Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. Thailand is the world's 51st-largest country in terms of total area, with an area of approximately 513,000 km2, and is the 20th-most-populous country, with around 64 million people. The capital and largest city is Bangkok.

Diving in Thailand

Thailand has blossomed onto the world dive stage as a premier dive destination, providing an enormous variety of sites accessible for scuba divers.

One of the best dives sites in Thailand is the Richelieu Rock. There is a variety of marine life including whale sharks, barracudas, lionfish, seahorses, stonefish, etc.

Another popular dive site is the Shark Point Marine Sanctuary. It is located just 25 kilometres east of Phuket. This is the place to go to dive with for leopard sharks.

The most famous dive site is Koh Tao. It is located in the Gulf of Thailand. There are almost 25 main dive sites within an hour boat ride from the island. There are two different types of sites: Deep sites and sloping coral dives.

History

The earliest identifiably Thai kingdom was founded in Sukhothai in 1238. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only South-East Asian country never to have been colonised by a foreign power, and fiercely proud of the fact. During World War II, while Japan conquered the rest of Southeast Asia, only Thailand was not conquered by the Japanese due to smart political moves. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict. After a string of military dictatorships and quickly toppled civilian Prime Ministers, Thailand finally stabilized into a fair approximation of a democracy and the economy boomed through tourism and industry.

Culture

Thai culture is heavily influenced by Buddhism. However, unlike the Buddhist countries of East Asia, Thailand's Buddhists follow the Therevada School, which seems to be closer to its Indian roots and places a heavier emphasis on monasticism. One pre-Buddhist tradition that still survives is the spirit house, usually found at the corner of any house or business, which houses spirits so they don't enter the house and cause trouble.

Some traditional arts popular in Thailand include traditional Thai dancing and music, based on religious rituals and court entertainment. Famously brutal Thai boxing, derived from the military training of Thai warriors, is undoubtedly the country's best known indigenous sport.
Climate

Thailand is largely tropical, so it's hot and humid all year around with temperatures in the 28-35°C range. The careful observer will, however, note three seasons: cool, from November to the end of February; Hot, from March to June; Rainy, from July to October.

How to get there

The main international airports in Thailand are at Bangkok and Phuket, and both are well-served by intercontinental flights. Practically every airline that flies to Asia also flies into Bangkok, this means there are plenty of services and the competition on the routes helps to keep the ticket prices down.

What you should see

Bangkok is at the start of many visitors' itineraries. Most visitors at least take in the Grand Palace. It is home to Wat Phra Kaew, the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand that houses the Emerald Buddha. The former capitals of Siam, Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, make excellent stops for those interested in Thai history. It could be combined with a visit to Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you are looking for a place to relax, Krabi Province has some beautiful spots, including Ao Nang, Rai Leh and the long golden beaches of Ko Lanta. Waterfalls can be found all over Thailand. The Heo Suwat Waterfall in Khao Yai National Park and the Erawan Falls in Kanchanaburi are the most visited.

Other activities

Thai massage is unmissable. Traditional Thai massage has a history of more than 2,500 years. Moreover, Thailand is a big country where you can find almost every outdoor sport such as surfing and golf. Khao Yai National Park the first national park of Thailand, worth a visit: wild tigers, elephants (not riding or seeing them perform), macaques, gibbons, deer, and species of birds.