Untitled Document

Thailand Bird Tour 2008 General Information Much of this information has been taken (and truncated) from the Thai Consulate’s website http://thailand.net.au/mainpages/usefulinfo.htm#consulate Visas Tourists holding valid Australian passports do not require a visa to enter Thailand if they are staying 30 days or less. You should ensure that your passport’s expiry date is at least six months post your Thailand departure date. Vaccinations There are no compulsory vaccinations required to enter Thailand from Australia. However, you should talk to your doctor about vaccinations for malaria and typhoid. The information I have garnered goes from no vaccinations to a raft of vaccinations. Please see note at end of this information page re vaccinations. The following websites have information about vaccinations for Thailand. Travelclinics Australiahttp://www.travelclinic.com.au/vaccination-immunisation-info.asp?CountryID=202 World Health Organisationhttp://www.who.int/ith/countries/listt/en/index.html http://www.welltogo.com.au/abcGuide/maps_who/map_malaria.html http://www.welltogo.com.au/checklists/beforeYouGo.asp http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/asia/thailand.html http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/thailand From the World Health Organisation’s website:THAILAND Capital: Bangkok Altitude: 10 m Malaria: Malaria risk exists throughout the year in rural, especially forested and hilly, areas of the whole country, mainly towards the international borders. There is no risk in cities and the main tourist resorts (e.g. Bangkok, Chiangmai, Pattaya, Phuket, Samui). However, there is risk in some other islands as well as resorts". P. falciparum resistant to chloroquine and sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine reported. Resistance to mefloquine and to quinine reported from areas near the borders with Cambodia and Myanmar. Recommended prevention in risk areas near Cambodia and Myanmar borders. Currency The Thai unit of currency is the baht. One baht is divided into 100 satang. Notes are in denominations of 1,000 (brown), 500 (purple), 100 (red), 50 (blue), 20 (green) and 10 (brown) baht. Coins consist of 25 satang, 50 satang, 1 baht, 5 baht and 10 baht. At the time of writing, $100.00AUD was roughly 2,682 Thai Bahts. Major currency bills are cashed easily at hotels, tourist shops, all provincial banks, shopping centres and money changers. Travellers’ cheques are best changed in banks (you will need your passport). Rates of exchange at banks or authorized money changers are better than those at hotels. ATMs are common. Credit cards All major credit cards are accepted with Visa and Mastercard the more common. Electricity The electric current is 220 volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. Travellers with electric shavers, hair dryers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug adapter kit. Tap Water Tap water is said to be clean but it is advisable to drink only boiled or bottled water. Bottled water will be carried in our vehicle. Clothing Light, cool clothes are best. Shorts (except knee length walking shorts), sleeveless shirts, tank tops and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate dress when not actually at the beach or in a resort area. Hiking boots or runners should be worn when birding; gumboots are not necessary. See note below about wet weather gear. Weather in March It will be warm and humid. While the guidebooks say that March should not be wet, our experience in 2007 suggests that light wet weather gear is essential. Time Bangkok is three hours behind Australia’s EST, ie, if it is midday in Melbourne, it is 9am in Bangkok. Tipping Tipping is not standard practice in Thailand, although it is becoming increasingly common. Many larger hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip but the gesture is appreciated and 20-30 baht is acceptable for porters. Telephone All telephone numbers (for local calls, long distance calls within the country and all mobile phones) have nine digits, starting with 0. For Bangkok calls, it is 0 + 2 + numbers, i.e 0 2694 1222. For provincial calls, it is 0 + area code + numbers, i.e 053 for Chiang Mai. The international dialing code for Thailand is 66. When making international calls from Thailand, first dial 001 + country code + area code + telephone number. Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100 (international) Field Guides A Guide to the Birds of Thailand by Boonsong Lekagul & Philip D. Round Published by Saha Karn Bhaet Co. Ltd Patricia has copies of this book for tour participants. A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand by Craig Robson Published by New Holland 2002 *Birds of Thailand Tape of Birdsong by Tony Ball Silkworm Books - 3rd Edition available from Suriwong Book Centre and all Asia Book Shops ISBN for tape: 9747100592 CD ISBN: 9747551438 Websites of interest Bird conservation society of Thailandhttp://bcst.or.th/eng/ World Twitch Thailandhttp://www.worldtwitch.com/thailand_bird_reports.htm Fat birderhttp://www.fatbirder.com/links_geo/asia/thailand.html Thai birdinghttp://thaibirding.com/links.htm John van der Woude Trip Reportshttp://home.tiscali.nl/jvanderw/thailand03/logistics.html Tourism Authority of Thailandhttp://www.tourismthailand.org/ http://thailand.net.au/

Thailand Bird Tour 2008

General Information

Much of this information has been taken (and truncated) from the Thai Consulate’s website

http://thailand.net.au/mainpages/usefulinfo.htm#consulate

Visas
Tourists holding valid Australian passports do not require a visa to enter Thailand if they are staying 30 days or less. You should ensure that your passport’s expiry date is at least six months post your Thailand departure date.

