DIRECTORY A-ZGAY & LESBIAN TRAVELLERScom; Glass Haus Bldg, 15th
fl, suite 1503, Th Sukhumvit);
Chiang Mai Consulate (% 0
5324 3066; 33/1 Th Thung
Hotel, Wat Gate)
Indonesia (Map p 86 ; % 0
2252 3135; http://www.kemlu.go.id/
bangkok; 600-602 Th Phetch-
aburi, Bangkok)
Ireland (Map p 90 ; %0 2677
7500; http://www.irelandinthailand.
com; 28th fl, Q House, Th
Sathon Tai, Bangkok) Consu-
late only; the nearest Irish
embassy is in Kuala Lumpur.
Israel (Map p 92 ; %0 2204
9200; bangkok.mfa.gov.il;
Ocean Tower 2, 25th fl, 25 Soi
19, Th Sukhumvit, Bangkok)
Japan Bangkok (Map p 90 ;
%0 2207 8500; http://www.th.emb
-japan.go.jp; 177 Th Withayu/
Wireless Rd); Chiang Mai
Consulate (%0 5320 3367;
104-107 Airport Business Park,
Th Mahidon)
Laos (%0 2539 6678; http://www.
bkklaoembassy.com; 502/1-3
Soi Sahakarnpramoon, Pracha
Uthit/Soi 39, Th Ramkamhaeng,
Bangkok)
Malaysia (Map p 90 ; % 0
2629 6800; 35 Th Sathon Tai,
Bangkok) Also has a consu-
late in Songkhla.
Myanmar (Burma; Map p 82 ;
%0 2233 2237; http://www.mofa.
gov.mm; 132 Th Sathon Neua,
Bangkok)
Nepal (%0 2391 7240; http://www.
immi.gov.np; 189 Soi 71, Th
Sukhumvit, Bangkok)
Netherlands (Map p 86 ; % 0
2309 5200; http://www.netherland
sembassy.in.th; 15 Soi Tonson,
Th Ploenchit, Bangkok)
New Zealand (Map p 86 ; % 0
2254 2530; http://www.nzembassy.
com; 14th fl, M Thai Tower, All
Seasons Pl, 87 Th Withayu/
Wireless Rd, Bangkok)
Philippines (Map p 92 ; % 0
2259 0139; http://www.philembassy-
bangkok.net; 760 Th Sukhum-
vit, Bangkok)
Russia (Map p 82 ; % 0 2234
9824 http://www.thailand.mid.ru;
78 Soi Sap, Th Surawong,
Bangkok) Also consulates in
Pattaya and Phuket.
Singapore (Map p 82 ; % 0
2286 2111; http://www.mfa.gov.sg/
bangkok; 129 Th Sathon Tai,
Bangkok)
South Africa (Map p 90 ; % 0
2659 2900; http://www.saem
bbangkok.com; 12A fl, M Thai
Tower, All Seasons Place, 87 Th
Withayu/Wireless Rd, Bangkok)
Spain (Map p 92 ; %0 2661
8284; es.embassyinformation.
com; 23 fl, Lake Ratchada Of-
fice Complex, 193 Th
Ratchadaphisek, Bangkok)
Switzerland (Map p 86 ; % 0
2674 6900; http://www.eda.admin.ch/
bangkok; 35 Th Withayu/Wire-
less Rd, Bangkok)
UK Bangkok (Map p 86 ; % 0
2305 8333; ukinthailand.fco.gov.
uk; 14 Th Withayu/Wireless Rd);
Chiang Mai Consulate (Map
p 240 ; %0 5326 3015; British
Council, 198 Th Bamrungrat)
Consulate also in Pattaya.
USA Bangkok (Map p 86 ; % 0
2205 4049; http://bangkok.
usembassy.gov; 95 Th With-
ayu/Wireless Rd); Chiang Mai
Consulate (Map p 240 ; % 0
5310 7777; 387 Th Wichay-
anon)
Vietnam (Map p 86 ; %0 2251
5836-8; http://www.vietnamembassy-
thailand.org; 83/1 Th Withayu/
Wireless Rd, Bangkok)Gay & Lesbian
Travellers
Thai culture is relatively toler-
ant of both male and female
homosexuality. There is a
fairly prominent gay and les-
bian scene in Bangkok, Pat-
taya and Phuket. With regard
to dress or mannerism, les-
bians and gays are generally
accepted without comment.
However, public displays of
aff ection – whether hetero-
sexual or homosexual – are
frowned upon. Utopia (www.
utopia-asia.com) posts lots
of Thailand information for
gay and lesbian visitors and
publishes a guidebook to the
kingdom for homosexuals.Holidays
Government offi ces and
banks close on the following
days.1 January New Year’s Day
February (date varies)
Makha Bucha Day, Buddhist
holy day
6 April Chakri Day, com-
memorating the founder of
the Chakri dynasty, Rama I
13–14 April Songkran
Festival, traditional Thai New
Year and water festival
5 May Coronation Day,
commemorating the 1946
coronation of HM the King
and HM the Queen
1 May Labour Day
May/June (date varies)
Visakha Bucha, Buddhist
holy day
July (date varies) Asahna
Bucha, Buddhist holy day
12 August Queen’s Birthday
23 October Chulalongkorn
Day
October/November (date
varies) Ork Phansaa, the end
of Buddhist ‘lent’
5 December King’s Birthday
10 December Constitution
Day
31 December New Year’s EveInsurance
A travel- insurance policy to
cover theft, loss and medical
problems is a good idea. Poli-
cies off er diff ering medical-
expense options. There is
a wide variety of policies
available, so check the small
print. Be sure that the policy
covers ambulances or an
emergency fl ight home.
Some policies specifi cally
exclude ‘dangerous activi-
ties’, which can include scuba
diving, motorcycling or even
trekking. A locally acquired
motorcycle licence is not
valid under some policies.
You may prefer a policy
that pays doctors or hospi-
tals directly rather than you
having to pay on the spot
and claim later. If you have
to claim later make sure you
keep all documentation.
Worldwide travel insur-
ance is available at http://www.
lonelyplanet.com/travel_
services. You can buy, extend
and claim online anytime