Thailand The Golden Kingdom

With colorful, vivid photography and insightful commentary this pictorial and Thailand travel guide offers readers a glimpse at a dynamic country and its people. Thailand has many claims on the title "Golden Kingdom." It is a country of shimmering wats, its monarchy is still deeply revered and it exerts a magic all of its own. This travel book captures that magic with stunning photographs of all aspects of Thai life, and makes an ideal souvenir for any visitor to the country. Included are sections on history and geography, as well as the cultural and religious heritage that is unique to Thailand. Sections on festivals and collectibles, and a portrayal of Thai–style art and architecture are full of detail. Thailand: The Golden Kingdom portrays both the Thai people and their beautiful home in a cornucopia of color and design. This volume is a stunning visual representation of all aspects of the Thai culture and life. Author and long–term resident William Warren, provides an insightful overview of the history and geography of the kingdom, as well as a detailed exploration of the rich tradition of Thai arts and crafts, religion and cultural events. Soaking up the sun on a beach, visiting a wat, partaking in one of the numerous festivals or browsing in the art and antique shops are all part of the essentially "Thai Experience" shared here.

Gives a cross-section of Thai recipes and an introduction to Thailand's cultural traditions.

Copiously illustrated collection of 63 recipes. Provides information about traditional Thai ingredients and cooking techniques, and also discusses the ethnic origins and cultural influences of the dishes. Includes a brief history of Thailand, and an alphabetical list of recipes in English and Thai, and an index of ingredients. Three of the authors are chefs at a restaurant in Bangkok.

Throughout its history, Thailand has shown remarkable resiliency, adaptability, and creativity in responding to serious threats and crises, and this since much earlier times when it was known as Siam. This book, while focusing on the modern period, does reach back to ancient kingdoms but also shows the impressive rise to a modern democracy, although still endowed with a king, and even more impressively, an economic “tiger.” Moreover, it has become a prime tourist destination and is thus known to vast numbers of foreigners as a sort of “instant Asia.” The Historical Dictionary of Thailand, now in its third edition, covers this amazing story in various ways. First, the chronology traces the most significant events from year to year. The introduction then provides a good overview of the land and people, the history and traditions, and where it now seems to be heading. The dictionary, which by now has hundreds of detailed and cross-referenced entries, looks more closely at important persons, places, institutions and events as well as more generally its politics, economy, society, culture and religion. So this is an excellent reference work not only for scholars but many others who have visited the country and were fascinated by it.

Culturally and geographically. Thailand is a kingdom of great diversity. Impressive monuments and romantic ruins mark the influences of long-gone empires. Intriguing archeological discoveries have been made in the northeast. Skilled artisans practise their crafts in the cool mountain regions of the north. The stunning scenery of the south forms a dramatic backdrop for its eventful history. Timeless vignettes of life on the klongs coexist with architectural masterpieces and busy market scenes in Bangkok. Artist Taveepong Limapornvanich truly captures the essence of Thailand in these watercolours and sketches. Writer William Warren succumbed to the allure of Thailand on his first visit and has lived there for over 40 years.

Real Thai has gone vegetarian! Everyone loves Thai food, but it's not easy to find truly meatless dishes. Thai cooking expert Nancie McDermott has developed inventive variations on traditional recipes, providing health-conscious cooks with a repertoire of meatless dishes that captures the vibrant spirit of Thailand. A helpful glossary introduces readers to the seemingly mysterious yet widely available ingredients and equipment used in Thai cooking and offers tips for finding or substituting them. With an emphasis on the classic techniques, ingredients, and flavors of Thai cuisine, this groundbreaking cookbook provides one hundred delicious recipes for everyday meals and special occasions.

Tourist brochures and travel guides depict Thailand as an exotic country with a rich cultural heritage, strong religious traditions, and a popular monarchy. Historians also contribute to Thailand’s international allure with chronicles of its unique historical and cultural continuity in comparison to the other southeast Asian countries, whose histories are stained by colonialism and nationalist struggles for independence. Thailand challenges these stereotypes with a reinterpretation as well as an introduction to the emergence of Thailand as a nation-state. The book argues that the development of Thai nationhood was a long-term process shaped by interactions with the outside world, its pursuit of civilization, and, more recently, globalization. Maurizio Peleggi’s original account investigates, among other issues, the evolution of the geographical and linguistic landscapes, changes in class and gender relations, the role of institutions and ideologies, modern cultural expressions, social memory, and the conception of the Thai national self as contrasted against the racial and cultural Others of Burmese, Chinese and Westerners. Thailandis a concise and compelling introduction to the complexities that lie behind Thailand’s exotic facade.