THAILAND PACKING LISTS

Greetings Everyone,
All of us here at Rustic Pathways Thailand are getting psyched for the summer, and we can’t wait to let the adventures begin in the Land of Smiles. The packing list below is designed to help you prepare for your trip, making sure you’ve got everything you need and nothing you don’t. Before we begin, we must first state the rules of the airlines in Asia:

YOU NEED TO KNOW:
* Carry-On Luggage can not weigh more than 7 kilos
* Check-In Luggage can not weigh morbe than 15 kilos.
→ If your bags weigh more than this, the airlines in Thailand will charge you an excess baggage fee for every kilo over the allowed limit. In past years, we have had students incur SIGNIFICANT charges for excess baggage. These fees must be paid in cash at the check-in counter (no USD accepted), so this is a situation that we always try to avoid!

As a general rule, DON’T BRING TOO MUCH STUFF! If you’re not sure whether or not you should bring something, you’ll probably be better off leaving it at home.

IMPORTANT – A NOTE TO FEMALE STUDENTS ABOUT THAI CULTURE In terms of dress, traditional Thai culture is very conservative. Despite the hot climate, you will almost never see women with their shoulders exposed, or wearing low cut shirts or short shorts. As we seek to respect and preserve the culture of the communities where we work, we strongly urge you to dress respectfully. Students must realize that when they dress improperly, they are embarrassing everyone around them. If students are not wearing proper attire, they may need to change their clothes or abstain from the service project of the day.

To DRESS RESPECTFULLY in Thailand, please: - Don’t wear short shorts and low cut tops while out in public areas. In most cases, shorts that cover just above the knees are fine. - When working in schools or classrooms, female students must cover their legs completely – please don’t worry about bringing sarongs with you – you can pick them up very cheap over here.

Here are some basic guidelines to use while packing:
• Thailand is hot place, so there is no need for any heavy clothing. You should expect daytime high temperatures to be over 90 most days. As most of our programs are outdoors, you should expect to work up a sweat, so plan on wearing clothes that will keep you cool.
• The sun can be quite strong, so all students should be prepared with a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
• Many of our service projects involve hands-on physical work. You may be painting, planting trees, doing construction, just to name a few possibilities. As is the nature of this kind of work, you should expect to get dirty – so please dress accordingly!!
• Students who expect to be spending some time teaching or working in schools (Ricefields Base and Hilltribe Orphanage students in particular) should make an attempt to look decent. Please just be sure that you’re wearing clean clothes that aren’t ripped or offensive, and no sleeveless shirts. As noted above, female students in particular should try to dress appropriately.
• Experienced travelers know that over-packing is one of the worst things you can do on a trip, and this is particularly true in Thailand. You may want to bring one suitcase/bag for the essentials, and if you need to pick up another cheap suitcase/bag on the way home for new clothes and souvenirs you pick up along the way.
• You are not going to the Moon!! If you forget something on the list, you can always buy it in Thailand once you get here - for a lot less money than you would pay at home!

All students coming to Thailand will also want to read the section on cultural information and customs in Thailand at www.rusticpathways.com/ricefields/the_culture.html This will give you valuable information about how to understand and respect Thai culture, and thus avoid causing offense while living in such a unique place. The more this information sinks in, the less you look like a tourist and the easier it will be to groove with your new Thai friends.

In addition, this link www.learningthai.com/speak_thai.html will provide you with an introduction to the Thai language, along with a few words that you might like to learn prior to coming over. While this is not required for anyone, many students in the past that have taken the time to learn 20 or 30 words of Thai have found that it's a lot of fun to use! Learn some of it before you come, and ask your staff once you are here if you want to polish your pronunciation.

About washing your clothing - students on every trip will have the chance to get their clothing washed at least once a week. For a fair rate, your laundry will be washed, dried, and in most cases ironed for you. The cost varies, but washing is usually about US $ 7 - 12 per full load. This can be taken directly out of your allowance account.

You will almost certainly be adding to your wardrobe while you are in Thailand! You’ll likely find lots of unique items at very affordable prices, and most programs visit at least a couple Thai markets with their group while they are here.

