Chiang Rai to Malacca: Thailand & Malaysia Unveiled

Chiang Rai to

Malacca: Thailand &

Malaysia Unveiled

Optional Extensions:

Burma & the Irrawaddy River

and

Phnom Penh & Angkor Wat, Cambodia

2017

THM 17 11/04/16 2

Chiang Rai to Malacca: Thailand & Malaysia Unveiled

Table of Contents

1. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS .................................................................. 4

YOUR PASSPORT ....................................................................................................................................... 4 VISAS REQUIRED ...................................................................................................................................... 5 EMERGENCY PHOTOCOPIES OF KEY DOCUMENTS ................................................................................... 5 OVERSEAS TAXES AND FEES .................................................................................................................... 6 AIRPORT TRANSFERS ................................................................................................................................ 6

2. HEALTH ................................................................................................................................................. 7

IS THIS ADVENTURE RIGHT FOR YOU? ....................................................................................................... 7 STEPS TO TAKE BEFORE YOUR TRIP ........................................................................................................ 8

No Vaccines Required .......................................................................................................................... 8 JET LAG PRECAUTIONS ............................................................................................................................. 9 STAYING HEALTHY ON YOUR TRIP ........................................................................................................ 10

3. MONEY MATTERS ........................................................................................................................... 11

HOW TO CARRY YOUR MONEY .............................................................................................................. 11 Cash .................................................................................................................................................... 11 Special Note—Cash in Burma ............................................................................................................ 11 ATMs .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Credit Cards ....................................................................................................................................... 13

CURRENCY .............................................................................................................................................. 14 TIPPING ................................................................................................................................................... 15 SHOPPING ................................................................................................................................................ 16

U.S. Customs Regulations and Shipping Charges ............................................................................. 17

4. OPTIONAL TOUR—RESERVE BEFORE YOU GO ..................................................................... 18

OPTIONAL TOUR PAYMENTS .................................................................................................................. 18

5. CLIMATE: A WORD ABOUT THE WEATHER ........................................................................... 19

6. PACKING JUST WHAT YOU NEED .............................................................................................. 22

YOUR LUGGAGE & LOCKS ..................................................................................................................... 22 LUGGAGE LIMITATIONS ................................................................................................................ 23

CLOTHING SUGGESTIONS ....................................................................................................................... 24 TRAVELER‘S CHECKLISTS ...................................................................................................................... 25 A WORD ABOUT ELECTRICITY ............................................................................................................... 28

7. LEARN ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS ....................................................................................... 30

THAILAND AT A GLANCE ........................................................................................................................ 30 MALAYSIA AT A GLANCE ....................................................................................................................... 32 BURMA AT A GLANCE—OPTIONAL EXTENSION ..................................................................................... 34 CAMBODIA AT A GLANCE—OPTIONAL EXTENSION ................................................................................ 37 CULTURE & POINTS TO KNOW ............................................................................................................... 39 SAFETY & SECURITY .............................................................................................................................. 41 COMMUNICATIONS ................................................................................................................................. 41

8. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................................ 43

SUGGESTED READINGS ........................................................................................................................... 43 SUGGESTED MOVIES ............................................................................................................................... 46

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USEFUL WEBSITES .................................................................................................................................. 48

Travel Documents

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1. Travel Documents & Entry Requirements

Your Passport Please take a moment to confirm that your passport meets all of these requirements:

It should be in good condition

It should be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the U.S.

It should have the recommended number of blank pages (see below for details).

The blank pages must be labeled ―Visas‖ at the top. Pages labeled ―Amendments and

Endorsements‖ are not acceptable.

Recommended number of blank pages

Know that this recommendation is based on a ―worst case‖ scenario. When you are on this adventure,

you might use fewer pages, depending on the whims of the Immigration official on duty that day. Since

the consequence of having too few pages can be severe—you could be denied entry into a country—we at

OAT feel that in this case, safe is better than sorry, and we strongly recommend that you follow these

guidelines.

Main trip only: If you are taking only the main trip, you will require 3 blank passport pages.

Pre-trip extension to Burma (Myanmar): You will need 2 more pages for a total of 5.

Post-trip extension to Cambodia: You will need 2 more pages for a total of 5.

Both the pre- and post-trip extensions: You will need a total of 7 blank passport pages.

If you need to renew your passport:

Contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778, or visit their website at

www.travel.state.gov for information on obtaining a new passport or renewing your existing passport.

You may also contact our recommended visa service company, PVS International, at 1-800-556-9990 for

help with your passport.

Travel Documents

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Visas Required We’ll be sending you a detailed Visa Packet with instructions, application forms, and fees about 100

days prior to your departure. In the meantime, we‘re providing the information below as a guideline on

what to expect. This information is for U.S. citizens only. All visas and fees are subject to change.

Thailand & Malaysia—no visa needed. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for stays of less than 90

days in Thailand or Malaysia.

Burma (optional extension)—visa required. Can only be obtained in advance. You must

obtain your visa for Burma before you leave home; it cannot be obtained on arrival.

Cambodia (optional extension)—visa required. We recommend you obtain this visa in

advance. Although this visa may be obtained upon your arrival, we recommend you obtain it in

advance. Entry requirements can change at any time; obtaining your visa in advance decreases the

likelihood that you will encounter problems at the border and may protect you if entry

requirements subsequently change.

Embassy contact information

If you are staying longer in any of these countries, you should check with their embassy for the applicable

regulations:

Thailand: (202) 944-3600 Malaysia: (202) 572-9700

Cambodia: (202) 726-7824 Burma (Myanmar): (202) 332-3344

Traveling without a U.S. passport?

If you are not a U.S. citizen, or if your passport is from any country other than the U.S., it is your

responsibility to check with your local consulate, embassy, or a visa services company about possible visa

requirements. For your convenience, we recommend the services of PVS International, a national visa

service located in Washington D.C.; they can be reached at 1-800-556-9990 or

www.pvsinternational.org.

Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents We recommend you carry color photocopies of key documents including the photo page of your passport

plus any applicable visas, air itinerary, credit cards (front and back), and an alternative form of ID. Add

emergency phone numbers like your credit card company and the number for your travel protection plan.

Store copies separate from the originals.

If you plan to email this information to yourself, please keep in mind that email is not always secure;

consider using password protection or encryption. Also email is not always available worldwide. As an

alternative, you could load these documents onto a flash drive instead, which can do double-duty as a

place to backup photos during your trip.

http://www.pvsinternational.org/

Travel Documents

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Overseas Taxes and Fees This tour may have taxes and fees that cannot be included in your airline ticket price because you are

required to pay them in person onsite. All taxes are subject to change without notice and can be paid in

cash (either U.S. or local currency). If applicable, you will receive a list of these fees with your Final

Documents.

Airport Transfers If you plan on booking your own international flights or arranging with our air department to arrive/depart

on an earlier/later date than standard for your program, airport transfers will NOT be included in your

program price. Transfers must be purchased separately, as an optional add-on, and are subject to

availability. To learn more, or purchase airport transfers, please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-

221-0814.

Health

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2. Health

Is this adventure right for you? We‘ve worked closely with our local Trip Leaders and regional associates to identify the aspects of this

adventure that you should be aware of, from physical requirements to cultural factors. Please carefully

review the information below prior to departing on this adventure.

Pacing

8 locations in 20 days

Physical Requirements

Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids

You must be able to walk 3 miles unassisted and participate in 5-7 hours of physical activities

each day

Agility and balance are required for embarking on boats and riding local transport

We reserve the right for our Trip Leaders to restrict participation or send travelers home if their

limitations impact the group's experience

Climate

Daytime temperatures range from 80-90°F

March-May are hottest during the day, with high levels of humidity. Heavy rains are possible

between August and October

Terrain & Transportation

We‘ll travel over bumpy, unpaved roads at times, on foot and by bus

Travel by 24-passenger coach, boat, and rickshaw

One overland drive 6 hours long and 2 internal flights of 1-2 hours each

Accommodations & Facilities

All accommodations feature private baths and Western-style toilet facilities

Asian squat-style toilets must be used in some locations without other facilities

Health

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Steps to Take Before Your Trip Before you leave on your adventure, there are at least four health-related things you should do.

Step 1: Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you‘ll be visiting. You can

contact them online at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel or by phone at 1-800-232-4636.

Step 2: Have a medical checkup with your doctor at least 6 weeks before your trip.

Step 3: Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Step 4: Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less important than steps 1-3.)

No Vaccines Required

At the time of writing there were no required vaccines for this trip. The CDC recommends that

all travelers be up to date on their routine vaccinations and on basic travel vaccines like Hepatitis A

and Typhoid, but these are suggestions only. However, this could change in future so we encourage

you to check with the CDC yourself before meeting with your doctor.

Medical Checkup Topics to discuss during your checkup are:

The CDC recommendations. The CDC makes suggestions based on the destination, but that

doesn‘t mean the suggestions are right for you. Your doctor will be able to advise you on what

is best considering your unique medical history.

Advice on what medicines (if any) to bring. For our suggestions of what types of

medications to ask your doctor about, see the section titled ―Medications‖ that follows.

Remember to get a copy of any prescriptions—written as a generic drug name—so you can

replace your medications if they are lost during the trip.

Your fitness for this adventure. This is a must if you have any medical conditions or

physical limitations. Use the ―Is This Adventure Right For You?‖ section on previous pages

as a guideline. Make certain to review any medical condition you have, particularly cardiac or

respiratory disease or diabetes, and discuss the details of the trip itinerary as it pertains to your

health. Remember, your trip may take you into remote areas, with no nearby medical facilities.

Medications Of course, you‘ll need to bring an ample supply of any prescription medications you happen to be taking.

You‘ll also want to talk to your doctor about any medications suggested by the CDC. In addition, we

suggest you discuss prescriptions for:

An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness

A pain medication. You might need this in the unlikely event of an injury in a location where

medical attention would be delayed.

Anti-malaria medication—but only for the extension in Burma. At time of writing, the CDC

reported that the risk of malaria was low in Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia, but was moderate in

Burma. Specifically, malaria was reported in Bagan, which we visit during the extension to Burma.

For this reason, the CDC suggested that travelers to Burma discuss an anti-malarial medication with

their doctor. Anti-malarial medication can have strong side effects, so be certain to ask your doctor

first.

Health

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Traveling with medications

Pack medications in your carry-on bag to avoid loss and to have them handy

Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers for a quicker security screen at the airport

and a better experience if you get stopped by customs while overseas

Bring copies of the prescriptions, written using the generic drug name rather than a brand name

to be prepared for any unforeseen loss of your medications

Also, keep in mind that not every country has approved every medication. Most major brands are OK, but

even some over-the-counter medications are not allowed in other countries. To check your medications

(which we only recommend if the medication is vital to you) consult the State Department website at

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/customs. (Follow the links to ―Local Laws &

Special Circumstances‖ for each country; if you don‘t see any medications specifically mentioned, then

you can presume major U.S. brands should be OK). At time of writing, the State Department did not have

any special warnings about American over-the-counter medications for Thailand, Burma, or Cambodia.

For Malaysia, they suggest bringing a doctor’s note for syringes, strong painkillers (like codeine),

psychotropics, or sleeping pills as a reference for local authorities if any questions arise.

Jet Lag Precautions You will feel better on the first days of your trip if, shortly before you leave home, you start to adjust to

the different time zone of your destination. Since you will cross several time zones to reach your

destination, you may lose many hours of regular sleep. You cannot totally avoid jet lag; but you can

minimize it. Here's how:

Start your trip well-rested.

Begin a gradual transition to your new time zone before you leave or switch to your

destination time zone when you get on the plane.

Attempt to sleep and eat according to the new schedule.

Avoid heavy eating and drinking caffeine or alcoholic beverages right before–and during–your

flight.

Drink plenty of water and/or fruit juice while flying.

