Silk children under the protection of Garud

It would seem that the history of Thailand has nothing to do with the history of Europe. But few people know that Thai volunteers participated in World War I, and the old hymn sung in Russian Thai motif
Thailand - a country of smiling people. And Thais smile - it's not on duty mask intense Americans or Europeans polite. On the contrary, Thai facial expression is quite natural and shows about the world in the soul of the one who smiled at you and his sincere desire to make your mood a little better. Here harmoniously coexist east exotic and ultra-modern city, traditional markets and luxury shops, patriarchal family relations and modern etiquette.

Koh Tapu (in Thai - "nail"), rising to 20 m over the Andaman Sea, also known as James Bond Island. It was here that one of the filming of James Bond - "The Man with the Golden Gun." Previously, the island-rock was a place of tourist pilgrimage, but now landing on Ko Tapu prohibited the authorities fear that the limestone giant could collapse. Photo (Photo Library BC): Bykov Nikolay





In the history of Thailand, you can find a lot of interesting facts. For example, in one decade (1939-1949) the country has had time to change their name three times: Siam Thailand, Siam, Thailand. And during World War Siam joined the anti-German coalition, and Thai nurses cared for the wounded on the Western Front in Europe. And, by the way, after the First World Thais began to greet each other with the words, which corresponds to our usual "hello". Prior to this greeting expressed a question: Are you hungry?

Thai sea turtles are not afraid of people - and therefore die in large numbers by poachers or entangled in nets. Every year their numbers significantly reduced. In 2009, Thailand was established in Phuket Marine Biological Center (Phuket Marine Biological Center), which aims to implement the program of breeding sea turtles by artificial means. Photo (Photo Library BC): Natalia Osipova [b]



Pattaya. Garden Sanctuary of Truth. For hundreds of years the elephant in Thailand was the main labor force, means of transportation and indispensable combat unit. To avoid bloodshed, Thai princes sometimes arranged between a duel on elephants. But in the XIX century these animals almost completely destroyed. Now elephants live only in nurseries, farms or in the gardens at the temples. Photo (Photo Library BC): Yevgeny Anikin



In Thailand inhabited by 175 species of snakes, 85 of which - poisonous. Now the victims are not more than two dozen people a year. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the figure was more than ten thousand. In 1922, in Bangkok, opened a research center for the study of vaccines and serums, called Memorial Institute Queen Saovabhi. Now in Thailand have an antidote to snake bite anyone. Photos (fotobio blioteka Sun): Oleskin



Many of those who have been in Thailand, was surprised to note that young Thais have a rare ability to behave "like silk". Very young Thai nationals do not cry with or without cause, do not shout and stomp feet, extorting the parents a new toy. They were quite stoic composure endure long bus ride and without any trouble falling asleep in the arms of mothers. Miracle, not children! Photo (Photo Library BC): Alexander Konstantinov



"Hell" - near gate composition of Wat Rong Khun temple in Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. Wat Rong Khun temple is also called the White: he literally immersed in alabaster reliefs and patterns, special mirror-coated plates. White temple is quite young (its construction began in 1998 and has not yet completed), but glorified throughout the world. Photo (Photo Library BC): Julia Dorofeeva



In Thailand, more than 30 thousand. Buddhist temples, including a lot of old (XIII-XIV centuries). They have survived, probably because their homeland was never conquered or colonized. Nevertheless, in the years 1888-1932 Siam anthem was performed to the music of a foreign composer Peter ... Shchurovsky (1850-1908). By the way, Russia was one of the first Western countries, which were Siamese cats. They were brought as a gift to Nicholas II (1868-1918) in the late nineteenth century

Palace of the Kings of Thailand in Bangkok. Construction began on the XVIII century. The photograph shows one of the eaves of the palace, decorated with wooden images Garud - the mythical bird, standing guard Buddhist teachings. Garuda associated with sunlight, so in the palaces of the statue covered with gold leaf. In popular mythology these beings were considered the defenders of demons and other evil spirits. Photo (Photo Library BC): Mikhail Pankov aka msserv



Pink, yellow, white - Thailand lotuses grow everywhere, but nobody breaks, because beauty can not use physical force. In Buddhism, the lotus is a symbol of purity: it is born in the muddy water, but is born immaculate. Also all creatures born in one of the earthly worlds, but sincerely practicing Buddha's teachings, can eventually be cleared and get rid of a succession of rebirths. Photo (Photo Library BC): Maria Kotova
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