Thainess - Experience the art of Thai living
LIVING IN THAI WAYS
Before the first light of day appears, the fragrant smell of cooking permeates the kitchens of thousands of rural and urban dwellings as Thais hurry to prepare rice dishes and other food, exotic desserts, flowers, and water to offer as alms to the columns of Buddhist monks that roam the streets early in the morning. This giving of food, known as making merit, is an integral part of traditional Thai daily lifestyle and official ceremonies, and demonstrates the importance of Buddhism in the natural flow of people's lives.
The smiles of the Thai people never seem to fade away. Generally respectful and moderate, qualities that are prevalent in the Buddhist religion, Thais display generosity and hospitality to visitors, giving an amicable and warm welcome to guests and strangers alike. There's always a helping hand to assist, guide, and make you feel as if Thailand is your second home.
The revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is constantly working for the good of the people and is himself always in the hearts of all his subjects, has established a number of royal projects across the country to maintain traditional skills, to improve the living conditions of the people, and to rehabilitate natural forest and aquatic areas dramatically destroyed by slash-and-burn land-clearing techniques. The Royal Agricultural Station at Ang Khang in Chiang Mai, Khao Hin Sawn Royal Development Study Center in Chachoengsao, and Pikul Thong Royal Development Study Center in Narathiwat are some of His Majesty's royal projects.
SYMBOL OF THAILAND
Elephants have a strong historical bond with the people of Thailand and are regarded as an important symbol of the country. Traditionally they have played important roles in both times of war and peace, and the white elephant has long been held as a sign of the king's honor and glory bringing prosperity and happiness throughout the kingdom. The elephants were trained to work in the timber industry but with its decline, many are now accommodated in camps. Visitors are able to feed and ride them and watch them work with their handlers - mahouts - in natural surroundings. In many cases, a strong bond of mutual respect and friendship develops between mahout and elephant.
LOCAL WISDOM
Thai local wisdom is based on centuries of investigation, experimentation, and discovery, much of it to do with natural resources and the endless cycle of the seasons. Associated with this wisdom is a collection of traditional skills and knowledge and, in attempt to preserve it, the Royal Thai Government has instigated a policy known as One Tambon One Product (OTOP). This policy promotes the establishment and development of local communities' industries involving the manufacture of traditional products using natural materials. Visitors are able to observe these communities in operation and to purchase numerous kinds of items, such as bamboo furniture, wine, silk, and food from local outlets.
AGROTOURISM AND AGRICULTURE
Growing rice, vegetables and fruit, and fishing are the major occupations in Thailand, a nation whose economy has been and still is traditionally strongly based on agriculture. Throughout the various regions of the country, farmers grow rice in flooded paddy fields and hillside terraces and produce a wide range of tropical and cooler climate vegetables and fruit. In the north, where the climate is more temperate and the terrain is mountainous, a number of tourism activities have been established, including trekking, agro tourism, and home-stay accommodation, and many nature-loving tourists visit the royal project sites. These projects conduct tours of organic vegetable farms, cool climate orchards, trout-breeding locations, and high altitude rice farms. There are numerous demonstration stations at which you can taste healthy, fresh, chemical-free food such as broccoli, red cabbage, beetroot, sweet peas, spinach, zucchini, and raspberries.
DELICIOUS CUISINE
Thai food is one of the most famous cuisines in the world - wherever you go, you'll always find a Thai restaurant! Thai dishes are a sight to behold - graceful fruit and vegetable carving is an art passed down through the ages and displayed in many elegant restaurants and hotels today. The food looks good but wait until you taste it - delicious, exquisite, exotic flavors, amidst stunning aromas.
In addition to looking good and tasting and smelling good, Thai food is good for you. It is based on healthy ingredients from various Thai herbs, such as basil, ginger, lemongrass, chili, garlic, galangal, kaffir lime, turmeric, and pepper. All these contribute significant health benefits and many form the basis of worldwide favorites, including coconut soup with chicken, fried chicken in basil, and tom yam kung (prawns).
There are many opportunities for visitors, experts or amateurs, to attend Thai cooking and fruit and vegetable carving classes, and learn much about Thai food specifically and Thai culture generally.
THAI ANCIENT SPORT
Probably the most instantly recog-nized Thai ancient sport throughout the world is Muai Thai or Thai boxing. The sport represents the spirit of the fighter in the blood of the Thai people, but it is much more than just that.
Muai Thai is part ritual, part athleti-cism, and part performance art. As a ritual, training starts with yok khru, a ceremony in which the young boxer presents the teacher with an offering to demonstrate respect and grati-tude.
As an athletic activity, Muai Thai demands the student strengthen the body and develop speed, control, and the kicking and punching skills that are an integral part of the sport.
As a performance art, Muai Thai requires each fighter to perform a dance before the commencement of the contest - the wai khru or ram muai to honor the participants' teachers, parents, and ancestors that shows respect for the spirits of Muai Thai.
