on skin whitening products.

Ramin Assemi is an expert on travelling in Thailand. If you want to travel in Thailand be free to contact him - he's always glad to share his Thailand knowledge with nice people.