Stretch your legs, neck, and back periodically while seated on the plane

After arrival, avoid the temptation to nap.

Don‘t push yourself to see a lot on your first day.

Try to stay awake your first day until after dinner.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/customs

Health

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Staying Healthy on Your Trip

Safe Water and Food Tap water on this adventure is not safe to drink, so we recommend you use only bottled water for drinking

and brushing your teeth. Avoid drinks with ice or salads/fruits unless you first confirm that the ice is

made with safe water or the salad/fruit has been washed in safe water. (Fruit you peel yourself should be

fine.) Hot drinks made with water are safe if they have been boiled. Bottled water is readily available for

purchase; just be sure to check that the cap is sealed properly before buying.

We've carefully chosen the restaurants for your group meals. Your Trip Leader can suggest restaurants for

meals you take on your own. When dining on your own, keep in mind that meats sold by street vendors

may not have had proper refrigeration. Note that larger amounts of MSG are put into Thai and Malay

food than what you may be used to. Also, be cautious with non-pasteurized milk products—they may or

may not upset your stomach.

Allergies If you have any serious allergies or dietary restrictions, we advise you to notify us at least 30 days prior to

your departure. Please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814, and we will communicate them

to our regional office. Every effort will be made to accommodate you.

Air Quality During the summer months, there is heavy smog in the air from slash and burn in some of the areas that

you will visit. Please take that into consideration if you are a traveler who has some difficulty breathing,

or a respiratory condition such as asthma. It is our recommendation that traveler‘s take facial masks with

them.

Electricity Supply Electricity is readily available on this adventure, however—just like in the U.S.—there can be occasional

power outages. Travelers who are dependent on the electricity supply (as in the case of those with sleep

apnea) should ensure their apparatus has back-up battery power just in case.

Money Matters

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3. Money Matters

How to Carry Your Money Generally speaking, you‘ll want to bring a mixture of different payment methods—some cash to

exchange, a couple of cards, and maybe a few traveler‘s checks as a last resort—so that you‘ll be prepared

for any situation. In this section, we offer some tips on each type of payment method.

However, travelers on the extension to Burma should note that Burma is still much more reliant on cash

than many other places in the world. For this reason, we recommend that you bring a cash reserve to

cover your basic expenses while in Burma.

Cash

We recommend that you bring some cash with you on this adventure. Cash has a few advantages

over other forms of payment. It is more widely accepted than any other form of payment, and sometimes

commands a better exchange rate. Cash is also a better choice for rural or undeveloped areas where ATMs

and credit card machines are scarce.

So we know that bringing cash is a good idea—does that mean U.S. dollars or local currency?

There is no need to obtain local currency before your trip. You can change money when you arrive at

banks, most hotels, and money exchange offices. In some countries you do not even need to exchange

money at all—you can use U.S. dollars. For information on what type of currency can be used on this trip,

see the ―Currency‖ section.

Torn, worn, dirty, or taped U.S. bills may not be accepted for exchange or payment; bring bills in

excellent condition. For Burma, pristine or uncirculated bills are best.

Special Note—Cash in Burma

For travelers on the optional extension to Burma, it is important to know that Burmese businesses are

usually ―cash only‖ and that local ATMs can have connectivity issues. (See ―ATMs‖ on the next page.)

So it is important that you bring enough cash in U.S. dollars to pay for all your basic expenses. You'll use this cash in two ways:

To pay: Smaller bills ($1, $5, $10) can be used to pay at businesses that will accept U.S. dollars.

You‘ll find that a lot of businesses accept U.S. dollars, especially tourist-related businesses like

hotels. A mix of smaller bills is useful so you can pay as close to exact change as possible.

To exchange: Larger bills ($100) can be used to exchange for Burmese kyats. Typically kyats are

accepted at businesses that cater to locals only or for transactions that involve a small amount of

cash (a ―Mom and Pop‖ restaurant, taxi fare, etc.). Larger bills are useful for exchange because

you'll get a slightly better rate on large bills than on small ones. Once you arrive in Burma, you'll be

able to exchange money at the airport or in private exchange booths in/near your hotel.

Some previous travelers have remarked that they used U.S. dollars more often than kyats. They

suggested that future travelers bring more small bills than large bills.

Money Matters

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TIP: We recommend that you wait and exchange at a private booth in/near your first hotel in Burma—

the booth at the airport is OK, but not as reliable (odd hours, long lines, more paperwork). Our regional

staff estimates that you should exchange about $100-$150 per person on your first day in Burma.

IMPORTANT: Due to concerns about counterfeit U.S. dollars in Burma, businesses and exchange

booths can be very picky about what bills they accept. (Naturally, this varies. Some clerks will be

understanding about less-than-perfect bills. Others will check each bill one-by-one with the same intensity

as a judge about to award ―Best in Show‖ at the Westminster Kennel Club.)

To minimize hassle during your extension, the bills you bring for Burma should be in perfect

condition—no rips, no marks, not folded—think ―pristine‖. They should also be from the new,

more colorful, "large portrait" series. (In other words, they should be dated 2006 or later.) The best

choice would be uncirculated bills, if you can find them. Despite these precautions, you should expect

that some of your bills will be rejected at some point. We suggest bringing extra bills to account for this.

ATMs

ATMs are fairly common in Thailand and Malaysia. Typically PLUS, Cirrus, and other bank networks are

available throughout large cities and small towns. In Cambodia ATMs are somewhat available.

Do not rely on ATMs alone in Burma. In the past few years, the number of ATMs has increased in

Burma, especially in major cities and towns. However, these ATMs have some important limitations:

They typically accept Visa, MasterCard, China‘s Union Pay, and Japan‘s JCB only.

There is usually a fee of about $5 per transaction, and there may be a cap of $200-$250 per

withdrawal.

Connectivity is unreliable. And if the ATM cannot connect to your bank, then it won‘t work for

you.

Because of these limits, we recommend having a cash reserve to cover your basic expenses in Burma, and

only use the ATM as a backup or supplement.

Throughout the trip, your Trip Leader can advise you of ATM availability and warn you before you enter

areas where there are no ATMs, but will not be able to guarantee which ATM will take your card.

General ATM Reminders

Using a local ATM on an international network will allow you to withdraw money from your U.S.

account in local currency; your bank at home will calculate the conversion rate and charge you in U.S.

dollars. However, many banks charge a fee ranging from $1 to $5 for every time you use a foreign ATM.

Others will charge you a percentage of what you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your

bank before you depart. You‘ll also want to notify your bank that you‘ll be out of the country—that way

when they see foreign ATM withdrawals, they won‘t put a fraud alert on your account. Lastly, don‘t

forget to memorize the actual digits of your card‘s PIN number (many keypads at foreign ATMs do not

include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.)

Money Matters

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Credit Cards

Credit cards are commonly accepted in Thailand and Malaysia, and somewhat accepted in Cambodia.

Businesses in that do accept cards might use a slow approval process that may involve calling your credit

card company to get authorization.

Credit card use is just starting to gain traction in Burma. Most businesses are still ―cash only‖. And

unfortunately, the places that do take credit cards can be very inconsistent. They may only take one type

of card (MasterCard only or Visa only)…they may or may not charge you a fee…the fee may or may not

be the same fee as yesterday…you get the idea. Because of these inconsistencies, it is important that you

don‘t rely on your credit card alone. It makes more sense to bring a card or two as a supplement to your

cash reserve. Burma is changing fast, but cash is still king.

Even if you do not plan on using them, we suggest you bring one or two credit or debit cards as a

―backup‖ or for optional tours. We also suggest that you bring more than one brand of card (Visa,

MasterCard, American Express) if possible, because not every shop will take every card. For example,

although the Discover card is now accepted in some countries outside the U.S., it is not widely adopted,

so other brands will work at a much larger range of stores, restaurants, etc.

TIP: Many credit card companies have fraud alert departments that will freeze your card if they see

suspicious charges—such as charges from another country. To avoid an accidental security block, it is a

good idea to notify your credit card company you will be using your cards abroad. You can do this by

calling their customer service number a week or two before your departure.

You should also double-check what phone number you could call if you have a problem with a card while

you are abroad. Don’t assume you can use the 1-800 number printed on the back of your card—most 1-

800 numbers don’t work outside of the U.S.!

Money Matters

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Currency For current exchange rates, please refer to our website www.oattravel.com, your bank, or the financial

section of your newspaper.

Burma The basic unit of currency in Burma is the kyat (K). The kyat is divided into 100 pyas. Banknote and coin

denominations are as follows:

Banknotes: K 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000

Coins: Kt1, and 5, 10, 50, 100 and pyas. Coins are rarely used.

Burma is still a ―cash only‖ society, with little ATM and credit card use. You‘ll want a mix of mostly

smaller U.S. bills to pay with, plus a few large bills (like $100s) to exchange.

Cambodia

The official currency of Cambodia is the riel, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Some businesses will

also take Thai baht. Riel banknote denominations are as follows:

Banknotes: 100, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and higher

Coins are no longer in general circulation

Previous travelers have suggested that since U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Cambodia, and prices are

low, a mix of smaller bills—such as ones, fives, and tens—is more useful than a few large bills. A small

amount of local currency is useful for some situations, like in a taxi or at an open-air market. If you pay in

U.S. dollars, it is fairly common to get your change back in riels.

Malaysia

The official currency in Malaysia is the ringgit (RM or MYR), which is divided into 100 sen. Banknote

and coin denominations are as follows:

Banknotes: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 ringgit

Coins: 5, 10, 20, and 50 sen, plus 1, 2, and 5 ringgit. The sen coins are not commonly used as

many prices are rounded to the nearest ringgit.

Local currency is generally preferred. Occasionally you may find a store or hotel willing to take U.S.

dollars, but usually at a bad exchange rate.

Thailand

The basic unit of currency in Thailand is the baht (THB), easily distinguished by color and marked with

both Thai and Arabic numerals. The baht is divided into 100 satang. Banknote and coin denominations

are as follows:

Banknotes: 20 baht (green), 50 baht (blue), 100 baht (red), and 500 baht (purple), 1000 baht

(reddish brown)

Coins: 25 satang, 50 satang, 1 baht, 2 baht, 5 baht, and 10 baht

Baht are generally preferred. When changing U.S. dollars to baht, you will find that you get a slightly

better exchange rate on larger bills.

Money Matters

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Tipping Of course, whether you tip, and how much, is always at your own discretion. Listed below are our

recommendations for the tips that are not included in your tour price. All tips are quoted in U.S. dollars;

tips can be converted and paid in local currency or in U.S. dollars. Do not use personal or traveler's check

for tips.

OAT Trip Leader: It is customary to express a personal "thank you" to your OAT Trip Leader at

the end of your trip, especially if he or she has provided you with individual service. As a

guideline, many travelers give $7-$10 per person per day.

Housekeeping staff at hotels: $1-2 per room, per night

Waiters: Tipping waiters is not common practice, but if the service is excellent you may leave

about 10% of the bill in appreciation. Your Trip Leader will handle any tips, if appropriate, for

included meals.

Taxi drivers: If you are taking a taxi by yourself, keep in mind that tipping is not common

practice, but many people simply let the driver keep the change by rounding up the fare to the

next whole number.

Your tour price includes gratuities on the main trip and extensions for all local guides, drivers, and

luggage porters that may assist you during the scheduled activities on your adventure.

Money Matters

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Shopping It is Overseas Adventure Travel's goal to identify and provide you with shopping opportunities that

highlight unique, locally-produced products with good value from reliable vendors. For this reason there

may be scheduled visits to local shops during your adventure. There is no requirement to make a purchase

during these stops, and any purchase made is a direct transaction with the shop in question, subject to the

vendor‘s terms of purchase. Overseas Adventure Travel cannot be responsible for purchases you

make on your trip or for the shipment of your purchases.

