101 Facts About Thailand

Greetings Mother Factors, my name is Sam, and today I'm going to be running my mouth all about the land of golden statues, tiny mammals, and getting kneed in the face just for the sheer thrill of it. Thailand. Yes, that's right, we're jetting off to Southeast Asia this time to see what delicious Thai facts we can rustle up, so you can all chow down on some nutritious bite-sized knowledge. Thai style. But what did Thailand manage to avoid that many of its neighbours didn't? How did IKEA get into a spot of bother when opening stores there? And how many people watching this video still think we're going to be talking about Taiwan? Two out of three of those questions are going to be answered. So strap yourself in, put your Thai thinking caps on, and prepare for what's going to be a large number of well-intentioned but horrific attempts at Thai pronunciation, as we count through 101 facts about Thailand. 1. Thailand, officially called the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country at the centre of the Southeast Asian Indochinese Peninsula. It's got a bit of an odd shape for a country, with a bulbous top-heavy northern region attached to its dangly southern section by only a spindly strip of land. But who am I to body-shame a country? Frankly, I wouldn't want anyone criticising my dangly southern section either. 2. Humans have been present in what is now known as Thailand since at least 500,000 years ago, evidenced by Homo erectus fossils found in Thailand's northern province of Lampang. It's even been suggested that the fossils could actually date as far back as 1 million years ago, also known as a mother-facting long time. 3. However, while there is evidence of continued human habitation in present-day Thailand as early as 20,000 years ago, very little is known about the cultures that existed in Thailand before the middle of the first millennium AD. Sadly, no one at the time thought to themselves that perhaps they should be keeping a record so that some fact boy thousands of years in the future could fill you all in. Sorry guys, out of my hands. 4. Still, we do have a vague idea of what might have been going on. Prior to the 10th century, the area that's now Thailand was inhabited by many different groups of people who founded various overlapping cultures and civilizations. In the first half of the first millennium, parts of what is now Thailand fell under the control of the Kingdom of Funan, an Indianized state thought to have been founded at some point in the first century. 5. Between the 6th and 11th centuries, the Dvaravati civilization emerged as a distinct Buddhist culture associated with the Mon people, and occupied the western and central regions of what is now Thailand. Some archaeological research conducted in recent years has revealed the presence of a Proto-Dvaravati period, which spanned the 4th and 5th centuries, perhaps even earlier. 6. Founded in the 9th century and centered around the city of Angkor in present-day Cambodia, the Hindu-Buddhist Khmer Empire covered much of what is now known as Northern Thailand. The civilization is known for its extravagant sculpture and architecture, producing the stunning temple complex of Angkor Wat. 7. Between the 8th and 13th centuries, significant areas of what is now Southern Thailand fell under the control of the Confederation of Srivijaya, which was based on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Within this civilization, the city-state of Tambralinga covered much of what now constitutes Southern Thailand on the Malay Peninsula. 8. Eventually, the area came to be dominated by Thai people, who were traditionally thought to have originated in what is now Southern China and Northern Vietnam, migrating to Thailand around the 11th century. As such, Thai culture is heavily influenced by the Indian, Mon, and Khmer cultures present in the region at the time. 9. The Thai people are part of a larger ethnolinguistic group confusingly known as the Thai, but spelled as the Shan and Lao peoples. They settled in villages and organized themselves into administrative units known as Myang, which became the building blocks of the Thai civilizations. 10. It's worth noting at this point that Thai people, with the H, have always referred to their country as Myang Thai, or more formally, Prathet Thai. Thai essentially means free, and was used by the Thai to distinguish themselves from other groups in the area. As Prathet means land, Prathet Thai basically means land of the free. 11. Beginning in the 13th century, various Thai states emerged, most prominently the Sukhothai Kingdom, Lan Na, and the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Though these states often rivaled each other, together they began to form the basis of modern Thai identity. 12. The Kingdom of Sukhothai began when a local Thai ruler awesomely named Tho-Kun-Bang-Klang-Hau rallied the people to rebel against the dying Khmer Empire, and in 1238, crowned himself the kingdom's first monarch, under the title of King Si-In-Ter-A-Tit. Most mainstream scholars of Thai history count Sukhothai as the first kingdom of Thai people, finally getting this whole Thailand thing going in the 13th century. 