Heading to Thailand

I am leaving on a 2 week trip to Thailand.  This is familiar territory for me, having traveled there numerous times over the past decade.

Here is a quick sketch of the country.

Full country name: Kingdom of Thailand
Population: 62 million
Capital City: Bangkok (pop 6 million)
People: 75% Thai, 11% Chinese, 3.5% Malay, also Mon, Khmer, Phuan and Karen minorities
Language: Thai
Religion: 95% Buddhism, 4% Muslim
Government: constitutional monarchy
Head of State: King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
GDP: US$166 billion
GDP per capita: US$2,168

Thailand is the bustling cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

 

And Thailand is the beautiful rural area in the northern mountain region.

I will be in both types of settings on this trip.