Thailand

Wat Pho , is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Rattanakosin district directly adjacent to the Grand... Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawihan . The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Wat Pho is named after a monastery in India where Buddha is believed to have lived. Prior to the temple's founding, the site was a centre of education for traditional Thai medicine, and statues were created showing yoga positions. An enormous Buddha image from Ayuthaya's Wat Si Sanaphet was destroyed by Burmeses in 1767, King Rama I incorporated its fragments to build a temple to enlarge and renovate the complex. The complex underwent many changes in the next 260 years. Under King Rama III , plaques inscribed with medical texts were placed around the temple.
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The Communist Insurgency War, or Second Malaysian Emergency was an insurgency and guerrilla war, conducted by the Malayan Communist Party against... Malaysian armed forces from 1968 to 1989. With the declared end of the Emergency throughout the 1960 to 1968 period the MCP took the opportunity to undergo a period of streamlining, retraining, and re-indoctrination. The Malayan Races Liberation Army had established a series of safe bases, or what it called liberated areas. Despite their defeat during the first emergency, the MCP was still very much a force to be reckoned with. The MCP had a nucleus of between five and six hundred well-trained guerrillas and a reserve of about one thousand young men were available for full time service if required. The MCP had reorganized its units and reconstituted itself by training a number of new guerrillas. They also developed new techniques of guerrilla warfare and learned much from the Vietnam War on the techniques of fighting guerrilla warfare. In July 1961, Chin Peng met Deng Xiaoping in China. Deng had proposed to the MCP that it conduct a second an armed struggle.
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The Cambodian–Vietnamese War was an armed conflict between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Democratic Kampuchea. The war began with... isolated clashes along the land and maritime boundaries of Vietnam and Kampuchea between 1975 and 1977, occasionally involving division-sized military formations. On 25 December 1978, Vietnam launched a full-scale invasion of Kampuchea and subsequently occupied the country after the Khmer Rouge was removed from power. During the Vietnam War, Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge communists had formed an alliance to fight U.S.-backed regimes in their respective countries. Despite their open display of cooperation with the Vietnamese, the Khmer Rouge leadership feared that the Vietnamese communists were scheming to form an Indochinese federation with Vietnam as the dominant force in the region. In order to preempt an attempt by the Vietnamese to dominate them, the Khmer Rouge leadership began purging Vietnamese-trained personnel within their own ranks as the Lon Nol regime capitulated in 1975.
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The Thai–Laotian Border War was a short confrontation between Thai and Laotian forces. It was caused by a dispute involving the map made by... French surveyors in 1907 to mark the borders between Siam and French Indochina in the southern Luang Prabang Range mountain area. Ownership of the village of Ban Romklao on the border of Phitsanulok Province and three small border villages on the edge of Uttaradit Province was left unclear. A series of minor shooting incidents had occurred between Thai and Laotian forces in 1984. In December 1987, however, Thai armed forces moved in to occupy the disputed village of Ban Romklao, raising the Thai flag over it. The government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic protested strongly, insisting the village was part of Botèn district of Xaignabouli province. Thailand replied that the village belonged to Chat Trakan district of Phitsanulok Province. Pathet Lao forces staged a night attack on the small Thai garrison, driving the Thai soldiers from the village and replacing the Thai flag with that of the PDR Laos.
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The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30... April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other anti-communist nations. The Viet Cong , a lightly armed South Vietnamese communist-controlled common front, largely fought a guerrilla war against anti-communist forces in the region. The Vietnam People's Army engaged in a more conventional war, at times committing large units into battle. U.S. and South Vietnamese forces relied on air superiority and overwhelming firepower to conduct search and destroy operations, involving ground forces, artillery, and airstrikes. The U.S. government viewed involvement in the war as a way to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam as part of their wider strategy of containment. The North Vietnamese government and Viet Cong viewed the conflict as a colonial war, fought initially against France, backed by the U.S.
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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated ASEAN , is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in... Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Burma , Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Its aims include accelerating economic growth, social progress, cultural development among its members, protection of regional peace and stability, and opportunities for member countries to discuss differences peacefully. ASEAN covers a land area of 4.46 million km², which is 3% of the total land area of Earth, and has a population of approximately 600 million people, which is 8.8% of the world's population. The sea area of ASEAN is about three times larger than its land counterpart. In 2010, its combined nominal GDP had grown to US$1.8 trillion. If ASEAN were a single entity, it would rank as the ninth largest economy in the world.
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The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 22 August 1966 to facilitate economic development of countries in Asia. The... bank admits the members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and non-regional developed countries. From 31 members at its establishment, ADB now has 67 members - of which 48 are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside. ADB was modeled closely on the World Bank, and has a similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion with member's capital subscriptions. At present, both the United States and Japan hold 552,210 shares, the largest proportion of shares at 12.756% each. China holds 228,000 shares , India holds 224,010 shares , the 2nd and 3rd largest proportion of shares respectively. The highest policy-making body of the bank is the Board of Governors composed of one representative from each member state. The Board of Governors, in turn, elect among themselves the 12 members of the Board of Directors and their deputy.
