Andrew Forbes - Exciting Thailand. A Visual Journey

sawasdee!

Thais are famous for their friendliness and sense of fun. Sawasdee means hello in Thai and sanuk another essential wordmeans fun or enjoyment!

t HAILAND means Land of the Freeand with reason, for despite withstanding various invasions from neighbouring Myanmar and, most recently, Japan, the country has never been colonised. The first independent Thai kingdom was founded in the mid-12th century by King Ramkhamhaeng the Great at Sukhothai in the north-central plains. By the 17th century the Thai capital had moved south, to Ayutthaya, and Thailand was established as an important maritime trading power.

Wat Phra Keo, at the centre of the Royal Palace complex on Rattanakosin Island in downtown Bangkok, lies at the heart of the ruling Chakri Dynasty and of the Thai kingdom itself.

Thai dancers, wearing lep yao or long fingernails, display the smiles for which the kingdom is famous.

Traditional stilt house above the waters of the Chao Phraya River.

Harvesting rice on the broad plateau of northeast Thailand.

Planting rice in the rich central plains.

Floating houses on the river at Uthai Thani.

A display of baskets for sale at a local market.

Mahouts riding elephants near Mae Hong Song in northern Thailand.

In 1767 Ayutthaya was sacked by invading Burmese armies in a major military setback for Thai land. Yet this was a mixed blessing, for within 20 years the resilient Thais had re-established themselves under the powerful Chakri Dynasty, and had begun the building of a new capital at Bangkok, the Olive Tree Village, later renamed Krung thep, or City of Angels. Alone of the countries in South -east Asia, Thailand retained independence through -out the colonial period and emerged relatively unscathed from World War II. Under the be nign rule of King Bhumibol Adulyadejcurrently the longest reigning monarch in the worldthe country has continued to flourish, emerging as a leading and increasingly prosperous Southeast Asian nation.