Perhaps the most famous flower in all of Thailand is the orchid.  Orchids are seen on signs and billboards, as logos and in all types of floral arrangements throughout the kingdom.  The orchid flower growing season in Thailand is all year long. Orchids grow in the wild in Thailand from sea level to elevations of about 3,300 feet. There are at least 35,000 documented species of orchids and many thousands of these are available in the various orchid farms in Thailand.  Orchid farms can be found in many parts of Thailand, but the major production areas are in the Mae Rim and Mae Sa Valleys north of Chiang Mai.  These farms are continually producing new hybrid species using artificial cross pollination and propagation methods.  In recent years the cloning of disease resistant plants has also become very popular. 
      Khao Luang National Park in the south of Thailand is a great place to see the orchid in its native habitat.  The park is home to over 300 varieties of wild orchids, some of which cannot be seen in any other part in the world.  While this national park is more widely known for its waterfalls, it is also a great place for the orchid lover to visit. 
      The Chiang Mai Flower Festival is one of the best shows to attend for the orchid lover.  It is held on the first weekend in February of each year and sometimes it is included on our tours. 
     The exporting of orchids from Thailand has been going on since the 1950's.  It was in the 1980's however, when the first orchid farms were established that the business really took off.  Thailand is now a major exporter of orchids for many of the worlds markets.  

      The history of Catholicism in Thailand began when the Portuguese mercenaries and their chaplain arrived in Ayutthaya in the 1550's.  The first Catholic missionaries arrived in 1567 and were killed by the Burmese in 1569.  By 1660 the Vicariate Apostolic of Siam was established with primarily Portuguese and French  priests.  Throughout the 17th and into the 19th centuries, the history was one with varying degrees of acceptance and persecution.  The 20th century found an influx of various Catholic religious communities coming to work in Thailand.  There are now several cathedrals, many churches and chapels, social and educational institutions which include orphanages, schools, seminaries and colleges.  Thailand has indigenous Catholics who have been beatified as the Martyrs of Thailand. (This shrine is included in tour 2 for 2011). 
      The history of the protestant churches in Thailand dates back to 1826 when the first American missionaries arrived in Bangkok.  Many denominations have sent missionaries and started missions.  Increasingly many of these groups have been been working with non-denominational and inter-agencies to further their work. Thai ecumenicalism has helped to bring many smaller groups into the active work in Thailand.  Several hospitals, schools, and many social development projects can be credited to these missionaries and their followers.  Thailand has received many missionaries from other Asian countries such as Japan and Korea. 
        Missionaries, both Catholic and Protestant, have been in Thailand for a long time.  Still, the number of Thai's who have been converted is a relatively small percent of the population.  The number of Thai Christians is increasing but not at a rapid rate.  The most concentrated areas of Thai Christians is probably in the North around Chiang Mai and also in the hill tribes.  Many Christians living in Thailand are ethnic Chinese or Vietnamese as well as many westerners.