Thailand is located at the center of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Its capital, Bangkok, is known for its intricate shrines and vibrant street life. The country is divided into four main regions: the mountainous north (home to Doi Inthanon, the highest peak), the arid Khorat Plateau in the northeast, the fertile central plains (the 'Rice Bowl of Asia'), and the narrow southern peninsula. This southern portion is defined by the Isthmus of Kra, the narrowest part of the Malay Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Thailand from the Andaman Sea. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation never to have been colonized by a European power. Its climate is tropical and influenced by monsoons. The country is a leading exporter of rice, rubber, and electronics, and is world-famous for its tropical beaches and islands like Phuket and Koh Samui.