13. Still the most revered of the Sukhothai kings was Ram-Kang-Heng, the third son of King Si-In-Ter-A-Tit, and his king Su-Yang. Weirdly enough, folk legend claims that Ram-Kang-Heng's real parents were an ogress named Kang-Li and a fisherman whom she considered to be beauteous of form. 14. Regardless of whether or not he was conceived by regular old royals or an ogress and a sexy fisherman, Ram-Kang-Heng is credited with developing the modern Thai writing system, which is based on Indian Mon and Khmer scripts. Generally, most experts agree that writing systems are very important, as they enable you to write religious texts, laws, and shopping lists. 15. Ram-Kang-Heng also established Theravada Buddhism as the official religion, which Thai people are still super into even today. Like, really into it. But we'll get to that later. 16. In 1292, King Meng-Grai established the Kingdom of Lanna, a name which essentially translates to the Thai Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields. The kingdom was roughly co-extensive with a large area of northern Thailand, serving as a foundation of the modern state and as a center for the spread of Theravada Buddhism across the region. 17. Known as a major hub of trade in Southeast Asia, the Ayutthaya Kingdom emerged in the mid-14th century and lasted for an impressive 416 years. Ayutthaya gradually merged with the significantly weakened Kingdom of Sukhothai throughout the 15th and 16th centuries. 18. Documented European contact with Thailand began in 1511 with a Portuguese diplomatic mission to Ayutthaya by the envoy of Portuguese Duke Alfonso de Albuquerque, after he had conquered the Malay city of Malacca. The big dogs in Ayutthaya didn't seem to mind that some jumped-up European had waltzed into a neighboring city and plundered the heck out of it. And friendly relations between Ayutthaya and Portugal began fairly soon. 19. Let's take a moment to point out another thrilling detail about Thailand's name. Ever since Europeans made contact with the region in the 16th century, Thailand has been known by outsiders as Siam, a word with disputed origin. One theory states that the word Siam comes from the Sanskrit word syama, meaning dark. Referring to the dark skin tone of the native inhabitants. 20. Ayutthaya reached its peak during the latter half of the 17th century, during which the region became one of the wealthiest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world, according to its European visitors. It was bougie, baby. Ayutthaya was the hippest, hoppest, and most happening place to be. 21. However, Ayutthaya's prominence ultimately declined, as Burma's newly established Kong Baung dynasty applied pressure eastward in order to eliminate the kingdom as a political and commercial rival. Ayutthaya was ultimately destroyed by Burma in 1767, ending the kingdom's long reign. 22. Soon after, however, the fragmented region was quickly reunified by a charismatic military commander named Thaksin, who, within only a decade, drove the Burmese out and established the Thonburi Kingdom. 23. However, the Thonburi Kingdom lasted for far less time than Thaksin probably would have wanted. Based on claims of insanity and megalomania – uh oh, that's a terrible combination – Thaksin was eventually overthrown and executed in 1782 by his military commander and long-time companion, Chalprya Chakri. Bit of a dick move, but hey, that's politics, babe. 24. Chalprya Chakri, who became to be known as Rama I, established himself as the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty, which still exists today. Sounds like he has a bit of a megalomaniacal thing going on himself. 25. In the mid-19th century, a fellow by the name of King Mongkut began signing documents with the signature Mongkut, King of the Siamese. Essentially lending the name Siam, which at this point had been for centuries the most common name for the country among outsiders, official status. 26. Through the 18th and 19th centuries, Siam faced mounting pressure from Western powers, including the good ol' United Kingdom, the world champion of casually sauntering into other countries and trampling all over their sovereignty. Well done, us. Pat on back. The UK strong-armed Siam into several unequal treaties, but as a result the nation remained the only Southeast Asian country to avoid direct Western rule. 27. King Chulalongkorn, also known as Rama V, ascended to the throne in 1868, when he was only 15 years old. Chulalongkorn – which is a great name, isn't it? – later instituted comprehensive reforms patterned on Western models, that would significantly contribute to the creation of modern Thailand. He abolished slavery, established both a police force and standing army, brought uniformity to the legal code, and increased agricultural output. Chulalongkorn did good. 28. In 1932, a group of young military officers and bureaucrats, calling themselves the People's Party, staged a bloodless revolution – best kind, in my opinion – ending the nation's absolute monarchy. Siam became a constitutional monarchy and, later on in 1939, changed its official name to Thailand. Which they then changed back to Siam in 1946, and then back again to Thailand in 1949. Crazy times, right? 