TRAVEL QUICK TIPS
Bangkok, Thailand - The City of Angels
Customs | Places to Visit

CURRENCY - The local currency is the Baht. Foreign currency changers are available at the airport and provide the same rates as in town and better rates than hotels. The baht is divided into 100 satangs. Paper denominations consist of 1,000- (gray), 500- (purple), 100- (red), 50- (blue), and 20- (green) baht notes.
Coins consist of ten-, five-, one-baht disks, as well as 50- and 25-satang brass disks.

HISTORY - Thailand means "land of the free", and throughout its 800-year history, Thailand can boast the distinction of being the only country in Southeast Asia never to have been colonized.

General Chakri became the first king of the Chakri Dynasty, Rama I, ruling from 1782 to 1809. His first action as king was to transfer the royal capital across the river from Thon Buri to Bangkok and build the Grand Palace. King Nang Klao, Rama III (1824-1851) reopened relations with Western nations and developed trade with China and Bangkok grew and flourished.

The country's name was changed from Siam to Thailand with the advent of a democratic government in 1939. Thailand?s present monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is King Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty.

POPULATION - 12 million
Land Area: 612 square miles

WEATHER
Average Annual Rainfall: 59 inches
Average January Temperature: 79
Average July Temperature: 84

ELECTRICITY - 220 volts, 50 Hz; standard two-pin plug

RELIGION - Buddhism, many Thai males spend time as a monk.

BANKING NOTES - Most local banks can easily wire money and cash your traveler checks.

SHOPPING LINGO - MUST KNOW LANGUAGE (phonetic spelling)

• Hello - sawatdee krup (Male), sawatdee kaa (Female)
• Goodbye - la gon
• Thank You - kop koon
• How Much Does This Cost - nee tao-rai
• Never Mind - mai pen rai
(also used to mean, no problem or it’s all good)