French 
The Kingdom of Thailand (up until 1949 known as the Kingdom of Siam) is nestled between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Literally translated as ‘Land of the Free’, Thailand has a coastline of approximately 2700 kilometres. Shaped almost like an Elephant’s head (another recognisable symbol of this beautiful country). Thailand is around 2500 kilometres long (north to south) and 1250 wide (east to west) at its longest and widest points – having a total land-mass of some 513,000 square kilometres.
It shares borders with Myanmar (Burma) to the West and North West, Laos to the East and Northeast, Cambodia to the South East and Malaysia to the South, immigration being strictly controlled by a quota system.
The total population is around 60 million, with around 10% living in the capital, Bangkok. The remainder of the population is divided amongst its regions, of which there are four: The North (where you’ll find Chiang Mai), the Central Plains (where you’ll find Bangkok and Pattaya), the North East or Issaan (where you’ll find Korat/Nakon Rachasima) and the South (where you’ll find the island of Phuket). The Thai people are renowned for their smiles (hence the name ‘Land of Smiles’) where this is often the predominant means of communication with the large numbers of tourists visiting the country each year.
Pattaya itself is on Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard, giving it some protection from the excesses of the Tropical Climate. Jomtien Beach is right next door to Pattaya and a popular resort in its own right.