PART 4 Practical Tips, and Planning your ICAAP

Welcome to Bangkok - Sawat Dee! Local Transportation

Arriving at the airport Bangkok now has two airports one for low-cost carriers, and the main international airport. Here is what you need to know about getting into the city after you arrive at the airport. Don Muang Airport now hosts low-cost carriers, such as Air Asia. The only way to get to or from the airport is by taxi. When you exit the arrivals area, avoid people who approach you and ask if you need a taxi, and avoid the limo service inside. The best price for taxis is just outside the arrivals area. Look for the signs that point to public taxi and exit that door. There may be a line, but it usually moves quickly. You pay an extra 50 Baht for the service, but you are guaranteed a metered taxi and good service. If there is a lot of traffic the taxi driver will ask if you want to go on the expressway. It is a good idea as it will save time even though it will add to your fare, but not more than 100 Baht (at little over US$ 3 dollars). Suvarnabhumi Airport (pronounced Su-van-ah-pum) is the International Airport. All other flights will land here. There are two ways you can get into the city from here: Airport link - There is now a light-rail link between the airport and the city. Service starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 12 midnight. It is cheap and convenient if you do not have a lot of luggage p. 1 - Part 4: Practical Tips and Planning your ICAAP ICAAP11 Survival Guide

or stuff to carry. It may be awkward if you are carrying large or heavy bags, though, as it may get crowded and you have to walk down a lot of stairs once you get off. If you are traveling light, it is convenient as you can then transfer to the BTS, which is also known as the skytrain if your hotel is near a station. It doesnt cost much either, with a regular route only 45 Baht, and the express 150 Baht. To get to the train, go to the bottom floor of the airport and look for the signs that direct you to the airport rail link. Taxi - Otherwise, you will want to take a taxi. When you exit the arrivals area, avoid people who approach you and ask if you need a taxi, and avoid the limo service inside. (These are over-priced tourist traps.) The best price for taxis is just outside the arrivals area (1st floor). Look for the signs that point to public taxi and exit that door. Find the desk that assigns drivers. There may be a line, but it usually moves quickly. You pay an extra 50 Baht for the service, but you are guaranteed a metered taxi and good service. Coming into the city you will be on the expressway and will have to pay relevant tolls, which should not be more than 100 Baht (a little over 3 US dollars).

Getting Around Town and to the ICAAP venue During the conference, there are a couple of ways to easily get to and from The Queen Sirikit National Convention Center where the ICAAP is being held. First, the conference center is directly on one of the stations on Bangkoks underground rail system known as the MRT. The station is the same name as the convention center - Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Depending on where your hotel is located, you can travel by light-rail directly by MRT (ask at your hotel). If your hotel is near the skytrain, which is known as the BTS, you can take that and then transfer to the MRT. There are two transfer points near the convention center: Asok Station on the BTS, which connects to the MRT at Sukhumvit Station; and Sala Daeng on the BTS which connects to the MRT at Silom Station. Regardless which station you transfer at:

Your final destination is Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

MRT = Underground rail BTS = Skytrain

The BTS and MRT do not share the same ticket system. (Sheesh!) This means you have to purchase a new ticket each time. To expedite the process, you may want to prepare yourself with coins in 10, 5 and 1 Baht for BTS and the MRT (MRT ticket machines accept old 20 Baht bills, but BTS machines only accept coins). On the BTS, you insert your card at the gate and take it when it pops up. Upon exit at your destination, the machine does not return the card when you insert it. The MRT uses tokens that you tap upon entry and deposit upon exit. Advantages of light rail are: not expensive, avoids traffic jams, and generally, is quick. Disadvantages of light rail are: during rush hour there may be long lines getting tickets and long waits for available trains, and crowded cars. p. 2 - Part 4: Practical Tips and Planning your ICAAP ICAAP11 Survival Guide

*Tip Make sure you get on the train going in the right direction! When you get your ticket,
look at where your stop is, and take note of the last stop of that direction. Then, find the proper stairway for the BTS by looking up at the sign that indicates the destination of that line, and climb those stairs. If you get the wrong platform, you have to go down the stairs, and then climb the stairs to the other platform in the Bangkok heat! (Every platform has an escalator, but only on end.) For MRT, the signs are clearly marked and the train entrances face each other. Pay attention to the signs and it is easy to get on the right train!

