Practical tips
Best time
A tropical climate with three seasons: hot, rainy and cool. The monsoons do not reach both coasts at the same time, so when it is raining in Phuket it can be dry on Koh Samui. The north gets noticeably cooler between November and February.
Languages
Thai is tonal and has its own alphabet: the same syllable in a different tone is a different word. English circulates well in tourist areas and less outside them. Malay is heard in the south and Isan, close to Lao, in the northeast.
Etiquette
The head is the highest part of the body and the feet the lowest: do not touch anyone's head or point with your feet. Take your shoes off in homes and temples, cover shoulders and knees at temples, and treat Buddha images with respect, including decorative ones. The rest of the practical guide is in preparation.
What to see & culture
Places
The Grand Palace and Wat Pho in Bangkok; the ruins of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, both World Heritage sites; the mountain temples around Chiang Mai; Khao Sok National Park and its ancient forest; and the islands on either side of the isthmus, which have different good seasons.
Culture
The only country in Southeast Asia never colonised, which shows in the continuity of the monarchy and of Theravada Buddhism in daily life. Ordaining as a monk for a short period is common, festivals follow the lunar calendar, and muay thai is a national sport before it is an attraction.
Food
Four flavours in balance — spicy, sour, sweet and salty — and four clearly distinct regional cuisines. Pad thai is the best-known dish abroad; inside the country som tam from the northeast, the coconut-milk curries of the south and northern khao soi matter more. Eating on the street is the norm, not the exception.