Thailand has a population of 61 million and its capital is Bangkok. The people are 75% Thai, 11% Chinese, 3.5% Malay, also Mon, Khmer, Phuan and Karen minorities. Thai is spoken here and it is a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy. Buddhism is the dominant religion, and orange-robed monks and gold, marble and stone Buddha’s are common sights in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. The country's east coast borders the Gulf of Thailand and the west coast abuts the AndamanSea. Thailand is divided into four distinct areas. the mountainous North, the fertile Central Plains, the semi-arid plateau of the Northeast, and the peninsula South, distinguished by its many beautiful tropical beaches and offshore islands. The highest peak is the 2596m (8512ft) Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai province. A quarter of Thailand is covered by rainforest, and the country has an incredible array of fruit trees, bamboo and tropical hardwoods. Wildlife covers 11 per cent of the country. The tiger, for instance, is one of the most endangered of Thailand's mammals but the market for tiger organs, particularly in China, is so lucrative that poaching is still a viable career option.  Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia to never be colonized.