Thailand
Overview:
Formerly, and famously known as Siam, Thailand has an unique and rich culture and is a country that has escaped a lot of major wars in the region. It is a constitutional monarchy with a king that does command significant power relative to most token monarchs. The Thai King is the Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, and Upholder of the Buddhist religion. The country is fairly modernized society with significant industrialization in the past 40 years.
History:
Thailand has been a monarch governed and independent state for almost its entire recorded history. The Khmer Empire lasted 1200 years until the 13th century. The buddhist kingdom of Sukhothai, Lanna, and Lan Chang governed the country for 100 years. Ayutthaya kingdom lasted through the 18th century. Thailand is the only Southeast nation not be conquered by a European country. Part of this was the long line of strong kings who were cunning and was able to exploit the rivalry between French Indochina to the East and the British Empire to the West. This made Thailand a buffer state for most of the 19th century. During World War II Thailand assisted Japan by allowing troop movements in return for Japan's help to recapture lost territories to the French and British in the 19th century. After the war, Thailand became a strong U.S. ally during the Cold War.
Language:
Thai is the official language of Thailand and is spoken by over 90% of the population. It has its own Thai written dialect system although it is influenced by China. Chinese Mandarin and Chu Chow are heavily spoken in Thailand since 15% of the population of Chinese, with many of them being wealthy businessman and other top professions.
Geography:
Thailand is 198,120 square miles and is the world's 50th largest country in land mass which approximately the size of California or France. It is bordered by Laos and Cambodia to the east, Burma to the West and Malaysia to the South. Thailand is made mostly of dense jungle with a variety of hills and mountain ranges. Its climate is considered tropical.
It has over 100 resorts at the Adaman bay with one of the popular ones seen below. 
Art and Crafts:
Thailand has a distinct design of pointed multi-tiered hats, pagodas, buildings and temples laid in gold color. Since Thailand has been rich in the gold resource and it is a symbol of prosperity and wealth, gold is seen everywhere in Thai arts and crafts. Woven clothes, paper crafts, pottery and paintings are favorite hobbies in Thai culture.
Cuisine:
Thai cuisine is known for its spicy flair and heavy use of mints and leaves. Seafood is popular due to Adaman bay and other fishing areas. Thai barbeque has its own unique taste with Chinese inspired sweet sauces. Thai soups are all spicy and often comes served in an unique pot where the soup is on the side in a cylindrical trough with a long tower on top all sitting on a blue open flame. Satay is a popular curry glazed chicken, pork or beef with peanut dipping sauce. Rice noodles, fried rice, and grilled meats are popular main course dishes. Desserts often centers on either mangos, coconuts, pineapples, or red beans.
Demographics:
Approximately 75% of the 70 million people are ethnic Thais. 15% are Chinese, and 3% are Malaysians. The remainder of small tribal ethnic groups called Mons, Khmers, and hill tribes. Buddhism is praticed by 95% of the population. There are approximately 2.2 million legal and illegal immigrants.
Sports:
Martial arts, yoga, badminton, ping pong and soccer are the most popular sports. The country has a variety of organized leagues for each of these sports.
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