Joyful Journey: Traveling Thailand Without Relying on Others

Author: Yunnan Science and Technology Press
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: Thailand, officially known as the Kingdom of Thailand, was historically called Siam. Since 1238 AD, it has remained an independent nation and is the only country in South Asia and Southeast Asia that has never been colonized by foreign powers. The national flag consists of three colors: red, white, and blue. Red symbolizes the nation, white represents religion, and blue signifies the king. Thailand is a Buddhist country, with over 90% of its population practicing Buddhism. The country is renowned as the "Land of a Thousand Pagodas" due to its numerous temples and pagodas. Buddhism has a profound influence on Thailand's politics, economy, social life, and cultural arts. In 1932, Thailand abolished its absolute monarchy and adopted a constitutional monarchy. The current monarch is King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who ascended to the throne in 1946 and was crowned in 1950. He is the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty and the longest-reigning monarch in the world today. The royal family holds great prestige in the hearts of the Thai people. Thai is the national language of Thailand, and English is widely used in urban areas, especially in tourist spots, while Chinese is also spoken in some regions. Humans have inhabited the territory of what is now Thailand since prehistoric times, but it was not until the early 13th century that several principalities in the upper basin of the Chao Phraya River united to form a unified nation, establishing the Sukhothai Dynasty (1235–1438). Later, the Sukhothai Dynasty gradually declined and was eventually annexed by the Ayutthaya Dynasty. In 1767, Burmese forces invaded and destroyed Ayutthaya, setting it ablaze. After the fall of the Ayutthaya Dynasty, the Chinese descendant Taksin defeated the Burmese forces, established the Thonburi Dynasty (1767–1782) with his capital in Thonburi, and later moved the capital across the river to Bangkok, founding the Chakri Dynasty (1792). Taksin was known as King Rama I, and the current king is King Rama IX. Although I spent only a short week in Ayutthaya, I left with a favorable impression of Thailand's rice, pastries, and fruits (such as pears, mangoes, rambutans, durians, etc.). Sometimes, Thailand's winters can be dry for more than ten consecutive days, but rain does eventually fall. It drizzled gently, casting a light mist over Ayutthaya. The rain was as fine as hair, and as I walked, I barely noticed it. A friendly Thai told me it was called "nectar." "What nectar?" "The nectar that the Buddha sprinkled on all living beings." I patted my head, my shaved head still damp. In the distance, devout believers stood in long lines in the rain, waiting to pay homage to the Buddha's tooth relic. At that moment, the fragrance of flowers in the forest drifted back to me, enveloping me and the long queue. My heart felt like a drop of water on, dissolving in the rain—this is my most beautiful memory of Thailand. Thai is the official language of Thailand, and English is widely used in tourist areas, while Chinese is spoken in some regions as well. This book collects over 1,000 commonly used Thai words and short phrases, accompanied by Thai and English translations. The Thai phonetic notation is presented in Chinese, making it intuitive and easy to read. It can help Thai people understand your intentions by indicating Thai, allowing you to practice both Thai and English simultaneously while learning. Starting with communication, it helps you effortlessly integrate into Thai society.