Thailand is a traveler's par-adise: a Buddhist country of cultural marvels, trop-ical beaches, trekable mountains, and vanishing rainforests. The monarchy, military, and Buddhist Sangha have helped to shape its society and politics. In the 1980s there was an economic boom, and the agrarian economy changed as Thais flocked to work in industry and the service sector. But that bubble burst in 1997 along with the south-east Asian financial crisis. Stock and property prices plummeted, dragging down the currency -- but leading to a very favorable exchange rate (BBC).Monetary unit: 1 baht = EXCHANGE RATE
Full name: Kingdom of Thailand
Population: 64.3 million (UN, 2008)
Area: 198,115 sq miles (513,115 sq km)
Major religion: Theravada Buddhism
Life expectancy: 66 years (men), 75 years (women) (UN 2008)
Population: 64.3 million (UN, 2008)
Area: 198,115 sq miles (513,115 sq km)
Major religion: Theravada Buddhism
Life expectancy: 66 years (men), 75 years (women) (UN 2008)
