Despite Red Shirt protests, lack of government support, and a diminishing pool of potential sponsors, one emerging Bangkok-based movie festival is determined to carry on. The new Bangkok IndieFest, slated for August 4-8 of this year, was set into motion as a grass-roots undertaking by Thai and International organizers last August, when times in Thailand were relatively untroubled.

Since then, hundreds of international and local filmmakers have submitted their work, eager to screen in Bangkok, Southeast Asia’s movie capital, despite the growing unrest.

“Many of the filmmakers have expressed an interest in attending the festival, even if we are unable to secure sponsorship for their trip – that’s the level of excitement that we’ve seen so far”, says IndieFest co-organizer, Jason Rosette, a US national and media producer who has been living in Southeast Asia since 2004.

We're told it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile – and that smiling releases endorphins, which make us feel happier and healthier. In Thailand, there is more to a smile than the feel-good-factor.

With 90 percent of inhabitants Buddhists, Thais regard their religion as a way of life. It explains a purpose to life, details injustice around the universe and provides a code of practice that leads to happiness.

In a society in which politeness and a 'Mai Pen Rai' (never mind) attitude play such important roles, a smile is never far from a Thai's lips. Smiling is a form of subtle interpersonal-messaging.

A genuine smile is a staple of Thai life that you can find anywhere in the Thai Kingdom. Thai people are renowned for showing their friendliness and happiness wherever they are, and whatever they are doing. You can expect to be greeted with a smile on numerous occasions everyday.

When I told my friends that I was moving to Thailand there was a fairly standard response - not about the richness of Thai culture or the beauty of the landscape, rather that I was going to live in a country full of cross-dressers. Even my Gran, bless her, responded by saying, "That's where them men-girls come from, isn't it?"

It was quite a shock, therefore, when I began my new teaching job to find out that what I had thought was just a stereotype for cheap gags was, in fact, a very camp reality.

Standing in front of a class of 60, 15-year-olds I found that the eyes fluttering flirtatiously at me from the first row were more likely to belong to a boy than to a girl. In every class I taught there were at least three or four boys who were so incredibly effeminate that they made Julian Clary look like Chuck Norris.

Thai people across the entire social stratum have been familiar with the popular game of Thai chess since the Ayutthaya Period.

The game requires a 'wooden' chessboard divided into eight vertical and horizontal columns producing 64 squares upon which opponents amass Thai chess pieces arranged according to their positions and importance. Pieces include Khun (King), Met (Queen), Khon (Bishop), Horse (Knight), Boat (Castle) and Bia (Pawns).

Each Thai chess piece is restricted to its own discrete moves on the board, similar to Western chess. For example, Khun may move in all directions while Met may only move diagonally. Boat may go in a vertical and horizontal direction.

Temples that appear on Thai banknotes reflect the studied significance of national identity. Among such important temples is one noted for its outstanding architectural attributes and exceptional murals: significant enough for such qualities to be reproduced and printed onto a 1 Baht banknote during World War II. The temple in question is none other than Wat Bhumintr of Nan Province.

Although no documentary evidence is available to account for the reasoning behind the government of the day's decision to designate Wat Bhumintr as the favored design for the banknote, some interesting information has emerged. The Thai government determines banknote designs, although the design of the banknote itself differs from generic printing patterns, so designers must be knowledgeable about the printing of banknotes as aside from general printing.

In true Lanna tradition, as practiced in Northern Thailand, a young man will normally visit the house of the girl to whom he is attracted, in order to court her. After sunset, she will tend to her work in front of the house awaiting his arrival.

After a courtship period, and when they decide to tie the knot, they will engage in a "candles of destiny" ceremony, which is akin to a marriage registration, to show the couple has become husband and wife.

One candle has the bride's name inscribed on it, with the bridegroom's on the other and both candles are tied together with sacred, white thread. The names of married couple are inscribed in the Lanna dialect on a strip of silver by an old master who used to be in the monkhood.

Nang Yai, a form of shadow puppetry and an ancient mode of amusement for Thailand's aristocracy, is a combination of several art forms including designing, carving on cowhide, manual manipulation, music, and literature. Performed in various Royal ceremonies to praise the power and glory of the King, Nang Yai, which mainly related to the monarchy and heroic deeds, often derived from such epics as Maha-Bharata, Ramayana, and Ramakian.

Nang Yai performances involve shadow puppets made from tanned cowhide and fashioned into figures of humans, animals, places and other objects. In keeping with the story and narration, puppeteers manipulate the puppets while a pipat musical ensemble plays in the background.

The 'Giant Swing' has a long standing in Thailand's history since Bangkok - the city of angels was established as the country Royal capital over 200 years ago.

According to the Bangkok historical archive, it said 'the Giant Swing' was built according to the lunar calendar on Wednesday, the 5th month, the 4th day of the waning moon, the year of Big Snake, which fell on 8 April 1784. Initially His Majesty King Rama I ordered a construction of a shrine that was believed to house the divine entities according to Hinduism, and at the same occasion to build a 'Giant Swing' for the Triyampavai ceremony which held in the 12th month of the year annually since the time of Sukhothai till Ratanakosin era.

The original Giant Swing was built on a open site north of Wat Suthasvararam. But during the reign of King Rama V it was moved to the present site which is located right in front of Wat Sutasvararam.

Well known among Thai cockfight aficionados, Kai Lueng Hang Khao (yellow chicken with a white tail) originates from Krang village in Thailand's northern province of Phitsanulok, where villagers have been breeding this rooster for cockfighting competitions since ancient times.

Almost every village festival would feature a cockfight; yet, in the past this type of cock was formerly bred only in the royal palace, until villagers were also allowed to breed them.

Its face much like a peafowl, Kai Lueng Hang Khao is as proud as a lion, with puffed out chest and head held high displaying its scarlet crest and wattle; its elegant yellow feathers and long, white tail. Because of its graceful looks, strength and fighting spirit, this rooster is the pride of Phitsanulok Province.

In a land that loves food, rice likely tops the list in terms of both popularity and importance. It features in each of the day's three meals and all the other ingredients in Thai dishes are referred to as Ghap Khao, or 'things eaten with rice'. Khao homali, or jasmine rice, is the tastiest version found in the Thai Kingdom.

Grown only in Thailand, this fragrant, long grain rice is translucent when uncooked but quickly turns white and fluffy once it's ready to eat, giving off a delicate aroma at the same time.