About Naw Pee Kei's Country

Thailand's central region is a rich agricultural area known as Asia's rice bowl. The northeast is poor, subject to seasonal droughts or floods, while the north has forested mountains and fertile valle read more...ys. Rain forests fill the south. Monsoons, high temperatures and humidity dominate Thailand's tropical climate. A major tsunami in December 2004 claimed 8,500 lives in Thailand and caused massive destruction of property in the southern provinces. Compassion works mainly among the Karen, Lisu and Lahu tribes. The Karen of western Thailand are rice farmers, although some are mahouts - keepers and drivers of elephants that haul logs in the teak forests. The Karen are environmentalists, protective of the forest. Many Karen are Christian. The Lisu live in remote villages at high altitudes largely concentrated in northern Thailand. The Lahu, mountain people of northern Thailand, farm rice and maize and hunt with poisoned arrows. The majority of the country's population is Buddhist; less than 1 percent is Christian. Founded in the 13th century, Thailand is the only country in south and southeast Asia never colonized by a European power. Since 1975, Thailand has provided asylum for refugees from communist Indochina. For its aid, Thailand has received acclaim from international organizations supporting refugee relief. In 2006, the elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra was overthrown by a military coup. Martial law was partially revoked in January 2007, and HM Bhurnibol Adulyadej now serves as the official head of state.