We have been asked to talk about how Thailand is different than Myanmar. Here are some random observations – with only a few photos.

Things you notice right away:

— Left side drive — Both countries drive cars with the steering wheel on the right. In only one of the countries (Thailand) does that make any sense — they actually drive on the left hand side of the road.

—- Hinduism — Right away in Thailand you encounter Hindu shrines. They are all over — but they are a Buddhist country. In Myanmar there was an official sanctioning of the local spirit worship when Buddhism was first adopted – and the Buddhism and spirit worship are now intertwined. In Thailand, it is mix of belief systems imported from India: Hinduism and Buddhism. A lot of the Buddhist temples have some element related to a Hindu god.

Also, the Thai approach to Buddhism seems less purist and more relaxed with a little more humor in their treatment of Indian gods. Monks wear saffron (not the rust brown of Myanmar). They shave their heads less frequently. Monks and nuns are not as visible as they are in Myanmar, where they are a visible presence on the streets collecting alms. The practice of having young males spend some time in a monastery is similar in both countries, but in Thailand it is more of an expectation that every male enter a monastery for 3 months at age 20. — to learn the power of meditation and the importance of doing good things (karma).

— The King — The Thai population’s focus on the King and Queen is unique – no other SE Asia country has royalty that survived the colonial period and WWII and its aftermath. Thais are very proud of their King and the royal dynasty. In the years since the King was brought back from exile and reinstated after WWII, universal support for the King has helped to promote national unity and buffer the political friction that has been generated in the ebb and flow of military and democratic governments. The adoration of the King is propped up with huge posters — some of building size — and people hang photos in their homes and businesses. It is a punishable offense to criticize the King or royal family.

— No Colonial History — Thais are very proud of the fact that Siam (Thailand) is the only SE Asia country never to be colonized. Thailand successfully fended off efforts of British and French, and was finally able to retain its independence by serving as a neutral buffer between the two. Thais will tell you that “Thai means free.” Thailand maintained their neutrality in WWII by reaching agreement to let the Japanese army cross it territory without harming the Thais to attack the British in Burma.

— Thai food is more flavorful — Thai food is spicier and more interesting than Burmese food. That said, there are still times when a Thai dish needs a little more heat. Thai specialties include: yellow, green, and red curries; stir fries with chicken, shrimp, pork; chicken or pork satay; noodle dishes (pad Thai, Kow Soi), and soups: Tom Yum soup.

— Thai language is more difficult — The two languages are different – both spoken and written. Burmese has Tibetan and Chinese roots. Thai traces its roots to Sanskrit, Old Khmer, and Pali. While the Burmese alphabet uses 33 characters, the Thai alphabet uses 46. The written languages use very different characters. Both languages are tonal, meaning that each vowel has several different tones some of which may be indistinguishable to the western ear — but result in words with the same spelling having totally different meanings.

—- Economic wellbeing — Thailand’s economy took off in the 1970s, yielding a population that is today more affluent on average than the population of Myanmar. Thailand’s urban areas, particularly Bangkok, have state-of-the-art infrastructure and the urban amenities typical of an thriving economy. Bangkok is a fast-paced metropolis.

Myanmar is only now emerging from a long period of political and economic isolation and starting to see the potential for the growth that was typical of Thailand in the ‘70s and ‘80s. While Myanmar is currently experiencing some setbacks in investment and tourism, its long-term prospects should be favorable and over time raise the standard of living for its population.