A SOUND MIND IN A SOUND BODY

Transcription

1 A SOUND MIND IN A SOUND BODY SECOND SEMINAR IN THAILAND Dates: 17 Aug 01 Sept 2016 Attendants: 18 participants from Belgium, Italy, France, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and 2 facilitators Location: Bangkok, Thailand Arrival in Bangkok Arrival of participants in Bangkok is on Wednesday 17 th August. The seminar begins on Thursday 18 th August. Pick up from Suvarnabhumi International Airport will be arranged for all participants, thus all flight details should be sent to Ms. Riezl Manatad at rzlmanatad@yahoo.ca no later than 10 th August. Airport pick-up When you have finish with your visa if needed and have collected your luggage, please go to the door with exit sign on it. Our staff will wait for you at the arrival hall, holding a signboard with logo of Eramus+. She will welcome you and will take you by skytrain to the venue in the city center. NOTE: Do NOT follow anyone at the airport without a signboard with Erasmus+ logo. In case you cannot find us, kindly contact our staff s hotline: +48 (0) (Yui).We will hold no responsibility if the participants take any other type of transportation without informing us. VISA requirement 1. For participants from ASEAN Participants from Philippines and Vietnam can visit Thailand without visa for 21 days and 30 days, respectively. Please check with Thailand Embassy at your countries before your departure to avoid unexpected changes.

2 2. For facilitators and participants from Europe Upon arrival in Thailand, you must hold a valid passport with at least six months validity and proof of onward travel only because visitors from Western countries, including most European, Commonwealth, and North American citizens, are not required to have a Thai visa for visits less than 30 days in Thailand. You will be granted access through Thailand immigration with a 30 Thai visa waiver, provided upon arrival. After such time, a Thai visa extension from an immigration office or a Thailand visa from an embassy or consulate outside of Thailand is required. Immigration policies are subject to change: check with a Thai Embassy or The Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( for the latest information. Please note the following points: Visa will be a one-month tourist visa or three month tourist visa depending on your need. Please check if prices are different. State your Purpose of visit on the visa application form as travelling. Do not try to explain that you are coming for a workshop/conference/study visit or volunteer project. This is a bit tricky, but if you try to do it you will be asked a lot of questions and might end up having no visa at all. As you will be asked in the application form, below is the venue s address: 505, Alley, Thung Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand Tel, For more information, please check this link visa-on-arrival Departure The seminar will finish on Thursday 01 st September. Participants departure date is from Friday 02 nd September. Airport send-off will be arranged. Any update on departure schedule should be informed before 10 th August.

3 Accommodation Accommodation will be prepared only from 17 th August to 01 st September. If participants come earlier or stay longer than this period, their accommodation shall be covered by themselves. Participants will be staying in 1 shared room with capsule type beds. Pillows, blankets and bed sheets will be provided. Toilets will be shared among participants. Please bring your own towels and toiletries. There is wifi connection available in some areas of the accommodation. Address: 505, Alley, Thung Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand Below are some photos of the accommodation: Bed room Common/Meeting room Foods We will have breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all participants and facilitators. All foods are served in the pantry and everybody must observe CLEAN-GO (clean as you go). In case of special diets or requirements (vegetarian, allergies, etc.), please state clearly in the participants application form. If you have a very complicated diet that would require special ingredients, we would appreciate if you could help us find the best food for you. Training venue Training venue is named Movy Lodge Hostel a new and hip hostel project designed and owned by an interior design studio in Bangkok. The venue is within short and walking distance to both Airport Rail Link and BTS train station, and only one BTS stop away to Victory Monument which is the central bus terminal heading to all over the country. It is also

