General Information

Culture/ Language/Food/General Info/ Places to go

  

Climate  

Thailand lies within the humid tropics and remains hot throughout the year. Average temperatures are about 29 C, ranging in Bangkok from38Cin April to 20Cin December. Temperatures in the Northern and North-Eastern regions can drop to 0-10C at night during the cool season. There are three seasons: the cool season (November to February), the hot season (April to May), and the rainy season(June to October), though downpours rarely last more than a couple of hours.

TimeZone     GMT +7

Telephone
IDD dialing code: 66.Area codes: Bangkok -02; Chiang Mai - 53;  Hua Hin - 32; Pattaya - 38;  Phuket - 76. 

Tourist Police

The Thai Tourist Police was set up in 1982 to coordinate with TAT in providing safety for tourist. At present, some 500 tourist policemen are stationed in major tourist areas such as the Grand Palace, Pat Pong and Lumphini Park. In case of emergency, contact the Tourist Police Centre at Unicohouse Building, Soi Lang Suan,Phloen Chit Rd, Bangkok. Tel: 6521721-6.

Geography

Thailand is a Southeast Asian, predominantly Buddhist kingdom almost equidistant between India and China. For centuries known by outsiders as Siam,Thailand has been something of a Southeast Asian migratory, cultural and religious cross-road. With an area of some 510,000 square kilometers and a population of some 57 million,Thailandis approximately the same size as France. Thailand shares borders with Myanmar to the west and north,Laos to the north-east,Kampuchea to the west, and Malaysia to the south. Geographically speaking, Thailand is divided into six major regions: the mountainous north where elephants work forests and winter temperatures are sufficiently cool to permit cultivation of temperate fruits such as strawberries and peaches; the sprawling north-east plateau, largely bordered by the Mekong River, where the world's oldest Bronze Age civilization flourished some 5,000 years ago; the central plain, one of the world's most fertile rice and fruit-growing areas; the eastern coastal plain, where fine sandy beaches support the growth of summer resorts; western mountains and valleys, suitable for the development of hydro-electric power: and the peninsular south where arresting scenic beauty complements economically vital tin mining, robber cultivation and fishing.

Health Regulations

No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless you are coming from or passing through contaminated areas. Yellow fever certificates are required for those who are coming from the following countries:- Angola, Burkina Faso, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Gambia, Ghana, New Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Peru, Sudan and Zaire. Cholera, typhoid and malaria precautions are advised.
NOTE: The regulations might change without prior notice. Please contact your nearest Thai Consulate for confirmation. 

Cost of Living

The overall Cost of Living outside of Bangkok and other major tourist areas is extremely inexpensive. In most cases, what is 50 baht in Thailand will be 30 baht in smaller cities. Your cost of living will depend entirely on the lifestyle you are willing, or are able, to live. If you are able to adjust to Thai food and Thai lifestyle, it is perfectly reasonable to say that one could live off 15,000-20,000 baht per month (especially when your accommodation is provided free). If you run your Air/con all day, buy a TV/DVD/Stereo, make frequent trips to Bangkok, drink alcohol, eat Western food often, etc. you will probably get by on 25,000 – 30,000 Baht. First year Thai teachers in government schools make roughly 7000-12,000 Baht/month.

Food and Drink

- Plate of Thai food, some rice and a soft drink at an average small restaurant40B to 70B
- Bowl of Pork Noodle Soup 20B to 25B
- Plate of western food + soft drink in tourist restaurant. 100B – 300B
- Macdonald's BigMac Meal - 100B
- Chicken and sticky rice from a street vendor 20B
- 1 litre of bottled water from a store 5B to 12B
- Fresh fruit by the kilogram in market 10B to 50B

Accommodations / Bills

-Typical guesthouse room on Khao San Road (small, fan-cooled, shared cold-water) 150B
-Typical 3* hotel room 800B to 1200B
-Typical 5* hotel room 3000B +
-Average Water bill (monthly) 75B to 200B
-Average Electric bill (monthly) 500B to 2500B
-BKK apt/mth (dep on loc and type of room.) 3500B to 5000B
-Cheap apt. w/some fac/mth 2000B to 3000B

General Cinema ticket 80B to 140B
Entrance fee to some of the Museum, Temple, Zoo, National Park 20-200 Baht

Travel - Average taxi starts at 35 baht plus 2 baht / 1 kms and 2baht/minute stop  -Tuk-tuk fare central BKK starts 30B
- Budget Return Flight $900 to $1300 (CD)
- Motorbike rental 150B to 400B
- Air/con Bus from BKK to Chang Mai 600B – 800B  Mochit Bus Terminal
- Average Sky train or Metro (MRT) fare start at 10 to 40 baht

Medical Services

All tourism destination and provincial capitals have hospitals and clinics staffed by well trained doctors and nurses. In case of emergencies, ambulances can be summoned from any private hospital

General

Cinema ticket 80B to 140B
Entrance fee to some of the Museum, Temple, Zoo, National Park 20-200 Baht

Thai Holidays                                                                             
*December 31^st - January 2^nd En Lieu of New Year's Day
*February 13^th Makha Bucha Day
*April 6^th Chakri Day
*April 13^t - 15^th Songkran Days
*May 1^st En Lieu of National Labour Day
*May 5^th Coronation Day
*May 12^th En Lieu of Visakha Bucha Day
*July 22^nd – 23^rd Buddhist Lent Day
*August 12^th H.M. The Queen's Birthday
*October 23^rd En Lieu of Chulalong Memorial Day
*December 5^th H.M. The King's Birthday            
*December 10th Democercy's Day     
*December 12^th En Lieu of Constitution Day        

                                  
* Official holiday might not be exactly on these days, plese check the Thai calendar or your school schedule.