29. Under the shadow of the Second World War, Thailand was invaded by Japan in December of 1941. Thailand's Prime Minister, Phlag Phibulsonggram, commonly known in the West as Peebun, granted the Japanese free passage and signed a full treaty of alliance with Japan, only days after. In January of 1942, Thailand declared war on Britain and the US. Spoiler alert here, but wrong side, Thailand. 30. As Thailand sided with the Japanese during the Second World War, Britain demanded post-war reparations as part of the Anglo-Thai Peace Treaty. This required Thailand to deliver around 1.5 million tonnes of rice to the neighbouring region of Malaysia, which at the time was under British control. Although this amount was later adjusted downwards, because 1.5 million tonnes of rice is kind of mental. 31. The post-war period was, understandably, a tumultuous time for old Thailand. For a brief period of time, democracy flourished and the role of the military was reduced. However, in 1946, the recently enthroned King Anandamahidol was found dead, having been murdered in his bed with a gunshot wound to the head. The circumstances surrounding the assassination have never been definitively explained, and the incident is debated to this very day. 32. Having narrowly escaped being convicted of war crimes, Peebun returned as Prime Minister in 1948. Only several short years later, public confidence in Peebun dwindled, and in 1957 General Sirik Thanarat staged a coup, establishing a true military dictatorship. The constitution was abolished, parliament was dissolved, and all political parties were banned. 33. In the late 1950s, Thailand became a major ally of the United States, who sought to fortify the nation as a bulwark against the spread of communism. In exchange for hefty economic incentives, the United States established bases in Thailand during the Vietnam War. 34. Apart from a brief period of parliamentary democracy in the mid-70s, the history of modern Thailand has been marred by frequent coups, student protests, massacres, and prolonged periods of military rule. Since 2014, the country has been under the rule of a military junta. And as of the time of making this video, a general election held in March of 2019 remains contested amid allegations of corruption. 35. Today, Thailand covers an area of roughly 198,120 square miles, making it slightly smaller than Yemen and slightly larger than Spain. As such, Thailand is the 50th largest country by total land area. 36. Because of its unconventional yet perfectly lovely shape, Thailand's borders are a touch complicated. The country's borders are to the west and northwest by Burma and Myanmar, to the north by Laos, and to the east by Laos and Cambodia. Thailand has a southern border with Malaysia and the thin connection between its northern and southern lobes. Which stretches down the Kra Isthmus of the Malay Peninsula, borders the Gulf of Thailand on its eastern side, and Burma-Myanmar, the Andaman Sea, and the Strait of Malacca to the west. Good heavens, you're not making this easy, Thailand. 37. Thailand generally experiences a hot and humid climate. Meteorologically, Thailand has three official seasons, hot, cool, and wet, which is essentially everything I wanted to be in high school. Alas, I'm only one of those things. It's the last one. 38. Thailand is composed of 76 provinces, known as Chiang Wat, which are divided into 878 districts, known as Amphor, which are further divided into 7,255 sub-districts known as Tambon. Very neat and tidy. 39. In addition to the uniquely shaped mainland of Thailand, the country also boasts roughly 1,430 islands. Many of these have been featured in well-known Hollywood films. Koh Phi Phi Le, an island in the Phi Phi archipelago in southern Thailand's Krabi province, appeared in the 1999 film The Beach, starring Leo Dekaps, for example. 40. Within Thailand's own borders live approximately 69 million people. Nice. The Thai population is mostly rural, concentrated in the rice-growing areas of the central, northeastern, and northern regions of the country, where people can get all that tasty, tasty rice. Aww yes. 41. As such, Thailand is the second most populous Buddhist country after China. Roughly 93% of people in Thailand are Buddhists, compared to only 18% in China. But since China has way more people, like literally the most people, China's teeny little 18% translates to around 244 million Buddhists, well over three and a half times Thailand's entire population. The Meaning of Life The flag of Thailand, known in the country as Triranga, meaning tricolour, is an attractive array of five horizontal stripes. The top and bottom are red, followed by white stripes further in, with a double-width band of dark blue in the centre. Nice. Adopted in 1917 and standardised 100 years later in 2017, the current Thai flag replaced a previous design, which was largely the same, except for the fact that the central band was red like the outer stripes. 43. However, Thailand changed the innermost red to blue during the First World War, in solidarity with its allies Britain, France, Russia, and the US. Countries which all have flags that feature red, white, and blue. How very kind of Thailand. 