The Kingdom of Thailand is a beautiful and unique country located in Southeast Asia. It's also known as Siam, which is often used as a synonym for Thailand. Other synonyms for the Kingdom of Thailand include the Land of Smiles, due to the friendly nature of the people; the Land of Temples, due to the numerous Buddhist temples throughout the country; and the Land of Elephants, due to the important role elephants have played in Thai culture and history. Some also refer to Thailand as the Land of the Free, as it is the only country in Southeast Asia to never have been colonized by a European power.