Forget what you think you know about Thailand - odds are it's wrong. About the only
thing you see about Thailand in the US has to do with Bird Flu, the Muslim insurgency
in the south or the sex trade. Those three things get all the press, but they are a
MICROSCOPIC part of the Thai society.
What the Western press doesn't show you is a country of 65 million people who live in a
society far more peaceful and family oriented than we do here. The main religion in
Thailand is the Theravada form of Buddhism and this is a very large part of their polite,
non-violent society led by a King and Queen who are loved and respected FAR more
than any politician or celebrity we look up to here in the US. The King and Queen work
tirelessly to improve the daily lives of their people in any way they can. Royal projects
can be found in every province (76 of them - bigger than what we would call counties) in
the Kingdom and are all created directly by the Royal family to benefit the Thai people.
The Thai people themselves are very polite. The majority of younger Thais in the larger
cities (especially Bangkok which is 2,300 square miles - bigger than Los Angles)
speak English. This is directly related to King Chulalongkorn (son of King Mongkut -
who we know as the King in The King and I and Anna and the King). He effectively
founded the national public education system. This was done knowing that his fathers
high intellect had saved Thailand (then Siam -pronounced "see-yam") from colonization
by European super powers of the time - namely France and Britain. Truly understanding
that the pen is mightier than the sword, King Mongkut elevated his country to its current
position as the most advanced and socially developed country in South East Asia.
This is just one small aspect of this amazing country and the Thai people. If you only
visit one great place in your life time, Thailand should be it.
Links to some great sites to learn more are at the bottom of this page.
Thailand - The most incredible place on Earth!