44. Another interpretation holds that the colours of Thailand's flag represent important aspects of Thai society and culture. The red bands signify the land and people of Thailand, the white represents the Ravada Buddhism, and the blue is said to stand for the nation's monarchy. 45. The currency of Thailand is known as Baht, which is further subdivided into 100 Satang. Baht has been used as the Thai name for the currency since the 19th century, prior to which Thailand utilised a highly complex monetary system called Phot Duang, which used chunks of metal cast at various weights. 46. The official calendar used in Thailand is based on the Eastern version of the Buddhist era, which marks its beginning from the death of the Buddha, 543 years before the birth of Christ. As a result, the official calendar in Thailand is always 543 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar used throughout most of the world. That means the current year there is 2,562. 47. Thailand's capital and largest city is Bangkok, which is both a special administrative area and a fun thing you can yell before slapping someone right between the goolies. No offence Thailand, it's just a funny word in English. 48. And yet, the silly English connotations about the name Bangkok is not even the most interesting thing about it. Though the word Bangkok is the city's official name in English, it's not generally used by the Thais themselves, who refer to the city as Krung Thep Mahanakorn, or simply Krung Thep, which literally translates to the City of Angels. Wow, did America steal all its geographical nicknames from Thailand? Try being original for once, guys. 49. But we're not done. The name Krung Thep Mahanakorn is itself a shortening of the city's full ceremonial name, which is… 50. Krung Thep Mahanakorn, Amon Ratanakosin, Mahentara Udaya, Mahadilok Pop, Nobhara Tra… Oh, fuck. This. On screen now. This thing. Here. Basically. I tried. I really tried. Meaning… City of Angels, Great City of Immortals, Magnificent City of the Nine Gems, Seat of the King, City of Royal Palaces, Home of Gods Incarnate, Erected by Visvakarman at Indra's behest. 50. Despite the fact that Bangkok is the only major city in a country of tens of thousands of small villages, Thailand's capital attracts almost 22 million international tourists every year, making it the most visited city on the planet, beating out huge western cities like London, Paris, and New York. You go, Bangkok. 51. At just over 1,031 feet in height, the King Power Mahanakorn skyscraper in Bangkok is the tallest building in Thailand. But that's not all the tall boy of Thailand has to offer. Aside from being pretty tall and whatnot, the King Power Mahanakorn skyscraper is also notable for its unconventional appearance, which features a geometric cubed spiral cut into the building's exterior, giving it the appearance of having been attacked by a giant pixelated monster. 52. Located in the Chomthong district in northern Thailand's Chiang Mai province, Thailand's highest mountain is Doi Inthanon, which stands at 8,415 feet. As part of the Himalayan mountain range, the area is prime yeti habitat. So, if you're ever over there, remember to leave them some brandy and mince pies. 53. In the last century, roughly three-quarters of Thailand's forests have been lost to logging, leading to a total ban on the practice that's thankfully still in effect today. Because we need our wood. 54. There are a total of five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Thailand. Three of which are cultural and include Ban Giang Archaeological Site, the historic city of Ayutthaya, and the historic town of Sukhothai. Thailand's two natural World Heritage Sites are the Dong Paiyang Kao Yai Forest Complex and the Tung Yai Wai Ka Keng Wildlife Sanctuaries. 55. Hey, if exotic flowers are your bag, that doesn't sound very secure. No, but seriously, a trip to Thailand could be what the botanist ordered. Roughly 1,500 different species of orchid can be found growing wild throughout Thailand's forests. 56. Established on the 18th of September 1962, Kao Yai National Park was the first official national park established in Thailand. Kayang Kraken National Park, located on the border with Myanmar, is the country's largest park, and is home to an exciting array of elephants, leopards, and gibbons in the wild. Although, they probably don't all get on with each other. It's like some crazy sitcom over there. 57. Thailand is often known as the Land of Smiles, which began as a promotional slogan to attract tourists to the country, which boasts stunning landscapes, cheap food and accommodation, and a reputation for friendliness and hospitality. 