Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand is a destination known and loved for its beautiful beaches and tasty dishes.
It is a country which effortlessly blends tradition with modernity, offering plenty for holidaymakers to experience and enjoy.
If Thailand is on your bucket list, these fun, weird and wonderful facts may come in handy.
The land of smiles
Image credit: Melanie van Zyl
Thailand has been dubbed ‘Land of Smiles’ and this is to reflect the warm, welcoming and friendly nature of its people. When visiting the country, you are most likely to encounter smiles from strangers as well as warm hospitality.
Home to the largest solid gold Buddha statue
One of the most interesting sights to see in Thailand is undoubtedly the world’s largest solid gold Buddha. This statue weighs a staggering 5.5 tons and is safely tucked away in Bangkok’s Wat Traimit temple.
Majority of the population is Buddhist
Monks wearing saffron robes are a common sight in Thailand.
Although Thailand does not have an official religion, Buddhism is the country’s largest religion. It is practiced by approximately 95% of the population. There is also a significant Muslim population, mostly found in the country’s Southern regions.
The national anthem is played twice a day
The Thai national anthem is broadcast each day across all television channels and radio stations at 08:00 and 18:00. It is also played in public places such as schools, malls and train stations. Usually, everyone in the vicinity would respectfully stop moving to listen to the anthem. They would then slightly bow as the anthem ends and continue to go about their business.
Insects are a culinary delight
In Thailand, eating insects is relatively common and has been a part of the traditional diet for many years. Dried or fried, insects such as grasshoppers and cockroaches are seasoned with spices and enjoyed. They are often served as bar snacks or in street markets.
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