First time in
All visiting artists (otherwise with invitations only) are invited
to the opening party:
20th March,
Location (recently changed - info will be here soon)
About
1.)
Always be kind and polite. Simply be happy you are here J
2.)
Smile to anyone, especially to those that smile at you.
3.)
Don’t ask complex questions. Subject by subject, a sentence for
each question.
4.)
If you get too often “yes” as an answer– it means you are not understood.
5.)
Don’t be a tourist – just be yourself (unless you are usually
impolite)
6.)
Do not touch people’s heads and do not use your feet to point at
things.
7.)
It’s easy to make friends, but if you invite someone you will be
expected to pay for the drinks, taxi etc especially if you are foreigner or
older.
About Money:
Recent exchange rate was 48.3 Baht for one Euro
Do not mess with travel cheques. Not worth the effort. All you need
is an EC card or a credit card.
(most cards will work at any street cash
machine (ATM) without much or any extra charge)
In general for a week of stay you should not need more then 500
Euro with you.
About
Transportation:
Where to stay:
As long as you pick one of the following sky-train stations (BTS),
you will always be in central places:
- BTS
- BTS Chidlom
- BTS Phloenchit
- BTS Ratchadamri
- BTS Nana *
- BTS Asok *
- BTS Phrompong
- BTS Sala-deang
- BTS Chong Nonsi
There will be many hotels at each of the above locations
(Those marked * are extreme frequent and more touristy)
Hotels:
Click here for scanned hotel visit cards. In some cases you
might get a price reduction if you refer to the Festival – but this depends on
how many other artists have already booked rooms at the same hotel and how many
days you will stay.
Taxi from Airport:
A taxi from the airport should be about 200-250 baht, and you will
be asked if to take the tall-way or not.
If you chose the tall-way, you will be asked (during the ride) to
pay for it (twice 30 baht or so)
As your destination you may want to pick one of the above BTS
station names (as "Phrompong BTS")
You can also ask your driver to take you to a hotel but make sure:
1.) the driver really understand what
you say and what you want !!!
2.) make sure its not far from a BTS
station
3.) make sure the hotel price is right
before you leave the taxi
4.) if the taxi driver gets confused and want to drop you and you
are not sure where you are, do not leave the taxi (you may have a problem
finding another taxi there and you don’t want to walk with your stuff – right?)
simply ask him to take you to the nearest BTS station, from there you will
always find a map, a telephone, a cash machine and easy transport anywhere.
* Do not arrive to
If you arrive late night (i.e. after
(Be prepared to see many people and lost of girlie bars..)
Hotel Rates:
A room/night should not cost more then 600-800 Baht (~20 Euro) [of
course you can find exclusive places for Euro 50, 100 or more] but a good room
in a central place is normally not more then Baht 800.-
/ night
About Food:
- As long as you take basic care and open eyes before you open your
mouth it’s all safe.
- Smell what you plan to eat. (But it’s impolite to touch)
- If you still feel you want to have it - have it – it’s probably
VERY good J
- There are no special problems with illness etc, (now chicken is
not popular cause of recent bird-flew) but also not critical I guess.
- Do not stick to foreign style food. Enjoy Thai food - the more
spicy - the better.
- If you are vegetarian say you "kinn je"
(or
for example order “Tom-yum je” / or / “Kau-paad je” / or / “Pad-pack-looam je”)
Note: if you did not order special vegetarian it will have meet or
fish (even it is not listed)
Street food is fresh and clean normally and cost less then 1 Euro
per dish.
Again, you can find western prices but that will not a guarantee
any better quality.
About accommodation:
For hotel info in
http://bangkok.sawadee.com/hotels/index.html
It’s of course not all hotels listed but it may be a good start
A hotel recommendation
by the French cultural center:
Tell the artists to stay at :
WILD ORCHID VILLA, it is between Kaosan rd and
To book before: 02 629 43 78 / fax 02 629 00 46 email: wild_orchid_villa@hotmail.com
Address: 8 Soi Chanasongkarm, Pra athit Rd BKK
*I would say the above hotel is not too central, not extra cheap,
but as people say – it’s nice.
You may also google:
http://www.google.de/search?q=hotel+bangkok&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In my opinion there is no need for advanced booking unless you
arrive late night or you have too much staff and you can’t walk – (it’s not
recommended to bring too many things as everything is maybe cheaper to buy then
to carry…)
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--------------------------------------------------------------
If you are lost call:
09-954 1719 or 09-8800895
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·
Srinakarinwirot Exhibition hall *- Fine Arts Building ground floor
(Sukhumvit Soi 23 at the end of the road, Asok BTS)
·
Srinakarinwirot Conference hall *- Fine Arts Building, 17th
Floor (Sukhumvit Soi 23 at the end of the road, Asok BTS)
·
Alliance Française *– (
·
Alliance Française Auditorium *– (
·
·
Café 1912 *– beside Alliance Française (
·
Goethe Institute Bangkok *– Auditorium (18/1 Soi Goethe, Sathorn 1,
Sala-deang BTS)
·
Banrie café (Sukhumvit
corner Ekkamai, Ekkamai BTS)
·
British Council (254
Chulalongkorn Soi 64,
·
Media Shaker screen – outdoors (
Note that its recommended you take a
motorbike-taxi to the destination marked *
Hope you have good travel and see you soon!