Crafts & Souvenirs

Thailand: Traditional souvenirs include hill tribe handicrafts, including elaborate jewelry,

colorful textiles, bronzeware cutlery, celadon pottery, and Thai lacquerware. Bangkok is famous

the world over for its street markets—Pratunam, Chatuchak Park, Khlong Toey, Sampheng

(Chinatown), Banglamphu, and many more. Local products include hand-woven cottons,

decorative items made of silver, teakwood carvings, and gems. The best bargains in gems are

jade, rubies, and sapphires, but buy from reputable dealers only. Thai silk, renowned for its lush

colors and pleasantly rough texture, is considered some of the best in the world.

Malaysia: Malaysia is known for textile crafts such as beaded slippers, items woven out of palm-

like pandan leaves, songket weavings, and batik fabrics—where the design is created by using

wax to block off sections of cloth during the dyeing process. Other staples include pewter goods,

wood carvings, cucuk sanggul hairpins, and kites. Edible souvenirs like tea, coffee, and Dodol (a

toffee-like candy) are also popular. Just beware the durian fruit, which is so stinky that some

hotels won‘t allow it in their rooms—a durian flavored candy or cake (lempok durian) might be a

better choice.

Bargaining Larger department stores have fixed prices. Almost everywhere else, especially at outdoor stalls,

merchants enjoy negotiating prices. The only rule is that, if you make an offer, you should be prepared to

buy at that price. Bring a mix of small bills so that you can pay in exact change.

Antiquities Think carefully before purchasing an expensive antiquity. Many of the so-called antiques for sale are

actually fakes or reproductions. And anything that looks old usually needs official written permission to

leave Thailand or Malaysia. Some stores will offer to arrange this for you, but this may be unreliable.

Money Matters

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U.S. Customs Regulations and Shipping Charges

For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border

Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov/travel has the answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511.

The top three points to know are:

At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with you. Items

totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees.

Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when the

shop has offered to include shipping and duties in the price, this typically means shipping to the

nearest customs facility and payment of the export duties—not door-to-door shipping or payment

of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges would be your responsibility.

Unless an item is small enough to send by parcel service (like FedEx), chances are you will need

to arrange shipping or pick-up once the item is in the U.S. and will need to pay customs duties.

It is illegal to import products made from endangered animal species. U.S. Customs & Border

Protection will seize these items, as well as most furs, coral, tortoise shell, reptile skins, feathers,

plants, and items made from animal skins.

TIP: According to the U.S. Customs & Border Protection website, the general U.S. sanctions against

Burma were lifted as November 2012. However, at time of writing it was still illegal to bring back jade or

rubies that were mined in Burma.

If You Have a Problem with a Purchase The best way to address a problem with a purchase is to not have one in the first place! So don‘t forget to

examine merchandise before paying for it, check contracts or agreements before signing, and review your

receipt before leaving the shop. For major purchases, don‘t hesitate to ask in advance about the return

policy—local practice may vary from U.S. standards, so don‘t assume that you have a certain number of

days after the purchase to speak up.

But what if you do discover an issue with an item later on? In that case, your best recourse is to contact

the vendor directly. For this reason we recommend that you keep a copy of all your receipts, invoices, or

contracts, along with the shop‘s contact information. Expect that any resolution will take longer than it

would in the U.S. due to delays in communication, the complexities of international shipping/customs

duties, and even cultural differences in how business is conducted.

Optional Tour—Before You Go

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4. Optional Tour—Reserve Before You Go During your trip, you will have the opportunity to join optional tours to further your discoveries. Most of

these tours can only be booked onsite with your Trip Leader, but due to limited space the following

optional tour must be booked 30 days before your departure. This optional tour is offered during the pre-

trip extension to Burma. All optional tour costs are subject to change without notice.

Optional Hot-air Balloon Flight over Bagan

This optional early-morning excursion takes us high above the ancient city of Bagan for a thrilling hot-air

balloon ride. We‘ll enjoy a bird's-eye view of ancient Bagan and its hundreds of temples. This flight

takes place at dawn—a time of day that is usually best for dramatic photos of the landscape below. After

the flight, we return our Bagan hotel in time for breakfast. This tour is only available on the pre-trip

extension to Burma, and only runs from January 1-March 31 and October 1-December 31. Travelers who

have booked this tour will be asked to fill out and return a brief medical form prior to departure.

The cost of this optional tour is $320 per person. All optional tour costs are subject to change without

notice; during peak season, an additional surcharge may apply. This optional tour is subject to weather

conditions.

Due to limited space this optional tour must be booked before your departure. Pre-bookings must be

made by 30 days prior to departure, no exceptions.

Optional Tour Payments Please keep in mind that optional tours with OAT can only be purchased with MasterCard, Visa, and

Discover credit cards, or with debit cards that have a credit card logo and allow you to sign for purchases.

Because our headquarters are in Boston, charges may appear to be from Boston or might be labeled as

"OPT Boston" (depending on your credit card company).

Climate: A Word about the Weather

THM 17 11/04/16 19

5. Climate: A Word about the Weather

Climate by Location Thailand: Thailand's climate is tropical, high both in temperature and humidity, and dominated

by monsoons. April and May are the hottest months of the year, when even the locals are

moved to complain about the heat. June sees the beginning of the South West Monsoon, and

brings with it the rainy season, which continues intermittently until the end of October. During

this season, the air is warm and humid and the sky is typically overcast. From November to

April, the air is much drier, with only a few days of rainfall per month. During the rainy

season, and particularly from June to September, sunshine is limited to about five or six hours

per day.

The north and northeast are generally cooler than Bangkok in winter, and hotter in summer. It

will be warm during most of the trip, but in the north, it will cool down in the evening. Most of

the country has abundant rainfall from May to October.

Malaysia: Overall, Malaysia has a tropical rainforest climate—hot, wet, and humid. The

temperatures don‘t vary a lot from season to season, but the rainfall does. Generally speaking

the driest months are December-February while the rainiest ones are August-October or

November; the rest of the year is a mix. Daytime highs are almost always in the 80s or 90s with

high humidity, although temperatures can spike up into the 100s. The one place that is an

exception is up in the Cameron Highlands, which is usually colder than other parts of

Malaysia—their higher elevation (roughly 4,500 feet above sea level) means the temaptures are

usually in the range of 70-50 degrees.

Cambodia—optional extension: Cambodia's climate can generally be described as tropical

with seasonal monsoons. There are two distinct seasons, the rainy and dry. Temperatures

during the rainy season, between June and October, average 80-95°F. The dry season is

characterized by cool months, November to February, with temperatures averaging 80-95°F

and hot months, from March till May, which sees temperature range between 84-100°F.

Burma—optional extension: Burma has a largely tropical climate with three seasons: the

monsoon or rainy season, from May to October; the cool season, from late November to

February; and the hot season, generally in March and April. Rainfall during the monsoon

season totals more than 200 inches in upper Burma and over 100 inches in lower Burma and

Rangoon. Central Burma, called the dry zone, and Mandalay, the chief city in the area, each

receive about 30 inches. Mandalay is usually warm to hot, with average daily temperatures

ranging from 56-82°F in January (cool season) to 77-100°F in April (hot season).

Like the central region, lower Burma is warm to hot most of the year, especially in the delta

and coastal areas. It is also the most humid region. Average daily temperatures in Rangoon

range from 64–90°F in January (cool season) and from 75–97°F in April (hot season).


THM 17 11/04/16 20

Climate Charts The following charts reflect the average climate as opposed to weather conditions. This means they serve

only as general indicators of what can reasonably be expected. As your departure approaches you may

wish to monitor current weather conditions online. Here is the official data from the weather observation

stations closest to our destinations:

Average Daily High/Low Temperatures (°F), Humidity, & Monthly Rainfall

MONTH BANGKOK, Thailand CHIANG MAI, Thailand

Temp.

High-Low

% Relative

Humidity

(am-pm)

Monthly

Rainfall

(inches)

Temp.

High-Low

% Relative

Humidity

(am-pm)

Monthly

Rainfall

(inches)

JAN 89-71 88-49 0.4 84-58 90-41 0.3

FEB 90-75 89-53 1.1 89-60 84-34 0.2

MAR 92-78 88-55 1.2 94-66 78-33 0.6

APR 94-80 86-56 2.8 97-73 78-38 1.8

MAY 92-80 87-62 7.5 93-75 83-52 6.0

JUN 91-80 85-64 6.0 90-76 86-60 5.3

JUL 90-78 86-64 6.2 89-75 88-63 6.6

AUG 90-78 87-66 7.4 88-75 90-65 8.9

SEP 89-77 91-68 12.6 88-74 91-64 9.9

OCT 89-77 92-67 9.1 88-72 90-60 5.2

NOV 88-74 87-58 2.3 85-67 90-53 1.7

DEC 87-70 84-49 0.4 82-59 90-45 0.6

MONTH TRANG, Thailand PENANG, Malaysia

Temp.

High-Low

% Relative

Humidity

(avg)

Monthly

Rainfall

(inches)

Temp.

High-Low

% Relative

Humidity

(am-pm)*

Monthly

Rainfall

(inches)

JAN 91-70 73 2.1 89-75 -- 2.4

FEB 94-71 69 1.0 90-75 -- 3.8

MAR 96-72 70 2.6 90-75 -- 5.1

APR 91-74 75 7.5 90-76 -- 8.7

MAY 89-75 82 9.7 89-76 -- 8.9

JUN 88-74 82 9.8 89-76 -- 6.8

JUL 88-74 83 10.2 88-75 -- 7.2

AUG 88-77 83 11.6 88-75 -- 10.1

SEP 88-74 84 12.8 87-75 -- 14.1

OCT 88-73 85 12.7 87-75 -- 14.7

NOV 87-72 83 9.5 87-75 -- 8.5

DEC 88-71 78 4.4 88-75 -- 4.1

*data not available


THM 17 11/04/16 21

MONTH CAMERON HIGHLANDS, Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia

Temp.

High-Low

% Relative

Humidity

(am-pm)*

Monthly

Rainfall

(inches)

Temp.

High-Low

% Relative

Humidity

(am-pm)

Monthly

Rainfall

(inches)

JAN 71-58 -- 3.8 89-73 96-66 6.4

FEB 72-58 -- 5.7 90-73 96-66 6.7

MAR 73-59 -- 8.7 91-74 96-68 9.1

APR 74-60 -- 10.1 90-75 96-73 10.9

MAY 74-61 -- 10.8 90-75 96-71 7.7

JUN 73-60 -- 6.9 90-74 95-66 4.9

JUL 72-59 -- 6.8 89-74 95-66 5.0

AUG 72-60 -- 9.0 89-74 95-65 5.6

SEP 71-60 -- 11.0 89-74 95-71 7.7

OCT 71-60 -- 14.7 89-74 96-73 10.5

NOV 71-60 -- 12.5 88-74 97-76 11.1

DEC 70-59 -- 8.3 88-73 96-72 9.0

*data not available

MONTH SIEM REAP, Cambodia

(Optional Extension)

RANGOON, Burma (Optional Extension)

Temp.

High-Low

% Relative

Humidity

(avg)

Monthly

Rainfall

(inches)

Temp.

