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Locations: Potang, Phi Phi Don, Phuket (Phuket Provence) & Bangkok (8667 miles from home)

Time Zone: Twelve Hours ahead of Eastern Std

Metropolitan Populations, respectively: --m, --m, --m and --mm with a country population of 64.3mm in an area slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming.

Official Language: Thai

Government: Constitutional monarchy (King Phumiphon Adunyadet at the throne since 9 June 1946) with 76 provinces. The capital is Bangkok, witht the head of government Prime Minister Thaksin Chinnawat (since 9 February 2001)

An interesting note is that the Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict. As it was never colonized Thailand's Independence is it's traditional founding date1238.

Flag is five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red. The central band was originally red. It was changed to blue to express solidarity with the Allies during World War I. Effective date September 1917. The middle blue strip is twice as wide as the other four. The three colors red-white-blue stand for nation-religion-king, an unofficial motto of Thailand.

Economy: Thailand has a free enterprise economy and welcomes foreign investment. After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased speculative pressure on Thailand's currency in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the baht. Long pegged at 25 to the dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the dollar in January 1998, and the economy contracted by 10.2% that same year. The baht's collapse is considered the trigger point of the Asian economic crisis of the late 20th century and highlighted just how much globalization had interconnected many of the world's economies. A GDP of $445.8 billion, ($7,000 per capita) a 33.4mm person labor force, $19 billion budget and an approximate 2.9% unemployment rate.