HELPFUL HINTS ON USING THE LISTINGS
Names and addresses have been written in Thai script as well as English for this edition. [NOTE: the Thai script is not available in the online edition] The Thai will help convey your destination to bus, songtaew, and taxi drivers. Many characters of the Thai alphabet have no precise English equivalent; if you can read or have someone pronounce the names in Thai, you'll know how to say them correctly.
Thailand has 74 provinces (//jangwat//), which are divided into districts (//amper// or //amphoe//), and subdivided into precincts (//tambon// or //tambol//). The word //ban// means "village." If you see //amper muang// in an address, that means it's in the capital district of that province (provinces take the same name as their capital).
Many wats and meditation centres in Thailand have telephones, but you're not likely to get someone who speaks English; try to have a Thai friend call for you if you don't speak Thai. Telephone area codes, in parentheses, are used only if calling from another area code.
Some wats and centres, as noted in the "Write in Advance?" section, prefer that you write ahead with your plans to visit; but even if not required, an advance letter will always be appreciated.
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