THAI TRIP 2012

Important Information

What should I pack?

The most important thing to remember is this: There is almost nothing that you can’t purchase there. So if you forget something or choose not to bring it, then you will certainly be able to get it there, often at cheaper prices (though quality clothing and footwear can be a little pricy).

The list below is purely suggestion; what you bring and how you pack is up to you. But remember, the less you pack, the simpler life is. If you can carry everything on your back, you will be grateful in the end.

Clothing

Here are the things to consider:

• We are going in one of the hotter months of the year (April being the hottest).
• You might want to swim or sunbathe.
• You will be meditating and doing Thai massage .
• You will sometimes be in temples. You will need to cover up your legs and shoulders.
• There will be some times when it might get a little cool, so a fleece jacket, socks, jeans and a little wool hat will be good to have.  Last year it was very cool (in the 50's) for a number of days. 
• It might rain.

Personal note about washing clothes: I often do my wash by hand in a bucket or tub, especially t-shirts as I go through them quick in the heat and they dry super quick. Heavier clothes like jeans (and I always bring one pair), can be washed at a local or hotel laundry facility. You just give your clothes to them, and you get it back that evening or the next day.

Personal Note about Thai Pants: I recommend them! Even people who don’t like wearing them in the States wear them in Thailand because they are breezy and lightweight, making for easy carrying. After all, you might want to enter a temple on a whim. And if you do, you will want to be able to reach into your carry bag or backpack and slip on some Thai pants (no shorts or sleeveless shirts in temples).

Footwear

Flip flops · Teva, Chakos or Keens? · Gym shoes

Personal Note on shoes: The shoes that I wear almost exclusively in Thailand are my flip flops. I personally prefer flip flops over tevas because they are easy to slip on and off.  And I find I need to slip in and out of them often as temples and many indoor places require barefeet. Yet some people prefer the support and comfort of Teva's or Chakos.  I rarely wear close-toed shoes when I am walking around town.  However, a pair of gym shoes are recommended, especially when doing trail walks or when riding on a motorbike.

Miscellaneous Personal Items

Sunglasses, regular glasses, sun hat, journal, pens, alarm clock, watch, medications, day pack or shoulder bag, toiletries (though most things you can get there – especially for those things that violate the 3 oz airline rule), camera, laptop, phone

Personal note on regular glasses: Although I wear glasses in Chicago for driving and movies and such, since I don’t drive or watch movies in Thailand, I don’t bring my glasses. It’s just one more thing to lose. I do, however, bring my prescription sunglasses. That is non-negotiable!

Personal note on cameras: I usually bring two 8 gig memory cards. I use a 16gb card too sometimes.  That way, when I run out of room on one, I can take it to the nearest photo shop, they can put it on a dvd for me and in the meantime I can use the other memory card. They sell memory cards over there too and it’s cheaper than here. Also, I am fortunate to be able to shoot video with my camera. I find that when studying, it is nice to have video. It’s more instructive for me than stills.

Computers

Internet cafés abound in Chiang Mai. And they are fairly cheap; maybe a buck an hour.   If you are at Baan Thai, they sell internet access for differing amounts depending on how many hours you plan on spending. 

If you like to take and download pictures and post them on your facebook account, or if you have to keep up with business, then you might want to bring a laptop. If you want to experience a month without a laptop and disconnect from the insanity, I honor that too!

Personal Note: I never brought a laptop to Thailand. However, on my trip a few years ago, I had so much work to do for CSTM that I ended up purchasing a small laptop over there. It was around $300. And it works great. I never worried about my computer being stolen, though it does happen.

Cell Phones

You can purchase a cell phone over there if you want. Or you can bring your cell phone and purchase a sims card. Call your cell phone company to see if your phone will work over there. Each phone and company is different. You will also want to get on an international phone calling plan if you have a phone there.

In general, you will not need your phone.

If you want to talk to friends and family back home you can go to an internet café and skype them. It is cheaper and easier and you will be thankful to have less stuff to worry about.

After all, isn’t this trip about immersion and letting go of our attachments to our crutches? Use the time to give your body and mind a break, and break some habitual patterns. And reliance on cell phone technology is definitely one of our habitual patterns.

Personal Note: I like to not have a cell phone when I am there. It is just a “thing” for me. And I don’t find them necessary. Though on this trip I use one so I can communicate with Paul and Michelle! I am still not clear on how you can use an I-phone over there.  If you have an I-phone, I suggest you do some research or contact me and I can put you in touch with someone who had an I-phone there. 

Money

The current conversion is 29 or 30 Baht to a dollar.

You can get money at ATMs located about every block in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. How much money you bring is up to you.  If you bring an ATM card, make sure you let your bank know that you will be withdrawing money from ATM's in Thailand.  There are fees involved with overseas ATM withdrawls.  See you bank for details on that.  Also, because most ATM machines in Thailand are not the swipe kind, don't forget to wait until the machine ejects your card before you go running off with your money! 

When Will I Need Money?

You will need some money when you arrive for a day in Bangkok and for getting up to Chiang Mai as this is not covered by the trip. You will need money for food, entertainment, and extras (like internet at the hotel if you want it or time at an internet café).

• For those doing the Homprang program, you will not need much money for the two weeks you spend with her.  She will probably take you to a market where you might want to purchase things but that's about it. 
• For those with Pichest, you will need a little more for food and because you will be more “on the town”, as opposed to a self-contained place in the countryside.
• Everyone will need some money for the third week for food and personal expenses. How much you spend will depend on your shopping and eating habits. If you don’t buy much and you eat cheap (on the street or in small local restaurants serving Thai food), you will not need very much money.

Most of the major expenses such as lodging, education, and transportation (to and from all the amazing things we have planned), are included in the trip.

How Much Money Should I Bring?

It’s hard to say exactly what you should budget, but $500 should be plenty.

This journey includes all of your accommodation, transportation, course fees and entrance fees from Sunday evening, February 26 to Saturday morning, March 17th.

• Also included are meals for the people who stay at Homprang’s place for the first two weeks.
• The Pichest people might spend a little more due to the less inclusive nature of that experience.

Credit Cards

Make sure you contact your credit card company / bank before you leave and let them know you will be in Thailand so that they don’t block your account for unusual activity.

Personal note about money: I tend to bring about $300 in cash with me. Then, I convert about $200 at the airport and keep $100 in my pocket in case of emergency. I don’t spend that $100. Then, when I go through that first $200, I use my ATM card and get cash that way. It costs a few bucks to take money from an ATM but that’s fine. And I also have a credit card with me, again, just in case.

Passport / Visa

You must have a passport that is valid for at least 90 days following your departure from Thailand in order to enter the country (though the Thai website recommends giving yourself a 6 month window). So in other words, if your passport expires in May of 2012 or before, you will want to get a new passport before you leave.

If you are staying less than 30 days, you do not need a Visa; the valid passport will be enough.

If you plan on staying more than 30 days, you can get a Visa from the Thai Consulate in Chicago. If you do this, you will need your passport and 2 passport photos. It is free. It usually takes just a day or two for them to process it.

If you are not sure if you will be staying longer, you can always get a Visa extension while in Thailand. You can get a week extension in Chiang Mai or you can get a longer extension by taking a trek to the Burmese border.

If you think you might stay, however, it will probably be easier and certainly cheaper to get it while in the States (or wherever your home country is).

• http://thailand.visahq.com/
• http://www.thaichicago.net/