Before I travel to any new place, I like to read up on the history of the country. For a quick geography lesson, Thailand is smack dab in the middle of Southeast Asia and bordered by four countries: Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. And because of its location, Thailand’s culture and history are heavily influenced by India, Japan, and China.Thailand’s tourism pushes the image that the country is the “land of smiles,” and this is mostly true. Thai people generally prefer harmony over open social conflict, so it’s rare to get into altercations on the streets, and I find the vendors and locals regularly offer up warm smiles and greetings.