What to pack/wear in June & July on Doi Suthep

[rosalinda]

Hi, all:

 

I’m planning to spend some time near Chiang Mai in mid-June to mid-July. (At Wat Doi Suthep, actually, so: high-ish altitude, in a somewhat forested area.  )

 

I wondered if anyone could give advice on what to expect and how to prepare, weather-wise.  That is, I know what to expect in terms of the temple programme, but I'm wondering what I should plan to pack with me for physical comfort during three weeks in a small room. I won't have the opportunity to make any purchases once I go up there, so anything I want, I should bring up with me.

 

I’ve visited Chiang Mai and Wat Doi Suthep before, but never in that season. What would you say a person should bring in terms of basic weather/ climate supplies? Should I expect lots of rain — umbrella, poncho, rain shoes a good idea? Very hot — electric fan a good idea? Mosquitoes a problem — bring lots of repellent, maybe something to keep them away while sleeping?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Sandy Freckle]

 Lycra probably not a good idea....., 

[CNXBKKMAN]

The temple will probably have mats, pillows and mosquito nets but you can buy them easily enough here if needed. Same with umbrellas the temple will have many hanging about the place but easy to buy. The main difference if you are staying up there is it will be colder at night and early morning. The city low might be 23 but it could be 18'c up there at 05:00. 

[CantSpell]

A mosquito net :)

 

Otherwise, above 20C for sure temperature wise

[sgracer]

bring a bag of 30 bananas, pepper spray, handcuffs etc.

[ThaiWai]

Good non-existent god why?  When I go to Chiang Mai I stay at Le Méridien.  The staff takes care of climate control etc, etc...

To each their own I guess.  Enjoy your malaria.

 

[Graemej100]

Buy some lightweight plastic coats from a 7/11 (don't bring them with you - only 70 baht) you'll need them. Buy more than one each. They're pretty thin. 

[Flustered]

2 hours ago, ThaiWai said:

Good non-existent god why?  When I go to Chiang Mai I stay at Le Méridien.  The staff takes care of climate control etc, etc...

To each their own I guess.  Enjoy your malaria.

 

Don't you find Le Meridian  "slumming" it a bit. Mixing with all of those poor people. And to make it worse, it's French.

[connda]

I'm assuming you're going to the meditation center.  This time of year the bedding at the meditation center will be loaded with mildew if that is where you're going.  A plastic bed cover and your own sheets.  Rain gear.  Umbrella.  Flash light.  They have a small store that is open briefly during the afternoon.  If you're a coffee drinker, take your own.  Clouds will cover the summit rather often and it does get pretty cool in a damp sorta way.  They have washing machines and washing supplies, but with that said, good luck on finding a break in the clouds to dry your clothes.  Allergic to mildew?  Talk antihistamines with you.  Talk an extra towel with you.  Pack accordingly.  If you're not going to the meditation center, well, most of this info still applies.  

Edited May 30, 2017 by connda

[rosalinda]

3 hours ago, ThaiWai said:

Good non-existent god why?  When I go to Chiang Mai I stay at Le Méridien.  The staff takes care of climate control etc, etc...

To each their own I guess.  Enjoy your malaria.

LOL. I'm going (perhaps obviously?) for the three-week course of foundation study in Vipassana meditation that WDS offers for foreigners. I went for a "trial period" about a year ago, for five days, and liked it a lot. (It's completely silent! You don't have to talk to anyone!! Right up my alley.)

 

I know what the basic course of study is like, and the daily schedule, accommodations, and food, etc. (Wat Doi Suthep actually provides student meditators with simple private rooms, which include a bed, a chest, a light, screened windows, and an electric outlet. Plus shared bathrooms with sinks and showers, and also a laundry room. Not nearly as uncomfortable or inconvenient as I had been led to expect.)

 

Differences are that I was there in March last year, so the weather will presumably be different this time. I'm trying to figure out how to plan for that.

 

While physical comfort is not really a priority in this programme, physical _dis_comfort is also not required. So I'd like to find a happy medium, in which I can plan for appropriate clothing, mosquito remedies, etc., to minimize unnecessary physical inconvenience and distraction, and focus on what I'm studying.

 

I know some of the things I'll need to bring up with me (two or three sets of white clothing; appropriate nightwear and footwear; some nuts, protein bars, and packaged soup and tea to supplement the morning meals; hat and sunscreen; my toiletries and an electric adaptor, etc.) I'm trying to figure out what I should add to the list.

