INFORMATION KIT Thailand For API Fellows Year The Nippon Foundation Fellowships for Asian Public Intellectuals (API)

Transcription

1 For API INFORMATION KIT Thailand Fellows Year The Nippon Foundation Fellowships for Asian Public P Intellectuals (API)

2 For reference only. Information contained in this booklet is subject to change without notice. For accuracy of information, please contact organizations and/ or people concerned to double check and for updates.

3 Thailand Information Kit For API Fellows Year

4 Table of Content Preparations Prior to Arrival in Thailand: Post and Communication 24 Visa Research Permit 1 Postal services Medical 2 Courier services Checklist before you leave for fellowship Telephone services period in Thailand 3 Internet services Accommodation 4 Media and Libraries 27 Widdhayaniwet Residence Hall The Press & Television Sasa International House Radio Suksit Nives International House Libraries Useful links for accommodation in Thailand Chulalongkorn University: Upon Arrival in Thailand: History 32 Transportation from the Airport 8 General Information 33 Establishing Contact with the API Office 9 Faculties, Schools, Colleges and Institutes Checking and Reporting 10 Travel inside the University Visa extension Re entry permit Thailand in Brief: Introduction 34 Staying in Thailand: Geography General Information 13 Climate Date & Time Population Business Hours History 36 Thai Public Holidays Religion 38 Money and Banking 15 Government & Socio Economic Situation 39 Currency Government Banks Political Crisis Credit & debit cards Socio Economic Situation Health and Safety 16 Language 41 Infectious diseases Thai Language Courses Hospitals Festival & Events 43 Pharmacies Food 46 Transportation 19 Air Directories: Train Emergency Calls 47 Bus (long distance) Embassies & Consulates 47 Bus (around Bangkok) Banks 48 Taxi Useful Contact Details 49 SkyTrain (BTS) & Subway train (MRT) Other Useful Websites 50 Boat

5 Preparations Prior to Arrival in Thailand Visa Research Permit For those who will conduct research in Thailand for less than 90 days, in addition to the Non Immigrant Category RS visa (which is for those who will conduct scientific research or training or teaching in a research institute), other sub categories of Non Immigrant Category visas are also available. Please check the regulations and further procedures at the Royal Thai Embassy of your home country and/or the country where you wish to apply a visa from. Non Immigrant Category RS visa is applicable for those who wish to conduct research in Thailand and allows them to extend their stay in Thailand up to 1 year. In order to obtain this visa, a permit from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) is necessary. To obtain the Non Immigrant (RS) visa, it is a REQUIREMENT to get research permission from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). For this purpose, Fellows should submit the following to their host institution 4 MONTHS IN ADVANCE so that the host institution can assist with submitting the applications to the NRCT on their behalf. 1. Completed Application Form (NRCT 01), which should be downloaded from the NRCT website: foreignresearcher.org; 2. Details of the research project proposal required in NRCT 01 Form (under Item 2.5); 3. A letter of reference on official letterhead from the Fellows supervisor or department head at their home institution to verify their position and institutional affiliation (for Fellows working independently, API Partner Institutions in their home countries are in a position to issue this letter for them); 4. Letters of reference on official letter head from Fellows Host Institution (as indicated under item 3.7 of NRCT 01 form); 5. Three photographs sized 3 x 4 cm.; 6. A copy of the Grant Letter from The Nippon Foundation; 7. The complete report from the most recent project completed under the NRCT s supervision (if any). Foreign researchers will be classified into one of 4 categories by the NRCT (please refer to Article 8 in Chapter 1 of the NRCT regulations) and most API Fellows are likely to be classified under the 4 th category with the requirement of a deposit (10,000 baht). Upon approving an application, the NRCT will issue a Research Permission Letter and will send it to the Fellow and his/her host institution (for example, if you are affiliated at the Institute of Asian Studies or IAS at Chulalongkorn University where the API office is located, the letter will be sent to both you and the API office). For those who will be affiliated with the IAS, please send a copy of your passport (only the pages containing personal information) to the API office in Thailand. The IAS will issue a Letter of Visa Endorsement that will be sent to the Fellows. It is strongly encouraged that you thoroughly study the NRCT Regulations on the Permission for Foreign Researchers to Conduct Research in Thailand B.E and the NRCT Guidelines for Foreign Researchers. API Thailand Information Kit Page 1

6 For Fellows who plan to bring their family members, please also read the information on visa extensions carefully for a thorough preparation. The following are required to be submitted to the Royal Thai Embassy to request a Non Immigrant (RS) visa: 1. A passport with a validity of not less than six (6) months. A validity of 18 months is required for a one year visa application; 2. A completed visa application form, available at the local Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate General; 3. Two (2) photographs (4 x 6 cm) that have been taken within the past six (6) months; 4. The Grant Letter from The Nippon Foundation; 5. A Letter of Visa Endorsement from the Fellow s Host Institution in Thailand (if any); 6. A Research Permission Letter from the NRCT; 7. Birth Certificates of children (if accompanied by children); 8. Certificate of Marriage (if accompanied by spouse). IMPORTANT: Fellows are advised to check the information needed with the local Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate General to ensure that there are no additional requirements/changes that have been put in place If every document is in order, the visa processing at the local Royal Thai Embassy will take only a few days. Fellows will then be granted a Non Immigrant (RS) visa which will allow them to stay in Thailand up to 90 days. Those who will stay in Thailand more than 90 days are required to extend their visa after their arrival in Thailand. 0BPlease see contact information of Thai Immigration Office, relevant Foreign Embassies and Consulates in Thailand, and others on Directory page. Medical Prior to your departure to Thailand for the fellowship period, it is strongly advised that you take a medical check up to ensure your well being and safety and keep the record with you in case of medical treatment in Thailand. API Thailand Information Kit Page 2

7 Checklist before You Leave for Fellowship Period in Thailand Validity of your passport? Six month validity will be requested upon your arrival to Thailand. Have you received a letter of acceptance from your Host Institution? If your research duration in Thailand is more than 90 days, it is a must to obtain permission from the NRCT. If so, have you processed the application four months prior to your arrival to Thailand? (And provided that extension process for the NRCT Research Permit is time consuming, have you stated a research period in Thailand one month longer than your actual research planned?) Have you prepared all the documents required for obtaining a non immigrant visa to enter Thailand for the duration of your fellowship? Have you given the Host Institution all the documents, including a copy of passport and a copy of the Grant Letter from The Nippon Foundation, and also provide some information about your profession, title of the proposed project and duration of stay in Thailand? (These are required for issuing the letter of Visa Endorsement by the Host Institution) Have you received a letter of Visa Endorsement from your Host Institution in Thailand for your visa application? Have you obtained a permission letter from the NRCT? (If applicable) Have you reserved a place to stay when you first arrive in Thailand? (If you need accommodation at Chulalongkorn University, be sure to inform the API Thailand well in advance.) Have you made all the necessary arrangements for your family, if they are coming with you (especially their visas)? Any restrictions on the amount of money you can take out of your country? Need permission to transfer money to Thailand? Have you prepared cash, either in Thai currency or another currency to be exchanged/ withdrawn at the airport at least for your immediate expenses on arrival in Thailand? Have you bought travel tickets and travel insurance, and checked your baggage allowance? (Excess baggage fee can be very expensive.) Typed or printed itinerary of your travel schedule from your airline agent? Any required letter from your doctor for any prescribed drugs you may need to bring with you? Have you checked with your local Royal Thai Embassy what must be declared to the customs? Do you have details of necessary contact names and phone numbers at your Host Institution, or API office in Thailand? Have you received or obtained information on how to get to your Host Institution from your airport or from your accommodation and how much it will it cost? Have you told your Host Institution and API office when you are arriving? Do you know who to contact when you arrive at your Host Institution? Planed your journey from your point of entry into Thailand to your final Destination? Have you submitted all API forms required prior to your arrival? API Thailand Information Kit Page 3

8 Accommodation Finding a suitable accommodation in Thailand is the Fellow s responsibility. However, Chulalongkorn University has some on campus facilities and if Fellows wish to stay in one of them, API office can facilitate the matter (you will then be entitled to the special rate). Please inquire well in advance, in case you need to stay at a Chulalongkorn facility. The information of accommodation facilities at Chulalongkorn University is as follows: Widdhayaniwet Residence Hall Reserved for teaching staff and 3 rd level and higher personnel (of Thai government officers), this residence hall has 252 air conditioned furnished rooms, out of which 189 are for long stay residents with an approved research project, and 63 for Chulalongkorn University personnel and outside guests participating in academic cooperation with the University. There are two types of rooms and the rates are as follows: 1. A single room: 600 baht per day 400 baht per day (with the IAS official letter) 15,000 baht per month 10,000 baht per month (with the IAS official letter) 2. A double room: 900 baht per day 600 baht per day (with the IAS official letter) 20,000 baht per month For more information, please call ~2. Widdhayaniwet Residence Hall is located next to the Sasa International House (refer to below). A laundry service is available and charged additional from the room rates. To use the service, you could ask for the laundry form at the front desk down stair. Note: To stay in these accommodations, you are asked to inquire in advance. The API Office will check the vacancies in the period you plan to stay and then prepare the letter of reservation issued by the Institute of Asian Studies which needs to be sent there prior to your arrival. API Thailand Information Kit Page 4

9 1B Sasa International House Placed under the supervision of Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration, Sasa International House is a hotel type facility designed to accommodate overseas students and guest lecturers and is equipped with a conference room, a restaurant, laundry room, a swimming pool, and an around the clock reception service. The house offers hotel standard service and amenities at reasonable prices and an international ambience with shady surroundings with trees and plants. Room Rates / Night (baht): 1BDaily Basis Single Double Discount Rates* President 2,500 2,800 2,000/2,240 Vice President 2,300 2,500 1,840/2,000 With the letter signed by IAS Director, entitled to a 20 % discount Monthly Basis Single Double President 1,700 1,900 Vice President 1,500 1,700 API Thailand Information Kit Page 5

10 Sasa International House is located in 254 Soi Chulalongkorn 12, Phyathai Rd., Bangkok Thailand. For more information, please call Fax: Suksit Nives International House Suksit Nives International House consists of rooms equipped respectively with air conditioning. With a total accommodating capacity of 194 rooms, the house is open to overseas students, teaching staff and researchers. Its service is run on a year round basis. Fees and other expenses can be divided as follows (in baht). Short term stay Single Double 1. Per room per day Per room per week 3,150 3, Per room per month 10,000 15,000 Long term stay (3 months and up) 7,500 5,000 Suksit Nives International House is located in Soi Chulalongkorn 6, Phyathai Rd., Bangkok Thailand. For more information please call ~6. API Thailand Information Kit Page 6

11 Map of Suksit Nives International House ส แยกเจร ญผล Charoen Phol Cross-Rd. ถ.พระรามท 1 Rama I Rd. ส แยกปท มว น Patumwan Cross-Rd. หอพ ก ศ กษ ตน เวศน Suksitnives Dormitory ซ.จ ฬาฯ 6 Soi Chula 6 สนามก ฬาแห งชาต National Stadium มาบ ญครอง MBK Centre ถ.พญาไท Phyathai Rd. สยามสแควร Siam Square คณะเภส ช ศาสตร Faculty of Pharmacy ซ.จ ฬา 12 Soi Chula12 สถาบ นบ ณฑ ตฯ ศศ นทร Sasin สมาคมน ส ตเก าจ ฬาฯ CU Alumni Assoc. Useful Links for Accommodation in Thailand Please visit below links to search for your accommodation aside from Chulalongkorn University residences: API Thailand Information Kit Page 7

