Thailand is a country rich in culture, beautiful landscapes, and friendly people. But behind this tropical paradise lies a wealth of fascinating facts that might surprise you.

◾ Until 1939, Thailand was known as Siam (hence the name of the famous show Siam Niramit, which tells the story and culture of the country).

◾ Siamese cats originate from Thailand. There used to be 23 breeds; now there are only 6.

◾ The first Siamese twins were from Thailand. Brothers Chang and Eng Bunker were born in 1811 in the Kingdom of Siam. They were called "Siamese twins" when they first arrived in England to become circus attractions.

◾ Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that has never been a colony of any European nation. Thailand translates to "land of the free."

◾ The official name of Bangkok is the longest in the world: "Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Buriram." Thais shorten it to "Krung Thep" (City of Angels).

◾ Bangkok has been recognized as the hottest city in the world, with an average temperature of 28ºC. There are hotter cities, like Dubai; however, temperatures drop significantly at night or in winter there. In Bangkok, it remains consistently hot.

◾ There are over 40,000 temples in Thailand. When visiting, knees and shoulders must be covered.

◾ More than 90% of Thais practice Buddhism. There is no official religion in Thailand. The kingdom's constitution guarantees freedom of religion for all citizens, but the law requires the king to be a Buddhist.

◾ Logging has been banned in Thailand since 1989. There used to be many more jungles and dense forests. Due to deforestation, only a quarter of the original forests remain, harming the ecology.

◾ Thailand is the world's leading exporter of orchids, with over 1,500 species growing in the country.

◾ Red Bull originated in Thailand. Krating Daeng (a local sweet non-carbonated energy drink) was the basis for the development of Red Bull. "Red Bull" is a literal translation from the Thai "Krating Daeng" (red bull).

◾ The map of Thailand resembles the head of an elephant. The ears are in the north and northeast, while the long trunk extends to the south of the country.

◾ The flag of Thailand cannot be hung upside down. It is symmetrical and consists of five horizontal stripes.

◾ The myth about the prohibition of riding a motorcycle or driving a car without a shirt is false. This rule applies only to taxi drivers and public transport. The fine can be up to 5,000 baht.

◾ 555 = haha ("lol"). In Thai, the word for "five" sounds like "ha," so Thais use 555 in texts and social media as a way to express laughter.

◾ Muay Thai boxing, the national sport of Thailand, is known as the "art of eight limbs" (it includes strikes with elbows and knees).

◾ Most Thais have two names: a full name and a nickname. However, unlike in other countries where nicknames are usually shortened versions of names, Thai nicknames are chosen by parents and have specific meanings.

◾ The Monkey Buffet Festival. Every year, Thais hold a banquet for monkeys in Lopburi province. They set up a huge table with treats: fruits, vegetables, rice, sweets—about 2 tons of food in total. This is a way to thank the animals for their help during wars.

◾ Gambling is illegal in Thailand, except for the government-sponsored lottery. Lottery tickets are sold on every corner, and any foreigner can participate. Tickets can be checked on the website glo.or.th.

◾ Thais are guests from the future; 2024 is the year 2567 in Thailand. The Buddhist calendar is used here, which is 543 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar (starting from the year when Buddha attained Nirvana). 🌏😊