Going on a meditation retreat

Thousands of Thais ปฏิบัติธรรม for a weekend or a week, and many centres welcome foreigners. Expect white clothes, a 4 a.m. bell, the ศีลแปด (no food after midday, no music or make-up), sitting and walking meditation in turns, chores, and noble silence. Most temples and centres ask only for a donation. Wat Suan Mokkh near Chaiya has long run a ten-day international retreat in English that starts on the first of every month; centres in Chiang Mai and forest monasteries in Isaan also take English speakers. Etiquette: sit lower than monks, don't point your feet at them or at Buddha images, and women hand things to monks via a cloth or a table rather than directly. Bring a shawl and mosquito repellent.