12 Upon Arrival in Thailand Since Bangkok is the main destination for most international flights to Thailand, regardless of their destinations, Fellows are likely to arrive to Thailand via Suvarnabhumi Airport, the new Bangkok International Airport being in operation, for most domestic and all international commercial flights serving Bangkok, since The airport is located in Samut Prakan Province, 25 kilometers east of downtown Bangkok. For useful information on the airport, flights status and services please visit Transportation from the Airport Limousine Airport limousines can be hired from counters on Level 2 (Arrivals). The service will be charged on a flat fare by distance, starting from 500 baht. Public taxi Metered taxis are available on Level 1. Please queue up and state your destination at the Taxi desk, and you will get a slip with your destination written in Thai on it. There is a 50 baht surcharge on the meter. If you take an expressway, you will be requested to pay for the toll fee (45 baht and 25 baht). The trip to the city will cost around baht and take around minutes to travel, depending on traffic. Airport Rail Link Open daily between 6: hrs. The ticket counter is on Underground Level. The available service provides two options: (1) Suvarnabhumi Airport Express that directly connects airport to the City Air Terminal (Makkasan) train station in 15 minutes. This service will connect to the city s mass transit subway system; the normal rate is 150 baht; (2) Suvarnabhumi Airport City Line will make eight stops, taking 30 minutes to travel the 28 kilometers (17 miles) from the airport to the central cities and linking with the subway and SkyTrain stations, the rate is 15 to 45 baht. Note: There are promotions available occasionally. Please visit the airport website for updates. API Thailand Information Kit Page 8

13 Establishing Contact with API Office When arrive in Thailand, you need to notify of your arrival to the API Thailand office as well as to The Nippon Foundation and the Coordinating Institution. Please find below the contact information. You will then be arranged to meet concerned personnel(s) who can give you advice for your research activities in Thailand. Address: Institute of Asian Studies Chulalongkorn University 2 nd Floor, Prajadhipok Rambhai Barni Building Phyathai Rd., Bangkok Thailand Tel: Fax: E mail: api_fellowships@chula.ac.th Contact Person: Ms. Michiko Yoshida, Program Coordinator E mail: api_fellowships@chula.ac.th The office of the API Coordinating Institution (CI) is on the 3rd floor of the same building. For Fellows who reside one of the above on campus residences (Sasa International House or Widdhayaniwet Residence Hall), they can take a campus shuttle bus (pink bus free of charge) in front of Sasa International House. Bus no. 2 will take you to the Sala Prakeow (the terminal station) which is close to the API Thailand Office. API Thailand Information Kit Page 9

14 Checking and Reporting It is important for Fellows to check if they have obtained proper visa stamps upon their arrival at Passport Control. If they have not obtained the correct stamps for some reason, Fellows need to go to the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok to make the necessary corrections to the stamp. For Fellows who entered Thailand after obtaining permission from the NRCT, they need to keep up with the regulations of the NRCT in reporting themselves to the NRCT in person with their completed form (NRCT 02) within 7 days upon their arrival in Thailand. Fellows who are required to pay a deposit fee of 10,000 baht per project to guarantee their submission of a complete final report to the NRCT can do this in person at the NRCT office or via bank transfer prior to their reporting at NRCT. This deposit fee will be returned upon submission of the complete final report (both hard copy and CD) to the NRCT. Fellows then will receive an ID prepared by the NRCT and guidelines on reports there. Also, Fellows will be advised by the NRCT to report to their collaborating Thai researcher(s) or the participating organization(s) that they have listed in their research application before conducting research. Visa Extension In the cases of Fellows who plan to stay more than 90 days in Thailand, they must contact the NRCT 30 days prior to the indicated expiry date of their visa and request for the letter asking for visa extension from NRCT. Upon receiving the letter, Fellows are to report themselves to the Thai Immigration Bureau in Bangkok or in other provinces, depending on the locations of the Fellow s Host Institution. This should be done at least 2 weeks prior to the indicated expiry date of their visa to file for an extension of up to a year of their Non Immigrant visa. The following will be required for this process: 1. A completed visa extension application form, available at the Immigration Bureau office; 2. A completed form to acknowledge the conditions of stay in the Kingdom, (available at the Immigration Bureau and API office); 3. One recent photograph (4 x 6 cm); 4. A copy of the Grant Letter from The Nippon Foundation; 5. Photocopy of the passport (on A4 paper only), especially those pages that contain: Your personal data; Thai visa issued at the Royal Thai Embassy in your country of origin; Immigration arrival stamp (obtained at the airport); Immigration arrival card (the white card attached to your passport by a Thai immigration officer on arrival); 6. A letter from the NRCT certifying the research title, research duration, etc. of the Fellow and requesting the Thai Immigration Bureau to extend the Fellow s visa until the end of the fellowship period in Thailand; 7. Visa fee of 1,900 baht per person. For Fellows accompanied by their family members, additional documents needed apart from those mentioned above are: API Thailand Information Kit Page 10

15 1. A copy of each family member s passport (prepared in the same manner as that of the applicant s); 2. A Marriage Registration Certificate (if not in English, translation into English by a notarized translation agency with an approval stamp from the embassy of the Fellow s country of origin is required); 3. A Birth Certificate (in case a child accompanies the Fellow. If not in English, translation into English by a notarized translation agency with an approval stamp from the embassy of the Fellow s country of origin is required). For Fellows accompanied by a research assistant, they will need to clearly indicate the assistant s information (name, passport number) in their completed application forms to be submitted to the NRCT to let the NRCT be aware of the accompanying assistant and to arrange a research permission letter and a visa extension letter for the Thai Immigration Bureau accordingly. Notes: a. In case Fellows need to extend their period of stay in Thailand beyond what was stated in their application form to the NRCT, they have to apply for a research extension from the NRCT. Fellows will be required to submit the following documents to the NRCT in person or via at least 60 days prior to the indicated expiry date: Application for Research Extension Permission (NRCT 04); Previous summary report in English or Thai; A research plan during the extension period. After their research extension is approved, the NRCT will issue a new ID card and other concerned documents including the Letter of Visa Extension in accordance with the new research permit period. * To avoid this extension process, which requires substantial time and documentation, we strongly recommend that you state a research period in Thailand one month longer than your actual research period at the time of your initial application to the NRCT. b. According to the NRCT regulations, Fellows are required to submit the following to the NRCT: (1) A progress report in English or Thai using Form NRCT 03 to the NRCT office and/or collaborating Thai researcher(s) every 6 months; (2) A summary report of activities in English or Thai using Form NRCT 05 to the NRCT office and collaborating Thai researcher(s) prior to leaving Thailand; (3) One copy of the complete final report in English or Thai using Form NRCT 06, both hard copy and CD, to the NRCT within one year after completing the research in Thailand; (4) One copy of each published research article related to the research in Thailand, both hard copy and CD, within three months of publication in the spirit of disseminating research results in their country of origin. API Thailand Information Kit Page 11

16 c. Even for those who have already obtained a One Year Multiple Entry Visa from the Royal Thai Embassy in your country of origin, proper extension at the Thai Immigration Bureau is STILL REQUIRED. d. Anyone planning to stay in Thailand for any length of time should keep a ready supply of photos and copies of his/her passport. These are always handy in case of the passport being lost. Re Entry Permit In instances when the Fellow leaves Thailand temporarily during his/her Fellowship Period, a Re Entry Permit (either single or multiple permit) needs to be obtained from the Thai Immigration Bureau prior to departure. Failure to do so will invalidate their research visas. The whole process of application for a visa will then have to be repeated if the Fellow is to enter Thailand again to complete his/her Fellowship period. The fee for a single reentry permit is 1,000 baht and 3,800 baht for a multiple re entry permit (for a period of Fellow s Thai visa validity, and not more than 1 year). A passport sized photo (4 x 6 cm.) and a completed Re Entry Permit Application Form are required. Note: Any visa related forms can be downloaded from the website of the Thai Immigration Bureau: API Thailand Information Kit Page 12

17 Staying in Thailand General Information 15BDate & Time The official Thai calendar is calculated from the beginning of the Buddhist Era in 543 BC. The year 2011 AD is therefore 2554 BE. The year is subdivided into 12 months, the same as the Roman calendar. Thailand standard time is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (same as Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and the western zone of Indonesia). At noon in Bangkok or Jakarta is 13:00 hrs. in Kuala Lumpur or Manila and 14:00 hrs. in Tokyo. 16Business Hours Business hours are from around 8:00 or 8:30 to 17:30 hrs., Monday through Friday. Some businesses are open Saturdays full or half a day. Government offices are open 8:30 16:30 hrs., Monday through Friday. Banks open from 8:30 to 15:30 hrs, Mondays through Fridays. Money changing kiosks open 8:30 16:00 hrs. daily or longer, depending on the locations. Post offices hours are 8:30 16:30. Department stores are open 10:00 21:00 or 22:00 hrs., seven days a week. Shops, restaurants, and pharmacies open at 8:30 or 9:00 hrs; most close at 22:00 hrs. There are small differences in each place. Thai Public Holidays January1 New Year s Day The beginning of the western New Year is a national holiday in Thailand, one of three "New Year" holidays celebrated every year. January 2 Substitution for New Year s Eve Day January 3 Substitution for New Year s Day March 7 Makha Buja Day Makha Buja celebrates the Buddha's first sermon in to his disciples. April 6 Chakri Day Chakri Day commemorates the founding of Thailand s current dynasty. April Songkran Festival Songkran (April 13) is the traditional Thai New year, generally celebrated as a water festival. May 1 National Labour Day International labor day is celebrated as a national holiday. May 5 Coronation Day Celebrates the day in 1949 when the current king was crowned. May 7 Substitution for Coronation Day June 4 Visakha Buja Day The holiest Buddhist holiday to celebrate the birth, enlightenment and entry into nirvana of the Buddha. August 2 Asarnha Buja Day The anniversary of the Buddha s first sermon. API Thailand Information Kit Page 13

18 August 3 Khao Phansa Day The first day of the Buddhist Lent of three months August 12 H.M. The Queen s Birthday Her Majesty the Queen's birthday is a national holiday, also serving as the country's Mother s Day. August 13 Substitution for H. M. The Queen s Birthday October 23 Chulalongkorn Memorial Day Celebrates the birthday of one of Thailand's most revered kings. December 5 H.M. The King s Birthday His Majesty the King's birthday is celebrated throughout the country and also serves as the nation's Father s Day. December 10 Constitution Day December 10th celebrates the date in 1932 when the country was granted its first constitution. December 31 New Year s Eve The day before the western new year day is always a national holiday 2013 January 1 New Year s Day The beginning of the western New Year is a national holiday in Thailand, one of three "New Year" holidays celebrated every year. March 11 Makha Buja Day Makha Buja celebrates the Buddha's first sermon in to his disciples. April 6 Chakri Day Chakri Day commemorates the founding of Thailand s current dynasty. April 8 Substitution for Chakri Day April Songkran Festival Songkran (April 13) is the traditional Thai New year, generally celebrated as a water festival. April Substitution for Songkran Festival May 1 National Labour Day International labor day is celebrated as a national holiday. May 5 Coronation Day Celebrates the day in 1949 when the current king was crowned. May 6 Substitution for Coronation Day May 24 Visakha Buja Day The holiest Buddhist holiday to celebrate the birth, enlightenment and entry into nirvana of the Buddha. July 30 Asarnha Buja Day The anniversary of the Buddha s first sermon. July 31 Khao Phansa Day The first day of the Buddhist Lent of three months August 12 H.M. The Queen s Birthday Her Majesty the Queen's birthday is a national holiday, also serving as the API Thailand Information Kit Page 14

