Thailand – Land of the White Elephant and More
on Wednesday, April 11, 2012The center of white elephant lore and history – Thailand
Any self-respecting white elephant website must acknowledge the rich history associated with these wonderful and rare animals. As the white elephant headquarters on the internet we take this responsibility very seriously – Even though we spend most of our time sharing fun gift exchange ideas.
We dedicate this page to the story of Thailand – The center of white elephant lore and history.
By Bangkok florists, John and Ning
Geography & Society
Thailand is a country that is located in Southeast Asia in the center of Indochina. Thailand was formerly known as Siam until 23rd of June 1939 when the named was changed from Siam to Thailand. The word Thailand means the land of freedom. Thailand was the only land in the area that was not colonized by European countries. The country of Thailand represented by His Majesty The King, it is a constitutional monarchy. The current King is known as King Rama IX who is the ninth king from the rule of Chakri House. The Chakri house has reigned since 1946. They are the longest reigning family in Thailand. Thailand has a population of about 64 million people. It is estimated to have an area of 513000 sp kilometers. It is the 51st largest country in the world. With its population, it is considered to be the 20th most 
populous country. The largest city in Thailand is Bangkok which is the capital city. Bangkok is home both to the government and most of the industry in the country. The racial make-up of Thailand is as follows: Three percent are the ethnically Malay, 14% are Chinese, 75% are the Thai people and the rest are the other minor groups including hill tribes and minor ethnic groups.
Economy
The economic growth of Thailand increased from 1985 to 1995. The main economic activity in Thailand is tourism due to its diverse culture and beautiful islands and beaches. Many investors have invested in Thailand. It is estimated that the number of the illegal and legal migrants is almost five million. Thailand used to be a main trading partner with China and India and still is to some degree.
Religion
The main religion carried out in Thailand is Buddhism. This religion is practiced by 95% of the Thai population.
Thailand has been influenced by the Indians lifestyle just as the other countries in Southeast Asia. Buddha himself came from India. In the 19th century the Western lifestyle and influences came from Europe and many believe this lead to the downfall of many traditional values in Thailand. Gradually the cultures of Britain and Europe took hold. Even so, ancient practices are still enjoyed within the kingdom.
Second World War
During the Second World War, the Japanese government wanted a passage through Thailand and temporarily occupied the land. Initially there was an engagement between the Thai military and the
Japanese troops but after eight hours they decided on a military alliance which helped Thailand to regain its lost territories from the British government. In 25 January 1942, Thailand declared a war between against The United States and The United Kingdom. Thailand had the support of the Japanese Empire due to the contract that they had signed.
Post War
Thailand went through a time of political instability but finally they gain a democratic government in 1980. The Thai government has had a change of constitution for about 17 times. This has lead to dictatorship but the monarchy government has been maintained all through.
John and Ning are flower shop owners in Thialand. They have a great interest in political history and John has studied history at Chula University in Bangkok. They work together and co-own a Bangkok florist and Thailand flower delivery network.
Thanks to Wikipedia for the Bangkok skyline image
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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.
This post reminds me so much of my last holiday in Thailand, had the time of my life on Koh Samui there!
For everybody living in Thailand, check out MyThaiDeal.com which features the latest classifieds from all over Thailand.