Insurance
The Organisers of the Conference  do not provide insurance and do not take responsibility for any loss, accident or illness that might occur during the Conference or in the course of travel to or from the meeting site. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the participants to check their coverage with their insurance provider.

Bank, Currency, Credit Cards
The unit of currency Thailand Bhat ( THB),  International credit cards (AmEx, EC/MC, Visa) are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and shops. ATMs are available at the Airport and all over the city.

Chiang Mai’s Weather: Rainfall and Temperature
Seasonal changes in Northern Thailand are reflected in the  graph below.

Voltage
Thailand’s voltage is 220-240AC, 50 Hertz. The plugs in Thailand are not standardized — there are at least three different types, some two pin and some three, so be sure to either bring a universal adapter or buy one once you arrive in Thailand.
Universal adapters can be purchased before arriving in Thailand or else they can be found in electronics and department stores in major urban centres such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. In rural areas you may have more difficulty finding one
It is not unusual to see multiple socket types in the one building — or even in the one room! The following chart on Wikipedia has photographic examples of each plug type.

Note that especially in older buildings, the earth pin may not actually be wired in correctly. Make no assumptions with regard to grounding.

Chiang Mai tourist and cultural attractions
With well over four million foreign visitors arriving in Chiang Mai annually, the 700 year old city is without doubt one of Thailand’s most important attractions. So, just what is it that brings them to this Northern Province?

Apart from some striking natural beauty and an excellent hospitality industry, Chiang Mai also has a number of attractions to fill its tourist brochures. And although it doesn’t have as many entertainment options as some other destinations in Thailand, there are plenty of cultural and natural attractions to keep visitors busy.

The temples dotting the city and its surroundings are among the most popular attractions. On daytrips, you can visit some fantastic mountains and national parks nearby. Chiang Mai city itself has plenty of historic and cultural legacy, while the rest of the province has several pretty waterfalls and caves.

For details please visit the following sites:
http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/what_to_see/attractions/
http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/chiang_mai/chiang_mai_attractions.html
http://www.chiangmai.bangkok.com/attractions/
http://www.chiangdao.com/chiangmai/karenlongneck.htm