You can always take a taxi, especially if you are in a group or carrying heavy stuff! It wont cost that much, but there are no guarantees about Bangkok traffic, or getting a taxi to charge you by the meter! Exchanging Money
If you do not have any Thai Baht before you arrive, you may want to exchange a bit at the airport to pay for taxi and food (make sure you get smaller bills to pay the taxi). If you arrive late in the evening you should change at the airport as currency exchange booths in town may not be open. The rates at the airport are not as good as in town, but they are close. If you need to change a lot of money, it may be best to change enough at the airport to get into town and be comfortable for a day or two, and then find an exchange booth the next day. Avoid exchanging money at hotels - they have the worst exchange rates! It is best to make the effort and go outside. Official currency exchange booths are located at some BTS stations, in tourist areas, and some malls also have currency exchange booths with rates posted. All banks exchange as well, but banks are not open on Sunday. There are ATMs, but you may want to check with your bank to find out what sort of fees they charge. Keep cash or any valuables in the safe in your hotel room.

Food
Bangkok has so much food! If you are on a budget, there are many ways to save money. Some people bring instant noodles from their home country and eat in their rooms. If you prefer to get a taste of Bangkok, just head out to the street. However, many people have a sensitive stomach (and intestinal tract) and may be unable to eat street food. Also, please note that, generally, Thai food is spicy! There are a couple of options for eating out on a budget: The street noodle soup (usually with pork), chicken and rice, pad thai, Issan food (grilled chicken or pork or fish, sticky rice and som tom, also known as papaya salad), red pork on rice, or the occasional order from the menu, are all available. On the street, which also includes small food shops, you can indulge in a variety of flavors for a relatively cheap price (around 100 Baht per person without beer). If you choose the street option, always choose a place where other people are eating, especially Thais. (It is a sign that the food is of good quality.) The main caution with street food is Som Tom and seafood. Som Tom can be spicy, even if you say just a little, because they may not wash the bowl p. 3 - Part 4: Practical Tips and Planning your ICAAP ICAAP11 Survival Guide

that they use to mix it. With seafood, it should be on lots of ice (be careful if ice is melted especially if it is late and hot out), if not, order something else or go somewhere else. Food that has been cooked and is sitting out may also be uncertain, depending on what it is. Know your own sensitivity and dont take chances. (There are also lots of pharmacies that speak English in case.) Food courts During the ICAAP, the convention center has its own food court where you can eat lunch. After the day is done and you want to find a food court for dinner, there are food courts in most malls that provide cheap, clean options for authentic Thai food. At most food courts you either have to get a card that you pay money into and go around using the card to pay, or you purchase coupons. You then refund any remaining money on the card or in coupons at the end. The main disadvantage is that some places can get very crowded (like the one in Terminal 21). Restaurants - If you arent concerned so much with your budget or want to go out for a special meal, there are also lots of restaurants of various ethnicities jammed into the center of the city, including Italian, Mexican, Korean, Japanese, Indian, and even some Thai restaurants. If you eat Halal or love Middle-Eastern food, there is a whole walking street on Sukhumvit Soi 3/1 that has nothing but Middle-Eastern and Halal food. There are some pure vegetarian Indian restaurants in the Sukhumvit area as well near the NaNa BTS station. The Middle Eastern restaurants also have vegetarian options, as do many of the ethnic restaurants mentioned. It will be most difficult to get vegetarian food from a street vendor unless you can speak Thai. For those who have dietary restrictions - plan ahead and identify convenient places where you can eat by doing some research on the internet or asking around.

