JXXXL

This plan is precious and just keeps getting better. You would have to be a genious to write this kind of comedy.

I think Mr. Taksin is under the mistaken impression that other people have a similar disregard for money that he must have. Or, that there are people out there with 1mm baht to spend who are complete idiots.

"Planes do not run on 'steam...."

Really??? Thanks for making that clear for all of us.

Does anyone know what the geographic restrictions are on the TOT service? I live in Hang Dong and last time I checked, there were no ADSL providers in my neck of the woods.

Anyway, congratulations to all who have good broadband service. I miss it

The motorcycle accessory shop on the first floor of Prantip Plaza has a selection of imported helmets - Arai I think.  You will pay for quality.

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Wimpy, if you are serious about protection, buy a quality helmet. In this part of the world, that is Shoei or Arai. You should go to their websites and find a model that suits you and the type of riding you do. The various models have lots of features that may or may not be important to you. Fit is extremely important so you need to find a shop that can help you with that. Once they determine your size, they can order the helment for you.

Index is a brand you see a lot in Thailand and they are cheap. I really don't know they perform, but Shoei and Arai are tested extensively and known to be the best. Index, I doubt, have any standards other than cosmetic.

Try a shop called Sa Moto on West side of Mahidhol Road. Sa is a great guy and a very knowledgable rider. He'll be happy to sell you a cheap helmet, but if you tell him you want something god, he will order it for you in Bangkok.

About price, you should call the Arai dealer in Singapore and ask them for a price. Arai has a poliyc of not letting their dealers quote prices on the internet. If you can get the helment for 20% or less above the Singapore price, you are doing well.

A friend's son is visiting Thailand as part of a world tour.  His mother asked me to look after him while he's here (that may be a mistake ), and I've been asked to recommend a cheap and safe hotel/hostel.  I'm not worried about CM, but I have no idea where he should stay in BKK.  He's young and seems to prefer the hostel scene.

Can someone please recommend something?

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I only stayed in a hostel once on Khao San rd years ago, it was blo0dy awful!!

But looking on the web, this place seams to have a fair few recomendations:

Sukhumvit 11, hostel

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Shola, thanks for that. The experience you had is exactly what I'm worried about.

Cheers

A friend's son is visiting Thailand as part of a world tour. His mother asked me to look after him while he's here (that may be a mistake ), and I've been asked to recommend a cheap and safe hotel/hostel. I'm not worried about CM, but I have no idea where he should stay in BKK. He's young and seems to prefer the hostel scene.

Can someone please recommend something?

Quite seriously, if you get car sick, better expect a miserable drive. I don't have a problem if I am driving, but if I'm in the back of a mini-bus on a road like that, I may spew .

I rode there on a bike and did the loop. On the way home, I took a nasty spill on on of the 1,000+ hairpin turns - had to ride home in the back of a truck with my battered bike and bloody limbs.

It's a beautiful place though.

Hi,

I wonder if there is health insurance programs in private hospitals in Chiang Mai. Does Lanna Hospital has one ? Is it expensive and does it covers all ?

Any information and tips will be appreciated.

Thank you

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I recently signed me and the missus up for BUPA Blue Cross becuase I heard many good things about then reading about the subect on various Thailand discussion groups. The most time consuming part is chosing the plan you feel is most appropriate for your needs. I ride a motorcycle so I figure the likelyhood for a big ticket hospital stay is higher than for most. So, I took the second to the highest plan. I passed on the outpatient coverage which I thought was high for what you get.

There's a BUPA office on the inner ring road just past Chotana road (sorry, I am pathetic with street names in CM). Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

I need to do some alterations on a leather motorcycle jacket.  Anyone know of a place in Chiang Mai that could handle it?

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Wimpy,

There's a guy who does nice leather work on the Soi, off or night bazaar road, where the food center is. Go past the food center and his shop is on the right side. He was recommended by the guys in my bike club and does work for many of the other local biker. His prices are reasonable too.

DO NOT take your jacket to a tailor, they don't have the special tools or machines to work on leather. I don't know what the ###### ThaiPauly is talking about.

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I went to The House today and it looks like the perfect place. A bit on the expensive side by Thai standards but not too bad for a special night. I will definitely try the other places suggested and will give a critique after eating at The House.

Cheers

The missus and I are planning to have a romantic dinner on Valentines Day. Which to you all think are the most romatic eateries in our area?

P.S. Does anyone know if the Tamarind has a restaurant and if so, is it nice?

Hi, where can I find nicest cakes in Bangkok? Or any website that I can purchase online? Thanks 

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I would try the bakeries in the some of the 5 star hotels. The Sofitel has a nice bakery as does the JW Marriot - you'll pay for it though.

Does anyone know of a place that roasts coffee in CM?  I usually buy mine at Rim Ping, which is good, I just was hoping I could find fresh roasted somewhere.

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Libernard Cafe on Chang Moi Rd, just around the corner from Mike's Burgers, has a huge French roaster and they roast coffee two or three times a week. They supply a lot of other restos and cafes in town with freshroasted beans, and it's where I usually buy mine. Much better than anything available at Rim Ping.

The owner, a Chiang Mai native, does three different roasts plus a blend. She's very good at picking quality green beans for roasting, takes it all very seriously. I personally think it's the best whole-bean coffee in Chiang Mai, although the beans at Kasem's aren't too bad either (they've improved a lot over the last two years anyway). There are a few other folks in town who roast coffee but none do it as well as Libernard (at least as far as I know).

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OK, went to Libernard and it's a really cool little shop with a lot of charm. If you're interested in more than just drinking coffee, you have to check this place out. The lady there (forgot her name), in addition to making great coffees, is also an authority and a lot of fun to talk to. She and her husband instruct restaurants around town; I'm planning spending an afternoon there getting schooled.

