Changmai Accomodation Latest.

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Taken from todays B.Post 28-10-06

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/28Oct2006_news003.php

CHIANG MAI / ROYAL FLORA RATCHAPHRUEK EXPO

Crematorium can take guests too

SIRIKUL BUNNAG & PIYAPORN WONGRUANG

Chiang Mai - A temple in Chiang Mai is turning its premises - and, if necessary, even its crematorium - into a lodging of last resort for visitors to the flora expo who are unable to find room in a hotel.

The temple does not mind having visitors although they must observe one ground rule - pack their pillows and make way when there is a funeral rite, said Phra Kru Baideeka Prasert Santipalo, secretary to an abbot of Wat Jet Yod temple.

Wat Jet Yod, located near the superhighway, is among 20 temples which have agreed to accommodate tourists who could not manage to get a room at any of the 550 hotels and guest houses in the northern province, which were either overbooked or too expensive for them.

Like some hotels which refer visitors to partner hotels when they are fully booked, Wat Jet Yod has also formed a similar "chain" of temples to take guests.

But the referrals are made when even its crematorium is occupied.

"[some visitors] said they don't fear sleeping in a crematorium as the atmosphere there is not as lonely as in a cemetery," said Phra Kru Baideeka Prasert.

So far, 10 large groups of tourists had booked the temple's crematorium, he said. Most of them are students and villagers on shoestring budgets from provinces as far away as Khon Kaen, Ayutthaya and even Bangkok.

For the price of 20 baht per person per night, the temple provides lights and fans. It also offers a "holiday package" with morality and prayer classes, Phra Kru Baideeka Prasert said.

However, the temple limits the number of visitors it allows to sleep in the funeral ceremony hall to 50.

"What we don't have enough of are blankets. So visitors must bring along their own," he said.

The temple lawn is also set aside for camping.

Alcohol is banned in the temple's compound and visitors are forbidden from making loud noises, he said.

Every metre of space counts as at least 30,000 people are expected every day at the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006, according to organisers. The event, which will open next Wednesday and last until Jan 31, is expected to draw up to three million tourists in total.

The expo will spread out on 470 rai (75.2 hectares) of land in the compound of the Royal Agriculture Research Centre in tambon Mae Hia.

Exotic flowers and plants in specular arrangements from Thailand and 33 other countries will be the highlights.

Phra Rachawimonmethi, abbot of Wat Sri Soda temple, which is also opening its living quarters to tourists, said noise or disturbances are not a problem for monks.

"The tourists will be out the whole day and just come back at night," he said.

Monks at the temple are busy cleaning and repairing toilets. They have also started storing water to make sure they have enough for the visitors.

Wat Sri Soda is expected to cater to 150 people a night and the abbot admits the temple has never taken in so many people under its roof before.

You cannot take it away from Thai intuition and how to solve the lacking of rooms for the Floral Expo.

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