 

CNXBKKMAN, CantSpell, and Graemej100, thanks so much for the thoughtful suggestions. Those are just the sort of things I was trying to think of. I'll look into the rain gear and mosquito net.

 

I also appreciate the reminder about the temperature. Days do start there at 5 AM and when you're holding perfectly still for a long time you can really feel the chill much more easily than if walking around, so I'll also look into warm socks and a scarf/ gloves/ fleece cover-up for early mornings.

 

I wonder if I ought to look into bringing an extra blanket or even a sleeping bag for nights?

 

There will be no air-con, so I'm going to think about the possibility of bringing a small electric fan to use in private during the day.

 

Mosquitoes are a concern, especially given that, again, I'll be holding still a lot, so will kind of be a sitting target. I'll bring that mosquito net, and I guess also a lot of DEET. I'm not sure what else I can use to keep them away at night. Hm.

 

Any other ideas much welcomed. Thank you again.

[bazza73]

It's not really all that cold on Doi Suthep - not high enough. Doi Inthanon is the cold one. A lightweight jacket should be sufficient. One blanket at night should be all you need.

You can buy electric mosquito traps of varying effectiveness at HomePro or Global House.Depends on how much you want to pay.

Without a fan, you'll be in a lather of sweat most of the time. June-July is summer in Thailand.

 

[CNXBKKMAN]

40 minutes ago, connda said:

I'm assuming you're going to the meditation center.  This time of year the bedding at the meditation center will be loaded with mildew if that is where you're going.  A plastic bed cover and your own sheets.  Rain gear.  Umbrella.  Flash light.  They have a small store that is open briefly during the afternoon.  If you're a coffee drinker, take your own.  Clouds will cover the summit rather often and it does get pretty cool in a damp sorta way.  They have washing machines and washing supplies, but with that said, good luck on finding a break in the clouds to dry your clothes.  Allergic to mildew?  Talk antihistamines with you.  Talk an extra towel with you.  Pack accordingly.  If you're not going to the meditation center, well, most of this info still applies.  

Lol I don't think the OP will have any trouble hanging her clothes out to dry. It won't be 24 hours rain day after day. Coming from Manchester one of the things that I always appreciate is I can hang stufff out and it can be dry within 15 mins. 

      To the OP anything you may need can be bought in CM including cheap sleeping bags at Tesco or Decathlon(which is at Tesco on Hangdong road just up from Airport Plaza). A pair of trainers( sneakers) will allow you to walk down the pilgrims trail to the city if you are allowed out? About 2 or 3 km in all. 1 ish hour down and 1 to 2 hours up depending on personal fitness. 

[Dante99]

Your imagination will tell you some things you want, no matter how much stuff you take but what you need will be there.

Take some mosquito spray that you prefer.  Trainers for walking, flip flops for most of the time, maybe a light plastic rain poncho.  Keep it simple, the last thing you want is to be messing around with things.

 

 

[roo860]

Good non-existent god why?  When I go to Chiang Mai I stay at Le Méridien.  The staff takes care of climate control etc, etc...
To each their own I guess.  Enjoy your malaria.
 

Informative reply.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[ThaiWai]

5 hours ago, Flustered said:

Don't you find Le Meridian  "slumming" it a bit. Mixing with all of those poor people. And to make it worse, it's French.

Starwood Hotels is headquartered in the US.

[ThaiWai]

3 hours ago, rosalinda said:

LOL. I'm going (perhaps obviously?) for the three-week course of foundation study in Vipassana meditation that WDS offers for foreigners. I went for a "trial period" about a year ago, for five days, and liked it a lot. (It's completely silent! You don't have to talk to anyone!! Right up my alley.)

 

I know what the basic course of study is like, and the daily schedule, accommodations, and food, etc. (Wat Doi Suthep actually provides student meditators with simple private rooms, which include a bed, a chest, a light, screened windows, and an electric outlet. Plus shared bathrooms with sinks and showers, and also a laundry room. Not nearly as uncomfortable or inconvenient as I had been led to expect.)

 

Differences are that I was there in March last year, so the weather will presumably be different this time. I'm trying to figure out how to plan for that.

 

While physical comfort is not really a priority in this programme, physical _dis_comfort is also not required. So I'd like to find a happy medium, in which I can plan for appropriate clothing, mosquito remedies, etc., to minimize unnecessary physical inconvenience and distraction, and focus on what I'm studying.

