CRISELLE DUMLAO

Music
The two most popular styles of traditional Thai music are luk thung and mor lam; the latter in
particular has close affiliates with the Music of Laos. The music associated with royal and noble
courts, and with religious life, is commonly referred to as Thai classical music. During the 20th
century, this music came to be identified as part of the nation’s official cultural heritage,
supported by government institutions, the educational system, and the royal family. 
Luk thung - Luk thung, or Thai country music, developed in the mid-20th century to reflect daily
trials and tribulations of rural Thais.
Mor lam - Mor lam is the dominant folk music of Thailand's north-eastern Isan region, which has
a mainly Lao population. It has much in common with luk thung, such as its focus on the life of
the rural poor. It is characterized by rapid-fire, rhythmic vocals and a funk feel to the percussion.
https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/m/Music_of_Thailand.htm
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199757824/obo-
9780199757824-0156.xml

Dance

Traditional Thai dancing is both graceful and elegant and takes several distinct forms.
Traditional Thai dancing is a combination of graceful body movements in addition to elaborate
costumes and music. There are a total of six different forms of Thai dance: the khon, li-khe, ram
wong, shadow puppetry, lakhon lek, and lakhon. One of the most distinctive aspects of this Thai
art form is the costumes worn by the performers. Though the quality of the designs have
gradually declined since its beginnings some centuries ago, the outfits still remain stunning and
elaborate.

Khon - it was only performed for the royal family. It is now performed outside of the royal court,
however, it is still considered to be one of the highest art forms in Thailand. Most of the dancers
are men, and they play a number of different characters, including men, women, demons, and
monkeys. In addition to masks, these performances are accompanied by narrators and a Thai
piphat orchestra, which usually consists of percussion and wind instruments.

Li-khe - is the most popular form of dance in Thailand. These shows are a combination of many
different elements, from elaborate costumes to slapstick humor and sexual innuendo, throughout
a performance. It is meant to be funny, engaging, and is especially popular in villages throughout
Thailand.

Ram wong - meaning to dance in a circle, is one of the most popular forms of Thai dance. It is a
Thai folk dance, and as the name suggests, men and women come together in pairs and dance in
a circle. Movements are slow and graceful, and this is one of the most social forms of dance out
of the six.

Shadow Puppetry - As one of the oldest art forms in the country, shadow puppetry, or nang
thalung, is a special form of Thai dance. Shadow puppetry takes place behind a white sheet,
where a person controls the puppet and is usually accompanied by music to help tell a story. The
puppets that are used are made from intricately carved cow hides and painted after the design is
complete.

Lakhon lek - is the other form of Thai dance which uses puppet props in the performance.
Although this particular art form is rarely practiced, it was once a very popular show. The
puppets usually stand at about two feet tall, and they are brought to life by those performing with
them. The puppets can do everything, from singing to dancing and more.

Lakhon - performers are mostly women. Instead of having individual roles in a performance, the
women work together and perform as a group. Many stories are told through these performances
through acting, song, and of course, dance. The costumes and stage settings are usually much
more lavish in lakhon than in some of the other forms of Thai dance. The lower half of the body
does not move as much as the top, with graceful and lively hand movements throughout a
performance.
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/thailand/articles/the-history-and-basics-of-thai-dancing/

Arts
The ancient arts and crafts of Thailand are an inherited treasure that has been passed down from
the elder generations to the Rattanakosin period. History has been categorized into 3 eras. 

Copper Era - Within this era, it was popular to create utensils, products, and household wares
from copper, including jewellery, bracelets, and rings.  

Alloy Era - One of cultural finest items found in this era is a Large Bronze drum. Bronze is a
yellowish-brown alloy of copper with up to one-third tin. 

Iron Era - Arts and crafts of this era, there were a creation of weapons, Buddha statues, and
earthenware. 

Types of Thai Arts and Crafts

• Pottery
It is created for a domestic use including Earthenware and Ceramics. Earthenware was originally
influenced by Mon people or Burmese made of red clay. It has an unglazed surface and a plain
pattern.

