Thailand has the world’s longest-reigning monarch in the world. King Bhumibol Adulyadej reignedfrom 9 June 1946, and at the time of his death on 13 October 2017, was the world’s longest-reigninghead of state and the longest-reigning monarch in all of Thai history. King Bhumibol Adulyadejreigned over Thailand for 70 years and 126 days and was greatly revered by the Thai people. He owneda patent on a type of cloud seeding, an engineering degree from Switzerland, and composedThailand’s national anthem, among many other impressive achievements.

Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rice.

Thai brothers Eng & Chang Bunker inspired the term "Siamese twins" and were joined at the chest.They died in 1873.

The national flower of Thailand is the orchid. If you love exotic flowers, you’ll be pleased to know that1,500 orchid species can be found growing wild in Thai forests. There’s a reason why it is one of theworld’s largest orchid exporters.

In the past, all Thai young men under the age of twenty, of all social rankings, including the princesand kings, became Buddhist monks for at least a short amount of time in their lifetime.

Have you ever been to a festival for monkeys? The annual Monkey Buffet is held in front of the PraPrang Sam Yot temple in Lopburi province. The local residents see it as a way of thanking the monkeysfor bringing thousands of tourists to the village to see these monkeys that live there. It’s no smallbuffet: two tons of meat, fruit, ice cream, and other treats make up this feast.

Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by a European country. In fact,in the Thai language, the country's name is Prathet Thai which means “land of the free.”

Thailand is where you’ll find both the smallest and the largest creatures. The smallest mammal in theworld, the bumblebee bat, exists in Thailand. You can also find the largest fish, the whale shark, in Thaiwaters.

Red Bull, the world-famous energy drink, has its roots in Thailand. Based on Krating Daeng, a drinkmade popular in Thailand (and eventually across Asia) since 1976. Red Bull was modified to “suitwestern tastes.”

Muay Thai boxing, Thailand's national sport, is known as "the art of eight limbs."

It is illegal to drive shirtless in Thailand.

A Thai woman lived for 33 days & nights in a glass room full of scorpions, setting a new world record.

Thailand used to be known as Siam, and it is the country where Siamese cats originated from. Thoughthere used to be 23 types of Siamese cats originally, there are now only six. Therefore, giving a pair ofSiamese cats to a bride on her wedding day is considered good luck.

Do you hate winter? Come to Bangkok, Thailand, as it was named the world’s hottest city! Just bringyour cotton T-shirts, shorts, bikini, and flip-flops.

Showing respect for another person’s head is imperative in Thailand. The head is considered the mostimportant part of the body, so Thai culture forbids touching anyone on the head (even a child).However, should you meet someone older or more important than you, it is best to lower your head toshow proper respect.

One-tenth of the entire population of Thailand lives in Bangkok. It is the capital of this great nationand, of course, the largest city.

There are about 35,000 temples in Thailand. Thailand is truly a land of temples. Visiting them requiresmodest clothing, meaning no shorts or sleeveless shirts.

Thailand is home to a fish that can walk on land. Built like no other fish in the world, the Cryptotorathamicola, otherwise known as the blind, waterfall-climbing cavefish, uses its two front and two backfins to propel itself up waterfalls. In fact, it crawls on land the same way that any four-footed animalwould.

Thailand was once referred to as “Venice of the East”. This was due to the many original buildings builton stilts over the Chao Phraya River and the many meandering canals that were a significant factor inBangkok’s trading activities.

The world knows Bangkok as “Bangkok.” To Thai people, Bangkok is known as Krung Thep. Its realname is one of the longest names of a place in the world, made up of Pali and Sanskrit root words:Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya MahadilokphopNoppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan AmonphimanawatansathitSakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit. And it means “City of Angels, Great City of Immortals, the MagnificentCity of the Nine Gems, Seat of the King, City of Royal Palaces, Home of Gods Incarnate, Erected byVisvakarman at Indra’s Behest.”