'I got fascinated with Thailand. A nation of survivors. The ancient Tai people managed to take over vast reaches of the Cambodian Empire and spread throughout southeast Asia, all without anybody noticing. They were conquered by Burma & emerged stronger than ever. When other countries were falling under European domination, Thailand managed to expand its borders for a surprisingly long time, & even when it lost Cambodia & Laos, it held its core... the Thai are not easily conquered, and, once conquered, not easily ruled.