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The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes. The World Bank's... official goal is the reduction of poverty. By law, all of its decisions must be guided by a commitment to promote foreign investment, international trade and facilitate capital investment. The World Bank differs from the World Bank Group, in that the World Bank comprises only two institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association , whereas the latter incorporates these two in addition to three more: International Finance Corporation , Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency , and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes . The World Bank is one of five institutions created at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944. The International Monetary Fund, a related institution, is the second. Delegates from many countries attended the Bretton Woods Conference. The most powerful countries in attendance were the United States and United Kingdom, which dominated negotiations. Although both are based in Washington, D.C.
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The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was... the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. Its primary goals, as stated in its Covenant, included preventing war through collective security and disarmament, and settling international disputes through negotiation and arbitration. Other issues in this and related treaties included labour conditions, just treatment of native inhabitants, human and drug trafficking, arms trade, global health, prisoners of war, and protection of minorities in Europe. At its greatest extent from 28 September 1934 to 23 February 1935, it had 58 members. The diplomatic philosophy behind the League represented a fundamental shift from the preceding hundred years. The League lacked its own armed force and depended on the Great Powers to enforce its resolutions, keep to its economic sanctions, or provide an army when needed. However, the Great Powers were often reluctant to do so. Sanctions could hurt League members, so they were reluctant to comply with them.
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Kasetsart University is a public university in Thailand and a top-ranked Public University in Thailand. It is ranked No.401-500 in the world by QS.... It was also the first agricultural university and the third oldest university in Thailand. The university was established on February 2, 1943, with the primary aims in promoting subjects related to agricultural science. To the present, Kasetsart University has revised its curricula and expanded the subject areas to cover science, arts, social sciences, humanities, education, engineering, and architecture. Recently, the university made an attempt to include medicine and health science. Kasetsart University has seven campuses throughout Thailand, where its main and flagship campus is at Bang Khen, Bangkok. The total enrollment at Kasetsart University is over 58,000, placing it among the top largest universities in Thailand. The establishment of Kasetsart University was part of the evolution of agricultural education in the country which began with the founding of a system of technical schools.
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Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand, founded in 1917 by King Vajiravudh who named it after his father, King Chulalongkorn... . It ranks among the best universities in Thailand according to several university rankings. It comprises nineteen faculties and institutes. Its campus occupies a vast area in downtown Bangkok. Diplomas were traditionally handed out at graduation by the King of Thailand, created and begun by King Prajadhipok . But at present, King Bhumibol Adulyadej delegates the role to one of his daughters, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The demands of officials specialized in various fields by the government in the late 19th century Siam was an result of King Chulalongkorn’s bureaucratic reforms, which aimed to transform the feudal Thai society into a modernized state. In 1899, the king founded the Civil Service Training School near the northern gate of the Royal Palace. Those who graduated from the school would became royal pages.
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Khon Kaen University is an internationally-recognized university in Asia. It is located in the Isan region of Thailand. The university is a central... hub of education in north-east Thailand. In 1941, during the reign of the King Ananda Mahidol and during the time of Field Marshal Pibulsonggram as prime minister, they had a plan to improve continued education throughout Thailand. There were plans to open a university in the Ubon Ratchathani province, but the Second World War had broken out. Thailand was militarily forced into siding with Japan. Plans to build universities in north east Thailand had fallen through. It wasn't until 1960 that plans to open institutions of further instruction in north east Thailand would continue. In 1962 the proposition to open an institution of further education in the fields of engineering and advanced agriculture passed. Thus the Khon Kaen Institute of Technology was born. After this it became known as the University of North East Thailand. Because there was no government office that would take responsibility of managing the university directly, the government set up a national education council.
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Eric Koston is a Thai American professional skater who grew up in San Bernardino, California. He began skating in 1986 and remains active. He was... first sponsored in 1991 and turned pro in 1993. He has been featured in the "Tony Hawk" video game series and "EA" Skate 2 and Skate 3. Koston co-owns Fourstar Clothing and also co-owns the skatepark "The Berrics" with professional skater Steve Berra. Eric Koston is currently sponsored by Girl Skateboards, Independent Trucks, Spitfire Wheels, Nike SB shoes, Four Star clothing, Oakley sunglasses and Jessup Griptape. Koston has had many other high-level sponsors over the years such as éS and Lakai Footwear. He has designed many pro model shoes such as the Lakai Koston Select and the éS Koston. He is considered by many the Michael Jordan of street skateboarding. He is co-founder of "The Berrics" along with Steve Berra. Koston also been featured on television and in a number of films and video games.