19 27B country's Mother s Day. October 23 Chulalongkorn Memorial Day Celebrates the birthday of one of Thailand's most revered kings. December 5 H.M. The King s Birthday His Majesty the King's birthday is celebrated throughout the country and also serves as the nation's Father s Day. December 10 Constitution Day December 10th celebrates the date in 1932 when the country was granted its first constitution. December 31 New Year s Eve The day before the western new year day is always a national holiday Money and Banking Currency The Thai monetary unit is the baht, which is subdivided into 100 satang. Sometimes, 25 satang is called one saleng but this term is rapidly disappearing as the value of the baht diminishes. Coins are used in denominations of 25 satang (brass), 50 satang (brass), 1 baht (silver), 2 baht (silver and gold), 5 baht (silver with a copper rim), and 10 baht (brass with a silver margin). Bank note denominations comprise 20 baht (green), 50 baht (blue 2 types as the new one is being launched in January 2012), 100 baht (red), 500 baht (purple) and 1,000 baht (grey). Both coins and bank notes have western and Thai numerals on them. Banks Most banks in Thailand open from 8:30 to 15:30 hrs., Monday to Friday (except national holidays). However, the branches attached to department stores are open every day, with longer service hours. The main Thai commercial banks (Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Thai, Siam Commercial Bank, Krung Thai Bank) have branches throughout the country. Foreign banks also offer commercial banking services. Most banks in Thailand have a nationwide network of ATM machines that dispense Thai baht only. The ATMs usually have Thai and English language displays and will accept the cards of other Thai banks, and foreign cards that use internationally recognized electronic banking systems. Many teller machines will also accept VISA or MasterCard (the logos are visibly displayed). Note: For the Fellow who needs to open a new bank account in Thailand, official documents are required. Usually banks accept an ID issued by the NRCT, however, if you do not have one, API Thailand Office will prepare a letter of certificate issued by the Institute of Asian Studies (API Partner Institution) for this purpose, upon request. Please see the list of commercial banks in Thailand in Directories on page 48. Currency Exchange Cash and travelers cheques can be exchanged for Thai currency at banks, legal money exchangers, hotels, mobile exchange kiosks in tourist areas, and in department stores and shopping centers. The best rates can usually be found in the banks. US dollars API Thailand Information Kit Page 15

20 and pounds sterling are the most widely accepted currencies, while travelers cheques get better rates than cash. There is no limit to the amount of Thai or foreign currency you can bring into Thailand. However, the maximum amount of Thai currency that can be exported is 50,000 baht per person. No restrictions are placed on export of foreign currencies. Dollar accounts may be opened at banks in Thailand so long as the funds are sourced overseas. Credit & Debit Cards Credit cards are widely accepted in shops, hotels and restaurants throughout the country. They can also be used for cash advances at banks, exchange counters and as debit cards from ATM machines. The most widely accepted cards are VISA, MasterCard, American Express, JCB (Japanese Card Bureau) and Diners Club. Credit card fraud is a problem in Thailand. Don t leave your card in a hotel room or unattended at any time. When using it in a shop, try to keep your eye on the shop assistant they have been known to run off more than one receipt at a single transaction. Always check the amount in the receipt carefully before you sign it. If your card is lost or stolen, report it immediately to one of the following offices: VISA Tel: Master Card Tel: American Express Tel: Diners Club Tel: Health and Safety Bangkok and most large cities in Thailand have numerous clinics and hospitals catering to a variety of needs. Major public and private hospitals are equipped with the latest medical technology and internationally qualified specialists. Almost all pharmaceuticals are widely available. It is however difficult to find reliable medical care in remote rural areas. Infectious Diseases No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless you are coming to Thailand from countries where yellow fever is prevalent, in which case a yellow fever vaccination is required. Yellow fever vaccination in Thailand is available at the Health Quarantine section of Suvanhaphumi Airport and the Bamrasnadura Institute. A consultation with the Medical Service is advised for inoculations against Hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis, oral polio, influenza vaccine and meningococcal meningitis. Vaccines for children and vaccines for pre and post exposure to rabies are available in hospitals. Avian Influenza Avian influenza ( bird flu ) is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The infection can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms in birds, ranging from mild illness, which may pass unnoticed, to a rapidly fatal disease that can API Thailand Information Kit Page 16

21 cause severe epidemics. Avian influenza viruses do not normally infect humans. However, there have been instances of certain highly pathogenic strains causing severe respiratory disease in humans. In most cases, the people infected had been in close contact with infected poultry or with objects contaminated by their faces. Nevertheless, there is concern that the virus could mutate to become more easily transmissible between humans, raising the possibility of an influenza pandemic. To be on the safe side, especially during the outbreak, avoid live poultry or eggs, wash your hands frequently and seek medical attention if you develop a fever and respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath etc). Influenza A (H1N1)/Swine Flu/2009 Influenza Since the first outbreak on April 28, 2009, many Thais had been affected by the influenza H1N1. The symptoms of Swine flu are exactly similar to other human seasonal influenza such as coughing, lack of appetite, fatigue and high fever. Few people have also reported other symptoms like 2Hdiarrhea, vomiting, nausea and sore throat. The following are the symptoms of Swine Influenza: Lack of appetite Diarrhea Vomiting Nausea Running nose Sore throat Headache Coughing Fatigue Fever Muscle pain People who are more prone to swine flu constitute: People who are 65 years and above People who suffer from asthma, diabetes and heart diseases Small children Pregnant women People with very low immunity Swine influenza creates plenty of complications. They include: Ear infections Sinus infection 3HBronchitis 4HPneumonia Death If people do not understand 5H2009 flu symptoms, the disease can easily be transmitted through sneezing, coughing through infected solid objects, kissing, touching the eyes, ears and mouth with infected hands. It will not get transmitted by eating pork. Understand the possibilities and stay away from possible infection as long as you can. API Thailand Information Kit Page 17

22 12BTips to stay Away from Swine Flu: Ensure that you keep your mouth, nose and face covered when you are amidst the infected people. Be clean. Wash your hands and legs frequently. Do not get in contact with any of the infected person. Always use a handkerchief or face mask when you go out. 28BHospitals General practitioners, dentists and opticians are readily available. Doctors and staff in the larger hospitals generally speak good English. Every major town in Thailand will have a public hospital, but these can be poorly equipped and overcrowded. However, there is a good number of private hospitals and we recommend these for easier communication and better service. Most general practitioners work at polyclinics, which offer a walk in service from 8:00 to 21:00 hrs. Clinics offer a full range of services, including laboratory facilities, tests can be conducted and the results known, within a very short period of time. Currently the fee for seeing the doctor will be around baht, and the total bill, including medication, may be no more than 1,000 baht. Hospitals also offer a walk in service, where you can see a general practitioner, during the daytime. Many also offer a 24 hour emergency room service. All hospitals have ambulances but they are mostly used to transfer patients. Emergency numbers are only useful if you can speak Thai. If you need help contact the Tourist Police (Call 1699). In the event of car accident, an ambulance is not always called. In many instances, a passing motorist will take the injured to hospital. 2BRecommended Private Hospitals in Bangkok: Bangkok Hospital 2, Soonvijai Soi 7, New Petchburi Rd., Bangkok Tel: , Bumrungraj Hospital 33, Sukhumvit Soi 3 (North Nana), Watthana, Bangkok Tel: Fax: Samitivej Hospital 133 Sukhumvit 49, Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok Tel: , Fax: (Srinakarin Branch) 488, Srinakarin Rd., Suanluang, Bangkok Tel: Fax: API Thailand Information Kit Page 18

23 Phra Rama 9 Hospital 99 Phra Rama 9 Rd.., Huaykhwang, Bangkabi, Bangkok Tel: Fax: Bangkok Christian Hospital 124, Silom Rd., Bangkok Tel: , , Fax: Phayathai I Hospital 364/1, Sri Ayutthaya Rd., Rachatawee, Bangkok Tel: Call Center: 1772 Fax: Pharmacies A pharmacy will be found on most streets in Thailand. They sell a wide range of products, both locally and internationally produced. However they may not have your particular brand. If you have special requirements it is a good idea to consult your doctor at home and bring adequate supplies with you, or make sure you know the generic name for any medication that you may require. Note: Basic travel insurance for accident and injury during the Fellowship period will be provided for the Fellow. The exact provision will be based on the recommendations of the API Executive Committee. The Fellow is advised to purchase additional insurance for him/herself and the accompanying family member if he/she finds it necessary. Transportation 17BGetting around Thailand Mode of transportation in Thailand is varied with no single dominant one. Bus transport dominates in long distances and Bangkok, with motorbikes dominating in rural areas for short trips. Road transportation is the primary form of freight transport across the country. Slow rail travel has long been a rural long distance transport mechanism. Domestic air transport, which until recently had been dominated by a select few air carriers, has recently seen a surge in popularity due in large part to the expanding services of low cost carriers. In Bangkok and other large cities, public motorbike taxis take people door to door. An overwhelming number of taxis can also be found in Bangkok. Following country's first rapid rail transit line opened in 1999 in Bangkok, the new subway, is running smoothly. The subway complements the existing SkyTrain and is linked to it by three interchange stations at important junctions. Private automobiles, whose rapid growth contributed to Bangkok's notorious traffic congestion over the past two decades, has risen in popularity. A motorway network across Thailand has been gradually implemented, with motorways completed in API Thailand Information Kit Page 19

24 Bangkok and most of central Thailand. Areas with navigable waterways often have boats or boat service, and many innovative means of transport exist such as tuk tuk, vanpool, or songtaew in provincial towns. 29BAir Airport Information Thailand has 11 major international airports across the country. The main gateway to Thailand and hub of domestic air transport is the Suvarnabhumi Airport which has replaced the former airport at Don Muang since 2006 for all Bangkok arriving and departing domestic and international flights. Don Muang airport currently serves only domestic flights operated by two local airlines (Nok Air, One Two Go Airlines). While most international flights arrive at and depart out of Bangkok, there are a few routes servicing Thailand s other international airports. Besides Bangkok, the Chiang Mai International Airport has scheduled flights to many regional capitals. Phuket has a few flights to certain European destinations without a layover in Bangkok. Additional international airports include Chiang Rai, which is designated as international but is not currently receiving flights from abroad., Hat Yai, Samui and Sukhothai. Samui and Sukhothai airports are privately owned by Bangkok Airways. There are plans to add international flights to Udon Thani (the closest provincial airport to the Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Laos), and Khon Kaen. Major Airlines in Thailand Airline Address Tel. Website Bangkok Airways Nok Air One two go Thai AirAsia Thai Airways International 99 Mu 14, Vibhavadirangsit Rd., Chom Phon, Chatuchak, Bangkok, th Floor, Rachadakarn Building, 183 South Sathorn Rd., Yannawa Bangkok (International) 138/70, 17th Floor Jewellery Center Building, Nares Rd., Bangrak, Bangkok / Moo 3, Vipavadee Rangsit Rd., Talad Bangkhen, Laksi, Bangkok Vipavadee Rangsit Rd, Chattuchak, Bangkok API Thailand Information Kit Page ~ For further information, please contact: 6HAirports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) Tel: Fax: , E mail: nbia@bangkokairport.co.th; and The Department of Aviation, Ministry of Transport Tel: to 9, Fax: , , Train Thailand has an extensive railway network, reaching to the furthest area of the country. It covers four main line the northern, southern, northeastern and eastern lines.

