soblue2001

Thanks Little Muppet - I'll be staying near Thapae Road, so quite central.

Was going to start a similar thread when I arrived. Hopefully the smog will have gone and I'll see you over the net.

Doesn't seem to be a great deal of interest in tennis sadly. Early days though!!

I'll PM once I'm there.

I'm arriving Wednesday with my racket.

Not played for years, but I'm sure it's just like riding a bike. Looking for partners too - mixed doubles or mens doubles. Not singles - too old and unfit for that.

If another couple respond we can make up a 4.

I'm late 40's.

I'm coming to CM next week and bringing my tennis racket, and will be posting a similar question re tennis.

Not into badminton, sorry!

Good luck - sure there will be more positive responses.

Regarding where to stay, I'm in a similar boat to you. I'm staying at Veerachai Court (google it if intereted) for at least a month while I get my bearings. Approx 4600 Baht per month.

It's basic, but it's clean enough, safe, internet access available (for extra) and pretty central for town centre.

No doubt there's better - look forward to responses.

Thanks for all responses - plenty of good advice ta.

My plane arrives BKK from Dubai 6-40 pm, hence wanting / being stuck with the last train. Didnt think I'd make it to train station to get the 7.35pm one.

I'm prob 30 kilos luggage and golf clubs (if anyone fancies a game??), hence much cheaper to get on a train.

Nancy L - I did try google prior to posting question and the train site poorly translated from Thai to English - couldn't get my head around it. One train station was called Dutch Cigarettes and another was called I punched her!!!!

I have a contact in CM and I've asked them to try to book the last train.

I'll have a look at Orient Thai -ta -the others were no use, and Chris - I'm hoping you are right - thats prob what I'll go for.

How booked can the last train be on a Tuesday nite? Worst comes to worst I'll just grab a seat.

Thanks all.

Hi Soblue,

I run a pub and many recently arriving travellers have told me that the trains are often 4 or 5 hours late on arrival in Chiang Mai due to having to move at snails pace over track patched together after the flooding last year. So bring a good book! If you want to play golf, call in at The Olde Bell British Pub on Loi kroh Rd and I should be able to fix you up with some golfing partners!

Hope you enjoy your time in Chiang Mai.

Hi - yeah, I know your pub, and met you a few times last year. Gave you a good review on tripadvisor!! My brother sometimes frequents your pub as well...Southampton fan? Sure you know him.

Cheers for heads up about slow train.

Thanks for all advice.

You want to play golf?

The Chiang Mai social golfers club play every Mon at Lanna. Just google them and find all the details.

Just rock up to Lanna Golf Cuub on a Mon before 8 am and look for the expats.

Usually 30 t or hit off each week in allotted groups..

thanks Skills32 - very kind of you. Bookmarked in my head and will check it out.

I'm known as the worst 12 handicap in Scotland. Look forward to being worst 12 handicap in Asia!!

I must admit when I saw the suggestions for a bus, my 1st thought was about the crashes I've read about, mainly on here and other forums.

A bigger factor though was sadly I'm a smoker, and I know I can jump out between carriages for a quick fix.

Relieved I got it all booked now anyway.

Right - it's BOOKED!!!

thanks for link..........finally got it to work.

£18 - happy with that.

looks like the aircon ones are sold out already.

if someone buys a ticket for you in chiang mai how are they going to get it to you ?

that my friend is a very good question. I suppose there's enough time to post it, or I'd thought he might get an e-ticket that he could forward onto me and I'd print off in UK

I'll go back onto the link and try to persevere.

Getting worried now!

Thanks for replies (I'm male btw)

Tried booking on the link, but it kept jumping back to Thai. My brother lives in CM so I've mailed him to see if he can buy ticket at CM station.

Whilst the link was in English it appeared there were only two types of ticket left, so yeah, maybe best to get booked in advance.

Thanks for all responses - plenty of good advice ta.

My plane arrives BKK from Dubai 6-40 pm, hence wanting / being stuck with the last train. Didnt think I'd make it to train station to get the 7.35pm one.

I'm prob 30 kilos luggage and golf clubs (if anyone fancies a game??), hence much cheaper to get on a train.

Nancy L - I did try google prior to posting question and the train site poorly translated from Thai to English - couldn't get my head around it. One train station was called Dutch Cigarettes and another was called I punched her!!!!

I have a contact in CM and I've asked them to try to book the last train.