Vaccinations
There are no compulsory vaccinations required to enter Thailand from Australia. However, you should talk to your doctor about vaccinations for malaria and typhoid. The information I have garnered goes from no vaccinations to a raft of vaccinations. Please see note at end of this information page re vaccinations. The following websites have information about vaccinations for Thailand.

Travelclinics Australiahttp://www.travelclinic.com.au/vaccination-immunisation-info.asp?CountryID=202 World Health Organisationhttp://www.who.int/ith/countries/listt/en/index.html http://www.welltogo.com.au/abcGuide/maps_who/map_malaria.html http://www.welltogo.com.au/checklists/beforeYouGo.asp http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/asia/thailand.html http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/thailand

From the World Health Organisation’s website:THAILAND Capital: Bangkok Altitude: 10 m
Malaria: Malaria risk exists throughout the year in rural, especially forested and hilly, areas of the whole country, mainly towards the international borders. There is no risk in cities and the main tourist resorts (e.g. Bangkok, Chiangmai, Pattaya, Phuket, Samui). However, there is risk in some other islands as well as resorts". P. falciparum resistant to chloroquine and sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine reported. Resistance to mefloquine and to quinine reported from areas near the borders with Cambodia and Myanmar. Recommended prevention in risk areas near Cambodia and Myanmar borders.

Currency
The Thai unit of currency is the baht. One baht is divided into 100 satang. Notes are in denominations of 1,000 (brown), 500 (purple), 100 (red), 50 (blue), 20 (green) and 10 (brown) baht. Coins consist of 25 satang, 50 satang, 1 baht, 5 baht and 10 baht. At the time of writing, $100.00AUD was roughly 2,682 Thai Bahts. Major currency bills are cashed easily at hotels, tourist shops, all provincial banks, shopping centres and money changers. Travellers’ cheques are best changed in banks (you will need your passport). Rates of exchange at banks or authorized money changers are better than those at hotels. ATMs are common.

Credit cards
All major credit cards are accepted with Visa and Mastercard the more common.

Electricity
The electric current is 220 volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. Travellers with electric shavers, hair dryers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug adapter kit.

Tap Water
Tap water is said to be clean but it is advisable to drink only boiled or bottled water. Bottled water will be carried in our vehicle.

Clothing
Light, cool clothes are best. Shorts (except knee length walking shorts), sleeveless shirts, tank tops and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate dress when not actually at the beach or in a resort area. Hiking boots or runners should be worn when birding; gumboots are not necessary. See note below about wet weather gear.

Weather in March
It will be warm and humid. While the guidebooks say that March should not be wet, our experience in 2007 suggests that light wet weather gear is essential.

Time
Bangkok is three hours behind Australia’s EST, ie, if it is midday in Melbourne, it is 9am in Bangkok.

Tipping
Tipping is not standard practice in Thailand, although it is becoming increasingly common. Many larger hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip but the gesture is appreciated and 20-30 baht is acceptable for porters.

Telephone
All telephone numbers (for local calls, long distance calls within the country and all mobile phones) have nine digits, starting with 0. For Bangkok calls, it is 0 + 2 + numbers, i.e 0 2694 1222. For provincial calls, it is 0 + area code + numbers, i.e 053 for Chiang Mai. The international dialing code for Thailand is 66. When making international calls from Thailand, first dial 001 + country code + area code + telephone number. Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100 (international)

Field Guides
A Guide to the Birds of Thailand by Boonsong Lekagul & Philip D. Round
Published by Saha Karn Bhaet Co. Ltd
Patricia has copies of this book for tour participants.

A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand by Craig Robson
Published by New Holland 2002

*Birds of Thailand
Tape of Birdsong by Tony Ball Silkworm Books - 3rd Edition available from Suriwong Book Centre and all Asia Book Shops ISBN for tape: 9747100592 CD ISBN: 9747551438 Websites of interest Bird conservation society of Thailandhttp://bcst.or.th/eng/ World Twitch Thailandhttp://www.worldtwitch.com/thailand_bird_reports.htm Fat birderhttp://www.fatbirder.com/links_geo/asia/thailand.html Thai birdinghttp://thaibirding.com/links.htm John van der Woude Trip Reportshttp://home.tiscali.nl/jvanderw/thailand03/logistics.html Tourism Authority of Thailandhttp://www.tourismthailand.org/ http://thailand.net.au/