 

I know some of the things I'll need to bring up with me (two or three sets of white clothing; appropriate nightwear and footwear; some nuts, protein bars, and packaged soup and tea to supplement the morning meals; hat and sunscreen; my toiletries and an electric adaptor, etc.) I'm trying to figure out what I should add to the list.

 

CNXBKKMAN, CantSpell, and Graemej100, thanks so much for the thoughtful suggestions. Those are just the sort of things I was trying to think of. I'll look into the rain gear and mosquito net.

 

I also appreciate the reminder about the temperature. Days do start there at 5 AM and when you're holding perfectly still for a long time you can really feel the chill much more easily than if walking around, so I'll also look into warm socks and a scarf/ gloves/ fleece cover-up for early mornings.

 

I wonder if I ought to look into bringing an extra blanket or even a sleeping bag for nights?

 

There will be no air-con, so I'm going to think about the possibility of bringing a small electric fan to use in private during the day.

 

Mosquitoes are a concern, especially given that, again, I'll be holding still a lot, so will kind of be a sitting target. I'll bring that mosquito net, and I guess also a lot of DEET. I'm not sure what else I can use to keep them away at night. Hm.

 

Any other ideas much welcomed. Thank you again.

No, it was not obvious.  If you need quiet time just lock yourself in a closet in your house.

[roo860]

No, it was not obvious.  If you need quiet time just lock yourself in a closet in your house.

The OP is asking for a bit of constructive advice from people with a bit of knowledge of this area of CM. If you have any I'm sure they would be grateful for the input.


Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Flustered]

1 hour ago, ThaiWai said:

Starwood Hotels is headquartered in the US.

Oh for heavens sake, it was light hearted humour.

[Ruffian Dick]

Ask your Dr if they recommend anything for malaria if they think it's prevalent where you are going.

[smotherb]

11 hours ago, rosalinda said:

LOL. I'm going (perhaps obviously?) for the three-week course of foundation study in Vipassana meditation that WDS offers for foreigners. I went for a "trial period" about a year ago, for five days, and liked it a lot. (It's completely silent! You don't have to talk to anyone!! Right up my alley.)

 

I know what the basic course of study is like, and the daily schedule, accommodations, and food, etc. (Wat Doi Suthep actually provides student meditators with simple private rooms, which include a bed, a chest, a light, screened windows, and an electric outlet. Plus shared bathrooms with sinks and showers, and also a laundry room. Not nearly as uncomfortable or inconvenient as I had been led to expect.)

 

Differences are that I was there in March last year, so the weather will presumably be different this time. I'm trying to figure out how to plan for that.

 

While physical comfort is not really a priority in this programme, physical _dis_comfort is also not required. So I'd like to find a happy medium, in which I can plan for appropriate clothing, mosquito remedies, etc., to minimize unnecessary physical inconvenience and distraction, and focus on what I'm studying.

 

I know some of the things I'll need to bring up with me (two or three sets of white clothing; appropriate nightwear and footwear; some nuts, protein bars, and packaged soup and tea to supplement the morning meals; hat and sunscreen; my toiletries and an electric adaptor, etc.) I'm trying to figure out what I should add to the list.

 

CNXBKKMAN, CantSpell, and Graemej100, thanks so much for the thoughtful suggestions. Those are just the sort of things I was trying to think of. I'll look into the rain gear and mosquito net.

 

I also appreciate the reminder about the temperature. Days do start there at 5 AM and when you're holding perfectly still for a long time you can really feel the chill much more easily than if walking around, so I'll also look into warm socks and a scarf/ gloves/ fleece cover-up for early mornings.

 

I wonder if I ought to look into bringing an extra blanket or even a sleeping bag for nights?

 

There will be no air-con, so I'm going to think about the possibility of bringing a small electric fan to use in private during the day.

 

Mosquitoes are a concern, especially given that, again, I'll be holding still a lot, so will kind of be a sitting target. I'll bring that mosquito net, and I guess also a lot of DEET. I'm not sure what else I can use to keep them away at night. Hm.

 

Any other ideas much welcomed. Thank you again.

If 18 at 5am is the coldest, do you really think you'll need gloves, blanket or sleeping bag?

[rosalinda]

9 hours ago, smotherb said:

If 18 at 5am is the coldest, do you really think you'll need gloves, blanket or sleeping bag?