4 within walking distance to the main shopping district of Siam Square, Siam Paragon and MBK. Despite the extremely convenient location, the venue is nested in a quiet neighborhood of Ratchathewi junction. What to bring From the hostel, participants can easily access pharmacies or supermarket for everything they may need. Below is the list of recommended items for your consideration: Towels and personal items. Personal medication if needed. Most medication is cheaply available here, however, we advise bringing enough things you take regularly. Comfortable clothing that is suitable for our hot and humid Bangkok weather. Bring attire for swimming also. Ideas, ice breaking games, etc.; Camera, laptop and other equipment that will be useful during the seminar. Typical snacks, food, traditional clothes and dances, activities for the cultural evening. Participants are encouraged to bring condoms (that they can get for free in their country) and share their local situation of safe sex behavior promotions and campaigns. The condoms and other tools can be used for the sharing sections, as well as for other intervention activities. PowerPoint presentation about your country s most creative STD prevention program And finally, energy, enthusiasm and an open mind to share and learn from each other. Additional information about Thailand Land and History Thailand is a wondrous kingdom, featuring Buddhist temples, exotic wildlife, and spectacular islands. Along with a fascinating history and a unique culture that includes delectable Thai food and massage, Thailand features a modern capital city, and friendly people who epitomize Thailand s land of smiles reputation.

5 Language Thai is a Tai-Kadai language spoken by about 65 million people mainly in Thailand (ประเทศไทย), and also in the Midway Islands, Singapore, the UAE and the USA Thai is closely related to Lao, and northern dialects of Thai are more or less mutually intelligible with Lao, particularly the Lao spoken in northern Thailand. Thai vocabulary includes many words from Pali, Sanskrit and Old Khmer. English Hi/Hello/Good morning/afternoon/evening How are you? I don t understand. Thank you Would you like to dance with me? No, thank you. Yes I love you This is my address Sorry See you again Thai Pronunciation Sa-wa-dee ka(girls)/ Sa-wa-dee krup (boys) Sa-baai dee mai ka (girls)/ sa-baai dee mai krup (boys) Sa-baai dee mai ka (girls)/ sa-baai dee mai krup (boys) ka o-chai liyaw Kopun ka(girls)/ kopun krup (boys) dten-gan-maai ka?(girls)/ dten-gan-maai krup? (boys) Mai au ka(girls)/ mai au krup (boys) Chai Chan-raa-kun Nee-tee-yoo-chan Kor-tot Liyaw-pup-gan-mai Time and Weather The local time is GMT+7. Thailand s climate is generally hot and humid with high levels of precipitation during the rainy season. August is about the end of summer, it is rather warm and humid but still part of the rainy season, average temperature can range between 25 o C and 34 o C. It is sunny most of the time, but rain also comes quite often. Bangkok metropolitan and vicinity during August until October, are expected to have near normal

6 amount of rain (normal: 219, 334 and 292 millimeters consecutively). August 12 is the Queen s birthday and is also Mothers Day in Thailand. Currency The national currency of Thailand is Thai Baht (BHT) Exchange rate: Foreign currency BHT 1 EURO VND PESO USD Most places in the city accept US dollars. You can change money or use an ATM at the airport to withdraw money. The national currency is Thai Baht. Please check reference of exchange rate before you arrive. Foreign currencies can be easily exchanged at the banks, currency exchange shops or at some jewelry shops. The most convenient way to make currency exchanges is right at the airport. Credit cards such as Visa or Master are accepted in general hotels, restaurants and shops. Several banks will give cash advances on credit cards supported by a valid passport. Check with your credit card company for further details before travelling. Food and Drinks While Thai food has a reputation for being spicy, Thai food is actually based on a balance between different flavors including spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter. This goes beyond simply combining the flavors within an individual dish to incorporate the contrast in flavors between two or three different dishes, which is one reason Thai s share meals and eat family style. One distinctive aspect of Thai food is the use of fresh herbs and spices as well as the inclusion of fermented fish sauce in nearly every dish a potential problem for vegetarians, though saying jay to indicate you are vegetarian goes a long way.

7 Drinking in Thailand is inexpensive, unless you really want a particular tipple from home as imported drinks will cost you in Thailand. A shot of a brand-name liquor will set you back around 100 baht, a pint of Guinness at least 200 baht and, because of an extortionate 340% tax, even a cheap wine will come in over 500 baht. The alternative Thai whisky (lao) is a lot cheaper and on most occasions perfectly palatable. Other Electricity in Thailand is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. Outlets: Contact details Wireless asbl National Coordinator: Riezl Manatad Address Venue: 505, Alley, Thung Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand Emergency Number: Address: rzlmanatad@yahoo.ca