Many travel brochures associate Thailand with white sandy beaches, but beyond the islands and resorts white is a colour which features heavily in Thai culture and everyday life. In Buddhism, white represents purity and visitors to Thai temples will notice white chedis (pagodas) and white lotus flowers. If you are on holiday or vacation in Thailand you might not see many white elephants or white rabbits like the ones shown below, but if you eat local Thai food you are guaranteed to see white rice every day.
White elephant at Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai
Towel elephants at Thong Ta Resort Hotel near Bangkok airport
Deserted white sand beach at Ko Adang (near Ko Lipe) in southern Thailand
Plain white rice is served with most meals in Thailand
His Majesty the King of Thailand was born in the Year of the Rabbit and a white rabbit features on the king’s royal emblem
White lotus flowers are commonly used when making Buddhist offerings
Wat Rong Khun (also known as the White Temple) in Chiang Rai
