Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

In 1939, Thailand changed its name from Siam to Thailand. In 1945 the country changed its name from Thailand back to Siam and again in 1949 the country changed its name again from Siam to Thailand. It is the only country in the world to have change its name 3 times in 10 years.

Contrary to popular belief, Krungthep and Bangkok are not the same. Historically speaking, Bangkok is only the name of the area on the east banks of the Chao Phara River, on the west is Thonburi. King Rama joined Bangkok and Thonburi together and named this 'great new city', Krungthep. Founded as the new capital in 1782, Bangkok did not have one single paved street until 1863. Prior to this people travelled around the city in boats on the klongs (canals) that divided the city into a series of defensible islands. King Mongut allowed some of the klongs to be filled in following pleas from western merchants based in the city, for somewhere to walk and exercise and to practice a new craze that was sweeping Europe-bicycling.

Bangkok is the only city in the Kingdom of Thailand that has a different Thai and English name. The name Bangkok appeared on international navigation charts as far back as the 15th century as an outpost port of Ayuthaya, the former capital, where western merchant ships made frequent calls. However, Bangkok has got an official name, so auspicious and long that it goes into the Guinness Book as the longest in the world for a city. The official name "Krung Thep" meaning "The City of Angels", the same as Los Angeles, which has a sizable Thai community, the largest outside Thailand. The name Bangkok means 'Village of Olives' (Ban Mah-gork)

meaning: "The land of angels, the great city (of) immortality, various of divine gems, the great angelic land unconquerable, land of nine noble gems, the royal city, the pleasant capital, place of the grand royal palace, forever land of angels and reincarnated spirits, predestined and created by the highest Deva(s)".

Contrary to some belief, Bangkok is a Thai word and not only English. The word Bangkok is still used in both southern and northern dialects. Originally, Bangkok, means 'Phra Nakhorn' or the eastern side of 'Krung thep'. Before Bangkok (Krungthep) became the capital. The country's capital was 'Thonburi' on the western side of Bangkok. When both Bangkok and Thonburi were joined, the capital was renamed 'Krungthep'. Foreigners, liking the word Bangkok, failed to adopt the new name.

Prior to 1913, most Thais did not have surnames.

The City of Ayutthaya (Ayodhaya) is named after the city by the same name in the Ramkien. Phra Intr (Indra) was advised by four Phra Ruesi to build a city in the Twaaraawadii Forest, as it was an auspicious place. To add to the citys blessing, it was named using the first syllables of each of the Ruesi's names, A, Yod, Dha, Ya.

The word 'farang' originates from the Farsi word for foreigners (as applied to the Germanic tribe of franks in particular), and is present in similar forms in a number of other languages, including Greek, Arabic, Amharic, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, Malay, and Vietnamese. The word, even with the same tonal signature, also means guava.

The Thai greeting Sawatdee (or Sawasdee) is derived from the Sanskrit (Hindu in origin) - Svasti. Svasti, meaning 'well-being' was invented during the Second World War. Before that, people greeted each other by asking if they had eaten yet.

In Thailand, both Father's Day and Mother's Day are celebrated on the birthdays of Their Majesties the King and Queen.

  Breakaway's The Kings of Thailand

Before The King married Queen Sirikit, it was decided that HM, in accordance to official procedures, had to sign a register stating his actual 'occupation'! At first some government officials wished that his occupation be listed as 'King' but others wanted simply 'Government Official'. After a long debate, it was decided that HM's occupation be described as 'Ruler of the Country'.

Queen Sunandha, First Consort to King Rama V (and a daughter of King Mongkut!) was killed in a tragic boat accident on the Chao Phraya River. It is said that no-one dared rescue her while she was drowning, as it was strictly prohibited that a commoner touch such a high-ranking royal! King Rama V was supposed to have been terribly upset that no-one rescued her and ordered a new regulation, allowing commoners to touch a high-ranking royal in times of such incidents!

One of the world's rarest birds, can be found in Thailand, 'The Gurney's Pitta', Pitta gurneyi, is a medium-sized passerine bird. Found in Thailand and Myanmar (Burma), this beautiful bird has a blue crown and black-and-yellow under parts. The rest of the head is black, and it has warm brown upperparts. The female has a brown crown and buffy-whitish under parts. This bird is 'Critically Endangered', and stands on the edge of extinction. The population was estimated at nine pairs in 1997. A search for it in Myanmar in 2003 was successful and discovered the species at four sites with a maximum of 10-12 pairs at one location. This situation has been caused by te almost total clearance of forest in southern Myanmar and peninsular Thailand. It was thought to be extinct in 1952 but was rediscovered in 1986. The name of this bird commemorates the English ornithologist John Henry Gurney.

All statues of the Buddha are leased from their makers because the image, considered too sacred to have material value, can never be "bought' or sold". Nakhon Pathom (56km) is the town that boasts the tallest Buddhist pagoda both in Thailand and in the world. Wat Traimitr (Temple of the Golden Buddha) this is the world's largest solid gold Buddha, cast about nine centuries ago. The image is three meters high and weighs five and half tons. The most expensive Buddhist Amulets are 'Somdej Wat Rakhang'. Some of them, around 150 years old, are valued at more than 30 million baht.

Just one kilometre north of Ko Tao is the beautiful island of 'Ko Nang Yuan', the only place in the world where three islands are joined together by a sandbar.

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