25 The only rail option into and out of Thailand is via Malaysia. The State Railway of Thailand and Malaysian Railway meet at Butterworth, 93 km. south of the Thai Malaysian border, a transfer point to Penang or Kuala Lumpur. There is a connection points with the Cambodian Railway at Aranya Prathet (end of the Eastern Line). However, after many years of war in Cambodia, the connection is no longer used. A rail link to Laos, at Nong Khai is under construction and will open link to Vientiane soon. The time table of each line is available from the website of the State Railway of Thailand: Bangkok has three principal stations: one at Hue Lamp Hong on Rama IV roa. which is the main station, not too far from the campus of Chulalongkorn University, two, the Thornburg Station, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and three, the Wong Wean Yak Station, also on the Thornburg side of Bangkok, very close to the King Haskin Monument. Reservation Tickets between any stations in Thailand can be purchased at Hue Lampung station and online booking is also available via The office is open every day from 5:00 to 23:00 hrs. Advance booking office (Tel: , ext. 5217, 5229 or hotline 1690) is open from 8:30 to 16:00 hrs. Advance tickets are available daily, except for third class tickets, at all principal stations one to 60 days before the date of departure. But note that bookings via telephone are not allowed. Train tickets can also be purchased at certain travel agencies in Bangkok but they usually add a surcharge to the ticket price. Passengers going to Sami, Kari, Pagan and Puget can also purchase joint traincoach boat tickets prior to traveling at the advance booking offices. For further information, contact the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). For more information, please contact: State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Tel: , , and , E mail: 7Hinfo@railway.co.th; 34BClasss 35BDifferent types of trains are available, depending on speed, convenience and comfort. Special express trains, express trains and rapid trains run on the long haul routes to the north, northeast and south. The speed depends on the number of stops taken. The fewer stops, the faster the train. Ordinary trains are available on almost every route with a distance greater than 150 km from Bangkok. Special services, such as certain tour trains, are available only on weekends and public holidays. Carriages come in three levels of comfort and service: first class, second class and third class. Facilities for each class also vary depending on whether you are on an ordinary, rapid or express train: First class carriages provide private cabins for singles or couples. Each cabin has an air conditioner, a small table, and a long bench seat that converts into a bed. Drinking water and towels are provided. First class carriages are available only on express and special express trains; Second class has seating arrangements similar to those of buses. The seats can be adjusted to a reclining angle or bed, good enough for an overnight trip. For sleeper trains, the lower beds are the best by far and are much bigger than the upper beds, both with curtains for privacy. Second class is available on rapid and express trains; API Thailand Information Kit Page 21

26 Third class is okay for short trips only. It s not recommended for long routes as the seats are quite hard and the carriages are often very crowded. Express and rapid services on the main lines offer first class, air conditioned or second class, fan cooled cars with sleeping cabins and dining cars. There are also special airconditioned express day coaches that travel to key towns along the main lines. 30Bus (Long Distance) Buses are a major method of transportation for people and packages, and are the most popular means of long distance travel in Thailand. It is inexpensive, reliable and punctual. Public bus services (long distance) is under operation by The Transport Company, a state enterprise. Large numbers of private companies run bus service between most destinations. Fares may vary from company to company but can be substantially more than public buses. Online reservation can be made with some companies only. Advance ticket can be purchased at the Bus stations daily. For further information, please contact: The Transport Co., Ltd. Tel: , , Fax: ; Central Bus Terminal Tel: , Bus (Around Bangkok) The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) is charged with providing bus service in Bangkok and the nearby provinces (i.e. Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan and Nakhon Pathom Provinces). Buses in Bangkok come in a number of sizes, colors and varieties. Fares vary with each different type of bus. Buses stop only when needed, so wave them down (arm out, palm down) when you see one barreling your way. Pay the roaming collector after you board and keep the ticket as there are occasional stop checks. Press the signal buzzer (usually near the door) when you want to get off. Bus maps can be found at any English bookstores. Information of bus route and service time can be checked from BMTA website: Types of Buses and Fares Type Bus Color Fare (baht) Service Time Regular bus Cream Red hrs. Regular bus White Blue hrs. Expressway bus Cream Red hrs. All night service bus Cream Red hrs. Air conditioned bus Cream Blue hrs. (depending on the distance traveled) EURO II bus Yellow Orange hrs. (depending on the distance traveled) Taxis Metered taxis are available throughout Bangkok. Make sure the driver turns on the meter when you set off, especially if you are starting from the airport. Try to have plenty of small bills and loose change handy as taxi drivers seldom have any themselves. If you go on the Expressway, the passenger must pay the toll fees. API Thailand Information Kit Page 22

27 As noted under Upon Arrival in Thailand, a 50 baht surcharge is added to public taxi fares from the airport. Otherwise, the minimum fare is 35 baht for the first two km. After that, the fare goes up at a rate of 4.50 baht per km between the third and 12 th km, 5 baht per km between the 12 th and 20 th km and 5.50 baht per km for the remaining distance. If you get stuck in a traffic jam, the fare rises at a rate of 1.25 baht per minute. For destinations out of Bangkok, the fare has to be agreed upon beforehand, regardless of the number of passengers and the luggage. Very few non metered taxis still exist from the old days. The fare depends on the distance, traffic, weather (if it rains, the traffic is usually worsen and hence fare will rise) and the negotiating skills of the hirer (in the case of a long distance). Average fares in Bangkok are between 50 baht to 200 baht. There have been cases of robbery and even murder, especially with non metered taxi drivers. Be on the safe side; only go with metered taxis and be cautious. 31BSkyTrain (BTS) & Subway (MRT) The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) SkyTrain opened to the public in December 1999 and so far has proved very popular with Thais and visitors alike. Currently, the BTS system has two routes, the Sukhumvit Line and the Silom Line, with a total distance of approximately km, with Siam Square as the BTS interchange station. To use this service, you need to buy a card at the slot machines situated near the entrance. Prices of the cards are up to the distance you wish to go. The fares range from 15 to 40 baht. You can use bank notes to buy a ticket with the ticket vending machines or you may exchange bank notes for 5 or 10 baht coins at the booth service where you may choose to buy monthly 30 day SmartPass for 15, 25, 35 or 45 times of travel. The prices are 345 baht, 550 baht, 735 baht, and 900 baht respectively (including not refundable 30 baht issuing fee). A stored card (Sky SmartPass) is also available starting from 100 baht to 2,000 baht, with 30 baht issuing fee and another 30 baht deposit fee. Unlimited 1 day passes are also available for 120 baht. For more information, please contact: SkyTrain Information (BTS) Tel: ( The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit is Bangkok's underground metro system. It is more commonly called rotfai taidin, literally, "underground train". The 21 kilometer, 18 station Blue line presently runs from Bang Sue to Hua Lamphong via Phra Ram 9 and has a carrying capacity of 40,000 people in each direction per hour. There are one, three, fifteen and thirty day cards. All are for unlimited travel and for that time only from first use and cost 100 baht, 280 baht, 600 baht and 1,200 baht respectively. For more information, please contact: Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand Tel Fax ( API Thailand Information Kit Page 23

28 Boat Bangkok s canals have traditionally been used for transportation of people and products. These days, the river and a few of the canals are still used by commuters and travelers to get around the city. The long tailed boat taxis are fast and a good way of avoiding the traffic jams. Scheduled boat taxi services ply the Chao Phraya River, Saen Saeb Canal and Lard Prao Canal. Many river taxis are just cross river ferries, while others serve the many landing stages on both banks and cover routes that go upriver as far as the northern suburb of Nonthaburi. Getting about by boat taxi can be dangerous and inconvenient in the rainy season. At rush hour, avoid standing at the edge of the crowded dock. For more information, please contact: Chao Phraya Express Boat Tel: , , ~3 Ext. 100, 101, 106; Post and Communication The postal network in Thailand can reach to even the most remote villages in the country, with standardized international registered mail services available at all post offices. International direct dialing telephone services are available in all tourist centers and at most hotels and guesthouses. While the Internet is still not widely used in many remote areas of the country, access can be found wherever there are tourists, and at very inexpensive rates. Postal Services Postal services within Thailand are cheap and well organized. Stamps can be purchased at post offices, hotels and many convenience stores. Hotels will generally post your letters too. Regular post is not recommended for parcels or high value items. For a slightly higher fee, letters or packages can be sent by registered Express Mail Service (EMS). API Thailand Information Kit Page 24

29 The cost here depends on the destination and the weight of the package, and, in the case of international destination, how it is sent. Parcels must be wrapped in approved packaging, which can be done for you at the post office. Poste restante facilities are available at main post offices nationwide. You have to present your passport and pay a small fee to collect mail from the poste restante counter. Sometimes mail is filed under given names instead of surnames. Avoid this problem by asking whoever is writing to you to capitalize and underline your surname. Most post offices are open from 8:30 to 16:30 hrs., Monday to Friday, and 8:30 to 12:00 hrs. on Saturdays. The Central Post Office is located on Charoen Krung (New) road, Bangkok. For further information, please contact: Thailand Post Co., Ltd.: 111 M.3 Changwattana Rd., Laksi, Bangkok, Thailand Tel: , Fax: About Complaints and Service: Hot Line: 1545 or Tel: E mail: 8Hpostalcare@thailandpost.co.th Door to Door Pickup Service of International EMS: Corporate and Marketing Communication Department Tel: E mail: 9Hems_pickup@thailandpost.co.th About Stamp: Postage Stamps and Philately Department Tel: E mail: 10Hstamp@thailandpost.co.th Courier Services International courier companies such as DHL, FedEx, UPS and TNT operate from Thailand and are a good but expensive way to send packages back home. The major courier companies in Thailand are: Courier Companies Contact Numbers Pioneer Air Cargo DHL Worldwide Federal Express , 1782 TNT Express Worldwide Thailand , API Thailand Information Kit Page 25

30 32BTelephone Services The telephone system within Thailand is run by the state run Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT) under the Communication s Authority of Thailand (CAT). International Calls International Direct Dialing can be made from your mobile phone (cheaper if you get a Thai sim card see more details under Mobil Telephones Service) and is available from hotels, guesthouses, private phones and international payphones (usually blue or yellow). Leading credit cards and international phone cards may be used from the payphones. To call directly, dial 001 for an international line, followed by the country code, area code and the telephone number. Alternatively, dial 100 for international operator assisted calls. You can make cost effective and economical calls throughout 24 hours by dialing (home phone/pct) or 008 or 009 (mobile phone) to more than 100 countries worldwide. The minimum service charge is one minute. Three international call rates are available depending on the time of day: standard rate is from 7:00 to 21:00 hrs.; economy rate is from 21:00 to 24:00 hrs. and 5:00 to 7:00 hrs.; reduced rate, the least expensive, is from 24:00 to 5:00 hrs. A hefty surcharge will probably be added to calls from hotel rooms or guesthouses. Large provincial post offices and the central post office on Charoen Krung road, Bangkok have a CAT center providing international calls with reverse charges or credit card payments, and fax services. The CAT centers are open 24 hours. Private shops offering international call services are available but the rates are always higher than the government. Local Calls Local phone calls can be made from public payphones except the blue and yellow international payphones. One baht, 5 baht and 10 baht coins can be used, as well as phone cards (available in denominations of 50 baht, 100 baht, 200 baht and 500 baht) in the green payphones. Certain payphones in hotels and private establishments only accept 5 baht and 10 baht coins. Calls from payphones within the same province cost 3 baht each dial (except for calls to cellular phones in which case the charge is 3 baht per minute). Dial the area code before telephone number. Malaysia and Laos are also covered by the long distance domestic service. For Laos, dial 008 followed by the country code 856, then the area code and number. For Malaysia, dial 008 followed by the country code 60, then the area code and number. CAT2Call is the PC to Phone, existing VoIP capabilities through technology facilitates such the service to be transmitted and delivered over the Internet and CAT Telecom s Network. You can call from any PC/Notebook and enjoy savings on long distance and international calls to worldwide. For more information, please visit Mobile Telephone Services Thailand is on a GSM network. Mobile operators in Thailand includes TrueMove, DTAC, Hutch, and AIS all of which will allow you to use their SIM cards in an imported phone, as long as your phone is not SIM locked. For short term visitors, one route is to buy a phone in Thailand along with a SIM card, telephone number and refill used minutes with API Thailand Information Kit Page 26

31 repaid phone cards. Bangkok is the best place to get started: MBK shopping mall has a whole section dedicated to new and used phones and phone cards can be bought from 7 Elevens. Rates are typically around 1 to 3 baht per minute anywhere in Thailand and between 5 to 30 baht per minute for international calls. Internet services Broadband Internet is readily available in major cities and towns, but is still to be sought after in smaller villages and in the countryside. The majority of Internet users in Thailand still rely on dial up access. Wireless Internet service is however available almost everywhere in Bangkok and in large provincial town. Dial up prepaid Internet packs, Wi fi and 3G account can be readily bought in convenience stores and other places. For longer stay, subscribers of fixed telephone lines by TOT and True Corporation have access to dial up Internet and/or Wifi and then billed on a monthly basis clients who sign up for at least 12 months will receive a better deal. Application for Internet Access inside Chulalongkorn University Fellows who are affiliated with the Institute of Asian Studies (IAS), Chulalongkorn University are eligible to apply for internet account of the University. The documents which are required for the process of application are as follows: 1. Two copies of passport 2. Supporting Letter from the IAS to the Director of IT office, stating your full name, position, duration of research in Thailand and request for the IT to issue you an internet account. Fellows who will be affiliated with the IAS, who wish to arrange this service, should inform the API office. 40BMedia & Libraries The Press Mass Circulation Dailies 1HThai Rath Thailand s most influential newspaper. Prominently features sensationalist stories on crime and accidents. Its political stance is moderately populist. High circulation is due to its populist stance and hence its acceptance with the public opinion of the general population, in particular, the majority rural market. 12HDaily News Very similar in style and substance to Thai Rath. 13HKhao Sod The third circulation among Thai newspapers. Khao Sod is a part of Matichon Pcl, a publishing group. Editorial line is moderate to liberal. Keen on crime news, and also concentrate on environment and ordinary people rights. 14HKom Chad Luek Owned by the 15HNation Multimedia Group. Political stance is a conservative, non populist, and moderately anti government. Hence API Thailand Information Kit Page 27