High-Low

% Relative

Humidity

(am-pm)

Average

Number

of Days

with

Rainfall

JAN 88-67 71 0.1 89-65 86-40 1

FEB 90-70 70 0.5 94-67 88-33 1

MAR 93-74 69 1.0 97-71 91-35 2

APR 94-76 68 2.5 99-76 90-40 2

MAY 93-76 75 5.9 92-78 92-65 17

JUN 91-76 79 7.0 86-77 96-84 26

JUL 89-75 81 7.9 85-76 96-85 28

AUG 89-75 82 7.9 85-76 97-86 28

SEP 87-75 84 10.6 86-76 96-80 22

OCT 87-73 84 9.3 88-77 95-72 13

NOV 87-71 80 3.4 89-73 92-60 6

DEC 86-67 75 0.6 88-67 88-48 1

Online Forecast Monthly temperature averages for the countries you will be visiting, plus a current 10-day forecast, are

available online through the My Account feature of our website www.oattravel.com/MyAccount.

http://www.oattravel.com/

Packing Just What You Need

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6. Packing Just What You Need

Your Luggage & Locks

Luggage Suggestions Checked luggage One duffle bag or suitcase. Due to space limitations on our motor coaches, you are allowed one piece of

checked luggage per person. Look for one with heavy nylon fabric, wrap-around handles, built-in wheels,

and a heavy-duty lockable zipper. Please do not bring a rigid (plastic shell) suitcase.

TIP: Consider bringing a second, empty, lockable bag folded into your main suitcase, with a luggage tag

and small lock. Use this to carry souvenirs home. Also, when traveling with a companion we recommend

“cross-packing,” i.e., pack 2 outfits of your clothing in your companion’s luggage and vice-versa, in case

one bag is delayed.

Carry-on bag: You are allowed one carry-on bag per person. We suggest a tote or small backpack that

can be used as both a carry-on bag for your flight and to carry your daily necessities—water bottle,

camera, etc—during driving excursions and walking trips. Consider a backpack or waistpack that keeps

both hands free and distributes the pack‘s weight onto your back or hips.

Locks To reduce the risk of damage to your luggage, either do not lock your bags when checking in for flights

that originate in the U.S. or use TSA-approved locks. (These are locks that TSA screeners can open and

relock with a special tool, avoiding damage to your luggage or lock if a physical inspection is required.

Look for the words ―TSA‖ or ―TSA-approved‖ on the lock‘s packaging.)

Outside of the U.S., we strongly recommend that you lock your luggage as a preventative measure against

theft.


THM 17 11/04/16 23

LUGGAGE LIMITATIONS

Number of

Pieces

Type of Luggage Weight

Restrictions

Special Size Restrictions?

Main trip

only

One checked

bag and one

carry-on per

person

Duffle bag or soft-

sided suitcase.

Please do not bring

a rigid (hard plastic

shell) suitcase.

Checked

luggage:

33 lbs total

Carry-on:

15 lbs total

Standard airline size: checked

luggage should not exceed 62

linear inches (length+ width +

depth) and carry-on should not

exceed 45 linear inches

Pre and

post-trip

extensions

Same Same Same Same

Remarks and Suggestions

Luggage rules: Luggage rules and limits are set by governmental and airline policy. Enforcement of the

rules may include spot checks or may be inconsistent. However one thing is the same across the board: If

you are found to have oversized or overweight luggage, you will be subject to additional fees, to be

assessed by—and paid to—the airline in question.

Please Note: The airline‘s official weight limit for checked luggage during your domestic flight in

Thailand is 33 lbs (15 kg) and your carry-on luggage is restricted to 15 lbs (7 kg). There will be no place

for you to store extra luggage so you will be restricted to this weight for your entire trip.

Don’t Forget: These luggage limits may change. If the airline(s) notify us of any changes, we will include an

update in your Final Documents booklet.

It‘s a good idea to reconfirm baggage restrictions and fees directly with the airline a week or so

prior to departure. For your convenience, we maintain a list of the toll-free numbers for the most

common airlines on our website in the FAQ section.

Baggage fees are not included in your trip price; they are payable directly to the airlines.

The luggage limits above are based on your regional flights, which may be less than your

international flights. Even if your international airline offers a larger weight limit, you will need

to pack according to the lower restrictions.


THM 17 11/04/16 24

Clothing Suggestions

Functional Tips Most of your clothing can be cotton or cotton-synthetic blends. If you like to hand-wash your clothes,

look for fabrics that will dry out overnight. You can buy clothing designed especially for travel, with

features like wrinkle-resistant fabric or built-in sun protection.

Footwear: You‘ll be on your feet and walking a lot, sometimes over rough and slippery

surfaces, so choose your footwear carefully. The soles of your shoes should offer good traction.

You can find especially supportive shoes designed for walking, running, or sports.

Walking sticks: Many past travelers have recommended bringing a folding walking stick, sold

in most camping stores. An alternative is a folding ski pole. This is very useful when exploring

ruins and trails that have no handrails.

Style Hints and Dress Codes

Dress on our trip is functional and casual. The most formal you might need for a city evening

would be a sport jacket with no tie for men, a dress and dressy sandals for women—but this is not

necessary on this trip—the decision is yours.

Wearing shorts is acceptable in most places, except at some religious sites. Specifically,

shorts, knee-baring skirts, sleeveless shirts, and tank tops, are often forbidden in temples or

mosques, so we suggest that you stick to trousers or a long skirt for those visits. If you forget and

wear shorts on a day that includes a visit to a religious site, all is not lost—temples and mosques

will generally loan cover-ups to visitors who are perceived as ―too bare‖—but you must cover up

to go inside.

For Negara Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, female travelers will be asked to cover their hair. We

suggest bringing your own scarf, but if you forget—or don‘t have room in your suitcase—you can

borrow one from the mosque. Unless you are very conservatively dressed (i.e. covered from neck

to ankles in loose clothing) you will probably be asked to wear one of the mosque‘s abaya robes

over your clothes. Male travelers should wear long trousers and sleeved shirts.

It is common practice to remove your shoes inside a temple or mosque, so consider a pair that

you can get on/off easily and perhaps a couple extra pairs of socks. (Use these to replace the ones

that will get extra dirty in the temples. Or you could designate a couple pairs as your ―temple

socks‖ and wear them more than once.) In Burma, this practice goes even further—you

usually take off both shoes and socks. So for Burma, you might want to bring a few moist

towelettes to wash the bottom of your feet ―on the go‖.


THM 17 11/04/16 25

Traveler’s Checklists Did you know that the top two comments travelers have about packing are ―I wish I had brought less‖ and

―I wish I had thought to double-check the weather‖? In an effort to help you bring less, we offer these

lists, which have been compiled from suggestions by Trip Leaders and former travelers. The lists are only

jumping-off points—they offer recommendations based on experience, but not requirements. You might

also want to refer to the climate charts in this handbook or online weather forecasts before you pack. And

finally, remember the Golden Rule of Packing Light—whatever you think you need at first—take half the

clothes and twice the money.

Recommended Clothing Checklist

Shirts: A mixture of short and long-sleeved shirts in a breathable fabric, like cotton or cotton-blend.

Polo shirts are more versatile than T-shirts.

Trousers and/or jeans: Comfortable and loose fitting; avoid tight-fitting ones which would be seen as

disrespectful to local culture.

Walking shorts: A longer-cut short shows more sensitivity to the local culture, which tends to be

modest. Shorts are viewed as inappropriate for visiting a temple or mosque—see ―Style Hints and

Dress Codes‖ for details.

For female travelers: A long skirt (below the knee or longer) is useful for temples and mosques. We

suggest bringing your own scarf to cover your hair at Negara Mosque.

Shoes and socks: Shoes should be comfortable walking/ running shoes or low-cut hiking shoes, with

arch support. A pair of sport sandals with secure ankle strap (such as Tevas) are recommended; flip-

flops are not. Because it is common to remove your shoes inside the temples, bring at least one pair of

shoes that you can get on/off easily. You might want a couple extra pairs of socks.

Light cotton or wool sweater: Because motor coach air conditioning can be cold.

Light rain jacket/windbreaker with hood

Wide-brim sun hat

Underwear and sleepwear

Swimsuit


THM 17 11/04/16 26

Other Essential Items

Daily essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, hairbrush or comb, shaving items, deodorant, etc. Our

hotels will provide the basics like soap and shampoo, but if you are sensitive to fragrances or new

products, you may wish to bring your preferred brands.

Spare eyeglasses/contact lenses

Sunglasses

Sunscreen, SPF 30 or stronger

Insect repellent

Hand-wash laundry soap, and maybe plastic clothespins, sink stopper

Light folding umbrella

Moisturizer and sun-blocking lip balm

Packets of pocket-size tissues or small roll of toilet paper

Moist towelettes and/or anti-bacterial "water-free" hand cleanser

Flashlight or headlamp

Electrical converter & plug adapter: see ―A Word about Electricity‖ for details

Camera gear with extra batteries or battery charger

Medicines

Your own prescription medicines

Travel first aid kit: Band-Aids, headache and pain relief, laxatives and anti-diarrhea tablets,

something for upset stomach. Maybe a cold remedy, moleskin foot pads, antibiotic cream, or allergy

medication.

An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness

Optional: Prescription medicine to prevent malaria (for Burma extension only)

Optional: A prescription pain medication for rare emergency purposes

Optional: Motion sickness medicine if you are susceptible


THM 17 11/04/16 27

Optional Gear (These are items that other travelers have suggested might be useful, depending on your needs. The extra

spaces at the end are for you to add whatever you don‘t want to forget.)

Travel alarm or travel watch with alarm

Lightweight binoculars (if you plan to bird watch)

Folding walking staff, sold in most camping stores

Hanging toiletry bag (with hook to hang on doorknob and pockets to organize items)

Basic sewing kit

Hair dryer (most hotels will provide one, but not all)

Washcloth, and small thin towel. Hotels will provide towels, but not washcloths. Having your own

small towel can be useful on extremely hot/humid days.

Handkerchiefs

Reading materials, phrase book

Eye drops

Travel journal/note pad and pens

Favorite snacks. Snacks are readily available for purchase locally, but the selection will be different

than in the U.S., so this suggestion is only if you have a very specific type of snack you need/want.

Water bottle. One from home may be easier to drink from than locally purchased water bottles.

Photos or post cards from home, small gift for home-hosted visit

Pocket-size calculator for exchange rates

For asthma sufferers (or other breathing complaints) a face mask may be useful, particularly

during rice burning season (Feb) and summer months.

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________


THM 17 11/04/16 28

A Word about Electricity When traveling overseas, there are a few differences to keep in mind about electricity. First, the voltage is

usually different. Second, the plugs might not be the same shape. Lastly, the availability of power can

vary.

Voltage Electricity in Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, and Cambodia is 220 volts. In the U.S. it is 110 volts. Most of

the things a traveler will want to plug in—battery chargers, MP3 players, tablets or computers—can run

off both 110 and 220. But you should check the item or the owner‘s guide first to confirm this before you

plug it in. If you have something that needs 110 volts—like a shaver or a hairdryer—you can bring a

transformer to change the current. (But transformers tend to burn out, so it might be better to leave

whatever it is at home.)

Plugs The shape of plugs will vary from country to country, and sometimes even within a country depending on

when that building was built. Different plug shapes are named by letters of the alphabet—Type A, Type

B, and so on. Standard U.S. plugs are Type A and Type B. Here is the list of plugs for the countries on

this trip:

Overall, you’ll see a mix of U.S.-style (A and B), C, and G. Type D exists in Burma and

Cambodia, but are not common in hotels.

Thailand: A or C

Malaysia: C or G

Cambodia: B or D

Burma: C, D, or G


THM 17 11/04/16 29

To plug something from the U.S. into a C, D, or G socket you‘ll need an adapter that fits between the plug

and the socket. Because there are many different types of plugs in this region, it may be easier to purchase

an all-in-one, universal adapter/converter combo. Versatile and lightweight, these can usually be found at

your local electronics goods or hardware stores. Sometimes you can buy them at large retailers too, like

Target or Walmart. If you forget to bring an adapter, you might also find them for sale at the airport when

you arrive at your destination.

TIP: Many hotels in this region will have a few adapters at the front desk for guests to borrow. So if you

forget yours at home, ask your hotel or Trip Leader.

Availability

Electricity is readily available on this adventure, however—just like in the U.S.—there can be occasional

power outages. Travelers who are dependent on the electricity supply (as in the case of those with sleep

apnea) should ensure their apparatus has back-up battery power just in case.