58. Still, the country's delightful nickname isn't only a bid to attract more tourists. The people of Thailand have numerous names for different types of smiles used for different purposes. These include Yim Chien Chom, a controlled smile used to express pride or admiration for someone, Yim Sao, a sad smile used to hide one's emotions, and Yim Hayeng, an oddly specific smile which is apparently supposed to mean, I know I owe you money, but I don't have it right now. 59. In addition to the usual, how are you, it's common for people in Thailand to greet each other with, have you eaten yet? If I ever run into any of our Thai fans, no need to ask me this, just assume that I haven't. 60. Speaking of eating, Thai food is a well-known variety of Asian cuisine that's massively popular around the world, defined by the rejection of simplicity and celebration of complex recipes and flavors. Popular Thai food includes Massaman Curry, Thai Green Curry, Tom Ka Kai, Khao Pad, and of course Pad Thai. 61. While it remains very uncommon or even taboo throughout the West, in many cultures throughout the world it's perfectly normal to chow down on insects, a practice known as entomophagy. Thailand is no exception to this, where many natives frequently enjoyed fried grasshoppers, crickets and woodworms. 62. In fact, Thailand's demand for edible insects is so high, they even have to import it from elsewhere. Every year, Thailand ships in almost 270 tons of silkworm papaya from China, and roughly 800 tons of other edible insects from Cambodia, Burma and Laos. 63. Thailand also boasts a delectable array of desserts for you to try after you swore you couldn't eat another bite of your Pad Thai, you gluttonous wretch. Made from flour, sugar and coconut, Thai Khanom are popular treats known for their fun shapes and colors. Perhaps the most unique Khanom is a version known as Luam Kluang, which is so silky smooth its name literally means, I forgot I swallowed. 64. There's a variety of coffee produced in Thailand that's known as Black Ivory Coffee. This luxurious brand is among the world's most expensive coffees, selling for as much as US$1,100 a kilo. Black Ivory Coffee is valued so highly because of the particular manner in which it's prepared, which involves feeding the beans to elephants, allowing their digestive enzymes to break down the coffee's protein and impart specific flavors onto the products. But how do they get the beans out of the elephants, I hear you ask? I think you already know the answer to that. 65. Red Bull, the world's most popular energy drink that says it gives you wings, but I tried to fly with them and it didn't work, I just ended up with a broken leg. Anyway, it's based on an existing Thai energy drink known as Krating Dayeng, which is aimed at truck drivers and workers dealing with long shifts. Over a decade later, the brand was adapted for Western tastes by Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz, and the rest is history. Though the two brands look very similar, using the same logo featuring two red bulls charging at each other in front of a yellow sun, they remain legally separate. 66. Thailand is well known around the world for its strict Les Majestés laws, which strongly prohibit criticism of the royal family. Reverence for the king and the monarchy is a central aspect of Thai culture, and those who are found guilty of disrespecting the royal family are harshly punished, sometimes with long prison sentences. 67. Indeed, in 2014, a Thai tour operator named Phongsang Shriboompeng was convicted under these laws, after making six posts on Facebook in which he supposedly defamed the king. The man was sentenced to 10 years for each of his posts, totaling 60 years in prison. Though this sentence was halved to 30 after he pleaded guilty. 68. By extension of its laws against insults to the royal family, it's also illegal to step on money in Thailand. This is because the king's face is printed and engraved on Thai notes and coins, and to step on it would be like pressing the sole of your gross muddy shoe right onto the king's face. Even carrying money around in your back pocket is frowned upon, as sitting on it would be like pressing your backside right into the king's face. Which I wouldn't recommend doing either, unless you get his consent first. 69. BART BABY BART Not only that, the well-known Hollywood movie, The King and I, was and remains banned in Thailand, owing to its depiction of King Mongkut, which was considered to be derogatory. 70. In fact, the tradition of respect and deference to the monarchy runs so deep in Thai culture that it's even led to the death of Thai royals. In 1880, the queen consort of Thailand, Sunanda Kumariratana, was travelling to the royal family's palace when her boat capsized. Now, none of her subjects dared touch her, as such an act was a capital offence. And as a result of this, the queen drowned, along with her one-year-old daughter. 71. In 1985, the song One Night in Bangkok, from a concept album by Tim Rice, Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, which was subsequently adapted into the celebrated musical Chess, was banned in Thailand on the grounds that it could cause misunderstanding about Thai society and show disrespect towards Buddhism. 72. Not only that, in August of 2014, the military Junta in Thailand banned the video game Tropico 5, based on the belief that the game's storyline might affect peace and order in the country. 73. Thai people also show a great deal of respect and admiration for their national anthem, known as Phleng Chat Thai. The tune is broadcast on TV twice daily, at 8am and 6pm, and is even played before movie screenings. 