Thai Culture and People The Culture of Thailand is heavily influenced by Buddhism. Other influences have included Brahmanism, conflict and trade with Southeast Asian neighbors such as Laos and Myanmar, and repeated influxes of Chinese immigrants. Culture of Thailand - Arts Thai visual art was traditionally primarily Buddhist. Thai Buddha images from different periods have a number of distinctive styles. Contemporary Thai art often combines traditional Thai elements with modern techniques. Literature in Thailand is heavily influenced by Indian culture. The most notable works of Thai literature are a version of the Ramayana called the Ramakien, written in part by Kings Rama I and Rama II, and the poetry of Sunthorn Phu. There is no tradition of spoken drama in Thailand, the role instead being filled by Thai dance. This is divided into three categories- khon, lakhon and likay- khon being the most elaborate and likay the most populist. Nang drama, a form of shadow play, is found in the south. The music of Thailand includes classical and folk music traditions as well as string or pop music. Culture of Thailand - Religion Thailand is primarily a Theravada Buddhist country, with minorities of Muslims, Christians, Mahayana Buddhists, and other religions. Thai Theravada Buddhism is divided into two main orders, the Thammayut Nikaya and the Maha Nikaya. All Thai Buddhists are under the legal authority of the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, currently Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera. A recent reformist group, Santi Asoke, is legally forbidden to describe itself as Buddhist. Prior to the rise of Theravada Buddhism, both Indian Brahmanic religion and Mahayana Buddhism was present in Thailand. Influences from both these traditions can still be seen in the present day. Brahmanist shrines play an important role in Thai folk religion, and the Mahayana Buddhist influence is reflected in the presence of figures like Lokesvara, a form of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara sometimes incorporated into Thai iconography. The culture and people of Thailand is heavily influenced by Buddhism. Other influences have included Brahmanism... How to get there: There are many ways to get to Thailand but almost all tourists go by airplanes to Bangkok, the busiest international airport gateway in Asia... The Kingdom of Thailand, known for decades as Siam, offers visitors the choice of everything from pristine beaches to ancient cities.  Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui are top destinations in Thailand... Weather & climate: Thailand can best be described as tropical and humid for the majority of the country during most of... Get a visa If you're entering Thailand by air for tourism purposes, you're eligible for a free 30-day stay in Thailand... Culture of Thailand - Cuisine Thai cuisine is famous for the blending of four fundamental tastes: sweet (sugar, fruits, sweet peppers), spicy hot (chilies), sour (vinegar, lime juice, tamarind), salty (soy sauce, fish sauce). Most of the dishes in Thai cuisine try to combine most, if not all, of these tastes. It is accomplished by using a host of herbs, spices and fruit, including: chili, cumin, garlic, ginger, basil, sweet basil, lime, lemongrass, coriander, pepper, turmeric and shallots. Culture of Thailand - Customs One of the most distinctive Thai customs is the wai, which is similar to the Indian namaste gesture. Showing greeting, farewell, or acknowledgment, it comes in several forms reflecting the relative status of those involved, but generally it involves a prayer-like gesture with the hands and a bow of the head. Physical demonstrations of affection in public are common between friends, but less so between lovers. It is thus common to see friends walking together holding hands, but couples rarely do so except in westernized areas. A notable social norm holds that touching someone on the head may be considered rude. It is also considered rude to place one's feet at a level above someone else's head, especially if that person is of higher social standing. This is because the Thai people consider the foot to be the dirtiest and lowest part of the body, and the head the most respected and highest part of the body. This also influences how Thais sit when on the ground -- their feet always pointing away from others, tucked to the side or behind them. Pointing at or touching something with the feet is also considered rude. It is also considered extremely rude to step on a Thai coin, because the king's head appears on the coin. When sitting in a temple, one is expected to point one's feet away from images of the Buddha. Shrines inside Thai residences are arranged so as to ensure that the feet are not pointed towards the religious icons -- such as placing the shrine on the same wall as the head of a bed, if a house is too small to remove the shrine from the bedroom entirely. It is also customary to remove one's footwear before entering a home or a temple, and not to step on the threshold. There are a number of Thai customs relating to the special status of monks in Thai society. Because of their religious discipline, Thai monks are forbidden physical contact with women. Women are therefore expected to make way for passing monks to ensure that accidental contact does not occur. A variety of methods are employed to ensure that no incidental contact (or the appearance of such contact) between women and monks occurs. Women making offerings to monks place their donation at the feet of the monk, or on a cloth laid on the ground or a table. Powders or ungents intended to carry a blessing are applied to Thai women by monks using the end of a candle or stick. Lay people are expected to sit or stand with their heads at a lower level than that of a monk. Within a temple, monks may sit on a raised platform during ceremonies to make this easier to achieve. People of Thailand Thailand is home to several different ethnic groups, but about 80 percent of the population belong to a group that speaks one of the Tai languages. The largest of these groups are the Thai (Siamese) and the Lao. The Thai are found throughout the nation, while the Lao are concentrated in the northeast. 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