• Textiles and Embroidery

Thai fabric and Thai silks are hand-woven products that have unique patterns, even machin

• Carving and Engraving Teak wood carving is popular in Thailand, as it is the most long lasting
type of wood. With incredible skills of woodcarvers, many exquisite wood carving pieces are
decorated in Buddhist temples and palaces around the country.
• Rattan and Bamboo Crafts As Thailand is a tropical country, Thai craftsmen use local materials
like rattan and bamboo to create handicraft products for household uses. • Handmade Paper The
ancient ancestors collected barks, which naturally peeled from Mulberry trees or also known as
SA in Thai for making paper without destroying the environment. This is a great sustainable
handmade product of Thai craftsmanship.
• Silverware The silverware working techniques were originally influenced by China, India,
Persia, and Portugal. While, silver items were limited for Royal uses and families of nobility.
Nowadays, highly skilled Thai silversmiths have created sophisticated crafted unique Thai
silverwares, known as exquisite craftsmanship of Southeast Asia. https://royalthaiart.com/arts-
and-crafts-of-thailand/ 

Sports Thai sport is part of Thai culture which has been passed on from generation to generation.
Sporting activities of Thais blend well into their agricultural way of life. It is another form of
group relationship enhancement during the cultivating and harvesting periods. Thai sport is also
a form of entertainment which takes place during religious and royal ceremonies and festivals.
Thais young and old come together to participate in exciting games which are oftentimes
humorous. Thai sport reflects the Thais' way of life and their intellectual subtlety. It is a fine
bond that has bound the Thai people through a long past until today.

Thai Boxing (Muai Thai) Thai boxing is an ancient martial art handed down from generation to
generation. The fights are commonly fierce and furious. Thai boxing is unique in which
combatants use elbows, knees and bare feet as well as gloved fists.

Sword & Pole Fighting (Fun Daab & Krabi Kra-bong) This martial art once formed part of
medieval military training. Before fights, contestants perform a 'Wai Khru' rite with musical
accompaniment. Excitement comes from the clashing of weapons and the music.

Boat Racing (Kaeng Ruer) from the Aytthaya period. Races are commonly staged during the
post-rainy season months of October and November, after Kathins and presenting fresh robes to
Buddhist monk

Bull Fighting (Chon Wua) Bull fighting is popular in southern Thailand, and is believed to have
been introduced by Portuguese traders during the Ayutthaya period.

Kite Flying (Len Wow) Thais generally fly kites during the summer months of March through
May. Kites have been enjoyed since the 13th and 14th-century Sukhothai period. The sport was
probably most popular during the reign of King Rama IV (1851-1868), when people were
granted royal permission to fly kites at Bangkok's Phra Men Ground next to the Grand Palace.

Thai Chess (Mak Ruk Thai) Thai chess is believed to have originated from Indian chess, and
may have been used to plan military strategies. Thai chess requires a square board. Opponents
each have six types of chessmen:Khun (king), Khon, Met, Ma (horse), Rua (boat) and Bia
(pawn). Players move the chessmen until the Khun of one player is "cornered". Thai chess
provides intellectual pleasure, and sharpens rapid calculation and decision-making. Takro Lot
Huang (Kicking a Rattan Ball) This game is played during leisure time, the SongKran festival,
ordination ceremonies and other festive
occasions. http://www.columbia.edu/cu/thai/html/tsa_sport.html
LENITH TRINIDAD

