Safety: Thai people are typically passive and strive to maintain an environment of non-violence in their every day lives. Confrontation is avoided and violent theft is minimal. The well resourced tourist police do a good job of protecting the country’s free spending tourists, even when law enforcement is typically lax. However, this means that tourists need to be wary of irresponsible citizens and companies and can expect to encounter reckless driving, dangerous construction sites, poorly maintained civic projects (such as sidewalks) and unaccountable businesses or services (such as whitewater rafting firms with poor safety records). When to go: Thailand’s busy season runs from December to March when most Europeans and North Americans arrive to escape their winters, and prices tend to rise, with availability of rooms and tours becoming difficult over the Christmas and New Year period. The temperatures are most pleasant at this time, and sunshine most reliable, however monsoons still occur in the lower gulf (Samui). In the North it can be quite cool in the evenings. Bangkok is generally humid and hot all year round, and there is virtually no rain across much of upper Thailand from October to May. At this time the countryside can become very dry and unbearably hot. The rainy season runs from June to September when it can either be sunny with scattered showers or rain incessantly for weeks. However, the countryside is very pretty with green rice paddies everywhere. It’s just as easy to withdraw from thousands of conveniently placed ATMs. You cannot rely on paying with your credit card in many smaller establishments and cash (in small denominations) is handy. The 1000 baht note is the highest bill on issue and it would easily cover lunch for two in a decent restaurant. A big mac would cost about 100 baht. There is 100 satang to one baht but these are seldom used. Few places will except American dollars as payment. Language: Thai is the main language of the Kingdom and spoken as a first language by about 70 per cent of the population, including three main dialects. A large portion of the Northeast is populated by Thais who speak Lao, and Malay is the language of choice in the southern provinces. It has a simplified grammar but uses complex tone rules and sounds to differentiate similar sounding words. In tourist areas English is spoken by many locals, but otherwise the grasp of sufficienly English in Thailand is relatively low among most. Sign posts are usually in both languages. Emergency: there is no 911 rescue service as such, but local hospitals provide emergency ambulance services on request. This is usually quite efficient unless you are in a remote place.
Ambulance: 191 (or call hospitals mentioned below)
Police: 191 (Crime Suppression 195)
Tourist police emergency hotline: 1155 Business needs: Bangkok is a major Asian business hub with world class services ranging from international law firms to private investigators, many foreign managed. However, business is conducted in an altogether different manner, where influence and power count for a lot more than recourse to the law (which is often open to interpretation). The Thai are eager business people and competent, even if there might be a misunderstanding on common ethics. Time-frames progress at a different pace to that which Westerner might accept. Many foreigners successfully do business in Thailand, relying on local professionals who are proficient in English (often trained abroad) and able to handle real estate, legal paperwork and more, at reasonable costs. | 
