Thailand is a populist Southeast Asian country. The style of government is unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The official language is Thai but the Isan dialect of Lao and various minority languages are also spoken. Some of the ethnic groups in Thailand include Chinese, Malays, and indigenous Hill tribes, as they’re commonly known. The terrain includes mountains, plateaus, and river valleys. Overall, the climate is tropical. Animal species include the Chinese goral, the Javan rhinoceros, and the lesser mouse deer. Thailand’s economy is pretty recently industrialized. The financial situation has been difficult to balance in recent years. Rice is the star product of agriculture and export, and tourism and the sex industry have gone hand in hand for awhile.

Tour the temples of this predominantly Buddhist nation. Around Bangkok, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho both have their charms, including big Buddhas. Hike to the top of a seven-tiered waterfall at Erawan National Park near Kanchanaburi, or take a great cooking course by the beach in Ko Lanta.

Thai food tends to be spicy yet complex, and when done right it can be really delicious. Rice and noodles are popular starchy staples.
Typical vegetables include various types and sizes of eggplant, a green called khana in Thai or gai lan in Chinese, tomatoes, squash, and mushrooms. Chicken, pork, and fish are commonly eaten meats. Dishes vary by region. Khanom chin nam ngiao is a Northern Thai specialty with fermented rice noodles and pork blood tofu in a pork stock and tomato sauce along with chilis, pork blood, dry fermented soy bean, and dried red kapok flowers. Try som tam thai, green papaya salad with dried shrimp, tomatoes, yardlong beans, and peanuts, or khai yiao ma phat kraphao krop, spicy stir fried century eggs with crispy-fried holy basil.

Organic offerings may include juice bars, raw food, and Thai, Italian, or American cuisine. If you’re in Phuket in late September or early October, the Vegetarian Festival is worth experiencing for its ritual ceremonies and tasty treats.