32 19H ASTV most of its sales are concentrated toward the business and upper to middle income groups, who generally support non populist conservative stance, but are well educated. Quality Dailies Matichon This paper used to be considered essential reading for Thailand s educated classes but has received different views in the recent years, after being taken over by the media giant, GMM Grammy in Editorial line is moderate to progressive. 16HThai Post Its political stance is considered the most progressive of all Thai dailies. Naew Na Editorial line is progressive. Business Dailies Krungthep Turakij Owned by the 17HNation Multimedia Group. This paper is also popular with Thai intellectuals. Political stance is progressive. Post Today Owned by Post Publishing Pcl, publishers of the 18HBangkok Post. Phoojadkarn Daily The core asset of 20HSondhi Limthongkul s media empire, 21HManager Media Group. The online edition of the paper is Thailand s most popular news website. English Language Dailies 2HBangkok Post Its major shareholders include the Chirathivat family (owners of 23HCentral Group), the 24HSouth China Morning Post of 25Hong Kong and 26HGMM Grammy Pcl, a local media and entertainment firm. 27HThe Nation It is the flagship publication of the 28HNation Multimedia Group. Maintains a progressive editorial line. 29HInternational Herald Tribune The Global Edition of the New York Times is also available in many newspaper stands especially in shopping streets/centers and tourist spots. Semi Weekly Business Newspapers Prachachart Turakij Owned by Matichon Pcl. Siam Turakij Than Settakij Weekly Business Newspapers Krungthep Turakij Biz Week Part of Nation Multimedia Group. ASTV Phujatkarn Weekly Owned by the Manager Media Group. Weekly Newsmagazines Matichon Weekly Part of Matichon Pcl. Nation Weekend Owned by Nation Multimedia Group. API Thailand Information Kit Page 28

33 Other Newspapers Korat (Nakhonratchasima) Yomiuri Shimbun Japanese daily newspapers. Television 30HFree to air stations in Thailand include: 31HChannel 3 (BEC Bangkok Entertainment Company, under license from MCOT) 32HRoyal Thai Army TV (Channel 5, Royal Thai Army Radio and Television) 3HChannel 7 (Bangkok Broadcasting & Television Company Limited under license from Royal Thai Army.) 34HModern Nine TV (Channel 9, MCOT) 35HTelevision of Thailand channel 11 (national public television, the government Public Relations of department) 36HThai Public Broadcasting Service (Formerly 37HiTV (Thailand), operated by Shin Corp. under license from the Prime Minister's Office; transferred to Department of Public Relations in 2007 and renamed TITV, became TPBS in 2008.) Radio Thailand has upwards of 400 radio stations with more than 70 based in the metropolitan area. Most stations broadcast in Thai language only. Some offer English language programming with native English speaking DJs. Short wave radio stations include the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Canada and Radio Japan, all with English and Thai language programs. Radio France Internationale and Deutsche Welle broadcast short wave programs in French and German languages, respectively. Libraries 36BNational Library Thailand s National Library is situated on Samsen road in Thewet District. The library maintains an extensive collection of Thai books and literature, both ancient and modern, as well as a smaller selection of foreign language books. The main Vajirayan Building houses stone inscriptions and scripture cabinets. Other sections include the Thun Boriphat Music Library and the ancient archives room. Documentary projections, discussions and exhibitions are held from time to time. The library also offers a data search service The library is open daily to the public from 9:00 to 19:30 hrs., except for national holidays. Admission is free. To contact the National Library, please call , or visit their website API Thailand Information Kit Page 29

34 37BSiam Society & Baan Kamthieng The royally sponsored Siam Society, located at 131 Soi Asoke (Sukhumvit Soi 21), is set up to promote, preserve and research traditional Thai culture and arts. Founded in the 1900s, the Society is one of the best places to look for information on most non political topics in Thailand. A reference library within the complex is open to members of the public. The Journal of the Siam Society is one of the most comprehensive and respected publications on Thai heritage and culture. Within the grounds of the Siam Society are two traditional teak houses, one of which, Ban Kamthieng, was originally built in Chiang Mai over 200 years ago and transported to its present site piece by piece in the 1960s. The second house, Ban Sangaroon, was donated to the Siam Society by the architect Sangaroon Ratagasikorn. It is a classic example of Central Plains style. Tools and implements used by Thai farmers and fishermen are on display and the surrounding lush tropical gardens are home to a large variety of flora and fauna. The complex gives a good idea what life would have been like a couple of centuries ago. Ban Kamthieng is open daily, except Sunday and Monday, hrs. and hrs. An admission fee of 50 baht is charged to help maintain the grounds. For more information, call to 7, Fax: The Neilson Hays Library The Neilson Hays Library was founded in 1869 by the Ladies Bazaar Association, which formed the Bangkok Ladies Library Association to serve the reading needs of the large English speaking community in Bangkok. The building and property now occupied by the library was part of an endowment received from Dr. Hayward Hays in 1922 in memory of his wife Jennie Neilson Hays who had been serving on the committee of the Library for at least 25 years. It is the oldest non profit association in the Kingdom of Thailand. The Library has large collection of out of print edition on Southeast Asia or a recent best seller. The 38Hlatest titles are ordered via the Internet on a monthly basis from the United States and Britain. The most current publications on Southeast Asia are acquired locally. The library also has an extensive 39HChildren's Collection of classics and current favorites for young readers of all ages. The library opens Tuesday Sunday, hrs. Address: 195 Suriwongse Rd., Bangkok 10500, Tel: , Fax: E mail: neilson@loxinfo.co.th; Center of Academic Resources (Chulalongkorn University) At present, the CAR includes the Office of the Director which is the administrative and support unit, together with five academic service centers, that is the Central Library (CL), the Thailand Information Center (TIC), the Audio visual Center (AV), 40Hthe International Information Center (IIC), and the Art Center. In addition to various functions operated by those five academic service centers, the CAR has introduced a computerized, integrated library system for the information services of each unit which provides access to the library holdings by connecting to the Chulalongkorn University Library Information Network 41H(CHULALINET). The CHULALINET allows the faculty members, students, and personnel within and without the University to gain access to over 400,000 items of books, periodicals, and research works stored at the faculty and institutional libraries all over Chulalongkorn University. API Thailand Information Kit Page 30

35 Office hours are as follows: Monday Friday Saturday Central Library 8:00 21:00 hrs. 9:00 16:00 hrs. Audio visual Center 8:00 21:00 hrs. 9:00 16:00 hrs. Thailand Information Center 8:00 19:00 hrs. 9:00 16:00 hrs. International Information Center 8:00 19:00 hrs. 9:00 16:00 hrs. For more information, contact Center for Academic Resources: Tel: , ; The Japan Foundation Library Japan Cultural Center, Bangkok (The Japan Foundation) runs the library of collection of books on Japan and Japanese language teaching in Japanese, Thai and English, video and cassette tapes for Japanese language teaching. The library provides for visitors Video decks and monitors for Japanese Language learning, Word processors for language teaching. It operates Monday to Friday, 9:00 19:00 hrs. and Saturday, 9:00 17:00 hrs. The library s mailing address is: Library, The Japan Foundation, Bangkok, 10 th floor, Serm Mit Tower, 159 Asoke road (Sukhumvit Soi 21), Bangkok Tel: , Fax: , E mail to 42Hinfo@jfbkk.or.th; API Thailand Information Kit Page 31

36 26BChulalongkorn University 18BHistory Chulalongkorn University, Thailand s first institution of higher learning, officially came into being in March, The groundwork and preparation for it in terms of planning and development, however, took place more than a century ago during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). In 1899 Prince Damrong Rajanupab, a younger brother of King Chulalongkorn who was the Minister of Interior at the time, submitted a proposal to found the Civil Service Training School with Phraya Wisutsuriyasak (M.R.Pia Malakul who later assumed the title of Chao Phraya Phrasadej Surendradhibodi) as the principal. However, since the students of the school had to work as royal page trainees in their third year of study before graduation, the name of the school was changed to the 43HRoyal Pages School in The Royal Pages School progressed steadily and produced an increasing number of graduates for the government each year. King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) saw that the original intention of his father, King Chulalongkorn was to establish an institution of higher learning, and that the curriculum should be expanded to include more disciplines so as to meet the expanding needs of the kingdom. Such disciplines included law, international relations, commerce, agriculture, engineering, medicine and teacher education. Thus King Vajiravudh ordered that the Royal Pages School become an institution of higher education and gave it the name the 4H Civil Service College of King Chulalongkorn on January 1, The Civil Service College received its original funding from the remaining sum of the money which had been contributed by members of the royal family, government officials and ordinary citizens to erect a statue of King Chulalongkorn the Great. King Vajiravudh furthermore graciously donated the palace of his brother, the late Crown Prince Vajirunhis, as the site of the college. He also gave a large plot of land adjacent to the palace in the Patumwan district measuring about 523 acres in area, for its present use and future expansion. Later the Administration Building was constructed as the first building which belonged to the college from the beginning. After the Civil Service College had been in operation for some time, King Vajiravudh considered that it had achieved a level of readiness. Therefore, he declared that it should become Chulalongkorn University, in honour of King Chulalongkorn, on March 26, When it was first founded, the university had 380 students taking classes in four faculties which were located in 2 campuses. The Faculty of Medicine was located at Siriraj Hospital while the Faculties of Public Administration and of Engineering were at the Administration Building and the Faculty of Arts and Science was located at Prince Vajirunhis palace. The latter three faculties were in Patumwan district. The Law School was under the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice until the university was ready to take over, and the Teachers Training School was handed over to the Ministry of Education. The categories of students were the same as in the old Civil Service College. In 1923, the university accepted high school graduates to study in the Faculty of Medicine, which was being supported by the Rockefeller Foundation to organize a Bachelor s Degree program. Five years later the first group of 18 graduates finished their studies, the first to be awarded degrees in the kingdom. In 1929, the Faculty of Public Administration became the Faculty of Law and Political Science. In 1933, after the establishment of constitutional monarchy in 1932, the government transferred this faculty API Thailand Information Kit Page 32

37 to Thammasat University, which was established in The result was that Chulalongkorn University had only three faculties during that time. The development of Chulalongkorn University continued. From 1934 to 1958, the university emphasized improvement of undergraduate education; thus more faculties were established. In 1961 the university set up the Graduate School to be responsible for graduate level education. From 1962 on, the university started to focus on graduate education and began to set up research centers and institutes. 3BGeneral Information Emblem Phra Kieo (photo right) is the emblem of Chulalongkorn University. The emblem is derived from a head ornament of highranking members of the royal family and was used as the personal emblem of King Chulalongkorn. Later on King Vajiravudh permitted it to be used as the emblem of the Civil Service College which subsequently became Chulalongkorn University. University Color Pink The color pink was chosen by the CU Student Union to be the symbolic color of Chulalongkorn University when the first traditional yearly football match between CU and TU was held in This is because Pink is the symbolic color of Tuesday, the day of the week on which King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) to whom the University owes its name, was born. Since that time, pink has been the University s color. 19BFaculties, Schools, Colleges and Institutes Faculties: 45HAllied Health Sciences, 46HArchitecture, 47HArts, 48HCommerce and Accountancy, 49HCommunication Arts, 50HDentistry, 51HEconomics, 52HEducation, 53HEngineering, 54HFine and Applied Arts, 5HLaw, 56HMedicine, 57HNursing, 58HPharmaceutical Sciences, 59HPolitical Science, 60HPsychology, 61HScience, 62HVeterinary Science. Schools: 63HGraduate School, 64HSchool of Sports Science. Colleges: 65HPopulation Studies, 6HPublic Health, 67HPetroleum and Petrochemical. Institutes: 68HAquatic Resources Research, 69HAsian Studies, 70HBiotechnology and Genetic Engineering, 71HEnergy Research, 72HEnvironmental Research, 73Health Research, 74HLanguage, 75HMerchant Marine, 76HMetallurgy and Materials Science Research, 7HSasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration, 78HSocial Research. Affiliated Institutions: 79HNursing College of the Thai Red Cross, 80HPolice Nursing College, 81HInstitute of Analytical Chemistry Training, Office of the University. 82HMain Functional Group: 83HOffice of Planning and Finance, 84HOffice of Academic Affairs, 85HOffice of Human Resources Management, 86HOffice of Physical Resources API Thailand Information Kit Page 33

