Siam
. . .Welcome
to Siam
For
nearly 1,000 years, Westerners have called one
magical Asian kingdom "Siam"
16th century
French
travelers reported that the Siamese capital
Ayutthaya was the most beautiful city in the East, rivaling Paris
itself. Their detailed
accounts described Siam as a land of fabulous temples and traditions set in
pleasure garden surroundings.
Since
then the mention of Siam
has inspired visions of a lush Far Eastern paradise...a land
of of great Kings and Queens, gilded palaces,
complex culture and intricate handicrafts. The
truth about Siam is every
bit as exotic as the fantastic accounts Westerners
have related for 400 years. And more.
Siam still blends beauty, ancient traditions and tropical
abundance. Siam's reigning King
Bhumibol
Adulyadej is an enlightened
and compassionate champion of the people. King
Bhumibol, born December 5th, 1927 in Cambridge Massachusetts, is the
world's only American-born monarch. He ascended the throne of Siam on June 9th,
1946 at 18 years of age and today he
is the world's longest
reigning monarch.
His dedication to his duties and his people is
extraordinary. He is a king not only by birth, but by his
actions and accomplishments. For this he is rewarded by the
unwavering love, respect and devotion of all Thai citizens. To learn
more about the Royal Family and their projects benefiting the Thai
people, please visit the Golden
Jubilee Network.
On
May 11, 1949 Siam became Thailand,
the "Land of the Free", ruled by a constitutional monarchy. Unlike all of its Southeast Asian neighbors, Thailand was
never colonized by a Western power.
This rare history of freedom has made Thais intensely proud of
their Siamese culture and sincere in welcoming visitors and ideas from around
the world.
Today,
the essence of Siam lives in the hearts and minds of sixty million Thai citizens and
millions of enamored visitors alike. It is embodied in the living culture of
Thailand. To learn more about
this land visit the Thailand
Guidebook. We are
dedicated
to preserving and promoting the memory, history, people and culture of Siam.
To learn more, visit us at www.DatASIA.us