Learn About Your Destinations

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7. Learn about Your Destinations We encourage you to start learning about the regions of the world you will soon be exploring. The

ancient and contemporary cultures of these areas are rich and complex. Even a small amount of

background reading can help you make sense of the kaleidoscope of facts and impressions that will come

your way. Having some knowledge in advance can complement and enrich what you can learn from your

expert Trip Leader.

Thailand at a Glance

Facts & Figures

Area: 198,115 square miles

Capital: Bangkok

Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), and ethnic and regional dialects

are spoken.

Ethnicities: Thai 95.9%, Burmese 1.3%, Other 0.9%

Location: Thailand is bordered by Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia

Geography: Thailand is roughly the size of France or the state of Texas. The country has been

described as a huge rice paddy interrupted by the sprawling metropolis of Bangkok. However,

that assessment isn‘t entirely fair. In fact, the country‘s geography is actually quite varied, with

a rich central plain, heavily forested mountains in the north, and a tropical rain forest along the

southern peninsula.

Population: 67,741,401 (2014 estimate)

Religions: Buddhist 93.6%, Muslim 4.9%, Christian 1.2%, other 0.3%

Time zone: Thailand is twelve hours ahead of U.S. EST. So when it is 6am in Washington

D.C., it is 6pm in Bangkok.

Historical Overview

Early History The Thai people originated in what is now Yunan, China. After Mongols invaded the state of Nanchao,

the Thai migrated down the Mekong River into what is now known as Thailand. They separated into

several distinct groups, including the Siamese, the Lao and the Shan, but remained in close contact.

Through wars and diplomacy, the Thai quickly flooded across the great plain of the Chao Phraya River,

and the first unified Thai kingdom, called Sukhotai, was formed in the 13th century.

A distinct Thai culture developed as the kingdom expanded. A dominant aspect of this culture was the

importance of Buddhism in daily life. Every Village had a Buddhist wat, or temple complex, where

festivals and social events took place. These temples also served as schools, orphanages, and hospitals—

the monks who lived there were often skilled at local medicine.

The Chakri Dynasty The Burmese invaded Ayudthaya in 1767, driving the Thai into the center of the country. A large portion

of the population settled in the fertile valley of the central plain, giving rise to a new capital in Bangkok.

Shielded by heavily forested mountains to the north, and secure from attack by neighboring states, the city

flourished. The new Thai kingdom that grew up around Bangkok became known as Siam, a reference to

the Siamese people of the central plains, where Bangkok is located.


THM 17 11/04/16 31

Around 1800, Siam‘s great Chakri dynasty rose to power and created the groundwork for the modern

nation-state of Thailand. The Chakri instituted a central bureaucracy, asserted authority over numerous

tribes that had previously been ruled by local chieftains, and initiated a program of military conquest

throughout the region. Over the next century, the Siamese Empire grew to include parts of modern-day

Burma, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Perhaps even more importantly, the Chakri kings managed to keep

Siam free from western colonial domination. Despite the prestige Siam had attained on the world stage,

life for the average Thai was little better than slavery, as Chakri kings demanded military service, labor,

and heavy taxes from every subject.

The Birth of a Nation By the turn of the century, modernization had increased the number and types of jobs available, especially

in government and the military. The prevailing policy was to fill these jobs based largely on education.

Many Thai began sending their children overseas to be educated. When the children returned home, they

brought with them western views on the scope and purpose of government. This new generation of

educated Thai saw the Siamese political system as antiquated and began demanding a larger share of

power.

In 1932, the situation came to a head. The monarchy was overthrown in a bloodless revolution and the

country‘s name was changed to Muang Thai, ―Land of the Free.‖ However, most peasants and farmers

continued to view the king as the moral leader of the nation, and the king was eventually invited to return

as a constitutional monarch. He lacks political power, but serves as the head of state—a unifying symbol

of Thai culture.

During World War II, Thailand was allied with Japan. Despite protest from the British and French, the

United States never recognized Thailand‘s declaration of war. The decision paid off, as the close

relationship between the two countries proved to be a pivotal component of the United States‘ post-war

policy in Southeast Asia. In the decades directly following the end of the war, Thailand saw a number of

different political regimes, mostly military dictatorships. Change began to manifest itself in the early

1970s with the student-led October 14 uprising in 1973.

For the next few decades, the government would vacillate between civilian democracies and military

regimes. A recent example of this type of political reversal occurred in 2006 with the dissolution of

parliament and a bloodless coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, which was resolved by a

2007 national referendum approving a new constitution. The subsequent general election in 2007 gave a

majority to the People‘s Power Party, which was allied with the ousted Prime Minister Thaksin. But in

2008 the party was forced to disband amidst a storm of controversy over charges of election fraud.

The 2006 coup and subsequent controversy continue to mark Thai politics. The two main factions—the

Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts—each accuse each other of having been involved in some wrongdoing.

The Red Shirts view the Yellow Shirts as supporting the coup and therefore interfering with the

democratic process; the Yellow Shirts counter that the Red Shirts are controlled by former Prime Minster

Thaksin Shinawatra, whom they view as corrupt.

Although there have been some clashes, the resulting demonstrations by both groups have been largely

peaceful and often mediated by the royal family, for whom both sides have shown great respect. (As a

constitutional monarch the power of the king is limited to a symbolic figurehead, however the institution

elicits huge amount of respect and reverence from the Thai people.)


THM 17 11/04/16 32

Malaysia at a Glance

Facts & Figures


Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Languages: Bahasa Malaysia is the official language, although English, Chinese, and Tamil

are also spoken.

Ethnicities: Malay 50.1%, Chinese 22.6%, indigenous 11.8%, Indian 6.7%, other 0.7%, non-

citizens 8.2%

Location: In Southeastern Asia, bordering Thailand, Vietnam, and the South China Sea; shares

the island of Borneo with Brunei and Indonesia.

Geography: Mainland Malaysia is on a peninsula that juts out from Thailand towards the

Indonesian islands; it also includes part of the island of Borneo. The country is roughly the

same size as New Mexico. The terrain is mostly coastal plains, rising into hills and tropical rain

forests, with some mountains. The highest peaks are in the Crocker Range on Borneo Island.

Population: 30,949,962

Religions: Muslim (official) 61.3%, Buddhist 19.8%, Christian 9.2%, Hindu 6.3%, Chinese

religions (Confucianism, Taoism, etc.) 1.3%, other or none 2.2%.

Time zone: Malaysia is twelve hours ahead of U.S. EST. So when it is 6am in Washington

D.C., it is 6pm in Kuala Lumpur.

Historical Overview

Early History

The earliest inhabitants of Malaysia were hunter-gathers, who in time, settled down into small

communities that fished and farmed. By the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC, these communities had banded

together as small kingdoms—there were perhaps as many as 30 kingdoms total on the Malay Peninsula.

Because they were small, many of these kingdoms were strongly influenced by neighboring countries

such as India, Cambodia, and China.

In the end, it was a neighboring country—specifically, Indonesia—that began to unite the smaller

Malaysian kingdoms under the Srivijava Empire, which first rose to prominence in the 7th century. This

empire was based on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, but through naval prowess spread to other islands

(Java, Borneo) and mainland Malaysia. Although not originally from Malaysia, the Srivijava Empire are

often cited by historians as the first centralized government on the peninsula, and are credited with

spreading Buddhism and establishing trade routes across the Indian Ocean and China Sea.

Eventually, their power drew the attention of the Chola Empire in India, who is believed to have

conquered parts of Western Malaysia in 1025 and 1026. Legend says the Chola founded a Hindu kingdom

there known as Gangga Negara. Today very little is known about Gangga Negara, causing some

researchers to describe it as a ―lost kingdom‖. In any case, the 11th century seems to have been a turning

point for the Srivijava Empire, which went into decline afterwards.

Arrival of Islam & Rise of Malacca

Another factor in the decline of the Srivijava Empire may have been the arrival of Islam starting in the

13th century. At first, the religion spread through contact with Arab and Indian traders, but soon it

became popular with the local elite, who converted from Buddhism or Hinduism. But Islam‘s biggest

boost in Malaysia was probably the conversion of King Paramenswra, who may have converted when he

married an Islamic princess sometime in the late 1300s or early 1400s.


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The king went on to found the port city of Malacca, where he declared Islam to be the state religion and

took the title of sultan. He also set up formal diplomatic relations the Ming emperor in China and re-

opened trade routes that had declined under the last Srivijavas. Malacca flourished and grew to be such an

important port that its fame spread to Asia, northern Africa, and Europe, causing the Portuguese writer

Tome Pires to quip that ―Whoever is lord of Malacca shall have his hands on the throat of Venice.‖ Today

Malacca is seen as the originator of Malay culture—mixing local traditions with Indian, Chinese, and

Islamic influences—and as setting the standards for literature, music, and language.

Colonia Era

In some ways Malacca could be described as the ―Camelot of Malaysia‖—a golden era that was all too

short. Founded in about 1400, the city was taken by the Portuguese on August 24, 1511. But instead of

gaining control of Malacca‘s wealth (as they had expected) the Portuguese found that by seizing the port

they inadvertently disrupted the flow of trade, effectively diverting it into smaller ports along the Malay

coast. Meanwhile, the last sultan of Malacca fled south and founded a new state which became the

Sultanate of Johor.

For the next hundred years, Johor would challenge the Portuguese stronghold in Malacca, both on

economic grounds and on religious ones (the Portuguese were actively converting locals to the Catholic

Church while Johor remained Muslim). This changed with the arrival of the Dutch in the 1600s. As rivals

to the Portuguese, they allied themselves with Johor, and in1641 the combined Johor-Dutch forces took

Malacca back from the Portuguese. In exchange for control of Malacca‘s trade (which they mainly

diverged to their own colony on Java), the Dutch helped the Johor sultan gain control over most of

Malaysia.

This control was short-lived. After the assignation of Sultan Mahud in 1699, two different men—both

claiming to be the sultan‘s son—vied for power. In the resulting uncertainty, a group of immigrants from

Indonesia called the Bugis seized power, installing a puppet ruler in Johor. During this time, Malaysia‘s

economy continued to boom from trade in tin, pepper, and gold. But in Europe, the Dutch were slowly

being overtaken by the British as the main naval power—and that change eventually came to Malaysia

too. By 1826 the British controlled Malacca, Penang, and Singapore which combined to form the Colony

of the Straits. The British used this colony as a power base to extend their influence over the rest of the

Malay Peninsula, although some regions like Johor retained a measure of independence.

The Modern Era

The British influence remained the status quo for nearly 100 years. It wasn‘t until the outbreak of World

War II that another country challenged their power—Japan, who seized Malaysia in February 1942.

Although the British did retake the country in 1945, many in the country favored independence over a

return to colonial rule.

Initially the plan was to create an independent state with equal citizenship for all no matter their ethnicity

(by this time Malaysia was a mix of locals, known as Malays, plus Indians and Chinese who had

immigrated during the British Empire days). But many of the Malays wanted the government to be in

their hands alone, causing a political split that largely ran along race lines. The situation was further

complicated by the rise of a Communist insurrection in 1948. From 1948 to 1960, Malaysia was in a state

of emergency as different groups fought for control, with the British/Malay faction ultimately winning.

However, the racial divisions continued to be an issue for decades. Often policies favored the Malay

majority over the Chinese and Indian populations, a trend known as ―positive discrimination‖. Today

many of these policies are written into the Malaysian constitution (and questioning them is technically

illegal) causing many to see race relations as the defining issue of modern Malaysia.


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Burma at a Glance—optional extension Facts & Figures


Capital: Nay Pyi Taw

Languages: Burmese is the official language; ethnic and regional dialects are also spoken.

Ethnicities: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Mon 2%, Indian

2%, other 5%

Location: Burma is bordered by India, China, Laos, Thailand, and the Andaman Sea.