38 Management, 87HOffice of Information Technology, 8HOffice of the Registrar, 89HCenter of Academic Resources, 90HCenter of Science and Technology Research Equipment. 91HSpecialized Functional Group: Office of President s Executive Secretariat, 92HOffice of Internal Audit, 93HOffice of Property Management, 94HOffice of International Affairs, Office of Information, 95HOffice of Alumni Relations, Office of Student Relations, Office of Development Projects Management (OECF). 96HSemi cooperative Functional Group: 97HPrinting Office, 98HBook Center, 9HSports Center, 10HRadio Station, 101HCenter of Continuing Education, 102HCenter of Academic Testing, 103HPress, 104HUnisearch, 105HStaff Residences, 106HSuksitniwet International House, Center of Welfare Services. 107HOther Functional Group: 108HIntellectual Property Institute, Admission Program for Rural Students, 109HGeneral Education Program, 10HInstitute of Thai Studies, 1HAmerican and Canadian Studies Program, 12HSoutheast Asia START Regional Center, 13HCenter for Buddhist Studies, 14HCenter for European Studies, 15HCenter for Arts and Culture, 16HMemorial Hall, 17HDhamma Center. Travel inside the University The shuttle bus service is available for traveling around Chulalongkorn University Campus, making it easier to move around. In present, there are 4 bus lines. Bus no. 1: Sala Phra Kieo Political Science Veterinary Science Dentistry Siamsquare MaBoonKrong (MBK) Pharmaceutical Sciences Architecture Fine&Applied Art Arts Cu Main Auditorium Engineering Sala Phra Kieo Bus no. 2: Sala Phra Kieo Science Education Center of Academic Resources CUD Primary School CU Sports Center Student Dormitory Witthayaniwet Sasin School of Sports Science University office Architecture Fine&Applied Art Arts Cu Main Auditorium Engineering Sala Phra Kieo Bus no. 3: Sala Phra Kieo Political Science Medicine Chulalongkorn Hospital Economics Commerce & Accountancy Science Education CUD Primary School CUD Secondary School U Center Law Architecture Fine&Applied Art Arts Cu Main Auditorium Engineering Sala Phra Kieo Bus no. 4: Sala Phra Kieo Economic Political Science Veterinary Science Dentistry Siam Quare Pharmaceutical Sciences Education CUD Primary School CUD Seconary School U Center Law Architecture Fine&Applied Art Arts Cu Main Auditorium Engineering Sala Phra Kieo The service is free of charge. API Thailand Information Kit Page 34

39 13BThailand in Brief 14BIntroduction Geography Thailand covers an area of 514,000 square kilometres in the centre of the South East Asian peninsula. It is bordered by Myanmar (Burma), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Cambodia and Malaysia, and has 2,420 kilometres of coast line on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman sea. For economic, social and ecological reasons, Thailand is usually classified into four geographical regions. They are: the central region (including Bangkok Metropolitan Region) comprising the basin of the Chao Phrya River which runs from north to south and after crossing Bangkok flows to the Gulf of Thailand. The central region is often called the "rice bowl" of Thailand being the most fertile area of the country. After the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, it enjoys the highest per capita income in the country. The northern region is mountainous and was traditionally the most heavily forested area of the country. In the recent years, however, overcutting has considerably reduced its forest resources. The main centre of population is in the narrow alluvial valleys along the four north south flowing rivers which unite in the northern central plain to form the Chao Phraya. The north eastern region (Isarn) constitutes approximately one third of the area of the Kingdom. The region is drained by the Mun and Chi rivers, both tributaries of the Mekong. Largely owing to lower and erratic rainfall and poorer soils than in other parts of the country, the north eastern provinces have the lowest per capita income in the country. The south eastern region: the south east, which comprises the hilly countryside from Bangkok to the Cambodian border, is characterized by higher rainfall and poorer soils than the adjoining central region. It is an important fruit, maize and cassava growing area and its coastline offers extensive opportunities for fisheries and tourism. The high rainfall also permits some rubber to be grown. The southern region: the southern peninsula has the highest rainfall in the country. It is the principal rubber growing area and contains extensive alluvial deposits of tin. The forests of the south have been seriously overcut as elsewhere in the Kingdom. In recent years, the region has suffered from severe floodings which are believed to have been amplified by deforestation and subsequent soil erosion. Climate Located outside the typhoon belt, Thailand can be divided into two climatic zones. The north, north east, south east and central regions including Bangkok have a climate with three distinct seasons: rainy, from June to October; cool, from November to February; and hot of highest temperatures and sunny weathers from March to May. Temperatures in Bangkok vary between 20 C in December and 38 C in April with an average humidity of 82 percent. Winter temperatures in the north can fall to approximately 10 C or lower. The average rainfall in these regions is 1,250 cms per year. The southern region has a characteristic tropical rainforest climate. Rainfall occurs virtually throughout the year, although a number of micro climates can be found. There is little variation in temperature, which is on average 28 C throughout the year. March and API Thailand Information Kit Page 35

40 April are normally the driest months in the south. The periods of maximum rainfall in these areas vary according to climatic sub regions. Population The estimated population is 64 million of which approximately 9.3 million live in Bangkok and its vicinities. Ninety four percent of the population are Thai speaking Buddhists; Thai is also the official language of the country. Four distinct dialects of the Thai language are spoken, in the central, northern, southern and in the north eastern regions, the latter being closely related to the Lao language. In the four southern provinces of Pattani, Satun, Yala and Naratiwat near the Malaysian border, the majority of the population is Muslim and speaks "Pattani" Malay. In the mountains of the northern region there are approximately 525,000 highland people who speak distinct languages. History Early Kingdoms The area which is now Thailand has been populated ever since the dawn of civilization. From the 7th to the 11th centuries, a large area of what is now central and western Thailand was occupied by a Mon civilization known as Dvaravati an Indianized culture, with Theravada Buddhism as the dominant religion. Theravada Buddhism was to remain the major religion in this area for the next millennium, co existing with animism, Hinduism, and Mahayana Buddhism. The fertile Chao Phraya River basin had always been an area with an ethnic mix of Mon, Khmer, and Lawa. Towards the end of the 13th century, Khmer power in this area waned and new kingdoms, dominated by the ethnic group of the Thai emerged. These had been influenced by Khmer rule and culture, but they brought other spectacular legacies, the origins of which are still a matter of historical dispute. The state that is still regarded by Thai historical tradition as the first Thai kingdom was Sukhothai. There were, in fact, other contemporaneous Thai states such as Lan Na and Phayao, both in present day northern Thailand, but the Thai historical imagination has been most stirred by Sukhothai. Even today, the evocative ruins of Sukhothai and its twin city of Si Satchanalai conjure up images of material prosperity, artistic greatness, and Buddhist piety. Sukhothai s cultural importance in Thai history also derives from the fact that the Thai script evolved into a definite form during King Ramkhamhaeng s time. The political decline of Sukhothai was not wholly due to deficiencies in leadership, but resulted rather from the emergence of strong Thai states further south, whose political and economic power began to challenge Sukhothai during the latter half of the 14th century, especially Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya Period For 417 years, the Ayutthaya Kingdom was the dominant power in the fertile Chao Phraya River Basin. The Ayutthaya period was early Thai history s great era of international trade. Its capital city was situated at the confluence of three rivers as well as a canal connecting the Chao Phraya and Lop Buri rivers, thus creating an island which grew into one of Asia s most renowned metropolises. Thai society during the Ayutthaya Period also became strictly hierarchical. There were roughly three classes of people, with the king at the very apex of the structure. At the bottom of the social scale, and most numerous, were the commoners (freemen or phrai) and the slaves. Above the commoners were the officials or nobles (khun nang), while at the API Thailand Information Kit Page 36

41 top of the scale were the princes (chao). The one classless section of Thai society was the Buddhist monkhood, or sangha, into which all classes of Thai men could be ordained. Ayutthaya s relations with its neighbours were not always cordial. Wars were fought against Cambodia, Lan Na, Lan Chang (based in the present day Lao PDR), Patani and, above all, Burma. Burmese power waxed and waned in cycles according to their administrative efficiency in the control of manpower. Whenever Burma was in an expansionist phase, Ayutthaya suffered. In 1569, King Bayinnaung captured Ayutthaya, thus initiating over a decade s subjection to the Burmese. During the 18th century, Burma again adopted an expansionist policy. The kings of the Alaungphaya Dynasty were intent on subduing the Ayutthaya Kingdom. In the 1760s, Burmese armies inflicted severe defeats on the Thai, who had become somewhat complacent after almost one century of peace. In April 1767, after a 15 month siege, Ayutthaya finally succumbed to the Burmese. Bangkok Era After the shattering defeat and destruction of Ayutthaya, the death or capture of thousands of Thai by the victorious Burmese, and the dispersal of several potential Thai leaders, the situation seemed hopeless. It was a time of darkness for the Thai nation. Members of the old royal family of Ayutthaya had died, escaped, or been captured, and many rival claimants for the throne emerged, based in different areas of the country. But out of this catastrophe emerged yet another savior of the Thai state: the half Chinese general Phraya Taksin. Within a few years this determined warrior had defeated not only all his rivals but also the Burmese invaders and had set himself up as king. Since Ayutthaya had been so completely devastated, King Taksin chose to establish his capital at Thon Buri, across the river from present day Bangkok. Although a small town, Thon Buri was strategically situated near the mouth of the Chao Phraya River and therefore suitable as a seaport. The succeeding king, Phra Buddha Yot Fa Chulalok, or Rama I, was also a great general. In addition, he was an accomplished statesman, a lawmaker, a poet, and a devout Buddhist. His reign has been called the reconstruction of the Thai state and Thai culture, using Ayutthaya as the model, though not slavishly resurrecting all aspects of the old capital. He was the ruler who established Bangkok as the capital and was also the founder of the Royal House of Chakri, of which the present monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the ninth monarch. Modern Age The major characteristic of Thai history during the 19th and 20th centuries may be summed up by the phrase the challenge by the West. The reigns of King Rama II and his two sons, Rama III and Rama IV, marked the first stage in the Thai Kingdom s dealings with the West during the era of colonial imperialism. King Mongkut (Rama IV) was the first Chakri King to embark seriously on reforms based on western models. This did not mean any wholesale structural change. He concentrated, instead, on the technological and organizational aspects of reform. His reign sawroad building, canal digging, ship building, a reorganization of the Thai armed forces, and changes in administration, as well as the minting of coins to meet the demand of a growing monetary economy. The reforms and foreign policy of King Mongkut were carried on by his son and successor, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), who came to the throne as a frail youth aged 16 years and died one of Siam s most loved and revered monarchs after a remarkable reign of API Thailand Information Kit Page 37