Buddhism It became noticeable that these beliefs also started to spread to other areas of Asia during the
Mahayana period. King Kanitsaka the Great had the intention of spreading Buddha’s teachings farther
than just his kingdoms. He began to send groups of monks throughout Central Asia in order to help
spread the word. Once Mahayana’s Buddhism expanded into Thailand, it became widely accepted by
the people. Mahayana’s Buddhism spread from the southern regions, to the north via the central areas
of the country. This created a large multicultural society, with different dialects that still, today, inhabit
the Thai language. The spread of the beliefs of Buddhism had officially begun in
Thailand. https://maytermthailand.org/2011/04/30/history-of-buddhism-in-thailand-by-rob-caesar-and-
jane-dahle/ Buddhism in Thailand, is largely based on the Theravada tradition of Buddhism. One of the
largest Buddhist nations in the world, nearly 95% of Thailand's population follows Buddhism. Thailand is
perhaps the only country in the world where the king is stipulated to be a Buddhist and the patron of
the faith in Thailand. For centuries, Buddhism has played an important role in the history of the kingdom
and has enriched the lives of Thai people in all their aspects. It is certainly notable that without
Buddhism, Thailand would not be what it is today. Buddhism in Thailand has also successfully been
integrated with the local folk beliefs as well as Chinese religions from the large Thai-Chinese population.
Buddha Statue Buddhism in Thailand was introduced when one of the royal monks sent by Emperor
Ashoka came to Suvarnabhumi which some identify with Thailand with other monks and sacred
Buddhist texts. During the 5th to 13th centuries, the Southeast Asian region was influenced directly
from India and the empires from these regions essentially followed the tradition of Mahayana
Buddhism. Such was the influence of Mahayana Buddhism in the region that it spread from the Srivijaya
Empire in the south to the Khmer Empire to the north and their respective Srivijaya art and Khmer art
represented the rich pantheon of Bodhisattvas of Mahayana tradition. With over 900 temples built in
the period of 9th to 13th centuries in Cambodia and Thailand, Mahayana Buddhism and Hindu Khmer
Empire dominated much of the Southeast Asian peninsula. After the slow diminishing of Buddhism in
India, the Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka slowly converted the Buddhism in Burma to Theravada
tradition and then it was followed by the introduction of Theravada Buddhism in Thailand, Laos and
Cambodia. Theravada tradition later dominated the previous forms of Buddhism and was made the
official state religion with the establishment of the Thai Kingdom of Sukothai in the 13th century AD. By
the 19th century, the kingdom became steadily more centralized and hierarchical in nature. Many
reforms were made on the basis for the Dhammayuttika order of monks. These reforms were, all
practices having no authority other than custom were to be abandoned, canonical regulations were to
be followed not mechanically but in spirit, and acts intended to improve an individual's standing on the
road to nirvana but having no social value were rejected https://www.thai-buddhas.com/thai-buddha-
statues/buddhism-in-thailand/ Islam The start of Islam is marked in the year 610, following the first
revelation to the prophet Muhammad at the age of 40. Muhammad and his followers spread the
teachings of Islam throughout the Arabian peninsula. Muslims comprise Thailand's largest religious
minority and are concentrated mainly in the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, and
Satun. Islam is said to have been introduced to the Malay Peninsula by Arab traders and adventures
during the 13th century. Most Thai Muslims are Malay descent, reflecting the common cultural heritage
Thailand's southernmost provinces share with Malaysia. https://riyadh.thaiembassy.org/th/page/29025-
muslim-in-thailand-2?menu=5d80b46615e39c0a50006465

