36 replies to this topic

[MIA]

Some interesting facts about Thailand

• Thailand has been ranked as 84th least corrupted country in the world according to the 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International.
• Thailand was known as Siam until 1949, and it was later changed to Thailand.
• The country was never colonised, and thus the country retains its culture and religion.
• According to a 2008 survey, country’s population is around 65 million
• Thailand is world’s 49th largest country, which is larger than California state of US
• The country spends a good portion of its money on importing fuel. Thailand imported the furl worth US$18.5 billion this year.
• The country is getting extremely popular as a medical tourism destination. The country earned 36.4 billion baht (US$1 billion) in the year 2006.
• Thailand's Board of Investment (BoI) offers numerous incentives in order to promote foreign investment in the country.
• Thai people don’t like anyone touching their head. This is governed by a belief that a person’s soul resides in head. So, you should never touch a Thai on the head.

[Bob]

MIA, on 19 September 2009 - 04:21 AM, said:

Thailand has been ranked as 84th least corrupted country in the world according to the 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International.

While I'm a big fan of the Thai people, I have no clue what "84th least corrupt" is supposed to mean. In reality, Thailand's government, elite, and police are more corrupt than any country I've ever known. Absolutely endemic.

[CrazyExpat]

I'd be curious to where those facts come from as well.

[lvdkeyes]

MIA, on 19 September 2009 - 04:21 AM, said:

• Thailand was known as Siam until 1949, and it was later changed to Thailand.
•

Not to be picky, but Siam became Thailand in 1939, not 1949. I once asked (more than 40 years ago) a Thai woman why they changed the name because I thought Siam had a nicer sound to it. She explained to me, "Siam doesn't have and meaning, but Thailand means Freedom Land". Then it made sense to me.

[smoker]

I find it hard to believe there are 83 countries more corrupt than Thailand.

[Thaimo]

smoker, on 19 September 2009 - 09:48 AM, said:

I find it hard to believe there are 83 countries more corrupt than Thailand.

I find it hard to believe there are any countries more corrupt than Thailand. I'm glad I don't live in any of those.

[lvdkeyes]

PI and Indonesia are high on the list of corrupt countries in Asia.

[lvdkeyes]

Also Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma) and Viet Nam. Most of the poorer countries are corrupt.

[miss expat universe]

lvdkeyes, on 19 September 2009 - 02:20 PM, said:

PI and Indonesia are high on the list of corrupt countries in Asia.

Yes you are absolutely right you must be careful in indonesia a lot of ppl LOSE THE
MONEY IN THE GOVERNMENT BANK CAN YOU ALL BELIEVE IT THEY ALSO ASKED SOME EXTRA TO EVERY SERV
ICE, THEY NOT FRANKLY ABOUT THIS BUT YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO PLAY

[eleothegreat]

lvdkeyes, on 19 September 2009 - 02:20 PM, said:

PI and Indonesia are high on the list of corrupt countries in Asia.

I'm from the PI and I take no offense because this is unfortunately true.

[Thaimo]

eleothegreat, on 19 September 2009 - 06:54 PM, said:

I'm from the PI and I take no offense because this is unfortunately true.

I hate to admit my ignorance, but what is the PI? Is that the Philippines?

[lvdkeyes]

Yes, PI is Philippine Islands.

[nyoen]

OMG, i tought that my mind is so wide but since i've read this, i've just realized that i'm not like that. More curious and excited about Thailand

[Wino]

MIA, on 19 September 2009 - 04:21 AM, said:

Some interesting facts about Thailand

• Thailand has been ranked as 84th least corrupted country in the world according to the 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International.
• Thailand was known as Siam until 1949, and it was later changed to Thailand.
• The country was never colonised, and thus the country retains its culture and religion.
• According to a 2008 survey, country’s population is around 65 million
• Thailand is world’s 49th largest country, which is larger than California state of US
• The country spends a good portion of its money on importing fuel. Thailand imported the furl worth US$18.5 billion this year.
• The country is getting extremely popular as a medical tourism destination. The country earned 36.4 billion baht (US$1 billion) in the year 2006.
• Thailand's Board of Investment (BoI) offers numerous incentives in order to promote foreign investment in the country.
• Thai people don’t like anyone touching their head. This is governed by a belief that a person’s soul resides in head. So, you should never touch a Thai on the head.

Another interesting fact is the Thai greeting "sawatdee" was invented during the Second World War. Before that, people greeted each other by asking if they had eaten yet or "Kin khao laew ru yang?"

[Thaifan]

Though I don't condone corruption and wish it wasn't such a big problem here, sometimes it does have advantages. It actually makes a lot of sense when you get pulled up for a minor traffic offense to just pay the policeman instead of all the hassle about giving details, getting summonsed, deciding whether to go to court or not, paying the fine worrying whether you will lose points and then your licence, etc, etc. However while this seems ok it is a pity that it doesn't stop there and it's no longer OK if you can pay a sufficiently large sum to get away with murder.

[Thaifan]

Thaimo, on 20 September 2009 - 01:18 AM, said:

I hate to admit my ignorance, but what is the PI? Is that the Philippines?

Thaimo I admire your honesty!! I just guessed that PI was the Phillipines but it is nice to have it confirmed because you were actually brave enough to admit ignorance. Good on you!!

[lvdkeyes]

The problem with paying fines roadside is that the police can stop you for no reason at all and shake you down for "tea money". You may not have violated any laws, but still have to pay.

[Beer Chang]

lvdkeyes, on 19 September 2009 - 06:28 AM, said:

Freedom Land

Used to be in the Bronx but now it's Co-Op City.

[lvdkeyes]

BC, I don't understand your posting.

[Beer Chang]

In the 60's there was an amusement parkm in the northeast Bronx called FreedomLand.
The tore it down and built Co-Op city, low end coops for the middle class.

FWIW Palisades amusement park was much better than FreedomLand.
They bulldozed Palisades to build Winston Towers, a somewhat more higher end
housing project.

Palisades had the world's largest saltwater pool, lots of rides and arcades and also rock n rill shows.