42 42 years. Indeed, modern Thailand may be said to be a product of the comprehensive and progressive reforms of his reign, for these touched almost every aspect of Thai life. Thai foreign policy during King Chulalongkorn s reign was a series of delicate balancing acts, playing off one Western power against another, and trying to maintain both sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Thai kingdom had become a centralized bureaucratic state partly modeled on Western examples. It was also a society without slaves, with a ruling class that was partly westernized in outlook and much more aware of what was going on in Europe and America. Technologically, too, there had been many advances, among them railroads and trams, postal services and telegraph lines. Democratic Government under Constitutional Monarchy Modern Thai government has been demarcated by 24 June 1932, which is recognized as the starting point that ushered in democracy. It is perceived as the opening of a new chapter in Thai politics because of the creation of a constitutional monarchy and the transformation of the political process, characterized by such democratic features as a constitution, political parties, elections, parliament, and a cabinet of politicians. Governments of the post 1932 era sought to keep a balance between civilian and military elements so as not to alienate any important group. After 1933, Siam entered a period of military ascendancy. Some officers in the army wanted to see Siam progress into modernity, in terms of politics and government. Following a royalist revolt, army officers decided to involve themselves in politics and by acclamation chose the already prominent Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram as their leader. Hence, it was inevitable that the military became the dominant force. The year 1946 marks the beginning of the present reign with the accession to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). 4BReligion According to the last census (2000) 94.7% of Thais are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. Muslims are the second largest religious group in Thailand at 4.6%. Thailand's southernmost provinces Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and part of Songkhla have dominant Muslim populations, consisting of both ethnic Thai and Malay. The southern tip of Thailand is mostly ethnic Malays. Christians, mainly Catholics, represent 0.8% of the population with higher percentages in the north. A tiny but influential community of Sikhs in Thailand and some Hindus also live in the country's cities, and are heavily engaged in retail commerce. There is also a small Jewish community in Thailand, dating back to the 17th century. The law provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice; however, it does not register new religious groups that have not been accepted into one of the existing religious governing bodies on doctrinal or other grounds. In practice, unregistered religious organizations operate freely, and the government's practice of not recognizing any new religious groups does not restrict the activities of unregistered religious groups. The government officially limits the number of foreign missionaries that may work in the country, although unregistered missionaries are present in large numbers and are allowed to live and work freely. There have been no widespread reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice. However, in the far southern border provinces, continued separatist violence resulted in mistrust in relations between the Buddhist and Muslim communities. API Thailand Information Kit Page 38

43 5BGovernment & Socio Economic Situation Government The Royal Thai Government or the Government of Thailand is the unitary government of the Kingdom of Thailand. The Revolution of 1932 brought an end to absolute monarchy and replaced it with a system of constitutional monarchy. However from then on the democratic system has been weak and the country was ruled by a succession of military leaders installed after coup d etats, the most recent in Thailand has so far had seventeen Constitutions; however the basic structure of government has remained the same. The Government of Thailand is made up of three branches: the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. The 1997 Constitution was the first constitution to be drafted by popularly elected Constitutional Drafting Assembly, and was popularly called the People s Constitution. Many 18Hhuman rights are explicitly acknowledged, and measures were established to increase the stability of elected governments. The House was elected by the first past the post system, where only one candidate with a simple majority could be elected in one constituency. The Senate was elected based on the province system, where one province can return more than one Senator depending on its population size. Members of the House of Representatives served four year terms, while Senators served six year terms. The court system included a 19Hconstitutional court with jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts, royal decrees, and political matters. The 120HJanuary 2001 general election, the first elections under the 1997 Constitution, were called the most open, corruption free election in Thai history. The subsequent government under leadership of Thaksin Shinawatra was the first in Thai history to complete a 4 year term. The 121H2005 election had the highest voter turnout in Thai history and was noted for a marked reduction in vote buying compared to previous elections. In early 2006, significant pressure from corruption allegations led Thaksin to call for a snap election. The opposition boycotted the elections and Thaksin was re elected. Pressure continued to build, leading to a military coup on 12H19 September 123H2006. Political Crisis Since 2008, there has been an ongoing political crisis in Thailand in form of a conflict between the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the People's Power Party (PPP) governments of Prime Ministers Somchai Wongsawat and Samak Sundaravej, respectively, and later between the Democrat Party government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD). It is a continuation of the political crises, wherein the PAD protested against the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The PAD's followers usually dress in yellow, called 'the yellow shirts', the royal color of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The UDD's followers dress in red, widely called 'the red shirts', known as the supporters of the deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Throughout 2009 and in early 2010 a series of events occurred in which the situation escalated. In early March 2010, "red shirt" protesters converged on Bangkok to press demands for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to call for a new election. The situation escalated further on the weekend of 10 April First, protesters took control of a TV broadcasting station causing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to vow to restore Thailand to API Thailand Information Kit Page 39

44 normalcy. By 11 April, clashes between protesters and the military had resulted in 18 or 19 people (one military) being killed and over 800 injured. On 22 April, a series of explosions in Bangkok killed at least one person and injured more than 85 others, including four foreigners. A State of Emergency was declared in five more provinces to prevent more protesters entering Bangkok. On May 19, the Army, backed by armored personnel carriers attacked the protest camp resulting in the deaths of 11 protestors and an Italian journalist. The Red Shirt leaders all either surrender or try and escape. Riots rage across Bangkok as Red Shirts are forced from their camp. Arson attacks result in the near destruction of the Central World shopping centre and other buildings. The casualty count as of May 22 stood at 85 dead and 1,378 injured. Upon the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva s call for a new election, Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin s younger sister, was appointed to be Thailand s first woman Prime Minister after the victory of Pheu Thai Party (rebranded People Power Party, believed to be controlled by the former Prime Minister Thanksin Shinawatra) in the election held on July 3, Ms. Yingluck, with no political experience, is currently leading the country while the long term political consequences of the crises are still unclear. Socio Economic Situation Thailand is a middle income country and has seen remarkable progress in human development in the last twenty years. Most children are in school. Malaria is no longer a problem in most of the country. Annual new HIV infections have been reduced by more than 80% since 1991, the peak of the epidemic. Strides are being made toward gender equality. Thailand's success can be attributed to a mixture of astute policy making, strong democratic governance, an industrious population, public investment in social services, advantageous historic and geopolitical circumstances and, not least, economic growth. This notable progress has not, however, benefited everyone equally. Benefits have accrued faster to those more closely linked to the international economy, for example by jobs in manufacturing for export. Those who remained in the domestic economy, such as small scale farmers, generally received fewer benefits, proportionately. Thailand's cities have grown faster than its countryside; poverty is a genuine concern, still widespread in the rural northeast, far north and far south of the country. Persistent development challenges therefore remain, particularly for certain groups and geographical regions. Ongoing challenges include: higher rates of maternal mortality in the Muslim south; enduring child malnutrition in remote northern hill tribe areas; and unsustainable use of natural resources. Additionally, there are warning signs of a resurgence of HIV/AIDS. Women still have fewer career advancement opportunities and low participation in electoral politics and problems of inequality and domestic violence against women remain a concern. Education reform has been greatly advanced in the last few years, yet gaps remain in terms of quality of education and adaptability to the needs of the economy. Vulnerable groups such as migrants, rural communities in the far north and south, and indigenous populations are especially hard hit by external and internal shocks. This was the case with the tsunami disaster of December In areas affected by the tsunami the long term consequences of the disaster in terms of poverty, health and education remain to be seen. Relief and reconstruction efforts have been rapid and effective; although the loss of homes and livelihoods was devastating and continues to affect many people. Very recently, in 2011, during monsoon season, major floods occurred in Thailand. Provinces located in the Chao Phraya and Mekong River basin, including Bangkok and API Thailand Information Kit Page 40

45 surrounding neighborhoods were most severely affected directly or indirectly by inundation. Flooding also affected most provinces in Thailand's south. Over 12.8 million people were affected, and the World Bank estimated damages reached 1,440 billion (US$45 billion) as of December, As of January, 2012 some areas still remained underwater and many factory areas remained closed. The World Bank's estimate for this disaster means it ranks as the world's fourth costliest disaster as of 2011 surpassed only by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, 1995 Kobe earthquake, and Hurricane Katrina in The flooding inundated about six million hectares of land, over 300,000 hectares of which is farmland, in 58 provinces, from Chiang Mai in the North to parts of the capital city of Bangkok near the mouth of the Chao Phraya. It has been described as "the worst flooding yet in terms of the amount of water and people affected". Seven major industrial estates were inundated by as much 3 meters (10 feet). As such, the socio economic long term impact of this disaster is hard to estimate. 6BLanguage Thai is a tonal language belonging to the group of Ka Tai languages. The five tones are monotone, low, falling, high, and rising. This can be a rather complicated language for the visitor; however, English is quite widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language. Thai basic greetings and phrases Hello, Good morning, Good afternoon, Good evening (male speaker) Hello, Good morning, Good afternoon, Good evening (female speaker) How are you? Fine thanks Thank you Never mind I can't speak Thai I don't understand Do you understand? May I take a photograph? Where is the rest room? How much does this cost? What is this? Very expensive The bill please See you again Good luck Sorry/excuse me 124Hsawàdii kráp s125hawàdii khà 126Hsabaay dii rĕu (kráp/khâ sabaay dii (kráp/khâ) 127Hkòp kun (kráp/khâ) 128Hmâi pen rai (krp/khâ) 129Hphût Thai mâi dâi (kráp/kh) 130Hmâi kâo chài (kráp/khâ) 131Hkâo chài mái (kráp/khá) 132Htài rûp dâi mái (kráp/khá) 13Hhông nám yù tii năi (kráp/khá) 134Hrākā tâo rài (kráp/khá) 135Hnêe arai (kráp/khá) paĕng mâg (kráp/khâ) 136Hgèp taang (kráp/khâ) 137Hláew phób gan mài (kráp/khâ) 138Hchôk dii (kráp/khà) 139Hkŏr thôd (kráp/khà) API Thailand Information Kit Page 41

46 Thai Language Course Enlisted below are some of the Thai language courses available in Bangkok. Please note, however, that schedule of lessons can change without notice. Therefore, you are advised to check with each school by yourself again. American University Alumni Language Center: AUA Thai Department Room 324, 3 rd Floor, 179 Rajadamri Rd., Bangkok Tel ext. 3201, Fax (Language of instruction: Thai) Ajarn Suthira s School: (Run by former principal of Union Language School) Room no. 93, BK Mansion, 9 th Floor. 30 Sukhumvit Soi 59, Bangkok Tel (Language of instruction: Thai) Basic Thai for Foreigners, Thai Department, Faculty of Liberal Arts Thammasat University, Ta Prachan Campus Room 107, Ta Prachan, Bangkok Tel , ext E mail: 140Hsuthasin@alpha.tu.ac.th (Instruction Language: Thai) Thai Intensive Course, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University Tel ; (Language of instruction: Thai) Thai Japanese Association Soi Sukhumvit 29, Sukhumvit Rd., Bangkok Tel (Language of instruction: Japanese) Thai Language Achievement School (TLA) 128/216 Phayatai Plaza Building, 20th Floor, Phaya Thai Rd., Thungphayathai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok THAILAND. Next to the Phaya Thai BTS Station. Tel. 66 (0) , E mail: tla_school@yahoo.com; API Thailand Information Kit Page 42

47 (Language of Instruction: Thai) Thai Language Programme, Institute for Thai Studies Assumption University, Hua Mark Campus Office of Thai Art and Culture Tel ext. 3512/3517, , , E mail: 141Hthaiart@au.edu;142Hwww.au.edu (Instruction Language: Thai and English) Union Language School 109 CCT Bldg. 11 th floor, Surawong Rd., Bangkok Tel (Language of instruction: Thai) Unity Thai Language School 246 Times Square Bldg., 15 th floor Sukhumvit Rd., Klongtoey, Bangkok Tel (Language of instruction: Thai) Festivals & Events Thai festivals tend to be linked to the agricultural seasons or to Buddhist holidays, after the main rice harvest is in. The exact dates for festivals vary from year to year, either because of the lunar calendar or because local authorities have decided to change festival dates. For special dates and details, please contact TAT ( or the Bangkok Tourism Division ( The cultural centers also host various international festivals. January/February That Phanom Festival: A 10 day long homage to the most sacred Buddhist stupa (Phra That Phanom) in Nakhon Phanom Province. Bangkok International Film Festival: Films from around the world, with an emphasis on Asian cinema are screened in the capital city. For more information, contact: Chiang Mai Flower Festival: During this festival, colorful floats and parades exhibit Chiang Mai s cultivated flora. Makha Puja: Held on the full moon of the third lunar month. It culminates with a candle lit walk around the main chapel at every wat. Phra Nakhon Khiri Diamond Festival: This is a week long celebration of Petchaburi s history and architecture focused on Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park. Chinese New Year: Chinese all over Thailand celebrate their lunar New Year. API Thailand Information Kit Page 43