Geography: Burma's terrain is dominated by steep, rugged highlands that ring the central

lowlands. Through the lowlands flows Burma‘s major river, the Irrawaddy, which empties into

the Andaman Sea through a large delta covering over 63 million acres. Although the

administrative capital is Nay Pyi Taw, the two largest cities in Burma are actually Rangoon

(pop. 5.5 million) and Mandalay (pop. 1.2 million).


Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4%, Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

Time Zone: Burma is on Myanmar Standard Time, 11.5 hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is

6am in Washington D.C., it is 5:30pm in Nay Pyi Taw.

Historical Overview

The Pyu and the Mon

Human habitation in the area around the Irrawaddy river valley dates back many thousands of years.

Little is known about the Stone Age peoples, but artifacts from the Bronze Age point to a fairly

sophisticated culture that grew rice and domesticated chickens and pigs. By 500 BC, the Iron Age cultures

that lived in the Samon Valley (south of Mandalay) seem to have been trading with China; their decorated

coffins and pottery suggest a prosperous community with a distinct culture.

Perhaps it was the prosperity that drew the Pyu people from their northern lands in the first century BC.

Over the next five centuries, the Pyu founded several cities, established a lucrative trade route between

China and India, and adopted Buddhism. During this era, the greatest of the Pyu cities was Sri Ksetra

(near modern-day Pyay). It was from Sri Ksetra that the Pyu oversaw their expansion into a federation of

18 city-states spread throughout northern Burma.

During the same time, the Mon people migrated from an area in present-day Thailand into southern

Burma, and established a few small kingdoms there. It seems that the Mon and the Pyu largely tolerated

each other, possibly because their trade routes were to different parts of the world (the Mon worked with

Arab traders, the Pyu with the Chinese). Or maybe it was that as Buddhists, both groups were generally

quite peaceful. Chinese records from the eighth century AD describe the Pyu as a gentle people who

refrained from wearing silk so as to avoid killing silkworms. In other words: not warriors. Which perhaps

explains why the Pyu city-states quickly fell to the invading Burman cavalry around 830 AD.

Empire, Division, Repeat

In 849 AD, Pagan (present-day Bagan) was founded by the Burman invaders. Over the next 200 years, the

settlement grew into a major power base for the Burmans, who slowly absorbed the Pyu into their new

nation. In 1044, the Burman leader Anawrahta ascended to the throne. Considered to be the first king of

Burma, Anawrahta defeated the southern Mon in the 1057 siege of the city of Thaton, thus uniting the old

Pyu and Mon territories under one ruler.


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But his ambitions were not limited to the Mon. Over the course of 30 years, the king laid the foundation

of what was to become the Pagan Empire—a major power in southeast Asia that rivaled the Khmer

kingdom in Cambodia. During their 240-year-reign, the Pagan Dynasty implemented many key changes

that would impact Burma for centuries. For example, they implemented large-scale agricultural and

irrigation projects, made Burmese the court language, and introduced the Theravada school of Buddhism

as the official religion. They also built thousands of pagodas, monuments, and monasteries, especially in

their capital city of Pagan (Bagan).

As with many dynasties in Asia, the undoing of this ―Golden Age‖ was the Mongol hordes, who swept in

and conquered Pagan in 1287. In the resulting confusion and destabilization, Burma divided into a series

of small rival kingdoms such as Ava (near modern Mandalay) and Hanthawaddy (near modern Pegu).

Politically unstable, subject to internal rebellions, and often at war with each other, the kingdoms were a

patchwork of ever-shifting alliances.

It wasn‘t until the 1500s that Burma was re-united once again. This time it was the charismatic King

Tabinshwehti who brought the kingdoms together. Together with his successor, Bayinnaung, the king

founded the Taungoo Dynasty, re-united Burma, and conquered additional territory such as some Chinese

Shan states, parts of Thailand, and parts of Laos. But the additional territories over-extended the dynasty‘s

resources, and ultimately proved to be too much to hold on to. In 1599, the Taungoo capital city at Pegu

was sacked.

The Taungoo Comeback

What makes the 1599 sacking of Pegu such a key moment in Burma‘s history is who the attacking force

was backed by—the Portuguese. It was the first hint of a European power trying to widen its influence in

Burma through force. Yet despite the damage to their capital, the Taungoo were able to regroup and

successfully reclaim some of their territory in northern Burma by 1605. They used this territory as a base

from which they challenged the Portuguese forces, defeating them at Thanlyin in 1613. By 1650, the

Taungoo Dynasty had recaptured and reunited Burma.

While other neighboring countries where being colonized by European powers, the Taungoo managed to

hold in to Burma until 1752, when internal fighting divided the country once again. Although the feudal

period was long over, the country split into rival groups that echoed earlier history—the Taungoo, who

were a Burman dynasty with roots in the old kingdom of Ava, were ousted by a rebellion of Mons with

roots in the old kingdom of Hanthawaddy.

The Hanthawaddy rule was brief—only seven years. In 1759, they were successfully challenged by the

military-minded Konbaung Dynasty. At first the Konbaung kept the European powers at bay. They even

managed to conquer territory in Thailand, China, and India. However, it was their involvement in India

during the 1820s that drew the ire of the British.

Anglo-Burmese Wars

In 1824, a series of border raids between India and Burma sparked of the First Anglo-Burmese War. The

war was brief—only two years—and resulted in Burma ceding almost all of its foreign territory. With the

Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852, the British seized part of Burma itself, yet allowed the king to

continue his rule. With the Third Anglo-Burmese war in 1885, the British took the entire country, and

sent the king into exile in India.


THM 17 11/04/16 36

Although their rule was relatively brief, and they eventually lost to the British, the Konbaung Dynasty

oversaw an important transition period. The arts thrived, especially literature and theater. The country‘s

first standard coinage was introduced. They also started a major reorganization of the monasteries, known

as the Sudhamma Reformation. Under the Konbaung, it seemed that Burma was recapturing some of its

importance from the days of the Taungoo Dynasty.

In contrast, when the British took over, they made Burma a province of India, essentially reducing it to a

backwater. Economically, the union created a boom in rice and other crops, but the profits rarely reached

the locals. Adding to the complexity of the situation was the fact that many workers and professionals

from India were brought in to Burma; because of the already existing ties between India and Great

Britain, the Indians were viewed as suspect by many of the local population.

The Thirty Comrades

During the 1920s and 1930s, the main resistance against the British rule came from religious groups like

the YMBA (Young Men‘s Buddhist Association) and the RUSU (Rangoon University Students Union).

With the outbreak of World War II, these young nationalists were torn between serving with Great

Britain—who might thereby grant independence after the war—or joining the forces against Britain. Led

by respected activist Aung San, a group known as the ―Thirty Comrades‖ secretly approached Japan with

an offer to collude against the British. But when it became apparent that the Japanese government would

not keep its promises, the Burmese army, now headed by Aung San, officially joined the Allied forces.

After the war, Great Britain did acknowledge Burma‘s independence. A constitution for an independent

Burma was in the works when tragedy struck—a political rival assassinated Aung San and several

members of his political party on July 19, 1947. Despite the shocking event (or perhaps because of it) the

new constitution was quickly passed in 1948. From 1948 until 1962, the government was a parliamentary

democracy headed by a Prime Minister. But internal politics and divisions among ethnic groups meant the

government‘s hold was tenuous. In 1962 a coup lead by General Ne Win abolished the constitution and

established military rule.

Military Junta and Resistance

The military government‘s extreme socialist economics meant that everything was nationalized—utilities,

industry, even retail shops. This in turn slowed the national economy to a virtual standstill. In March of

1988, a student protest against the worsening economic conditions won public sympathy and touched off

a wave of protests and rallies throughout the country. It was during this time that Aung San‘s daughter,

Aung San Suu Kyi, began to emerge as the voice of the opposition party, the NDL (National League for

Democracy).

In September of 1988, a group of generals formed the State Law and Order Restoration Council

(SLORC). To control the uprisings, SLORC used the army against the protesters. It is estimated that over

3,000 protesters or activists were killed and roughly 10,000 fled. SLORC then placed the country under

martial law and announced an election to select an assembly that would write a new constitution.

Unfortunately for SLORC, it was the opposition— Aung San Suu Kyi‘s NLD—who won the majority of

the seats in the 1990 election.

The military responded by refusing to let the assembly meet, and by holding two of the NLD leaders,

Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin U, under house arrest. It was while under house arrest that Aung San Suu

Kyi won her Nobel Peace Award in 1991. For the next two decades, the government would periodically

relax its restrictions on Aung San Suu Kyi, only to detain her again or re-arrest her.


THM 17 11/04/16 37

It wasn‘t until 1993 that the Constitutional Assembly was allowed to meet, and in the end they could not

overcome the restrictions set by the military; the assembly was dissolved in 1996 without having created a

constitution. It was not reconvened until 2005, but major pro-democratic groups like the NLD were

barred from participating, and once again the assembly failed to produce a constitution.

Recent History

On May 10, 2008 the government held a referendum on the constitution, which many international

observers questioned, especially since it was held in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. The cyclone had hit the

Irrawaddy and Rangoon areas on May 2 and May 3, causing extensive damage and loss of life. It is

considered the worst natural disaster in Burma‘s history. Burma‘s government was widely criticized by

the international community for holding the referendum only one week later. In addition, the government

created many delays and complications in delivering humanitarian aid, actions that were also strongly

criticized.

Although the 2010 election results were largely pro-government, the release of Aung San Suu Kyi in

2010, and her open participation in the 2012 elections (she won a seat in Parliament) signaled a major

change in Burmese politics. President Barack Obama visited with Aung San Suu Kyi back in 2012,

making him the first President of the United States to ever visit Burma.

Cambodia at a Glance—optional extension Facts & Figures


Capital: Phnom Penh

Languages: Khmer is the official language; English and French are also spoken.

Location: Cambodia is bordered by Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Geography: The ancient Khmer kingdom we now call Cambodia is a nation of 14.5 million

people in a country about the size of Missouri. This is a country of geographical contrasts—the

borders of Cambodia are mountainous and rugged, but a rich, alluvial plain dominates the

center of the country. Here the Mekong River, the Sap River, and the Tonle Sap create a

prosperous farming and fishing region full of rice fields and fishing villages.


Religion: Buddhist 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2%

Time Zone: Cambodia is on Indochina Time, twelve hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am

in Washington D.C., it is 6pm in Phnom Penh.

Historical Overview

Early History Cambodia was once the center of the great Khmer empire that ruled much of central Southeast Asia for

five centuries. We can trace the history in this region back to at least the 6th century when Cambodia was

part of the Kingdom of Funan. The Khmer people broke away from the Funans and established their own

state, Chinla, which after centuries of conflict was itself invaded and conquered by warriors from Java.

By A.D. 800, under Jayavarman II, the great Khmer temples were built and a centralized government

ruled the land from the Tonle Sap to Angkor. The Khmer continued to expand their influence until by the

end of the 10th century they controlled what are now Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.


THM 17 11/04/16 38

The next several centuries brought a succession of wars as the Khmers fought off invaders. During a

period of peace and prosperity from 1181 to 1201, the Khmer rulers conceived and built an elaborate

capital at Angkor Thom. Perhaps because of the lavish lifestyle and the costs associated with the

construction of Angkor Thom, the Khmer empire began a gradual decline from this opulent peak,

hastened by a series of wars with the Siamese.

Foreign Influence As the Khmer empire declined, foreign pressures appeared. In 1596 a Spanish expeditionary force

invaded and attacked the capital Phnom Penh. The Spanish presence didn‘t last; they were in turn

defeated and expelled by the Siamese.

The Khmer empire continued its decline after this with various occupations and an almost constant state

of war with Thailand and Vietnam, which both claimed lands once ruled by the Khmers. Asian control

over the region ended in 1863 when the French sent gunboats into the area to create a French protectorate.

