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| The garuda, the emblem of Thailand |
Thailand, unlike all of its neighbouring countries, did not get colonised by a European power, then cause a decades-long quagmire of war.
The Guinness Record holder for longest place name is
Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
Translated, this is
"The city of angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarma".
Most Thais call it Krung Thep, and most foreigners call it Bangkok.
If that seems excessive, I would remind you that Britain's head of state is Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. And that isn't even counting her fifteen other regnal titles, hundred or so chivalric orders, the Duchy of Normandy, the Lordship of Mann, her four honorary doctorates or her position in the admiralty of Nebraska.
In fact, British readers may find some aspects of Thai politics failiar: it's a bi-cameral legislature, ruled over by a little old man with big glasses who has been on the throne for decades, who is head of the church, and who in theory has enormous amounts of power but has wisely not tested it out too often.
The King gets fair-to-middling reviews from foreign observers, and is extremely popular inside Thailand. Of course, it probably helps that under Thai law, the Sex Pistols would have got three to fifteen.
Thailand is having an election on Sunday (the 3rd), and it's very fraught. With a bit of luck I'll be able to tell you more about it this week.
In fact, British readers may find some aspects of Thai politics failiar: it's a bi-cameral legislature, ruled over by a little old man with big glasses who has been on the throne for decades, who is head of the church, and who in theory has enormous amounts of power but has wisely not tested it out too often.
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| King Rama IX, Bhumibol Adulyadej. Image from Thailand's PR. |
Thailand is having an election on Sunday (the 3rd), and it's very fraught. With a bit of luck I'll be able to tell you more about it this week.
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