We are on a humanitarian mission to share LingoHut with people around the world. Our first stop is Bangkok, Thailand.
What will we learn? How will we get around town? What will we eat? Who will we meet? What culture shocks will we face? These and many other questions we hope to learn during our travels here.
I want to share with you a little bit of history we learned
The country currently called Thailand was known as Siam. After reforms in 1932, which transformed the country from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, the name changed in 1939 to Thailand.
Some 300,000 monks live in the Land of Smiles. Their yellow and orange robes are very recognizable in a sea of modern-day clothing. Buddhism arrived in Thailand from Sri Lanka and became the dominant religion in the 12th century. The official religion in Thailand is Theravada Buddhism, practiced by more than 95% of the population. Buddhism is a key component of the identities of many Thais. Many will give daily offerings to things like spirit houses. Some people will also wear Buddhist amulets to protect themselves, allowing them to live longer and happier lives.
There are some 30,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand. One of the most well-known temples in Bangkok is Wat Phra Kaew. Thais go to temples to worship and celebrate Buddhist holidays. Also, these temples often house monks, schools, and act as gathering places for locals.