74. In Thailand, the sale of alcohol is prohibited during election times. Specifically, alcohol cannot be bought between 6pm on the day prior to voting until 6pm on the day of voting itself. 75. Under the Playing Cards Act, it's illegal for individuals in Thailand to own more than 120 playing cards. The law is so strictly enforced that in 2016, a group of elderly foreigners, including 12 Britons, were arrested for this exact reason while playing bridge. 76. It is illegal in Thailand to leave your house without wearing underwear. Well, that's fact 76 over and done with. But if that makes me a criminal, you better lock me up and throw away the key. 77. It's also illegal in Thailand to drive a car while shirtless. Why do I feel these laws are all targeted at me? I'm kidding, I can't drive. 78. If Buddhist holy sites are your thing, Thailand has you covered, as the country boasts a pretty impressive 35,000 temples. Be aware, however, that generally speaking, visitors are required to wear modest clothing. So make sure you look the part before you go. 79. There's a temple in the Khun Han district of Thailand's northeastern Sisaket province called Wat Phra Mahachedi Kaew, though it's also known as the Temple of a Million Bottles. As it turns out, that's a pretty inaccurate name for the temple, as it's actually made up of 1.5 million empty beer bottles created by a group of Buddhist monks seeking an environmentally friendly way to reuse discarded glass bottles. I would've just written 1.5 million messages and chucked them in the sea. All of them saying like and subscribe please. But I guess that's good too. 80. The temple of Wat Bang Prae in the Nakhon Chai Si district in Thailand's central Nakhon Phatom province attracts thousands of people every year for the purpose of receiving the traditional Sak Yant tattoo, which is believed to offer protection against danger and death, and bring the recipient luck, courage and power. Dating back to the 9th century, the traditional method of Sak Yant tattooing involves the use of a two-foot long bamboo needle. So make sure you're okay with getting stabbed repeatedly by a Buddhist monk with a pointy stick before making the trip. 81. The Great Buddha of Thailand, located in Wat Myang Monastery in Thailand's central Ang Thong province, is the country's tallest statue. Made of concrete and painted bright gold, the statue was completed in 2008 after 19 years of construction, and today stands at an impressive 92 meters tall and 63 meters wide, making it the 9th tallest statue on this very earth. 82. However, that isn't the only impressive Buddha statue that Thailand has to offer. In the mid-1950s, a fairly unremarkable Buddha statue in a fairly unremarkable temple in Bangkok, called Wat Tra Mit, was being moved to a different area of the compound when the massive figure was dropped, cracking its exterior. When workers examined the damage, they noticed a bright golden surface underneath. And upon removing more of the outer material, it was discovered that the unassuming plaster exterior covered an enormous solid gold Buddha statue, which is exactly what you'd want to find inside your enormous not-solid gold Buddha statue. 83. If you've ever wondered what Buddhist hell is like, wonder no more. At Wang Sen Suk Hell Garden near Bangkok, visitors can take a leisurely stroll through a garden of statues depicting the various levels of pain and torment in Naraka, which is often thought of as the rough equivalent of hell in Buddhism. The numerous statues depict gruesome scenes like people being stabbed, eaten by animals, boiled alive, sawed in half, hacked with axes, disemboweled, dismembered, or having their tongues ripped out. So there really is something for everyone here. 84. Despite Buddhism's prevalence in the country, traditional beliefs and folklore have a prominent place in Thai culture. One of the most shocking practices is Kumantong, which essentially translates to Little Golden Boy, and refers to a household divinity believed to bring good luck. While Kumantong is often represented with small plastic statues or figurines, the traditional practice involves roasting stillborn fetuses and covering the dry remains in gold leaf to create a terrifying effigy that's said to ward off evil spirits. I mean, that's clearly not done anymore for obvious reasons. 85. Measuring in at 3 meters in height and weighing 5.5 metric tons, the Golden Statue at Wat Phra Mit is thought to have been constructed in the Sukhothai period, before being covered in plaster in the latter half of the 18th century to prevent it from being stolen by Burmese invaders. The statue was somehow then forgotten about, and as a result had stood unnoticed in Bangkok for almost 200 years prior to its discovery. 86. Thailand's national sport is of course dressage. Just kidding, it's Thai boxing, also known as Mai Thai, a notoriously brutal combat sport in which athletes use punches, kicks, elbows, and knees to beat the heck out of each other to win. As a result, it's often referred to as the Art of Eight Limbs, which I'm sure will inspire considerable protest among the spiders and octopi who watch 101 Facts. Sorry guys, don't shoot the messenger. 