I don't know. I did find I needed gloves and warm socks for 5 AM sitting sessions when I was there in March.

 

(I have somewhat poor blood circulation in my hands and feet. I also tend to get cold easily.

 

As mentioned, there is also a significant difference between moving around in a normal way, and sitting very still on a floor for thirty to sixty minutes.)

Edited May 31, 2017 by rosalinda

[rosalinda]

Thank you very much for all the helpful suggestions.

 

I do actually have bad allergies to dust and mold, so I'm grateful to be reminded of the possible mildew situation. I will add to my list the bed cover, bed sheets, and antihistamines. It will be helpful to be able to breathe at night.

 

I have had a look at several malaria maps. It seems a little unclear: Chiang Mai city in general does not seem to come with a malaria warning for foreign visitors. But I'm not sure to what extent being up on the mountain, and spending a lot of time sitting still outdoors, might change that advice. 

 

I will bring a lot of repellent, and a net. I know it sounds kind of funny, but I don't feel confident that electric mosquito zappers would be appropriate here. (I'm not sure how large-scale insect-killing comports with monastic principles.)

 

Sorry for any confusion regarding my original posting. I don't know if there are other reasons (apart from the meditation center) that see foreigners spending periods of time at Wat Doi Suthep, which is why I thought it might be "obvious." I suppose I should have mentioned it up front. I guess it felt a little private... people have a range of feelings and reactions about this kind of thing, I suppose? But anyway, yes, that is what I'm going there to do. Apologies for any confusion, and many thanks again for all the excellent advice.

 

[rosalinda]

By the way, these are the malaria maps I've been trying to consult (with slightly ambiguous results):

From the NHS (UK): 

http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/asia-(east)/thailand/thailand-malaria-map.aspx

http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/asia-(east)/thailand.aspx

 

"Malaria risk is the in forested and hilly areas mainly towards the international borders, all year round. There is also a risk in inland areas of Surat Thani province and parts of the southern border with Malaysia. There is low to no risk in the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Sot, Pattay and Phuket, the islands of Ko Samui and Ko Chang and the River Quai bridge area. ... Malaria precautions are essential. Avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset, using insect repellents on exposed skin and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net."

 

So: "low to no risk in the cities of... Chiang Mai..." But: "Malaria risk is the in forested and hilly areas mainly towards the international borders."

 

Hm.

 

From the CDC (US):

https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/images/map/thailand_3.29.16.jpg
https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/country_table/t.html

 

"All other areas of Thailand including the cities of Bangkok, Chang Mai, Chang Rai, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, and Phuket: Mosquito avoidance only"

... But the map has Chiang mai Province colored red for "malaria present."

Hm, again.

 

(ETA: On the other hand, this map is slightly reassuring:

https://www.thaitravelclinic.com/blog/all-about-malaria/thai-malaria_risk.html

 

Edited May 31, 2017 by rosalinda
Added a reference

[connda]

On 5/31/2017 at 6:04 PM, rosalinda said:

Thank you very much for all the helpful suggestions.

 

I do actually have bad allergies to dust and mold, so I'm grateful to be reminded of the possible mildew situation. I will add to my list the bed cover, bed sheets, and antihistamines. It will be helpful to be able to breathe at night.

 

I have had a look at several malaria maps. It seems a little unclear: Chiang Mai city in general does not seem to come with a malaria warning for foreign visitors. But I'm not sure to what extent being up on the mountain, and spending a lot of time sitting still outdoors, might change that advice. 

 

I will bring a lot of repellent, and a net. I know it sounds kind of funny, but I don't feel confident that electric mosquito zappers would be appropriate here. (I'm not sure how large-scale insect-killing comports with monastic principles.)

 

Sorry for any confusion regarding my original posting. I don't know if there are other reasons (apart from the meditation center) that see foreigners spending periods of time at Wat Doi Suthep, which is why I thought it might be "obvious." I suppose I should have mentioned it up front. I guess it felt a little private... people have a range of feelings and reactions about this kind of thing, I suppose? But anyway, yes, that is what I'm going there to do. Apologies for any confusion, and many thanks again for all the excellent advice.

 

FYI.  The do not have malaria up there.   You don't find them at that elevation.  Aedes aegypti mosquitoes which carry Dengue, different story.    You're carrying repellent, so all is good.

Edited June 4, 2017 by connda