SW DK-278 Phuket Province, Thailand

Thailand consists of seventy-six provinces and one special administrative area representing the capital Bangkok.  Phuket (Thai: ภูเก็ต) is one of the southern provinces (changwat).

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island. It is approximately 863 kilometres (536 mi) south of Bangkok and covers an area of 543 square kilometres (210 sq mi) excluding small islets. The island is mostly mountainous (70%) with a mountain range in the west of the island from the north to the south. The island's length, from north to south, is 48 kilometres (30 mi) and its width is 21 kilometres (13 mi). The island is connected to mainland Thailand by two bridges. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea.

These two postcards came from tmarlo (12 September 2014 and 23 September 2015) Swap-bot.

SW BM-108 Thailand ประเทศไทย

Thailand ประเทศไทย was formerly known as Siam. It is located in Southeast Asia. Thailand has a total area of approximately 513,000 km2 (198,000 sq mi) making it the world's 51st-largest country. The capital and largest city is Bangkok, which is Thailand's political, commercial, industrial, and cultural hub.

Thailand is the 21st-most-populous country in the world, with around 65 million people. About 75–95% of the population is ethnically Thai, which includes four major regional groups: Central Thai (Khon Pak Klang): 30%; Northeastern Thai (Khon [Lao] Isan): 22%; Northern Thai (Khon Lanna): 9%; and Southern Thai (Khon Tai): 7%. Thai Chinese, those of significant Chinese heritage, are 14% of the population, while Thais with partial Chinese ancestry  comprise up to 40% of the population. Thai Malays represent 3% of the population, with the remainder consisting of Mons, Khmers and various "hill tribes".

The country's official language is Thai and the primary religion is Buddhism, which is practised by around 95% of the population.                                                                       

I received this interesting postcard from tmarlo (28 May 2014) Swap-bot.

TH-165778 Bangkok, Capital of Thailand

Bangkok is the capital and the most populous city of Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (กรุงเทพมหานคร). The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi) in the Chao Phraya River delta in Central Thailand, and has a population of over eight million, or 12.6 percent of the country's population. Over fourteen million people (22.2 percent) live within the surrounding Bangkok Metropolitan Region, making Bangkok a super city.

This postcard shows Wat Phra Keo วัดพระแก้ว in Bangkok by night.

The Asian investment boom in the 1980s and 1990s led many multinational corporations to locate their regional headquarters in Bangkok. The city is now a major regional force in finance and business. It is an international hub for transport and health care, and is emerging as a regional centre for the arts, fashion and entertainment. Bangkok is among the world's top tourist destinations.The city's vibrant street life and cultural landmarks, as well as its notorious red-light districts, have given it an exotic appeal. Among Bangkok's well-known sights are the Grand Palace and major Buddhist temples, including Wat Phra Keo, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun. Nightlife is very active especially in the Khaosan Road and Patpong Areas.

Bangkok's rapid growth amidst little urban planning and regulation has resulted in a haphazard cityscape and inadequate infrastructure systems. Limited roads, despite an extensive expressway network, together with substantial private car usage, have resulted in chronic and crippling traffic congestion. This in turn caused severe air pollution in the 1990s. The city has since turned to public transport in an attempt to solve this major problem. Four rapid transit lines are now in operation, with more systems under construction or planned by the national government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

This postcard came from Kuk (2 March 2014) Postcrossing.

Reclining Buddha in Ayutthaya, Thailand

Wat Lokayasutharam วัดพระนอน consists of a group of ruined pillars and a large reclining Buddha image out in the open.  The reclining Buddha statue is made of brick covered with plaster and is about 42 meters long. Vendors in front sell the flowers and incense required to make an offering to the image.  I understand that a reclining Buddha is one which is at its final stage of life - Nirvana has been achieved.

Wat Lokayasutharam is located in Ayutthaya (Ayudthaya), Thailand.  Ayutthaya is located about 70 minutes (76 kilometers) north of Bangkok. It was the capital of Siam from around 1350 until it was burned down in 1767.  Ayutthaya contains dozen of temples and religious centres that stand in ruin. 

Atittan Songpattanasilp sent me this fascinating postcard on 3 April 2014 and she has included more notes on the postcard.

Note: The front of the postcard has "Wat Phranon" - I think "Phranon" means "reclining Buddha".
 

Golden Chedi (เจดีย์ ทอง) at Wat Phra Keo, Bangkok, Thailand

This beautiful postcard shows one of the two Golden Chedi (เจดีย์ ทอง) in the grounds of the Wat Phra Keo (วัดพระแก้ว) Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok, Thailand.  The Wat Phra Keo itself is located in the historic centre of Bangkok (district Phra Nakhon), within the precincts of the Grand Palace.

 

‘Chedi’ เจดีย์  is the Thai word for ‘Stupas’.

#14 in the layout of the Wat Phra Keo are the two locations of the Golden Chedi.

#1 is the Ubosot with the Emerald Buddha.

I received this great postcard from Atittan (14 March 2014)

 

 

The Flag of Thailand

The flag of the Kingdom of Thailand (ธงไตรรงค์, Thong Trairong, meaning "tricolour flag”) shows five horizontal stripes in the colours red, white, blue, white and red, with the central blue stripe being twice as wide as each of the other four. The design was adopted on 28 September 1917, according to the royal decree about the flag in that year issued by Rama VI.  The colours stand for nation-religion-king, an unofficial motto of Thailand.  The red colour is for the land and people, white for Theravada Buddhism and blue for the monarchy.

This postcard shows the flag being used in the current unrest in Thailand.  There is a symbol at the bottom of the postcard.  The dove signifies peace because the intention of the uprising is 'to parade in peace unarmed'. The word  เสรีชน means "People of Freedom".   This blog however makes no commentary on any political issue.
This wonderful dramatic postcard came from Atittan (thanks for the flag!).