BonnieandClyde

As a general rule, Thai people don't open gifts in front of the giver. They say a polite thanks and let it go.

There are solid cultural reasons for this. Getting a gift creates an obligation and making it an important gift by showing delight makes the obligation stronger.

You will know your gift was appreciated if they begin to do more little things for you. Invitations to dinner etc. Finding things that you would enjoy. Etc

Insightful post.

That has been our experience exactly.

It is rude to show too much enjoyment of a gift. It is like saying the gift is more important and better than the person.

"...rude to show too much enjoyment of a gift."

That's a big part of it... for sure.

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I went with my g/f to have the zipper on her handbag fixed and the lady who fixed it was very proficient. She and another seamstress were tucked away in a far corner of Warorot Market and they were both very adept and skilled at their sewing stations.

Yep upstairs (Level 2?) inside the big Warorot building you will find a whole bunch of seamstresses, sitting down at their machines, day after day. Good prices and good work.

Thanks to both of you for that information. We'll go tomorrow.

"local" where?

We live in Nong Hoi, but we get around.

Anywhere in or near the city would be OK.

What we meant by "local" was not so much about being nearby, as it was about not being up-market or posh.

A girl who lives in a neighbouring soi and was our seamstress for the past several years is moving away. Newly married last year, her husband has found work in Bangkok, so they are relocating.

Now we are looking for someone to take the place of this girl who we liked very much. The work required is occasional alterations to ready-made clothes.

If any members could provide information about local seamstresses or small shops, it would be much appreciated.

His music was wonderful... Thanks so much to you and all the other artists of every kind that make life better.

I've tried Chinese herbs and acupuncture at several different clinics in Chiang Mai for arthritis pain. Neither one worked for me and the acupuncture hurt too much to continue for more than a few weeks. I guess that it works for some people, but I am not one of them.

Thanks for the input.

It didn't work for many people we know,and know of; but it did work for many others.

It's worth a try unless you are being charged exorbitantly... and that's seldom the case for medical care here in Chiang Mai.

Much obliged for the replies.

There are probably many good shoe repair shops in the neighbourhoods all over Chiang Mai.

The one we go to - because he is competent, reasonably priced, and close to where we live - is on the CM/Lamphun Road. Head south, and his little shop is just past the main entrance to Kawila Barracks on the same side.

Has anyone had any experiences - good or bad - with practitioners of acupuncture in Chiang Mai?

This is probably a topic that has come up before, but some recent information would be very much appreciated.

Try your bank.  Had a couple of copies of my passport certified recently.  Just asked one of the customer service staff to stamp & sign, with bank address & date.  Zero charge 

Thanks so much for that useful information.  It may very well end up as what we will do.

However, the postal option - if it is possible here - is preferable because it is a government agency.

Lawyers, consulates, and private translators all seem to be expensive.

Translation office down by the river road on the old city side of the bridge. Crossing from the romping side come over the bridge and turn right at the T junction. Follow the road keeping eyes open to left side, it has a white sign with red letters saying "translation and visa" in English.

I just got a notarised copy of my passport (900bht) and a translated copy of a letter for proof of address (200bht)
I have no idea if best price or not but that's what was easiest at the time.

Your reply is appreciated, but we were hoping to find a cheaper way to do it.

We have 10+ documents at the moment and will have more in the near future, so it would add up to a lot of money.

Good luck.

The obvious answer is lawyers and consulates;  but if possible we would like to avoid both... high fees and hassles.

Is there a convenient alternative?  The documents are all for local business transactions and don't require any kind of international acceptability.

In the US a date stamped on a document by a postal employee will serve for copywrite purposes - or so we've been told.  Could that be done here?

Thanks for any information.

 

 

 

 

£1.05 on the tin price in UK, but 165 baht ( £3) here!! Rice puds one of the easiest things to make ever.

 

Rice, Carnation type milk, Sugar,  mix em all up, in the oven at about 200 degrees for about three hours......a fraction of the price, and you get that lovely skin on top!! You can even freeze portions for whenever you feel like some.

 

Try it, seriously, its really easy.  

 

 

Sounds good and I want to make some myself - can you tell us the quantities of each please.

 

Would very much like to give this a try, but don't like the taste of canned milk - Carnation or any of the others.

Could light cream or something like Half and Half be substituted?

I just came across this a few days ago and thought it might be of interest to you:

Lawa Guardian Spirits of Chiang Mai.

By Krisri Nimmanhaeminda.