I'll have a look at Orient Thai -ta -the others were no use, and Chris - I'm hoping you are right - thats prob what I'll go for.

How booked can the last train be on a Tuesday nite? Worst comes to worst I'll just grab a seat.

Thanks all.

I'm planning to get 22.00 train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai on Tuesday 26th February.

Does anyone know if you have to book in advance or can I just roll up at around 8 o'clock and buy ticket.

Is it possible to book online from UK?

Thanks.

Any ideas what I should do.

3g chip in the sgs2 - I'd suggest True-H but up to you. Also use it as a wifi hotspot for the laptop while you're at home. Don't forget to switch the hotspot off when you go out, or your battery will last about 15 milliseconds.

If you must have the laptop on while you're out with your sgs2, your next best option for the laptop would be cable/adsl (or in-building wifi) if you can get it, or a 2nd 3g chip and an aircard.

Thanks Bobl

Apartment where I'm staying has internet at about 10/15 GBP per month - I'll probably utilise that initially and maybe try your suggestion for the SG2.

Ta.

without wishing to hijack OP's responses, any advice on my situation would be appreciated, also Internet related in CM.

Staying just off Thapae Road for 6 months where my laptop will be permanently placed, and on the go with Samsung Galaxy S2 phone.

Want them both connected to net.

Laptop will be sufring, banking, you tube etc......like to have it on all the time, though not necessarily d/l things. Never game.

Mobile for Facebook, GPS etc on the move.

Any ideas what I should do.

Hopefully any responses will compliment OP.

Thanks.

Is there a Club up at the University, or do people just pre-arrange a game and go to play?

I'd be interested in knowing of any Clubs in Chiang Mai. Not played for years - just looking for a club to play doubles on a recreational / non competitive basis. Like a UK 'Club' night mix in.

You'll be a very happy man Pedr.

Sounds like it was a cracking game

It's arrived and I dont like it - sending it back. Too much of a compromise.

Bought a Samsung Galaxy S2 phone and will be using that.

I'll look into the best simcard nearer the time.

Ta for replies!!

I'll be interested in replies here too as I'm in exactly same boat as OP. I'm looking for small automatic, again for maybe 3 plus months.

Again, I'm not mechanically minded and not to keen to get into ownership responsibilities, but I look on that Citylife classifieds page for a decent 2nd hand auto. If I found one at a good price I'd probably take ownership plunge.

If I could get one for 2K baht PCM, I'd just do that though.

another bump

Is their a tennis club in Chiang Mai, where members just come along for a mix in. General non competitive kinda thing?

Re How do you like the 7inch tablet??

I bought it from the internet - It's yet to arrive!!!

just an add on why not buy the nOTE.. Smaller screen 5" but then you have phone and everything in a smaller to carry profile

too late - I bought the Samsung Tablet already. I thought about a smaller phone, or a 10 inch tab, but in the end it was a compromise, so plumped for a 7 inch due to portability. I wont be making many calls anyway, and ironically I'll be using an old Nokia N95 which has a better camera than the Samsung Tablet amazingly.

Again thanks to those who took time to respond.

again thanks for replies

model is costing £379 here, so pretty much the same.

I'll try google maps and see how I get on.

cheers again for assistance everyone

Thanks for all the replies.

I plan to buy the Samsung GT P6800 - quite a high spec. I dont want to buy a separate GPS as the tab seems to be a very adequate GPS on its on (over here anyway), and I was wanting something where I could wander about, take photos, connect to the net and browse ThaiVisa whilst having a beer!!

I suppose from the replies I should buy a sim as backup - I'll check them out. I'll look for something that gives me a few minutes talktime, but mainly high download data allowance.

Again - thanks for assistance.

I'm arriving in CM at end of February and would love to get involved with a regular 4 for mens doubles or mixed doubles, or a 'mix in' club night at any local place. Staying near Thapai Gate and will have motorbike.

I'm 47, not played in years but reasonable 'club' standard in UK.

Plan to stay for at least 6 months, maybe longer.

Would love to get a regular tennis game.

any advice appreciated as I'm a TOTAL novice at these things.

I plan to buy the Samsung Galaxy Tablet in the UK and use it primarily as a GPS for finding my way around BKK and CNX, and also for a holiday in Cambodia.

I'm buying a wi-fi and 3g one.

My question is will it work as a GPS without any sim card - ie no cost to me, and am I able to surf the net without a sim.

Apologies if it's a daft question!!