Every one here speaks of Dinosaurs. For millions of years, the peaceful earth of Sahatsakhan district of Kalasin province has been the final resting place for the large dinosaurs that used to roam in this area. In 1995, fossilized dinosaurs of the Sauropod species (plant-eating dinosaurs) were uncovered at Phu Kum Khao in Sahatsakhan district.

An investigation shows that the fossils found in this area are of the same species as Phuwianggosaurus Sirindhornae, discovered in Phu Wiang district of Khon Kaen province. The name was bestowed in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Fossilized dinosaur skeletons here are considered the most complete ones ever to have been unearthed in Asia. From this discovery, a dinosaur museum, the largest in Thailand, was established in Kalasin.

Toys are excellent learning tools to help develop children intellectually and physically. Modern technology has brought about new, high-tech toys that are factory made and readily available on store shelves. Children no longer need to wait for parents, or grandparents, to find some free time to fashion homemade toys for them. Regrettable, traditional, handmade toys created from local knowledge and experience, are slowly fading away.

In an attempt to conserve indigenous art in northern Thailand by utilizing the valuable knowledge and experience of elders in local communities, Mr. Wirapong Kangwannawakul, set up 10 years ago the Khon Thao Khon Kae Group of toy makers at Baan Pa Daet village, Tambon Pa Daet, Mae Suai District in Chaing Rai Province.. The main objective was to foster closer relationships between family members of different generations through toy making; a simple vocation stemming from knowledge and experience passed down from generation to generation.

The saying that Phetchaburi is a “living Ayutthaya” is not considered an exaggeration. Both provinces share many similarities, whether in terms of historical sites, old temples or artistic forms. In both cases, craftsmanship has passed from generation to generation. Though the glory of Ayutthaya, Thailand's ancient capital, ended over 200 years ago, Phetchaburi still remains its originate state as an old city.

Phetchaburi is the birthplace of unique and magnificent art and crafts such as stucco decorative art, paintings and woodcarvings. Crafts in this province are distinctive and cannot be found elsewhere.

Numerous temples in Phetchaburi serve as centers of learning for craftsmen and it is a tradition in this province for young men, after their monkhood, to contribute to the temple. Apart from textbooks and artistic creations found in various historical sites, stucco decorative art must be noted as an exceptional craft of Phetchaburi.

Chanthaburi Province's famous reed mats, known locally as “Suea Chanthaboon”, are known for their uniqueness in durability, fine craftsmanship and decorative appearance.

The reed used to weave the mats is called “kok” reed, which grows in brackish water, making soft yet more durable than reeds grown in other environments. Jute, instead of plastic, is used as a main fiber, further increasing its durability. These unique attributes have made Chanthaburi's reed mats long famous, with customer demand outstripping production.

The legend of Chanthaburi's reed mats began when Vietnamese folk at a Catholic church noticed reeds growing in abundance in Ban Samet Ngam and Bang Sa Kao communities in tambon Nong Bua in Chanthaburi Province. They bought the reed from local villagers to weave mats and, later more and more people in the area took up the craft. Today, it is a supplementary occupation bringing in considerable income to local folk.

A white elephant, according to ancient royal Thai traditions, is a noble beast of special importance exemplifying a King's honor and glory. Known in Thai as Chang Samkhan, a white elephant is a gift for a king, and to acquire one during his reign, will result in prosperity and happiness in the kingdom. For Thai people, this magnificent animal possesses special features making it different from other elephants.

Any province discovering a white elephant must report the find to the Ministry of Interior to notify the Bureau of the Royal household. Afterwards, the Bureau conducts a physical examination to determine whether the elephant bears the complete characteristics of a special noble beast.

According to pachyderm observers, in the ancient style, determining whether an elephant possesses special features requires a physical check of the animal's body.

Khao Kha Ancient Monument is the most significant religious shrine of all the Hindu shrines uncovered in the area of Sichon District in the southern Thailand province of Nakhon Sri Thammarat.

The monument enjoys such prominence given the evidence surrounding Khao Kha Ancient Monument that lines up with Hindu ancient beliefs that setting up a new town is often associated with a sacred mountain wherein the Supreme Being resides. According to archaeologists, it is where the Tamavara Linga region, one of the early ancient towns, was founded in the South Seas.

Heavy concentrations of ancient artifacts and monuments aroun Khao Kha underline evolutionary stages of a prehistoric community into an organized town settlement in which Khao Kha, the symbol of Khao Phra Sumeru representing the epicenter of the universe, is the town center.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand reported that between 70 to 80 percent of foreign tourists visit Thailand to enjoy its seaside resorts. Scuba diving, in particular, is one of the activities that earn the most income from tourism, according to the report.

Marine biologists and divers, however, warn that a number of marine animals are dwindling very fast, among them Harlequin shrimp, ribbon eel, Manta Ray, and sharks. They blame the alarming decrease of marine resources on lack of proper management and over exploitation.

But without sufficient information, it is difficult to assess the situation and plan proper management and sustainable use of marine resources, they say.

Chiang Mai is regarded as the center for northern handicrafts, be it handwoven fabrics, woodcraft, wicker ware, lacquer ware or other utensils. Visitors to Chiang Mai, therefore, should not go home without buying some locally-made souvenirs. Prominent among the local handicrafts is sa paper and sa paper products from Tambon Ton Pao in Chiang Mai's San Kamphaeng district.

Making sa paper has been a tradition for the villagers of Tambon Ton Pao. However, the product was not popular in the old days, when it was used mostly for the production of umbrellas, banners, hot balloons, candlewick or cabalistic writing.

Thanks to consistent promotion and development assistance from government authorities, the handicraft rooted in folk wisdom became a much-wanted product both at home and abroad, earning an impressive income for the villagers of Tambon Ton Pao.

Thai puppet or Hun Lakhon Lek requires three puppeteers working together to bring rhythmic movement to this single puppet, a feat made possible thanks to the creative abilities of the creator of Hun Lakhon Lek. It represents a form of entertainment that has long given amusement to Thais.

Today, hun Lakhon Lek puppetry survives solely as a result of the Joe Louis Troupe, headed by Sakorn Yangkhiawsod, 1996 National Artist. Thankfully, the Joe Louis Theater provides a outlet for sustaining this particular branch of artistry.

For centuries, the lives of Thai people have been inextricably related to rivers and canals. They make use of them for consumption, agriculture, and other activities. So a waterway is regarded as a lifeline, bringing people of different languages, races, cultures, and faiths to become as one in a community.

Thais usually build their homes along waterways and used boats as major means of transportation, which reflected their way of life in harmony with nature.