48 March Kite Flying Season: During the windy season, colorful kites battle out over the skies of Sanam Luang and Lumpini Park. April Prasat Hin Khao Phanom Rung Festival: A festival to commemorate Prasat Him Khao Phanom Rung Historical Park in Buriram province. Songkran: Held from 13 to 15 April. This is the celebration of the lunar New Year. Buddha images are bathed, monks and elders receive the respect of younger Thais by the sprinkling of water over their hands, and lots of water is tossed about. Many cities become watery battlegrounds. May Royal Ploughing Ceremony: His Majesty the King commences rice planting season with a ceremony at Sanam Luang. Dates vary. Miss Jumbo Queen Contest: Held in early May with trends creeping across the globe, Thailand hosts a beauty pageant for extra large women (over 80 kg) who display the grace of an elephant at Nakhon Pathom s Samphran Elephant Park. Visakha Puja: Falling on the 15 th day of the waxing moon in the sixth lunar month, this day commemorates the dates of the Buddha s birth, enlightenment and passing away. June Bun Phra Wet (Phi Ta Khon) Festival: An animist Buddhist celebration, held in Loei s Amphoe Dan Sai. The festival commemorates a Buddhist legend in which a host of spirits appeared to greet the Buddha to be upon his return to his home town, during his penultimate birth. International Festival of Music & Dance: An extravaganza of arts and culture sponsored by the Thailand Cultural Center. Held twice a year in June and September. Rocket Festival: In the Northeast, villagers craft large skyrockets of bamboo, which they then fire into the sky to bring rain for rice fields and best celebrated in Yasothon, Ubon Ratchathani and Nong Khai. Royal Ploughing Ceremony: To kick off the official rice planting season, the kind participates in this ancient Brahman ritual at Sanam Luang in Bangkok. Asalha Puja: July API Thailand Information Kit Page 44

49 This festival commemorates the Buddha s first sermon. Khao Phansa: The beginning of Buddhist lent. August Queen s Birthday: The queen birthday is recognized as Mother s Day throughout the country. Held on 12 th. September/October Narathiwat Fair: An annual week long festival celebrating local culture in Narathiwat Province, with boat races, dove singing contests, traditional Southern music and dance. Thailand International Swan Boat Races: Take place on Mae Nam Chao Phraya outside of Ayutthya near the Bang Sai Folk Arts Center. Chinese Vegetarian Festival: A ten day celebration notably in Bangkok, Phuket and Trang during which devout Chinese Buddhists eat only vegetarian food (similar to vegan style, with no dairy products, eggs and some vegetables). November Fat Festival: Sponsored by FAT 104.5FM radio, Bangkok s indie bands gather for an annual fest. Held in early November. Bangkok Pride: A week long festival of parades, parties and awards is organized by the city s gay businesses and organizations. Held in mid November. Kathin: A month at the end of the Buddhist lent during which new monastic robes and requisites are offered to the Sangha (monastic community). Loi Krathong: On the proper full moon night, small lotus shaped baskets or boats made of banana leaves containing flowers, incense, candles and a coin are floated on rivers, lakes and canals. River Khwae Bridge Week: Sound and light shows at the Death Railway Bridge in Kanchanaburi. Events include historical exhibitions and vintage train rides on the infamous railway. Surin Annual Elephant Roundup: Held on their weekend of November, Thailand s biggest elephant show is popular with tourists. December King s Birthday: Thais Celebrate their monarch s birthday with lots of parades and fireworks. Also recognized as Father s Day. Held on December 5 th. API Thailand Information Kit Page 45

50 21BFood The art of cooking Thai food has been developing over the years in accordance with the outside influences. With the advent of modern kitchenware, new ideas and techniques have been further enhanced. Today, a good Thai food cook can be more and more creative than in the early years. Thai are a nation of eaters. When Thai meet, the first word they greet each other is where are you going? and the next question is have you already eaten? Most restaurants in Thailand are inexpensive by international standards. A typical meal for one at a street stall should cost 25 baht to 40 baht; a restaurant meal for one should be about baht depending on the type of restaurants and locations. Vegetarians Vegetarianism is not a widespread trend in Thailand, but many restaurants cater to vegetarians. There are several non profit vegetarian restaurants (ráan aahăan mangsàwirát) in Bangkok and several provincial capitals. During the Vegetarian Festival, celebrated by Chinese Buddhists, many restaurants and street stalls go meatless for 10 days either in September or October. Venues for vegetarian meals include Indian restaurants, which usually feature a vegetarian section on the menu. Useful phrases/words for vegetarians: I am vegetarian kin jeh I don t eat A kin A mâi dâi Don t add B mâi sài B Meat néua sàt Chicken gài Fish plaa Pork mŭu Seafood aahăan tháleh API Thailand Information Kit Page 46

51 2B Emergency Calls Police 191 Crime 1195 Traffic Control Center 1197 Highway Police 1193 Tourist Service Center 1155 Fire 199 Medical Service System 1669 Telephone Number inquiry 1133 Missing Persons Bureau B Embassies & Consulates 7BRelevant foreign Embassies & Consulates in Thailand The Embassy of Cambodia 518/4 Pracha Uthit Rd. (Soi Ramkamhaeng 39), Wangtonglang, Bangkok Tel: , Fax: E mail: camemb.tha@mfa.gov.kh The Consulate of Cambodia in Sa Kaew 666, Sowanasone Rd., Thakasem, Meung, Sa Kaew Tel: ~1 Fax: E mail: camcg.sak@mfa.gov.kh, consulsk@cscoms.com The Embassy of Japan 177 Witthayu Rd., Lumphini, Pathumwan, Bangkok Tel: , Fax: URL: japan.go.jp/ Consulate General of Japan Airport Business Park, 90 Mahidol Rd., Haiya, Muang, Chiang Mai Tel: Fax: URL: The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia Petchburi Rd., Ratchatewi, Bangkok Tel: ~40 API Thailand Information Kit Page 47 Directories Fax: , URL: The Embassy of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos 520, 502/1 3 Pracha Uthit Rd., Wangthonglang, Bangkok Tel: , Fax: , E mail: embalao@bkklaoembassy.com, sabaidee@bkklaoembassy.com URL: Consulate of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos 19/1~3 Phothisarn Rd., Khonkaen Tel: , Fax: The Embassy of Malaysia 35 South Sathorn Rd., Tungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok Tel: Fax: URL: bangkok The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines 760 Sukhumvit Rd., Soi Philippines (30/1), Klongtoey, Klongtan, Bangkok Tel: Fax: URL: The Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 83/1 Wireless Rd., Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok Tel: ~8, , Fax: E mail: vnemb.th@mofa.gov.vn URL:

52 24Banks 25BThai Bank Head Offices Bangkok Bank Public Company Ltd. 333 Silom Rd., Suriwongse, Bangrak, Bangkok Tel: Fax: ~2 143H URL: Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Ltd Rama III Rd., Bangpongpang, Yannawa, Bangkok Tel: Fax: HURL: CIMB Thai Bank Public Company Ltd. 44 Langsuan Rd., Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok Tel , Fax: URL: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Thai) Public Company Ltd Fl., Emporium Tower 622 Sukhumvit Rd., KhlongTon, Khlong Toei, Bangkok Tel Fax: URL: Kasikorn Bank Public Company Ltd. 1 Soi Kasikornthai, Radburana Rd., Radburana, Bangkok Tel: , Fax: ~5 14URL: Kiatnakin Bank Public Company Ltd. Amarin Tower, 500 Ploenchit Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok Tel: Fax: HURL: Krung Thai Bank Public Company Ltd. 35 Sukhumvit Rd., North Klongtoey, Bangkok Tel: Fax: ~6 147HURL: TMB Bank Public Company 3000 Paholyothin Rd., Ladyao, Jatujak, Bangkok Tel: Fax: HURL: Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Ltd. 9 Rachadapisek Rd., Ladyao, Jatujak, Bangkok Tel: , Fax: HURL: Siam City Bank Public Ltd New Petchburi Rd., Makkasun, Rajtavee, Bangkok Tel: Fax: HURL: Standard Chartered Bank (Thai) Public Company Ltd. 90 Sathorn Thani Building, North Sathorn Rd., Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok Tel: , Fax: HURL: Thanachart Bank Public Company Ltd. 1, 2, 13, 14 th floor Thonson Bld., 900 Pheonchit Rd., Lumpini, Patumwan, Bangkok, Tel Fax HURL: Tisco Bank Public Company Ltd. 48/2 TISCO Tower, North Sathorn Rd., Bangrak, Bangkok Tel: , Fax: HURL: API Thailand Information Kit Page 48

53 United Overseas Bank (Thai) Public Company Ltd. 191 South Sathon Rd., Bangkok Tel Fax URL: Land and House Retail Bank Public Company Ltd. 1 Q. House Building, Lumpini, South Sathorn Rd., Sathorn, Bangkok Tel: , , Fax: , HURL: The Thai Credit Retail Bank Public Company Ltd. 1 st floor, 123 Thai Life Insurance Bldg., Ratchadaphisek Rd., Dindaeng, Bangkok Tel: Fax: H15HURL: For a comprehensive list of foreign bank branches, foreign bank representatives offices and other foreign financial institutions please visit website of the Bank of Thailand : ns/websitefi/pages/instlist.aspx Tel: ~10, immigration.com National Museum Division Na Prathat Rd., Phra Nakorn, Bangkok Tel: , Revenue Department Soi Phaholyothin 7, Phaholyothin, Phayathai, Bangkok Tel: State Railway of Thailand 1 Rongmuang Rd., Rongmuang, Pathumwan, Bangkok Tel: , , Suvarnabhumi Airport 99 Bangna Trad Rd., K.M. 15 Moo 10, Rajathewa, Bangplee, Samuthprakarn Help desk Tel: Call Center Tel: International Tel: Arrival Tel: Departure Tel: Domestic Tel: , Useful Contact Details Bus Terminal Northern & Northeastern Bus Terminal Khampaengphet 2 Rd., Bangkok Tel: (Northern), ~48 ext. 448, 605(Northeastern) Southern Bus Terminal Phutthamonthon Soi 1, Bangkok Tel: Eastern Bus Terminal Sukhumvit Rd. (Ekamai), Bangkok Tel: , Immigration Office 2nd Floor, Building B, Bangkok Government Center, Chaengwattana Rd., Laksi, Bangkok API Thailand Information Kit Page 49 TAT Tourist Information Counters Tourism Authority of Thailand 1600 New Petchaburi Rd., Makasan, Rajathevi, Bangkok Tel: Open Monday Friday hrs. TAT Call Center 1672, Operation hours: Thai Airways International Plc. 89 Vipavadi Rangsit Rd., Chattuchak, Bangkok Tel: HURL: Tourist Police Devision CMIC Tower B209/1, Sukhumvit 21 Rd.

54 (Asoke), Klongtoeynua, Wattana, Bangkok Tel: 1155 or Other Useful Websites (Bangkok International Airport) (Bank of Thailand) 157Hwww.chula.ac.th (General information on Chulalongkorn University) 158Hwww.bangkokmetro.co.th (Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited) (Christ church Bangkok) 160Hwww.mfa.go.th/web/886.php (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom Of Thailand) 161Hwww.thailand.com (General information on Thailand) 162Hwww.tourismthailand.org (Tourism Authority of Thailand) 163Hwww.yellowpages.co.th (Telephone directory API Thailand Information Kit Page 50

55 Thailand Partner Institution Asian Public Intellectuals (API) Fellowships Program Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University 2 nd Floor, Prajadhipok Rambhai Barni Building Phayathai Road, Bangkok Thailand Tel: Fax: API Thailand Information Kit Page 51

56 The Nippon Foundation Fellowships for Asian Public Intellectuals API Thailand Information Kit Page 52