The French succeeded and began a long period of domination of Cambodia by installing French

administrative, financial, and education systems.

Modern History

France ruled Cambodia until 1941 when the Japanese army swept across Indochina and, while expelling

the French, brought terror of its own. With the defeat of Japan and the end of World War II, the French

returned to Cambodia. But now they found opposition. By 1953 a strong local leader, King Sihanouk, had

risen to power with the Khmer and sought independence for his country. King Sihanouk was a masterful

politician and succeeded in wringing form the French the independence of Cambodia. King Sihanouk also

established the People‘s Socialist Communist Party at this time. After abdicating the throne to pursue a

political career, Sihanouk became the country‘s first prime minister. He managed to keep Cambodia

neutral in the Vietnam War until 1965, when he broke with the United States and allowed North Vietnam

and the Vietcong to use Cambodian territory. This led to the bombing of Cambodia by United States

forces.

Sihanouk was deposed by one of his generals in 1970 and fled the country to China, where he set up a

government in exile that supported the Cambodian revolutionary movement known as the Khmer Rouge.

Meanwhile, in Cambodia, United States and South Vietnamese forces invaded the country in an attempt

to eliminate Vietcong forces hiding there. For the next five years, as savage fighting spread throughout

Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge gained land and power. In 1975 the capital at Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer

Rouge, and their leader, Pol Pot, became the leader of Cambodia.

What followed for the next three years remains one of the most horrific incidents in world history. The

Khmer Rouge forced the entire population of Phnom Penh and other cities to evacuate to the countryside

where they were placed in slave labor units and forced to do manual work until they dropped from

exhaustion. Pol Pot and his followers began a campaign of systematic genocide against their own people,

with the aim of returning Cambodia to the agrarian society of centuries before. Great segments of the

population were slaughtered senselessly. People with any type of education (or those who just looked

educated because they wore glasses), or were doctors and nurses, anybody who had worked at a bank—

these people were all mindlessly killed. Banks were blown up, airports closed, and money was abolished.

The horror of the Pol Pot regime went unnoticed for several years.


THM 17 11/04/16 39

Finally in 1978, Vietnam, which had been watching the persecution and death of its own citizens trapped

in Cambodia, invaded Cambodia and chased Pol Pot and his followers out of the cities and back into the

remote mountains. By 1979, Pol Pot had been ousted and the Vietnamese installed a new government.

Until 1990 civil war continued sporadically in Cambodia, but gradually the murderous followers of Pol

Pot were eliminated from power. Pol Pot died under house arrest in 1998.

Throughout the 1990‘s United Nations peacekeeping efforts helped stabilize the country. By 1997, a

government amnesty convinced most Khmer Rouge partisans to cease fighting, and on October 4, 2004

the Cambodian National Assembly agreed with the U.N. to set up an international war crimes tribunal to

try senior Khmer Rouge officials for the genocide of the 1970s. The first trial began in 2009 against the

former head of the infamous Tuol Sleng Prison, Brother Dutch. He was convicted of crimes against

humanity in 2010, and although he appealed, the conviction was upheld in 2012. More leaders are

expected to be tried over the next decade.

Another stabilizing influence during recent decades has been the return of the monarchy in 1993, when

King Sihanouk was restored to the throne. In 2004, ill health forced him to abdicate in favor of his son,

Norodom Sihamoni, who currently reigns as a constitutional monarch (similar to the system in Great

Britain).

Recent events in Cambodia have focused on the government‘s approval of a controversial hydroelectric

dam on a tributary of the Mekong River. Known as Lower Sesan 2, the dam could provide much-needed

electric power and improve Cambodia‘s relations with other countries (some of the funding is coming

from abroad, mostly China). But opponents fear the dam‘s impact on the ecology and the thousands of

villagers who will need to be moved from the floodplains.

Culture & Points to Know For the adventurous soul, the challenges of traveling in Thailand—in addition to the country‘s natural

beauty, spirituality, and renowned hospitality—make it a uniquely rewarding destination. You should be

prepared for dust, pollution, traffic and large crowds in cities. In addition, poverty can be distressing for

some travelers.

Cuisine Most breakfasts offer American-style food. We usually have eggs, cereals, breads, and fruit juice. For our

lunches and dinners, we usually enjoy Thai cuisine. The variety of Thai food is truly amazing. Not all of it

is spicy—in fact, much of it is very sweet or quite subtly flavored. Many of our meals are served family-

style, with five or more main courses, so vegetarians are easily accommodated. Look forward to a wide

variety of fresh foods, including meat, seafood, poultry, vegetables, and noodles (a Thai specialty).

Many Thai dishes are vegetarian, but please note that no special accommodations can be guaranteed for

dietary restrictions. Your Trip Leader can suggest restaurants for meals that are not included on your

adventure.


THM 17 11/04/16 40

Etiquette Don‘t let the fine points of local customs worry you; locals know that visitors can‘t be expected to know

every detail. Much of what is considered polite in this region is similar to what‘s polite in the U.S. But as

a matter of interest, here are a few ―finer points‖ that might surprise you:

Body posture is important. Sprawling, resting your feet on furniture or chairs, or pointing your feet

at someone are seen as impolite.

In temples you may notice locals sitting on the floor with their feet tucked under them or in a

cross-legged position. This it to avoid pointing their feet at the Buddha, which is rude.

A woman may speak to a Buddhist monk, and a man may speak with a Buddhist nun, but

generally the correct thing is to let them approach you.

You may see people greeting one another with a bow of the head, and in some countries this will

be accompanied with hands pressed together as in prayer. Traditionally, the deeper the bow, the

more respect one is showing, with the greatest respect being towards elders and clergy. For you, a

gentle western-style handshake is an acceptable greeting, but if you wish to try the more

traditional head bow, that‘s OK too.

In Thailand the king is held in high regard, to the point where even images of him are treated

respectfully.

Language Barrier You can have some great ‗conversations‘ with local people who do not speak English, even if you don‘t

speak a word of the local language. Indeed, this non-verbal communication can be a highly rewarding part

of travel. To break the ice, bring along some family photographs, or a few postcards of your hometown. If

you want to meet kids, bring a puppet or other interactive toy. Your Trip Leader can help get the ball

rolling.

Our Vehicles We use a variety of transportation, making our travel between destinations part of the fun. We get around

in a comfortable, air-conditioned mini-bus, and experience traditional transportation as well. By land, we

join commuters on a local train, take an elephant ride with a rain forest timber farmer, and board a

songtaew taxi truck to visit hill tribes. By water, we ride in a longtail speedboat on the River Kwai, a

bamboo raft, and a rice barge in Uthaithani. We take one short flight within this trip between Chiang Mai

and Bangkok.

Taking Photographs The etiquette of photographing most people is about the same as it would be on the streets of your

hometown. You need permission to take a close-up, but not for a crowd scene. Be especially polite if you

want to photograph an older person. If you want to shoot a great portrait, show interest in your subject, try

to have a bit of social interaction first. Then use sign language to inquire if a picture is OK. Your Trip

Leader can help.

Please do not take photographs of military personnel, military compounds, or other official

institutions/personnel (such as police). This may result in the confiscation of your camera.


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Safety & Security Common Sense and Awareness As you travel, exercise the same caution and awareness that you would in a large American city. Don‘t

be overly nervous or suspicious, but keep your eyes open. If you are venturing out after dark, go with one

or two other people. Carry a one-day supply of cash in your pocket. Carry most of your money, and your

passport, in a travel pouch or money belt under your shirt. Replenish your pocket supply when you are in

a safe and quiet place, or in our vehicle.

Do not leave valuable items unattended in your room or on the bus. Almost all of our hotels offer use of a

hotel safe at the front desk or an electronic in-room safe (for which you can set a personal PIN number).

Please utilize them.

Pickpockets may create a sudden distraction. In any sort of puzzling street situation, try to keep one hand

on your money belt. If an encounter with a local turns out to be long and complicated and involves money

or your valuables, be very careful. Con artists sometimes target travelers.

Communications To ensure you are available during your trip to friends and relatives at home, you will receive two copies

of your hotel list, including phone numbers, with your Final Documents. One copy is for you to bring,

and one to leave behind with friends or relatives in case they need to contact you during the trip.

When calling overseas from the U.S., dial 011 for international exchange, then the country code

(indicated by a plus sign: +), and then the number. The country codes on this trip are: +66 for Thailand,

+60 for Malaysia, +95 for Burma, and +855 for Cambodia. Phone numbers abroad may not have the same

number of digits as U.S. numbers; even numbers within a country can vary depending on the city and if

the phone is a land line or cell phone.

Cell Phones If you want to use your cell phone on the trip, check with your phone provider to see if your phone and

service will work outside of the U.S. It may turn out to be cheaper to rent an international phone or buy a

SIM card onsite. If you want to use a local SIM, just make certain your phone can accept one.

Phone Availability in Burma For a long time visitors could not use their own phone in Burma, but international roaming with western

cell phones is now possible in some cases; the situation is changing fast, so it is best to check with your

own cellular provider. Even if you can use your cell phone to make calls in Burma, you might not be able

to use other services (like texting). Network access is often patchy or non-existent in rural areas, but

usually works well in towns.

If you can‘t use your own phone, then other options are available, such as making calls from your hotel.

(Public phones are rare, even in large cities.) Domestic calls costs aren‘t extravagant, but overseas calls

from Burma are some of the most expensive in the world. Calling ―collect‖ is not available in Burma.

Another option is to try using a local GSM SIM card, which can be purchased in Rangoon in small phone

stores. Two cellular companies offer services in Bruma, Ooredoo (based in Qatar) and Telenor (based in

Norway). And finally, some roaming services are available with Asian networks, including Thailand

(AIS), Singapore (M1 and Singtel), Indonesia (Telkomsel) and Vietnam (Viettel).


THM 17 11/04/16 42

Calling Cards and 1-800 Numbers When calling the U.S. from a foreign country, a prepaid calling card can be useful because it circumvents

unexpected charges from the hotel. Calling cards purchased locally are typically the best (less expensive,

more likely to work with the local phones, etc.).

One reminder: Do not call U.S. 1-800 numbers outside the continental United States. This can result in

costly long distance fees, since 1-800 numbers do not work outside the country.

Calling Apps Another option is to use a smartphone app like Skype or FaceTime. These services are usually less

expensive than making a traditional call, but you‘ll need a Wi-Fi connection and the calls may count

towards your phone plan‘s data allowance. Many smartphones—and some tablets or laptops—come with

one of these apps pre-installed or you can download them for free from the appropriate apps store.

Internet Most hotels in Thailand and Malaysia have Internet services available, some for free, some for an hourly

charge. Most hotels will provide WiFi service in a common area, like the lobby or reception, or in the

rooms. However, the WiFi connections in hotels are generally not stable. They are unpredictable; so you

may be better off leaving your device at home and relying on places that provide computers, like hotels

with a business center or Internet cafes.

Additional Resources

THM 17 11/04/16 43

8. Additional Resources

Suggested Readings Here are few of our favorite movies that are about, set in, or from the region you‘ll be traveling. Most are

available on movie websites—or even your public library. Sometimes films produced outside of the US

may be harder to find, but they are usually available online.

General Southeast Asia: A Traveller's History of Southeast Asia by J.M. Barwise and Nicholas J. White (History)

As compact history of a diverse region, this book packs a wealth of information into its well-written and well-

organized pages. (And yes, the title has two ―L‖s; the series is British).

The River's Tale, A Year on the Mekong by Edward Gargan (Travel Narrative) Describes in beautiful

detail a year spend on the Mekong River during a 3,000-mile journey from its source in China through

Tibet, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Sri Rahula (Religion) A useful overview of Buddhism as it is practiced

in Southeast Asia by an internationally recognized authority who just happens to also be a Buddhist monk.

