THAILAND

If you think of Thailand you see images of beautiful sandy beaches with waving palmtrees and a hammock; of little unhabited islands with unique coral in clearblue water and exotic fish. Also temples with golden roofs, big Buddha statues and monks in orange dresses are a common sight in Thailand but also hilltribes and/or beautiful nature with jungle, waterfalls, mountains and wild animals.

Maybe the amazing Thai kitchen or the war between the reds and yellows or even maybe even the sex industry will pop up in you’re mind. Thailand must be one of the most diverse countries in the world.  

Before Thailand (prior Siam) would get his present shape and became a Kingdom the (Cambodian) Khmer civilisation was already present. Till the day of today life in Thailand is influenced by means of food, drinks, culture and religion long before Ayutthaya and Sukothai became Kings cities. The only country that’s never was colonialized by any other foreign country is one of the first things you hear when you enter Thailand which is true. Thailand would be balancing for years between in dependency and colonization en became heavy westernized on behalf of it.

In the thirties last century Japan and the Western powers were putting a lot of pressure on the Kingdom. During WW2 Thailand choose for Japan and became famous due to his “notorious” railway between Thailand and Japanese Burma (the death railway) and the bridge over the River Kwai was being built. Thousands of POW’s from England, Ausralia and the Netherlands were forced to labour on the infamous bridge and the rails that crossed the most beautiful terrain in South-East-Asia.  After the war followed one (military) coup after another one. in Kanchanaburi you can visit the bridge. 

In the new millennium miljardair Takshin in power and became a famous face all over the world. Prosperous times were followed by rumors about a big scandal concerning corruption – Takshin had to step down. From that moment on take the yellow shirts (most people from rural areas) and the red shirts (most city slickers with an education) it against each other. Since 2014 there is a general in power that claimed free elections. Change is not expected.