Sponsored Symposium
Medicinal Plants of Southeast Asia: Contributions and Potential
Contributions to Medicine.
Chair: Doel Soejarto (USA) and Charlotte Gyllenhall (USA)
Speakers: Tran Cong Kanh (Vietnam)
Bounhong Southavong (Thailand)
Lok Palni (India)
Nuntavan Bunyapraphatsara (Thailand)
Chun Tao Che (Hong Kong)
Bouakhaykhome Svengsuksa (Laos)
Norman R. Farnsworth (USA)
Workshops
Collections for Ethno- and Economic Botany: Museum and Herbarium
Collections Development and Management
Chair: Jan Salick (United Kingdom)
Curriculum Development and Ethnobotany Certification
Chair: Brad Bennett (USA)
Field Methods and Development of Economic
Botany Theory
Chair: Kim Bridges (Hawai'i)
Chiang Mai
Northern Thailand
(map)
rests at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain range,
a striking and dramatic landscape with craggy limestone
mountains and thickly forested rolling hills and valleys.
The city of Chiang Mai province has a population of 160,000
people and is considered the cosmopolitan center of northern
Thailand. Chiang Mai has managed to cultivate a melting
pot of local and international diversity, while at the
same time preserving its unique historical and cultural
character. Over 300 temples can be found in Chiang Mai
and ancient city walls from over 800 years ago still mark
the perimeter of the old city. Chiang Mai provides a place
of trade and sale for local people, which is most apparent
in Chiang Mai's colorful Night Bazaar. Just to the north
of Chiang Mai is the Golden Triangle, which marks the
convening point for the political boundaries of Myanmar
(Burma), Laos and Thailand.
Language and Communication
Many Thai people can communicate with English speakers,
especially the younger generation, and this is even more
apparent in larger or high tourism towns. University students
develop a solid base in the English language, and graduate
degree seekers are expected to master fluency. Banks and
ATMs, internet access, faxes, post and domestic and international
telephone service (landline and mobiles) are available
throughout most large towns in Thailand, including the
city of Chiang Mai.
Information on Thailand Visas - Australia, Japan,
Vietnam, Malaysia, New Zealand, United States, United
Kingdom and Canadian Nationals of the may enter Thailand
without a visa in accordance with Ministry of Interior's
regulation for a maximum stay of 30 days. List
of Countries not Requiring Visas.
Tourist Information - Thailand
Tourism Authority
International and Domestic Travel | Currency
Converter
Chiang Mai is Thailand's 2nd largest city, situated
in the northern part of Thailand and is approx. 800 kms
from Bangkok. There are many direct flights between Bangkok
and Chiang Mai which take 1 hr and 10 mins. The one way
cost is about US$55 (2,275 baht). You can also fly from
southern Thailand - Phuket, Koh Samui & Krabi (you
usually have to take a connecting flight in Bangkok).
There are also direct international flights from Singapore
(Silk Air), Kunming, China (Thai Airways) and Luang Prabang/Vientiane
(Lao Aviation). Once at Chiang Mai Airport you can take
an airport taxi into the centre of town; this is only
a 5-10 min. journey.
Bangkok
International Airport has two international terminals
and a domestic terminal that supports more than 80 airlines.
Flights can be arranged to fly from your country of departure
to Chiang
Mai International Airport. Information on Thai
Airlines
Accommodation and Local Transportation
There are numerous budget hostels,
guesthouses and hotels in Chiang Mai. The most inexepnsive
rooms start at US$2.50 (private bathroom and hot water),
while rooms with A/C, cable TV, and hot water can reach
up to US$12. Top-end luxury hotels have rooms ranging
from US$30- $120. There are local taxis available, which
will usually cost less than US$2.50 for a one way trip
within Chiang Mai city.
All accommodation is within a 5 minute walk to the conference
venue. Prices are per room which accommodate up to 2 people.
Medium Budget Hotel
Suriwongse
Hotel | Online
Reservations
110 Changklan Road, A.Muang, Chiangmai 50100; local calls:
053-270051;
International: +66 53-270051
Amenities: coffee shop, restaurant, swimming pool and
massage center. Includes breakfast. Taxi service can be
arranged from airport.
$35-40/night
Budget Guesthouses
Fang Guesthouse
Baan Jong Come Guesthouse
$12/night
Amenities: AC, TV, hot water, no breakfast
Low Budget Guesthouse
Sarabu Guesthouse, $7/night
Amenities: fan only, no breakfast
Participants will need to make their own reservation.
Other recommended accommodation options (from the
Lonely Planet, Thailand)
All are located 5-10 minutes walk from conference venue.
Please research and book these rooms yourself. Note: Budget
accommodation often does not accept advance bookings.
While accommodation cannot be assured without prior booking,
the conference will be held during the low tourism season
which makes it likely that there will be rooms available
upon arrival.
Royal Lanna | On-line
Reservations
900 B ($23)/night
Amenities: New hotel, Next to night Bazaar, AC, hotwater
showers and bathtub, TV, phone and fridge, breakfast buffet,
swimming pool
Tapae
Place Hotel
800-1350 B ($20-35)/night
Amenities: Close to banks, shops and restaurants on Tae
Phae road. AC, hotwater, TV, phone and fridge, No breakfast
included.
Budget Accommodation (all have fan only)
1. 100-150 Baht, Ratchada Guesthouse (phone: 053-275556,
55 Soi 3, Thanon Tha Phae):
2. 100-200 Baht, Sarah Guesthouse (phone: 053-208271):
3. 100-200 Baht, Tha Pae Guesthouse (phone: 053-271591):
4. 100-200 Baht, Midtown Guesthouse (053-273191):
5. 120-180 Baht, Flamingo:
6. 150-250 Baht, Living house (phone: 053-275370, email:
livinghouse@hotmail.com):
7. 200-280 Baht, Littlehouse Guesthouse (phone: 053-273662,
littleh@loxinfo.co.th, 1/1 Soi 2, Thanon Kotchasan):
Field Trips - Friday June 9th (all day)
Currently organized for all day Friday, field trips are
concurrent.
o Field Trip A: Home Industry and Craft Production: Tour
of silk and cotton weaving, plant fiber craft production,
wood carving and fresh plant markets.
o Field Trip B: Royal Projects: Tour of Thai royal family
sponsored community development projects on ornamental
plants, fruit crops, and ecological sustainability.
o Field Trip C: Botanical Garden and Hike: Tour of Queen
Sirikit Botanical Garden followed by a guided hike through
Doi Pui-Suthep National Park.
Update on Bird Flu
There is no current reason to believe that travel
in Thailand is more dangerous than in other developed
regions. Reports of Bird Flu have thus far been
concentrated in areas that are quite distant from the
conference site and there is no cases have been reported
in the conference or field trip areas.
o Bird Flu cases have been limited to individuals handling
birds (mostly dead chickens) and there are no cases of
human to human transmission.
o Thailand has excellent medical facilities and is probably
one of the best places in the world to be located should
a pandemic emerge.
o Travel to and within ANY country, including the USA
includes risks of being exposed to dangers.
o The organizers do not see any reason to fear that bird
flu will pose a problem during the conference and hope
that participants will support Thai and other SE Asian
colleagues through active participation in the meetings
and field trips.