A week ago I got the opportunity to visit Thailand. I spent 5 days there, 3 days in Bangkok and 2 days on the Beach of Pattaya.
Here are some stuff that I just found out about Thailand:
1. Muangthai, is originally Mueangthai, but because the English language doesn’t accomodate phonetic “ue” (pronounced like a” in “a door” or “a temple”), it is simplified as Muangthai.
2. “Bangkok” is the very short name for :
“Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit”.
(The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn)
OR simply “Krung Thep” (city of angels).
In the official English romanisation, this is certified as the longest place name in the world in the Guinness book of records. Bangkok itself means “village of wild plums”
3. Thailand has its own calendar system. New year (The Songkran) is celebrated with Water Festival. This was celebrated all over Bangkok when I came. Everyone, tourists, locals carried waterguns and buckets to squirt water at people.
4. 1 USD = + 37.16 Baht; 1 Baht = + Rp. 250,-
5. “7-Eleven” is the most widely-spread convenient store in Thailand.
Bangkok is a very warm and friendly city. It’s amazing to have met many many Thais who spoke Indonesian (at least Malay). Hope to be able to come back in the near future.
