Gary Fritz wrote in message news:...
> Trying to nail down the time for our trip. Will there be any significant
> difference in weather between the last 2 weeks in January and the first two
> weeks in February?
Not much difference at all. Should be basically dry and warm - tho
there could be the occassional rain.
> We plan to be up around Chiang Mai & in BKK for the
> first week, down in the Krabi area for the second week. I don't mind if
> it's warm when I'm sitting on the beach, and hopefully it will be
> reasonably cool for whatever trekking we end up doing around CM.
What is 'reasonably cool'? You're not quite into the hot hot season
yet, but it's still relatively warm around CM. Generally, I found CM
to be quite warm (>30C) during the day and only slightly cooler at
night. In the mountains - ie between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son,
temps were similar during the day but much cooler at night (enough to
need a fleece). I was last there end of Jan/early Feb, tho the cool
season did seem to come later (January was much colder than the year
prior).
> Totally different subject: is it prudent to take malaria drugs while
> visiting in Jan/Feb?
Ultimately, it's a personal choice, but local recommendations are not
to for a variety of reasons. Correct that during that time of year
malaria cases shoot way down. Also, and more importantly, much of the
malaria on the Thai/Burma borders is resistant to all forms of
prophylaxis at such a high rate that it is not worth taking. On the
Cambodia and Lao borders the resistance is a little lower.
>I've read that the carrier mosquito only feeds in the
> middle of the night, and around CM at least I would think it would be a bit
> nippy for skeeters at night. I get the impression it's only a problem
> along the northern borders (which we will be travelling to).
it is primarily a problem in these regions, however that is because
most of the cases come from across the border.
There is also malaria in the south, but you should be fine in Krabi.
Chiang Mai itself there is no malaria, and the usually regions for
trekking from there have little to no malaria.
> http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/asia/thailand.html says anti-
> malarials are not recommended except in the rural areas of the north;
> http://www.cdc.gov/travel/regionalmalaria/seasia.htm says travellers to the
> border areas need to take an antimalarial drug. Neither says anything
> about reduced risk in the cool months.
Cases do occur all year, and there is a dry season (Nov-April) spike
of cases in December usually (due to pools of rain water giving the
mozzies breeding sites), but the incidence during the dry season is
very low even in the high risk areas. And you are right that the
mosquitoes are less active in the cool season, but Feb isn't exactly
the cool season! That's more like November (ie starting about now).
> Malaria is nasty enough (basically incurable if I understand right, you're
> subject to lifelong effects from it) that I *don't* want to catch it, nor
> do I want to subject my kids to it. But anti-malarials can have nasty side
> effects too, and I don't want to take them if it's not necessary.
It can be cured, depends on the species and the strain. Yes, it is a
particularly nasty disease, but it can be treated and people do
survive w/o lief long effects. Given the levels of resistance, and
where you are travelling to, and the negative side effects of
antimalarials, you are probably better off forgoing any prophylaxis
and instead focus on use of repellents. Also make yourself aware of
the symptoms and if you recognise them, see a doctor immediately. |