As you can see on the map here, the shape of the country is quite special with that very narrow bit of land in the middle from north to south. More than just a narrow place on the map, it is also a sort of cultural and agricultural separation line.

For example, Thais in the southern part of Thailand do not speak the same dialect as the Thais in the Northern provinces. They actually barely understand each other if they do not start speaking the recognised official Thai that everyone who goes to school will learn. It is also called the Thai Kedmanee. This is mostly interesting when you travel the deeper countryside and try to learn the lingo as you go. If your trip includes enough provinces (you have 76 of them to choose from!), one day you might feel all proud to remember some words learned in Chiangmai (north east) and disappointed the next by realising that despite your best pronunciation efforts, people do not seem to understand what you mean in Hat Yai (south). As such, learning the Thai language is a great challenge, even if it is just a bit to go by and create the contact. You will find it extremely handy to remember a few words...