Thailand:

Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon (Biography) Some say the tale is more fanciful than true, but

it certainly has endured. This is the classic account of a governess in mid-19th century Siam that inspired the

musical, The King and I.

Bangkok 8, A Novel by John Burdett (Mystery) Reminiscent of a film noir—gritty, suspenseful, and

sometimes darkly funny—this book explores the underside of Thailand‘s capital through a series of

mysterious deaths by snakebite. The detective, who is a member of the Royal Thai police, also stars in

sequels like: Bangkok Tattoo and Bangkok Haunts.

Bangkok, A Cultural History by Maryvelma O'Neil (History) Art historian O'Neil‘s scholarly book details the

city‘s art, history, royal ceremony, and tradition in such depth that it is sometimes used as a college textbook,

despite coming in at less than 300 pages.

Sightseeing by Rattawut Lapcharoensap (Short Stories) The author‘s debut work is a collection of short

stories set in present-day Thailand. Inspired in part by Lapcharoensap own Thai-American heritage; critically

well received.

The Food of Thailand: A Journey for Food Lovers edited by Kay Halsey (Food) A well-researched collection

of Thai recipes from different regions along with special sections on cooking techniques and presentational

tips that are uniquely Thai.

Traveler's Tales Thailand edited by Larry Habegger and James O'Reilly (Culture) A collection of useful and

memorable stories that show a spectrum of experiences to be had (or to be avoided) in Thailand. The authors

come from many walks of life: some are teachers, writers, scientists—all of them have tales to tell that will

help to deepen and enrich your experience in Thailand.


THM 17 11/04/16 44

Malaysia:

Evening is the Whole Day by Preeta Samarasan (Fiction) This debut novel follows six-year-old Aasha as

she navigates the loss of people around her—including the mysterious dismissal of a family servant.

The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka (Fiction) This story is the sometimes-tragic, sometimes-hopeful saga

of Lakshmi, who leaves Sri Lanka at 14 to marry an unknown man and becomes the matriarch of a

sprawling family in 1930s and 1940s Malaysia.

My Life as a Fake by Peter Carey (Fiction) What happens if you make up a fake identify only to find that

someone believes they are that person? This novel explores the idea in the context of a literary hoax gone

sideways.

The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Aw (Fiction) Set in World War II Malaysia the plot centers around

the reputation of Johnny Lim, who neighbors think is a hero but whose son thinks he‘s a crook.

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng (Fiction) A slow-paced story about Yun Ling and her

relationship with a master gardener who agrees to help her create a memorial to her sister. Only one

problem—the gardener is Japanese and Yun Ling‘s sister died in a Japanese camp.

Burma: Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin (Travel Narrative) A journalist travels the country in

search of another young writer—the brilliant George Orwell, author of Animal Farm and 1984—who lived in

Burma during the 1920s. If you enjoy this book, or just like Orwell in general, you might also want to look

for his first novel, Burmese Days. It was loosely based on his experiences as a police officer in the Indian

Imperial Police when Burma was an adjunct of British India.

Flame Tree, A Novel of Modern Burma by Keith Dahlberg (Literature) George, a quiet and unassuming

teacher in Burma, finds himself mediating between two warring factions—a dictator and a group of rebel—in

an attempt to save his wife, who is being held hostage.

Freedom from Fear by Aung San Suu Kyi (Memoir/Political Commentary) A collection of speeches, letters,

and essays from Aung San Suu Kyi, a human rights activist and winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize who

was repeatedly arrested by the Burmese government for her work. If you are interested in Ms. Kyi, a good

biography of her remarkable life is The Lady: Aung San Suu Kyi by Barbara Victor.

Quartered Safe Out Here: A Harrowing Tale of World War II by George MacDonald Fraser (Memoir) An

exciting and action-packed memoir about the author‘s experiences in Burma during the final year of World

War II as a 19-year-old private.

Cambodia:

A History of Cambodia by David Chandler (History) A clear and succinct account of modern Cambodia

that starts in 1953 and extends to the rise and fall of the Khmer Rouge, the death of the noxious Pol Pot in

the late 1990s, and the return of peace to this lovely land.

First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung (Memoir) A personal

account of Ung‘s experiences throughout the Khmer Rouge years as a survivor of the Pol Pot regime.


THM 17 11/04/16 45

Golden Bones, An Extraordinary Journey from Hell in Cambodia to a New Life in America by Sichan Siv

(Memoir) Deputy Ambassador to the UN during the Bush administration, Siv looks back on a remarkable

life, from his privileged childhood in Pochentong to the murderous reign of Pol Pot, his escape from a work

camp to freedom and, eventually, life in America.

Many Many Many Gods of Hinduism by Swami Achuthananda or Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction by

Kim Knott (Religion) Although the primary focus of these books is on Indian Hinduism, some previous

travelers felt that knowing about the Hindu religion is helpful to put the Angkor temples in context.

Odyssey Guide Angkor, Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples by Dawn Rooney Considered by many as

the indispensable guide to Khmer culture and history

Guidebooks:

Your Trip Leader will be happy to provide recommendations and suggestions during the trip, so a

guidebook is not a necessity. But a good one can be invaluable as a one-stop reference, so for those

travelers who have asked for suggestions, we offer these guidelines. Since different guidebook series each

have their own target audience and structure, it is well worth your time to browse your local library or

bookstore to find the one(s) you like best. To get you started, here is some general information on the

most popular series:

Culture Smart! – Focuses on local customs and etiquette instead of sights, dining, etc.

DK Eyewitness – Innovative visuals make these books easy to use and a nice souvenir once the

trip is over. The focus is primarily on the sights and activities.

Fodor’s – A classic guidebook with strong information on activities, shopping, and dining. Good

mix of upscale recommendations and budget suggestions.

Frommer’s – A comprehensive guide series that is known for its restaurant recommendations.

Insight – Offers more information on history and culture than usual, nice visuals, good maps.

Lonely Planet – Practical guides geared towards a more adventurous traveler on a budget.

National Geographic – From the same company that publishes the magazine. Excellent

photographs, good information on history, nature, and culture.

Rough Guides –For the independent traveler on a budget. Particularly known for their maps.

Maps: Most hotels will provide maps free of charge at the reception desk or in your room. These maps are

usually sufficient for our travelers, but if you plan on any independent exploration, you may wish to

consider purchasing a map before your departure. This can be especially useful in a country that doesn‘t

use the Roman alphabet as the hotel maps may only be printed in the local language.

Some recommended map series include: Rand McNally international maps (especially the StreetWise

series), Insight‘s FlexiMaps, and Rough Guide‘s destination maps. We suggest that you visit your local

bookstore or library to get a better sense of which type of map is best for your needs before making a

purchase.


THM 17 11/04/16 46

Suggested Movies Here are few of our favorite movies that are about, or set in, or from the region you‘ll be traveling. Most

are available at movie rental stores and websites—or even your public library. Sometimes films produced

outside of the U.S. may be harder to find, but they are usually available online.

Southeast Asia:

Apocalypse Now (1979, Drama) Set in the midst of the Vietnam War, this intense drama follows a special

ops soldier on a dangerous mission. The film is actually an adaptation of Joseph Conrad‘s book, Heart of

Darkness.

City of Ghosts (2002, Drama) A con man looking for his payout, his criminal mentor, a trustworthy cyclo

driver, and a pretty NGO worker are just some of the people that inhabit this increasingly dangerous

story, which is mostly set in Cambodia. Filmed on location in Phnom Penh and at a pre-Angkor temple.

Good Morning Vietnam (1987, Comedy) While the irreverent humor of Armed Forces Radio Service

host Adrian Cronauer (Williams) amuses the troops stuck in Vietnam, he clashes with the Army brass

who try to censor his show.

In the Mood for Love (2001, Foreign) Although this story of two spurned spouses finding comfort in

each other is set in Hong Kong of the 1960s, most of the exteriors and street scenes are actually Bangkok,

and the final sequence was filmed in Cambodia‘s Angkor Wat complex. In Cantonese with subtitles.

Indochine (1992, Foreign) When a well-to-do French plantation owner and her adopted Vietnamese

daughter both fall for the same naval officer, their lives get swept up in the burgeoning nationalist

movement. Set in French Indochina of the 1930s; in French with subtitles.

MASH (1970, Drama/Comedy) A group of U.S. Army doctors fight disease, war, and military insanity in

Southeast Asia. Although the action is meant to be the Korean conflict, it was widely understood to be a

comment on the Vietnam War. The darkly comedic tone of the movie was so popular that it was

developed into a long-running TV series, M*A*S*H.

Never So Few (1959, Drama) When American OSS operatives are sent to train local Burmese fighters

against the Japanese during WWII, they didn‘t expect the lack of support from their commanders, the

overwhelming odds against them, or the interference of murderous Chinese rebels. Can just a few soldiers

really make a difference?

Red Dust (1932, Classic) Set on a rubber plantation in French Indochina, this film is all about desire and

romantic intrigue: Although initially attracted to a tough and brassy beauty (Harlow) plantation foreman

Gable soon falls instead for the classy wife of an employee (Astor). Surprisingly, the film includes some

fairly accurate depictions of rubber production and the challenges of a remote jungle plantation

(monsoons and malaria, just to name two).

Rescue Dawn (2006, Drama) The harrowing based-on-true-life story of an American fighter pilot shot

down over Laos during the 1960s and his subsequent escape from his captors.

The Beach (2000, Drama) An American backpacker in Thailand searches for an idyllic secret beach

community described by a fellow traveler. But if and when he finds it, will it be a paradise or a purgatory?

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957, Classic) The dramatic story of the dangerous construction of a

railway bridge by British POWs under the control of the Japanese army during WWII.


THM 17 11/04/16 47

The Impossible (2012, Drama) A family on vacation in Thailand struggles to first survive and then find

each other in the immediate aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.

The Killing Fields (1984, Drama) Based on the work of New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg

(Waterston) and his translator Dith Pran (Ngor), this war drama explores the tragic rise of the Khmer

Rouge in Cambodia.

The King and I (1956, Musical) A colorful and fun production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical

that is loosely based on the life of Anna Leonowens, the British governess to the King of Siam (modern-

day Thailand). The same story also inspired two other (non-musical) movies: Anna and the King of Siam

starring Irene Dunne and Rex Harrison (1946) and Anna and the King starring Jodie Foster and Chow

Yun-Fat (1999).

The Lady (2011, Foreign/Biopic) A romantic tribute to the Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi, this biopic

focuses on her relationship with her husband as much as on her political work. The cast and crew received

high praise for authenticity, especially Michelle Yeoh, who reportedly learned Burmese to play the lead

role. In English and Burmese.

The Quiet American (1958, Classic) A love triangle between a British journalist, a young Vietnamese

woman, and a U.S. official, based on the novel by the same name. The 2002 remake starring Michael

Caine and Brendan Fraser puts more emphasis on the intrigue and seedy side of Saigon in the 1950s, but

is also quite good.


THM 17 11/04/16 48

Useful Websites

Overseas Adventure Travel Forum (tips from previous travelers)

www.oattravel.com/legacy/community/travel-forum.aspx?icid=global:community:travelforum

Overseas Adventure Travel Store www.oatshop.com

International Health Information/CDC (Centers for Disease Control) http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Electricity & Plugs www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets

Foreign Exchange Rates www.xe.com/currencyconverter

www.oanda.com/converter/classic

ATM Locators www.mastercard.com/atm

www.visa.com/atmlocator

World Weather www.intellicast.com

www.weather.com

www.wunderground.com

Basic Travel Phrases (80 languages) www.travlang.com/languages

Travel Tips www.travelite.org

U.S. Customs & Border Protection www.cbp.gov/travel

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) www.tsa.gov

National Passport Information Center www.travel.state.gov

Holidays Worldwide www.timeanddate.com/holidays

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