SHIERAMII

Tom Yum Goong is one of the most well-known Thai recipes, and I have the BEST and most authentic
Tom Yum recipe for you. Not to mention how easy it is to make. Goong means “shrimp” in Thai, as the
soup is usually made with shrimp. You can also make it with seafood such as squid or a combination of
different seafood. https://rasamalaysia.com/tom-yum-recipe/ Pad Thai Pad Thai is a stir-fried rice
noodle dish from Thailand. Commonly served as street food and in restaurants, Pad Thai is made with
stir-fried eggs, tofu or shrimp, and flavored with a tamarind, soy, and fish sauce based Pad Thai sauce.
Pad Thai noodle is one such versatile recipe with refreshing flavors. Most of the ingredients are a pantry
staple. One of the special and important ingredients is fish sauce. But Thai food being one of the popular
cuisines around the world, it is easily available in Asian stores. To make this Pad Thai Noodles exactly the
way you get on the streets of Thailand you need to do a couple of things right. First is cooking the Rice
noodles perfectly and second is a good Pad Thai Sauce. https://realhousemoms.com/one-pot-pad-
thai/ Gaeng Keow Wan Gai (Thai Chicken Green Curry) Gaeng Keow Wan Gai (Thai Chicken Green Curry),
Thailand is a combination of green curry paste and coconut milk. One of the signature Thai dishes that
almost everyone loves is Thai green curry. An immaculate blend of green curry paste combined with
coconut cream to create a thick curry that goes extremely well with
rice. https://www.eatingthaifood.com/thai-green-curry-chicken/ . TOM KHA GAI SOUP This tom kha gai
soup recipe (or Thai coconut chicken soup) is absolutely perfect. Rich and creamy yet tangy and salty,
this Thai coconut chicken soup recipe is filling but light and positively bursting with flavor. The very best
tom kha gai recipe I’ve ever made or tried. With Whole30, paleo, and vegan options,
too. https://40aprons.com/tom-kha-soup-whole30/ KAO PAD (THAI FRIED RICE) Thai Fried Rice is an
amazing and easy fried rice dish made with key ingredients like chicken, jasmine rice, vegetables, and
egg, and it’s richly flavored with garlic, fresh ginger, fish sauce and oyster sauce. It’s a great weeknight
dinner recipe and you can make it with chicken or shrimp! https://www.willcookforsmiles.com/khao-
pad-thai-fried-rice/

CHIRIMIII

Bangkok, Thai Krung Thep, city, capital, and chief port of Thailand. It is the only cosmopolitan city in a
country of small towns and villages and is Thailand’s cultural and commercial centre. Bangkok is located
on the delta of the Chao Phraya River, about 25 miles (40 km) from the Gulf of Thailand. It was formerly
divided into two municipalities—Krung Thep on the east bank and Thon Buri on the west—connected by
several bridges. In 1971 the two were united as a city-province with a single municipal government. In
1972 the city and the two surrounding provinces were merged into one province, called Krung Thep
Maha Nakhon (Bangkok Metropolis). The metropolis is a bustling, crowded city, with temples, factories,
shops, and homes juxtaposed along its roads and canals. It is also a major tourist destination, noted for
bountiful cultural attractions and a nightlife that includes a flourishing sex trade. The name Bangkok,
used commonly by foreigners, is, according to one interpretation, derived from a name that dates to the
time before the city was built—the village or district (bang) of wild plums (makok). The Thai call their
capital Krung Thep, which is the first part of its mellifluous and lengthy official name meaning “the City
of Gods, the Great City, the Residence of the Emerald Buddha, the Impregnable City (of Ayutthaya) of
God Indra, the Grand Capital of the World Endowed with Nine Precious Gems, the Happy City
Abounding in Enormous Royal Palaces Which Resemble the Heavenly Abode Wherein Dwell the
Reincarnated Gods, a City Given by Indra and Built by Vishnukarm.” The abbreviated name Krung Thep is
often translated as “City of Angels.” Area Bangkok Metropolis, 604 square miles (1,565 square km). Pop.
(2000) 6,355,144; (2010) 8,305,218.

Phuket

The tropical beach getaway of your dreams

Phuket’s reputation as Thailand’s premier leisure playground is well founded. Distinguished by lush,
jungle-clad mountains, gorgeous beaches and turquoise waters, the island’s geographical wonders are
backdrops to a world-famous pleasure zone.

Most holidaymakers head to the west coast for the photogenic and super-popular beaches of Patong,
Surin, Kamala, Kata and Karong. Further north is Bang Tao beach, the stunning setting for the Laguna
Phuket complex. This cluster of resorts, restaurants and leisure attractions is ideal for families and
travellers who like everything at their fingertips. For a more laid-back destination with an authentic local
vibe, venture south to Cape Panwa.

