Get ready Countdown is on: seven days to go! Hope you are excited as we are! Here’s some indication of what to expect and some suggestions on what to pack. If you need more information, contact us! Expected temperatures Khun Yoam in July is warm & humid, forecasts for these days are around 27C. Monsoon rains are pretty heavy this year, and generally falls in the afternoons. Get ready for showers while working in the field or walking around, it's all part of the experience!
Any disease? For the non-thai residents, let me confirm that health situation and health care in Thailand is good. However, the rain has been particularly heavy in Khun Yoam and apparently mosquitoes populations have grown.. No phobias but let's be conscious... Dengue and malaria might be a
possibility, so please use mosquito repellent often and wear long shirts and trousers. Those of you who want, might start malaria profilaxis.
Where will we meet? The bus will depart from Bangkok Nothern Station (Mo Chit station) to Khun Yoam on July 7th, 17.20 hrs. Let's meet in front of the SombatTour ticket counter, at 17.00 hrs.
Are we going to have fun? YES! Read in the next pages and get more prepared...
During your trip and stay in Khun Yoam, please always take care of your belongings and your person. While always there to enjoy and help in moments of need, the ChuayDek group will not be responsible for losses or damages
Useful links
Health and entering the country: http://www.un.or.th/thailand/travelinfo.html http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/asia/thailand.php#1 http://www.viaggiaresicuri.mae.aci.it/?thailandia http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/thailand http://www.worldtravelguide.net/thailand/health Rice farming videos & readings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB9EBNGYyrg&feature=related (it is an experience in Isaan, but it gives a nice idea) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8a0_yw-mg0&feature=related http://AmericanThai.net/rice.aspx Raitong organic farms: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_140808370801
What to bring? Here, some suggestions! Clothes: please bring old clothes (the rice field is very muddy), possibly light, longsleeved shirts and trousers, rain jacket, hat, and sweater; Various: Lot of sunscreen, and lots of mosquito repellent, water proof bag, towels, small torch, sunglasses; Medicines: the usual, and just in case some anti-diarrhea medicine. If you started the malaria profilaxis, don't forget your tablets!
What to buy there? We are planning of buying plastic boots and traditional hats in Khun Yoam - if you want, you can do the same! For those of you coming from outside Thailand.. remember, Bangkok is the city of shopping..if you don't want to pack your luggage in your mother-country, you can easily find everything you need in Bangkok!
Where will we sleep and eat? After the long travel, the hours of work in the field and the excitement of helpings the kids in their life, we will certainly get some good hours of sleeps! Rooms have been booked in Khun Yoam town, for approx 500thb/night. Most of our meals will be at the School, for which we would like to give a contribution of 800thb each (approx. 18€). Sunday we will have lunch outside and each one of us will cover her/his own expenses.
How will we move around? The School has a track, with which we will be transported between the guest house, the School and the rice field and for the day out with the kids (Sunday). Please, also in this case do not expect any luxurious nor highly comfortable seats... we will experience what real life is in Khun Yoam.
NOTE FOR PARTICIPANTS JOINING FROM ABROAD
Current currency exchange: 1 € = 44 Thai Bath ; 1$ = 30 Thai Bath Once arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport, there are ATM machines and currency exchange desks. Before getting in the taxi, remember to go to any convenient store or shop and get small banknotes (100 thb or 500thb). Local sim cards are on sale in the airport. Taxis are always available outside the airport (ground floor), follow the directions for “Meter taxi”, tell the address where you have to go, and voilá! A ride to Ari (about 20-30 min with no traffic) will cost approx. 400thb (+75 thb of highway + 50 thb of airport service). Please check the meter is on before leaving the airport. If the driver does not want to turn it on, change taxi. TIME TO CLOSE THIS FILE AND START PACKING NOW! CONTACTS TEL. ITALY: +39 3467395754 TEL. THAILAND: +66849263374 ; 66852438566 EMAIL helpchuaydek@gmail.com