87. Another popular sport in Thailand is Elephant Polo, which, as the name boldly suggests, is a variant of polo played while riding elephants. The game is also played in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and parts of India, though apparently England and Scotland also regularly field teams too, which is news to me. 88. Thailand is home to possibly the world's smallest mammal, known as Kitty's Hognosed Bat. Also found in neighboring Myanmar, the adorable little critter weighs only 2 grams and is also known as the Bumblebee Bat. 89. The Siamese Cat is a breed of cat native to Thailand, and is one of the first distinctly recognized breeds of Asian cat. Known for its creamy coat accented with dark markings around the face and feet, the breed is known in Thailand as Wuchien Mat, which roughly translates to Moon Diamond. 90. Apparently, it's a gesture of good luck and good fortune to gift a bride on her way to her wedding day with a pair of Karat Cats, another famous breed of Thai cat. 91. Thailand is also home to the Samiprakarn Crocodile Farm, which claims to not only be the world's first, but also the world's largest crocodile farm in the world. The facility houses approximately 100,000 crocs, which is enough crocs for 50,000 people. 92. Every year, the people living near the Phra Prang Sam Yot Temple put on a huge feast, consisting of over 2 tons of meat, fruit, ice cream, and other treats. Although, the feast is for roughly 600 local monkeys. Delightfully known as the Monkey Buffet, the festival is held in thanks for the local monkey population, who bring thousands of tourists to the area. 93. In Thailand, people celebrate New Year with a state-sponsored multiple-day water fight. Known as Songkran, the festival is one of Thailand's biggest celebrations, and attracts more than half a million tourists to join the water fights. 94. Upon hearing the words Vegetarian Festival, one would be forgiven for assuming such an event would be likely fairly relaxed and subdued. Of course, you'd be dead wrong, you naive fools. In actuality, the festival involves copious amounts of ritualized self-mutilation performed in an attempt to purify one's soul. This often includes the slashing and partial skinning of one's limbs, chest, and stomach, or the piercing of cheeks with not only swords and needles, but various other strange objects like guns. 95. Siamese Twins, which is a fairly old-fashioned term for conjoined twins, originates with Chang and Eng Bunker, who were Siamese-American conjoined twin brothers born in the early 19th century. As they traveled throughout the US and Europe, the curiosity that arose around the two brothers was so profound that the term Siamese Twins became a synonym for conjoined siblings in general. 96. Aside from Chang and Eng Bunker, other well-known Thai-Americans include model and golfer Tiger Woods. 97. When socializing online or posting a hilariously relatable tweet, people in Thailand type 555 instead of LOL. This is because, in the Thai language, the number 5 is pronounced HA, so three 5s in a row translates to HA HA HA. 98. Thailand actually has more 7-Elevens than the US, and is second only to Japan in this regard. The country had 10,300 stores at the beginning of 2018, and is expected to have 13,000 by 2021. 99. For several years before opening its first store in Thailand, the Swedish furniture and homeware store IKEA had Thai translators carefully scrutinize their merchandise. This is because the names of certain IKEA products when translated literally into Thai have… suggestive connotations. Apparently, Ridalen, an IKEA bed that's named after a town in Norway, sounds similar to a Thai term for below-the-belt fondling. While an innocent plant pot named Jatabrah supposedly resembles a Thai slang term for naughty business. 100. There's a bakery in Thailand which makes bread that looks like realistic body parts, including decapitated heads, dismembered torsos, and severed limbs. You know, just in case you felt like giving cannibalism a go, but would rather not go to prison for it. 101. After the release of the 1957 British-American epic war film The Bridge on the River Kwai, tourists travel to Thailand to see the bridge, despite the fact that there never was an actual bridge over the River Kwai. Though there was, and still is, a POW-made bridge over Mai Klong River, of which the Kwai is a tributary. Not to disappoint their guests, the Thai authorities decided to rename the portion of the Mai Klong over which the bridge stands to Kwai Yai, meaning Big Kwai, and the name of the old Kwai River was modified to Kwai Noi, meaning Little Kwai. Oh, it's the end of the video, give me a break. Right, anyway, that was 101 facts about Thailand, everyone! Have we missed any out? And what else would you like to see us cover in 101 facts? Let me know in the comments down below. Also, give this video a like and subscribe to 101 facts if you have not done so already. 450,000 people have done so, why don't you join the motherfuckers and do it, yeah? 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