Old Phuket Town, with its beautiful heritage architecture, vibrant Thai-Chinese-Indian-Malay population
and flourishing dining scene, is a pleasant cultural diversion from the sand and sea. And of course, no
trip to Phuket is complete without an excursion to the spectacular Phang Nga Bay, with dramatic
limestone outcrops and aquamarine waters that will send your Instagram followers into a frenzy.
Things to do: Phuket

Find your perfect beach

Phuket’s glorious beaches are, without doubt, its top drawcard. And there’s one for every type of
beachgoer. Patong is long, beautiful and crowded, with a buzzing party scene that extends well into the
night. Next to it is the heavenly (and much quieter) Freedom Beach, accessible only by boat or via a very
steep hill. In the south, Ya Nui is renowned for great snorkelling, while Kata and Kamala host a
burgeoning surf scene from May to October. At 11 kilometres, the pristine Mau Khao is the island’s
longest beach and far from the madding crowds.

Set sail for water world Phuket is your launch pad to Phang Nga Bay, a marine wonderland that will
leave you breathless. James Bond Island (Ko Tapu), which featured in 1974’s The Man with the Golden
Gun, is just the start. Expect sensational diving and snorkelling, surreal rock formations and limestone
cliffs, islets and caves, and even a fishing village (Koh Panyee) built on stilts over the water. There are
many ways to explore Phang Nga, from traditional longtail boat and kayak tours, to charter yachts and
leisurely cruises.

Feast on architectural eye-candy in Old Phuket Town If you can drag yourself away from the beach,
Phuket’s Old Town is well worth a wander. Characterised by bright colours, ornate detailing and old-
world grandeur, its historic Sino-Portuguese architecture is one of its most charming attractions. Some
mansions are abandoned, others (such as the celebrated Baan Chinpracha) have been converted into
museums, while several house cafes and restaurants. Try the Blue Elephant for exquisite Royal Thai food
and cooking classes, or Endless Summer for coffee and pastries.

Meet the gentle giants of Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Phuket’s first ethical elephant sanctuary provides a
safe haven for sick, injured and aged elephants who’ve survived a life in the logging or tourism
industries. Here, these gentle giants can be themselves: socialising together, enjoying mud baths and
roaming freely through hectares of unspoiled rainforest. Fall in love with these fascinating creatures as
you hear their stories and observe them in their natural habitat, following them as they wander around
the grounds. You’ll also have a chance to help feed them. Who knows? You might even be inspired to
join their volunteer program!

Phuket Tourist Spots Phang Nga Bay Phi Phi Islands Old Phuket Town James Bond Island Patong Beach
Kata Noi Beach Karon View Point
3. Chiang Mai When we say you’ll see a temple in every corner in Chiang Mai, we mean it. In fact, there’s
over 500 temples in this city so you’ll get plenty of snaps and history knowledge when you leave. But
Chiang Mai tourist spots are not just about temples. They also have Chiang Mai Night Zoo that will
certainly entertain both kids and adults. Chiang Mai Tourist Spots Doi Suthep Wat Chedi Luang Wat Phra
Singh Wat Suan Dok Wat Sri Suphan Chiang Mai Night Zoo

Highlights *Phra That Doi Suthep *Thapae Walking Street *Doi Ang Khang *Nimmanhaemin road *Doi
Inthanon With beautiful nature blended with Lanna Culture and colours of contemporary perfectly
Chiang Mai is, therefore, a province that has many tourists, both Thai and foreigners, come in many
millions each year. Popular tourist activities in Chiang Mai include worshipping the Phra That doi suthep,
which is an important Landmark of Chiang Mai people. Experience the Local way of life and shop for
stylish handmade products at Thapae Walking Street. Visit various species of plants at the Queen Sirikit
botanical Garden and Rajapruek Royal Park. Do not miss to shop art products, taste local CUISINE and
see cultures on Nimmanhaemin Road. In addition, nature and mountain tours are another activity that
should not be missed when visiting Chiang Mai, whether stepping on the highest point of Thailand at the
top of doi inthanon. Absorb the beauty of the rice fields, feel the Cool breeze while watching the giant
tiger flower at Doi Ang Khang. Experience Ecotourism HomeStay in Mae Kampong and visit Hmong
villages in Doi Pui and many more.