Weather
Thailand loves air conditioning. If you get cold easily, you may want to bring something to wear inside the conference. Otherwise, the weather in Bangkok is tropical. That means the temperature is warm to hot during the day (28C-33C) and a little cooler at night (26C-28C). Rainy season is over, however, there is a chance there may be some unseasonal rain showers. It is up to you if you want to bring an umbrella or not. They also sell them cheap here in Bangkok.

Planning your ICAAP

If this is your first ICAAP you may feel a little overwhelmed by all the activities scheduled. You may also have specific topics that interest you. So, how do you make sure you get the most out of the ICAAP? First, you need to register. Bring your passport and get ready for a wait in line Some people try and get it out of the way as soon as they can because you need your badge to get into the conference. You dont need a badge to get into the AP Village or Community Forum though. Planning can help. The ICAAP website now has a full schedule uploaded and available for searching. You can look for sessions either by keyword or by type of activity, or by date and time. Also, each of the regional networks, with support from strategic partners, is producing a Roadmap which lists out all the relevant sessions to that specific key affected population (KAP) or topic over the whole

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ICAAP11 Survival Guide

ICAAP (MSM, Sex Workers, People who Use Drugs, Migrants, Youth, Women). It is up to you to identify sessions that are of interest to you or of value to your work. You may want to vary the type of sessions you attend. If you only go to oral presentations, there is a chance you will become insanely bored by what has been termed death by powerpoint. There are other types of activities going on, some of which are interactive, such as skills building sessions, and activities in the networking zones and booths in the AP Village. Check out something different. This year, as at every ICAAP, there is the Pre-conference known as The Community Forum. The Community Forum will be held all day on November 18th and the morning of the 19th, followed by the ICAAP opening ceremonies, a parade and reception. The Community Forum brings together members of the communities and members of civil society for informal but structured sessions to discuss issues that directly impact the Key Affected Populations prior to the conference. It is highly recommended that if you are member of the community or civil society that you attend the Community Forum pre-conference! (http://icaap11.org/index.php/community-programme/community-forum) On November 17th, APCOM (Asia-Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health) will have a full-day MSM pre-conference (http://www.apcom.org/ICAAP11), and in a separate session on the same day, there is also a whole day on Key Affected Women and Girls. Both events will be held at the same venue as the ICAAP (The Queen Sirikit National Convention Center). Each day of the conference (Nov. 20-22) starts with a plenary with prominent speakers. The plenary is intended to set the tone for the day by raising intriguing issues. This will supposedly be simulcast in the AP village in case you are unable to get a seat in the main venue. After the plenary finishes, other sessions start, with many overlapping. Although the planners tried to eliminate overlap of similar sessions as much as possible, there may be cases where you have to choose. One thing you dont want to do is end up in the halls walking back and forth to different sessions instead of actually sitting in a session. To avoid hallway indecision, you may want to prepare your schedule by circling sessions of primary interest, and noting secondary ones. That way, if your first choice isnt as interesting as advertised, you dont have to spend time deciding where to go next, you just have to find the room of your second choice. Be sure to visit and participate in the AP Village. There are networking zones, booths, and the Caf, in the Asia Pacific (AP) Village which will all have their own schedules in a different atmosphere from the main conference. The caf will provide free coffee and have interactive sessions with high level people. There is also a cultural program to wake you up and enliven you, and a film festival to provoke thoughts in another way. Please see the Community Program for listings.

This year is special in the sense that the Youth are going to be prominent. Take note of the Youth program and the numerous activities scheduled at the Youth Networking Zone in the AP Village!