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Jocelyn Seagrave is an American film and television actress, best known for playing Julia Camaletti on Guilding Light and Jessica Mitchell on Fox's... Pacific Palisades. Her paternal grandfather, Gordon Stifler Seagrave, was the author of Burma Surgeon. Seagrave's mother was born in 1947 in Mandalay, Burma, she was raised in Yangon, Burma and is now living in the United States. Her maternal grandfather, Edward Michael Law-Yone, was a journalist and writer, as well as the founder of The Nation, once the leading English-language newspaper in Burma. Jocelyn grew up in Southeast Asia and later in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., with her twin brother, studying martial arts and earning her black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She studied English literature at the University of Virginia. She attended Robert Frost Junior High School in Fairfax, Virginia, moved away, and upon returning to the area, attended Annandale High School in Annandale, Virginia, the next town over.
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Paula Taylor is an English-Thai actress, model and presenter. Paula was born in Chulalankorn hospital, Bangkok Thailand. Two weeks after she was... born, the family returned to Australia. Her father is of English descent and her mother is of Thai descent. Paula grew up in Perth, Western Australia and at the age of 9, after her parents' divorce, moved to Brisbane, Queensland. Paula married Anglo-Chinese businessman Edward Buttery in December 2010. While visiting her family in Thailand, she was asked if she would be interested in doing some modeling. She started her career in several commercials and small Thai movies before becoming a regular VJ for Channel V Thailand. Discovered by television producer Tanawat Wansom, she quickly rose to fame and became a sought-after television hostess and presenter. In 2006, she co-starred in the Thai romance comedy film, The Memory. Paula also participated in The Amazing Race Asia 2 with her childhood friend Natasha Monks. At the 9th leg they came in last but, fortunately, it was a non - elimination leg.
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Emmanuelle Arsan, the pen name of Marayat Rollet-Andriane, born in 1932 as Marayat Bibidh, is a French novelist of Eurasian origin, most famous for... creating the fictional character Emmanuelle, a woman who engages in an exploration of her own sexuality under varying circumstances. Arsan was born in Bangkok, Thailand. At the age of 16 she was married to a French diplomat at UNESCO, Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane, the couple had two daughters. The novel Emmanuelle was published and distributed clandestinely in France without an author's name in 1959. Successive editions later bore the moniker Emmanuelle Arsan, who was subsequently revealed to be Marayat Rollet-Andriane. Though the novel was sometimes hinted to be a quasi-autobiography, it was later revealed that the actual author was Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane. Several more novels were published under the Emmanuelle Arsan moniker. Following the success of the film adaptation Emmanuelle in 1974, Arsan was the titular director and writer of the film Laure about the sexual discoveries of a younger "Emmanuelle" named Laure in yet another exotic setting.
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Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ... ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west. Its population was estimated to be 6.8 million in 2009. Laos traces its history to the Kingdom which existed from the 14th to the 18th century when it split into three separate kingdoms. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three kingdoms, Kingdom of Luang Phrabang, Kingdom of Vientiane and Kingdom of Champasak, uniting to form what is now known as Laos. It briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but returned to French rule until it was granted autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1953, with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong. Shortly after independence, a long civil war ended the monarchy, when the Communist Pathet Lao movement came to power in 1975. Laos is a single-party socialist republic. The capital city is Vientiane. Other large cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Pakse.
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Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia.... With a total landmass of 181,035 square kilometres , it is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. With a population of over 14.8 million, Cambodia is the 69th most populous country in the world. The official religion is Theravada Buddhism which is practiced by around 95% of the Cambodian population. The country minority groups include Vietnamese, Chinese, Chams and 30 various hill tribes. The capital and largest city is Phnom Penh; the political, economical, and cultural center of Cambodia. The kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with Norodom Sihamoni, an elected monarch chosen by the Royal Throne Council, as head of state. The head of government is Hun Sen, who is currently the longest serving leader in South East Asia and has ruled Cambodia for over 25 years. In 802 AD Jayavarman II declared himself king which marked the beginning of the Khmer Empire.
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Burma /ˈbɜrmə/, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar /ˌmjɑːnˈmɑr/ , is a country in South Asia and... Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. One-third of Burma's total perimeter of 1,930 kilometres forms an uninterrupted coastline along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. At 676,578 km , it is the 40th largest country in the world and the second largest country in Southeast Asia. Burma is also the 24th most populous country in the world with over 58.8 million people. Burma is home to some of the early civilizations of Southeast Asia including the Pyu and the Mon. In the 9th century, the Burmans of the Kingdom of Nanzhao, entered the upper Irrawaddy valley and, following the establishment of the Pagan Kingdom in 1057, the language and culture of these peoples slowly became dominant in the country. Sometime during this period, Buddhism became the predominant religion of the country.
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