Thailand
Thailand, home to 65 million people is at the centre of Southeast Asia. Originally known as Siam, the nation became Thailand in 1939. The word 'Thai' means free. Thailand was never colonised.
Today Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, ruled by the greatly revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej since 1946. Buddhism is the dominant religion. Standard Thai is the common language. Thai people are unified by their strong sense of national pride or kwampenthai (Thainess). The essence of kwampenthai is love of the nation, religion and king.