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Population: 65,444,371 (July 2005 est.)

Capital: Bangkok

Language: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects

Currency: baht (THB)

Timezone: GMT+7

Formerly known as Siam, at 514,000 square kilometers the Kingdom of Thailand is made up of 76 provinces and one capital city - Bangkok. This amazing country really does have it all - visually spectacular, natural beauty from beaches to mountains, a tropical climate and vegetation, outstanding temples, superb cuisine, and a population of 63 million Thais whose hospitality leaves you in no doubt as to why this is also known as the Land of Smiles ("LoS")!

Ruled since 1782 by the Chakri dynasty (the current king is King Rama IX), Thailand has the unique claim among South-East Asian nations to never have been colonized. This is a fact the Thais are both very aware and proud of - and modern Thai culture very much reflects this. That said, having foreign powers on all of its borders for over a century has resulted in a large foreign influence - especially in Bangkok. The nice balance between foreign and Thai culture, however, makes Thailand one of the most pleasant countries in South-East Asia to live in.

Although living in Thailand is sure to provide you with a rich new experience, at first it can be a little disconcerting - at least until you recover from the "culture shock" most visitors experience as soon as they get off the plane!

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