When people think of Thailand, they tend to think of fun in the sun and beautiful tropical beaches. Tourism1 is a big industry that brings lots of money into Thailand and its capital city, Bangkok. By far, Bangkok is the largest city in the nation, and it is the most visited city in the country. The city itself has more than eight million people, or 12.6 percent of the population2. If the neighboring areas are considered, those numbers jump to 14 million and 22.2 percent of the country's total population2 of about 66 million. The city is famous for its nightlife and is also well known for its Muay Thai kickboxing3 matches.
　　Previously known as Siam, the Kingdom of Thailand has been ruled by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, also known as Rama IX, since 1946. This makes him the longest-serving4 leader of any country in the world. However, the real power in Thailand these days lies with the military government, which took power in May of 2014. Over the last several decades, there have been many political problems in the country. In addition, the military has taken control of the government and the country numerous5 times. For example, between 1932 and 1973, Thailand was governed mostly by military dictatorships6. Despite the country's many problems, however, Thailand has greatly benefited from the love tourists have for the country.