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Community Schedule Highlights

A couple of sessions that may be of particular interest to the community but are not KAP specific include: Session The Community Forum KAP community break out groups Communities Combating: zero funding, zero legal reform, and zero political will Cultural Performance, Opening Ceremony, Parade and Reception Dialogue with Donors on the future funding scenario in AsiaPacific The Future of ICAAP: Do we need one in 2015? The Engagement at Grassroots Level: A dialogue with Asian Red Ribbon Award Winners Meaningful involvement of PLHIV in governance- Sharing experiences of IPPF Member Associations Symposium: Overcoming Intellectual Property Barriers to Affordable Medicines The Right to Health Robert Carr Civil Society Networks Fund Deadlier than the virus: Leadership commitment and actions to end stigma and discrimination Date November 18 November 19 Time 8:30 am 5:00 pm 8:30 am 12:00 pm Venue Hall D

November 19

3:00 pm 9:00 pm

November 20

1:00 pm 3:30 pm

Plenary Hall, Main Stage, down the street to Soi Cowboy Village Caf in AP Village Hall D Village Caf in AP Village PLHIV Networking Zone (AP Village)

November 20 November 20

2:00 pm 3:30 pm 3:30 pm 4:30 pm

November 21

10:00 am 11:30 am

November 21

10:30 am 1:45 pm

Hall C

November 21 November 22

4:30 pm 5:30 pm 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Village Caf in AP Village Hall B

Returning Home or Back to Work

Some people get carried away with all the free publications, brochures, condoms, and things to buy at the market place. Some people go shopping at Bangkoks numerous malls to relieve stress or for enjoyment. Either way, plan your suitcase accordingly: If you take all the free stuff you can, you will end up leaving most of it in your hotel room because your bags will be too heavy. Be selective in what materials you take (publications, CDs, brochures, etc). If not, be prepared to sift through stuff when it is time to leave, or prepare a budget for overweight bags!

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Congratulations! You have survived ICAAP11!

We hope that you enjoyed yourself; you learned something new, met some new people, and used condoms with them.

Getting to the airport on your way out As mentioned in a previous section, there are two airports. Know which one you depart from and plan to get there with enough time accordingly. Make sure you plan to arrive at the airport around 2 hours before your flight departs. (There are check in lines, immigration lines and security lines) Depending on the time of day, it may take up to an hour to get to the airport by taxi. Rush hour can get really congested in the city, and even expressways are known to go slow at certain times. So, to be on the safe side, if your departure is during regular work hours up to around 8 p.m., you may want to leave the hotel at least 3 hours before your flight. (Consult your hotel) If you take the rail-link to Suvarnabhumi, this is what you need to know. You need to get to Phaya Thai station on the BTS. That is where you transfer to the rail-link. The rail-link only takes around half an hour, but it will take some time to get to the rail link. Also, the train leaves every twenty minutes or so. So, if you are taking the BTS or transferring from the MRT onto the BTS, you will need to give yourself some extra time. (It is a bit of a hassle, actually.) All in all, it may take you around one hour to get to the airport if you choose the rail-link. So, if you insist on taking the rail-link, you should leave around 3 hours before departure for the airport to be safe. HOWEVER, if you are going in a group and/or have heavy luggage, you may want to take a taxi instead. (Average taxi fare to an airport will be around 400 Baht including tolls; rail-link and BTS will be around 100 Baht. In the end, you are only saving around 6 or 7 US Dollars by taking rail-link) A note about Thai Politics and Protests Part of Thailands social fabric consists of divisive politics. Currently, there are non-violent protests, but the size and numbers are increasing, and there is more uncertainty in the air. It would be irresponsible to say ignore the protests, but they are also not yet a threat to the general peace. It is not advisable to attend protests and best to avoid them if possible, as there is always an element of the unpredictable. If for some reason you find yourself in an area where there is a protest, simply go about your business and there should not be any problems. It is always good to keep abreast of the current news though. www.bangkokpost.com is a good source of current information. The ICAAP11 Survival Guide series has been supported by the Seven Sisters, also known as the Coalition of Asia Pacific

Regional Networks on HIV/AIDS. Thanks!

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