INFORMATION KIT - Api-fellowships.org

Thai appreciate good manners and a sense of humor. With patience and a broad smile, you willnot only get a better price, you will also enjoy shopping as an art.5-6. National Symbol & FlagNational SymbolThe Thai national and royal symbol is the Garuda, amythical half-bird, half-human figure that adorns His MajestyKing Bhumibhol Adulyadej’s scepter and royal standard. Manyministers and departments have incorporated the Garuda intotheir insignias. Moreover, the Garuda is symbolic of ‘By RoyalAppointment’ and is awarded, at the personal discretion of HisMajesty the King, as a sign of royal approval to companies that haverendered outstanding economic and charitable services to Thailand.Such an award is rarely bestowed and is considered a great honor.National F lagUnder the former system of absolute monarchy, the Siamese national flag was a whiteelephan t on a red background. The new flag, inspired by the multi-colored flags of other nations,was introduced by King Rama VI in 1917. The modern Thai flag (‘thong chat’ or ‘thong trairong’) has five horizontal bands of blue, white and red. The central blue band represents themonarchy, the white bands symbolize Buddhism while the outer red bands signify the nation.Together, the three elements represent the essence of the Kingdom of Thailand.5-7. LanguageThai is a tonal language belonging to the group of Ka-Tai languages. The five tones aremonotone, low, falling, high, and rising. This can be a rather complicated language for thevisitor; however, English is quite widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almostthe major commercial language. The five tones in Thai language can be learnt from the chartbelow. You can practice articulating the tones by moving your head in the followingways.55