With over 15 million international visitors a year, Thailand is an increasingly popular travel destination, and for good reason!
Offering year-round sunshine, fabulous beach and island resorts, eco-tourism, rain forests adventures, national parks, unique culture, a cuisine that is world renowned for its spicy flavours and highlands populated by ethnic hill-tribes; There is plenty to occupy even the most experienced traveller.
Whether you prefer to relax on a white sandy beach, take an elephant trek through a rain forest, or dive head first into the hustle and bustle of one of Asia’s busiest markets. Orbit Tours Thailand can help you create the perfect Thailand getaway.
Religion
Thailand’s main religion is Buddhism, with about 95% of all people living in Thailand believed to be Buddhists.
Most Thai people own spirit houses, miniature wooden houses in which they believe household spirits live. They present food and drink to these spirits to keep them happy. If these spirits aren’t happy, they believe that chaos will occur in their home. These spirit houses can be found in public places and in the streets of Thailand and the public can present food and drink at these places.
Thai Temples (Wats)
There are over 40,000 Wats (temples) in Thailand spotted all over the country, some of which are very well known and others that can be considered as hidden gems. The Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) in Bangkok is the most prestigious temple in Thailand located next to the Chao Phraya River.
Visitors must remember that there are certain rules of entry that apply; Men have to wear long trousers, long sleeved shirts and shoes. Women have to wear long skirts. If you forget, don’t fret, visitors who arrive wearing anything different can rent some appropriate clothing at the entrance of the temple.
Thailand’s Climate
Thailand hosts a tropical climate, both high in humidity and temperature. The hottest months of the year lye between March and May, with temperatures reaching around 38°c, something that even the locals are wary of. The rainy season, between June and October, is showered with monsoons but still retains average temperatures of over 30°c.
The most popular time to explore Thailand is from November until February; this peak season offers a reduction in humidity levels as well as a cooling breeze from the North East, however due to high demand, prices for hotel rooms increase during this time of year.
The north and north-east regions of Thailand are generally much cooler than Bangkok in the winter and hotter in the summer. In the far north, around the Mae Hong Son area temperatures can drop as low as 2°c
Thailand Wine
The earliest vineyards in Thailand were planted in the 1960s, and were intended to produce table grapes – but in the past three or four decades, a number of vinifera wine varieties have also been propagated. Given Thailand’s tropical climate (it lies between the latitudes of five and 20 degrees north), these initial winemaking attempts were not expected to succeed. Rot and fungal diseases thrive in the heat and humidity which characterizes Thailand’s climate. The lack of seasonal variation (required for all-important vine dormancy) and diurnal temperature variation were also seen as insurmountable challenges to the production of quality wine. While these elements are still present, the effect they have is now minimized through technology and adaptive viticultural techniques.
Thai vineyards are planted with various grape varieties, but the most common is Malaga Blanc, a southern French table grape not to be confused with Semillion, whose Spanish name is Malaga. Malaga Blanc is thought to have arrived in Thailand (known as Siam at that time) in the late 17th century, presented to the Siamese king by a French diplomat. Black Muscat (Muscat Hamburg) and Cardinal have also been used to make Thai wine since the 1970s, and have been joined by locally propagated varieties such as Pokdum, a crossing of Golden Queen andMuscat. Of the better-known international grape varieties, Chenin Blanc andShiraz have been the most successful. Tempranillo and Sauvignon Blanc have also been trialled.