If you have questions about packing that are not covered on the packing list, please email thailand@rusticpathways.com with any specific questions you may have. We try to make these lists as clear as possible, so please don't email unless you really have a burning question that warrants an email to help you sleep at night!

Pack the following items in your Checked Luggage:

»Again, a friendly reminder: To avoid delays and expensive fees on internal flights within Thailand, you will want to keep your checked luggage under 15 kilograms (33 lbs.) in weight. Stick to the necessities and remember that the lighter your bags, the easier the trip. » Travel Pillow (optional) » Long Pants (1 or 2 pairs – lightweight and quick drying! Lightweight pants are your best defense against mosquitoes at night…be smart! » Underwear (between 7 - 10 pair) » Socks (7 pairs) » Swimsuit (1-2) (girls should also bring board shorts to swim in) » T-Shirts – you should try to pack some lightweight, breathable t-shirts and some cotton t-shirts as well (remember – t-shirts make great souvenirs). As stated above, Thailand is very hot and cotton shirts can hold moisture… (7 - 10 shirts) » Tank Tops (optional) » Long Sleeve T-shirt - one or two - they help keep off the sun and the mosquitoes too » Rainproof, Lightweight Jacket - If your jacket does not pack very small don’t bother bringing it! You can buy ponchos and umbrellas for very cheap in Thailand. » Shorts (3 or 4 pairs ) - not too short or tight, as this is offensive in Thai culture. » Sneakers - 1 pair – must be comfortable and they will get dirty… » Sandals – strapped or not – or flip-flops. If you don’t have any, you can buy them anywhere in Thailand (1 Pair). » Soap in a Plastic Dish - 1 bar - PIAPB » Biodegradable Shampoo - 1 bottle- PIAPB » Personal First Aid Kit - optional but recommended - a small kit with basic first aid supplies » Small day bag – for side trips or hikes. » Sunscreen (lots of strong Sunscreen) - we suggest that you bring two completely different types. Alternate between them to avoid having any allergic reactions. – PIAPB » Chapstick » Sunburn cream or Aloe Lotion - if you are someone who is prone to sunburn, we suggest that you bring a small tube or bottle of sunburn relief cream just in case you get too much sun. - PIAPB » Insect Repellant - one that has 25-40% DEET and one that is natural ( like Citronella) - 2 small bottles. – PIAPB » Hand Sanitizer – THIS DOES NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF WASHING YOUR HANDS, but you should carry sanitizer with you. (1-2 bottles, depending on the length of your stay) - PIAPB » Handiwipes or Towlettes - also good for cleaning the hands when there is no water readily available » Small packs of Kleenex Tissues - public toilets in most of Asia do not supply toilet paper - you are meant to bring your own. It's always handy to have a few packs of Kleenex tissues with you when you travel in Asia. » Hat for Sun - you may want to bring two hats or visors to keep off the sun, and to trade » Flashlight/Headlamp - bring one good one, and a lot of spare batteries. » Spare Batteries - just in case you missed this above! » Towel (1 towel - NOT white color) - white towels get really gross looking after a while » Laundry Bag for dirty laundry, or an old pillow case - keeps the clean stuff away from the dirty stuff so you don't have to sniff to find out. » Medications (must alert staff about these) - bring with you any medications that you will need while you are away. You will need to tell staff what medications you have brought during your orientation period. This is done privately, but it is essential that you disclose to your staff all medications you are carrying. » Contact lenses and accompanying paraphernalia - if you use contacts, bring all of your chemicals with you- PIAPB » PICTURES! Make up a small album! Pictures of mom, dad, boyfriend/girlfriend, dog, strange neighbors, school buddies, etc. - The Thai people are really interested in where you live, what your house looks like, what your parents and grandparents look like, what your school looks like, etc. This is a great way to break the ice, break the language barrier, and have some fun with your new Thai friends. If you arrive without some pictures of home, you will be bugged by the Thais for your whole stay! » Any fun, engaging games that are easy to explain » Musical Instrument (Guitars and Harmonicas, other portable instruments) - if you play an instrument at home and it fits in your suitcase easily, bring it along. The Thais are totally into music and you will get an audience no matter how strong or weak your skills. » Frisbee or Aerobee or Hackysack - or other things that are fun to do and easy to carry.