Thailand is a fascinating country in Southeast Asia, known for its rich culture, beautiful scenery, and friendly people. Here are some interesting facts about Thailand that you may not know:
- Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by any European power. The name “Thailand” means “land of the free” in Thai.
- Thailand has the world’s longest place name. The official name of Bangkok, the capital city, is “Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit”. It means “City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Visvakarman at Indra’s behest”.
- Thailand is home to the world’s largest gold Buddha statue, the largest crocodile farm, the largest restaurant, the longest single-span suspension bridge, and the world’s tallest hotel.
- Thailand has a unique tradition of assigning a color to each day of the week. The colors are based on the astrological rule of the Hindu god who protects each day. For example, Monday is yellow, Tuesday is pink, Wednesday is green, Thursday is orange, Friday is blue, Saturday is purple, and Sunday is red. Many Thai people wear clothes that match the color of the day.
- Thailand is famous for its Siamese cats, which have distinctive blue eyes and pointed ears. The cats are considered sacred and were once kept only by royalty. There are 23 types of Siamese cats in Thailand, but only six are recognized internationally.
