Wongsanit Ashram is one of the best examples of an eco-village in Thailand. Please don’t expect a place with fancy facilities. Housing is very basic but comfortable. The area is shady and usually cooler than outside (but lots of mosquitoes at times too!).
Accommodation for males and females are in separate zones. It’s likely that you will need to share a room with someone. All rooms are with shared toilet/shower. Bed sheet, pillow case, blanket, towel and basic toiletries are provided. Laundry (hand-wash) can be done on site with free homemade detergent. There are coin-operated washing machines at a local grocery just across from the ashram. There are no hair dryers, irons, or TVs at the ashram.
Food at the ashram is mostly vegetarian with some fish/seafood dishes. The food will be mostly made not spicy for people from countries not used to Thai food. We provide you 3 meals and 2 coffee/tea breaks. The closest local grocery store where you can find almost every basic item is 3 minutes away by foot. The closest 7-eleven store is 4 km away.
Weather: October is the end of rainy season in Thailand. It’s very shady at the Ashram and can be cooler at night when it rains (25C). The normal temperature is around 28-35C. Expect some rain. There is air conditioning in the main classroom we will use and the library under the meditation hall, but nowhere else. Since it is rainy season the nights will not be so hot but rather humid. As the Ashram is surrounded by trees and green, it is significantly cooler than Bangkok at night.
What to bring:
- A sweater or rain jacket (we might still have some rains / cool mornings for people from tropical climates)
- Water bottle to refill (you have drinking water in your room and around the campus. Hot water is readily available for coffee and tea – but maybe no cream or fresh milk, just powdered)
- Torch or headlamp (handy at night although the area has basic lighting on the paths)
- Your favorite snacks or food from your country to share with others during coffee break.
- mosquito repellent (nice versions of citronella spray are found easily in convenience stores and grocery stores in Thailand)
Arrival, Immigration, SIM cards and money exchange:
- place of stay for immigration card: Wongsanit Ashram, Khlong 15, Rangsit-Ongkharak Road, Nakhon Nayok. Contact person: Ms. Waraporn Luangmanee (Ashram Manager). Phone number: 098-4032557
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SIM Card: It’s best to buy a sim card at Bangkok airport. The three major companies are AIS, DTAC, and True. DTAC is least recommended. There is WIFI at Wongsanit Ashram – classroom area and library. There is no WIFI at your room or other areas in the Ashram. A 2 week Thai SIM card with unlimited data is around 600 baht.
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You may exchange your local money to Thai Baht (THB) in your country. If you can’t get Thai Baht in your country, it’s advised that you exchange your local currency to USD or Euro and carry it to Thailand. Most of the banks / money changers in Thailand do not accept Myanmar Kyat and Vietnamese Dong. USD, Euros, Japanese Yen, and Chinese Yuan are widely accepted. Please make sure that you have some Thai Baht (THB) before you leave the BKK airport! There is no place near the Wongsanit Ashram where you can exchange the money. For those with credit cards, taking money out of an ATM in local Thai currency is one of the better and more convenient ways to exchange money (the banks of course will charge for the transaction).
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Travel insurance purchased prior to travel date from your country covering accidents and sickness is recommended. The hospital 15 minutes away from the Ashram by taxi (200 Baht one way).
Emergency Contact: Topsi – Wansiri Rongrongmuang (Logistic Coordinator) Mobile phone: 065-9944450; WhatsApp/Signal: +66659944450; LINE: topsi; Email: conference@inebinstitute.org
JNEB 