Now if I said we were going to "the country of the white elephant", or "the country of Buddhism," or how about "the country of smiles," would you know what country I was talking about? It's Thailand... one of the hottest tourist destinations in Asia. And to give World Expo visitors a sample of all the country has to offer, the Thailand Pavilion put on a historic song and dance performance to celebrate its National Pavilion Day on Monday.

After Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gave a welcoming speech, an evening gala presenting the country's history and culture was unveiled.

The first chapter saw Thai artists wearing traditional costumes and performing their folk dances. The performance was like a painting scroll displaying Thai people's way of life along the rivers.

Then came the highlight chapter, "Ramayana", which tells an epic story featuring Thailand's mask dance. With magnificent costumes and sets, the show recounts King Rama's fight with a demon to rescue his wife. The ancient tale was created in India, but has greatly influenced on the religion and culture of southeast Asia.

To show that Thai culture does not lack modern elements, a sibling trio called "Vi-etrio" played violin to ignite the atmosphere. And rounding out the gala was a performance of Thai fists and there was even some hip-hop. Finally, the mascot of Thai pavilion appeared on the stage, bringing the evening gala to an easy and joyful mood.

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