Thanks again Sabaijai for the great tip.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where to obtain large size - size 12 - shoes.

I have found a few pairs in the more upmarket farang oriented malls but the selection has been very poor to say the least and the prices are too western for my tastes.

ConverselyI have so far found it impossible to locate large sizes in the Thai oriented shops.

I have even sugested that I am quite happy to wait for several weeks/months as they place an order but I am informed they do not do this.

Any suggestions please?

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Querty,

I too am cursed with a US size 12. The only place I've bought shoes in Thailand has been the Emporium dept store. Anywhere else I have just stopped asking as the answer is invariably no. Even in Emporium, it's unusual to find my size. Normally what I do is just ask what they have in my size and then decide if I want anything. Sneakers are usually the easiest to find. Fortunately, I get back to the states enough to stock up there.

So, what's the answer? ###### if I know. 

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Thanks for sharing your experience nonetheless. Sounds like I'm in for a challenge.

What was the number of the sexy ATM hunter?

Does anyone know if there are any good teachers in Doi Saket or Bo Sang?

Preferable some one who will come to the house.

Again thanks in advance.

Post an ad at http://www.chiangmainews.com/classifieds/

I guarantee you will get many responses. I did. Price varies from 100-300 baht per hour.

And don't forget, just because it's one's native language, doesn't mean one is good at teaching it...

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I dredged up this thread while trying to find info on Thai language teachers in CM and took note of Ajarn's point above.

Can someone please tell me what one looks for when selecting a good Thai language teacher? I really don't know where to start.

Does anyone know of a place that roasts coffee in CM?  I usually buy mine at Rim Ping, which is good, I just was hoping I could find fresh roasted somewhere.

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Sabaijai,

Excellent info, thank you very much.

Masking tape would be an insult to their abilities.  There is normally someone with thinner who goes along trying to fix the over splash but guess they were expert enough not to require that service.  As for outlets they do not have a clue that they come apart.  For the most part anyone able to lift a brush is considered a painter.  And DIY is so novel here that they can demand relatively high fees.  Do understand your frustration.

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Thinner???

The true experts finish by scraping all your delicate fixtures with a spackle knife irreparably f*ing everything that once had paint on it.

I feel your pain buddy. Better to do it yourself next time.

Does anyone know of a place that roasts coffee in CM? I usually buy mine at Rim Ping, which is good, I just was hoping I could find fresh roasted somewhere.

Can any out there give advice where to buy new or used wood working equipment??    In the greater Chiang Mai area please...

Maybe  a  lathe, Tablesaw  or some of the other basics  ..

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If you have something in mind and can't find it, my recommendation is to find a distirbutor on the internet (e.g., makita, dewalt) and aske them to recommend a retailer in CM and can order the item for you.

As far as retail shops, there is one good one on the corner of Chotana and the ring road (sorry I can't be more specific).

Morning all,did anybody feel a slight earth tremor around 0835 this morning?????I live out between CM and Mae Rim,no it wasn't the result of Xmas overindulgence or flatulance caused by too much turkey..................

Cheers 

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I felt it for sure, and yes, it very well could have been from my flatulence.

Anyone in the CM Forum been to Mae Sai recently and were they checking all, or some or none for the 20,000 Baht ?????

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Ditto for when I was there about a month ago. I tried my best to wiggle my way out of it to no avail. The chap at the counter let me walk to the ATM on the Thai side of the border to get 10K. My recommendation would be to take this policy seriously.

> The fitness park, on Huay Kaew just before the zoo.

You mean the one almost exactly opposite Phu Phing Police Station? 

I liked the other suggestions, but keep in mind they need to be both away from passing public and constabulary, AND still be reasonably accessible to the attendees.  That's a bit of a conflict, hence the challenge..

I think that having a party in a completely non built-up area is only for special occasions because of the huge extra cost and effort involved.  Much easier to just rent out a restaurant or resort for an evening.  And these would need to be a bit away from full public view, but still fairly accessible, preferably by public transport (or at least Red-Bus'able. )

Speaking of parties, did anyone notice the 'City Beat' (or was it "City Beach"? Don't know because of the Thai pronounciation. ) on Charoeng Muang Roead, on the corner of the first soi on the right after crossing Nawarat bridge.  There are parties there every week-end. Mostly younger foreigners.

Cheers,

Chanchao

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How does one find out when one of this parties happens? Sounds very interesting.

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Thanks Chanchao

My wife's father has a small poultry farm and raises chickens and ducks mostly.  He has one HUGE turkey that he keeps as a novelty.  I had my eye on that beast for Christmas dinner but Dad says it's too old.  Anyway, I have this idea that I may buy a couple of dozen chicks each year for the holiday season, take what I need and sell the rest - providing bird flu doesn't get in the way.  In the US, I always used to order a fresh turkey, it makes a huge difference when the bird isn't frozen.

Will let you all know what happens next Thanksgiving.

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p1p, are you talking about Turkeys? If so, where did you get them?

As far as slautering them, I'll let my Father-in-law be the executioner. I'm too soft as well.

My wife's father has a small poultry farm and raises chickens and ducks mostly. He has one HUGE turkey that he keeps as a novelty. I had my eye on that beast for Christmas dinner but Dad says it's too old. Anyway, I have this idea that I may buy a couple of dozen chicks each year for the holiday season, take what I need and sell the rest - providing bird flu doesn't get in the way. In the US, I always used to order a fresh turkey, it makes a huge difference when the bird isn't frozen.

Will let you all know what happens next Thanksgiving.