Journal of the Siam Society. Vol. 55. 1967. PDF file.

The annual festival at Wat Doi Kham was referred to in post #8, with a link to a recent CityNews CM article with some excellent photos.

This legend was vaguely familiar to me, but the JSS account provides a wealth of additional information and details that include traditional stories about Queen Chamadevi of Haripunchai [Lamphun], and King Mengrai of Chiang Mai, and their relations with the Lawa.

According to folklore, Pu Sae, Ya Sae, and their son Sudeva Rikshi were Lawas with a propensity for cannibalism, until they met the Buddha on his visit to this area, near what is now Mae Rim.

After trying to make a meal of him, the trio were converted to Buddhism, and the son, Sudeva, became a monk living on the mountain that now bears his name: Doi Suthep.

The legend has it that from this time onward the Lawa people gave up cannibalism and began to be assimilated; first with the Mon to the south - with whom they are distantly related - then with the Thai, who later started coming down from the north.

The father, the mother, and the son, as a trinity of spirits have been venerated by both Thais and Lawas ever since.

People with a bias against animism often point out that they are given propitiatory offerings out of fear that they might revert to cannibalism. No doubt there is some truth in that; done on the principal that it's a good idea to cover all the bases.

It's all a part of what Chiang Mai has been, and still is.

The JSS article was full of interesting information. Combined with the photographs in the CityNews piece linked by mamborobert it makes an excellent reference for this subject that we thank you both for.

Is this legend the only one that says the Lawas practiced cannibalism at one time?

Allow me to make a few comments on your question about the Lawa people of Northern Thailand.

Linguistic studies have shown that they are distantly related to the Mon of Lower Burma whose cultural high-point was the 6th century AD Dvaravati kingdom with its capital at Nakorn Pathom in what later became Siam.

When the Kohn Muang migrated south from their old kingdom of Nanchao in present-day Yunnan, the Lawa were here as the principal ethnic group in what eventually became Lanna Thai - beginning as little kingdoms and principalities dominated by the newcomers.

Archaeological evidence from caves and rock shelters suggests the Lawa may have been here as early as the 5th century BC.

It is often said that the newly arrived Thai enslaved the Lawa and suppressed whatever culture they had. A careful reading of history shows that this is untrue. No doubt large numbers were impressed into servitude of one kind or another; as so often happens when a higher culture collides with an inferior one - or simply a weaker one.

The Chiang Mai Chronicle [Wyatt/Wichienkeo trans. Silkworm Books. 1995], always a plausible source of information, tells us that debt slavery was widespread among the Chaos of Chiang Mai and even among many landowners.

On the positive side is the fact that the Lawa continued to flourish as a people. Their simple culture and traditions were tolerated, and even encouraged to a certain extent by the Kohn Muang. They had the right to own land there were many Lawa villages that had a great deal of autonomy.

I hope that's helpful. It's just about all I know of the Lawa. - in a nutshell.

Sorry I can't recommend any books on the subject. The Lawa are referred to often, but I can't think of a single definitive study on these interesting people who seem to share with the Kohn Muang an instinctive civility and an artistic sense that is reflected in their highly refined folkarts.

Further study would disabuse anyone of the notion that the Kohn Muang had tried to suppress or exterminate the Lawa.

Live and let live... that's what Chiang Mai has been more often than not throughout its long history.

Helpful indeed and very interesting. Thanks a lot.

All the other informative replies are much appreciated as well. It's great to have access to such a wide range of information and the good-hearted people who are willing to share it so readily.

We are looking for any information about the Lawa people in and around Chiang Mai.

A very nice girl who lives in a neighbouring soi recently married a local boy who was described to us as a Lawa.

Having known the girl for several years as our seamstress and casual friend, we usually aren't shy about asking her questions, but in this case we don't want to appear too inquisitive. Hence the request for information here on the forum.

We understand that the Lawa pre-dated the Thais, and that they were somewhat persecuted.

What are some good sources concerning their history, culture, and traditions? The short articles that come up on Google are interesting, but don't have much information about Lawas near here past and present.

Thanks for any help.

Tell her to contact me as I have a very Good collection of cookbooks etc French style Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Thank you for your considerate offer... we will pass it on to our young friend.

This article on Cooking Schools in Chiang Mai might be able to help you out.

Thanks so much for that.

A very nice Thai girl who lives on our soi is looking for the best cooking school in Chiang Mai - the best in terms of advantage in finding future employment or in opening her own restaurant.

She is in her late twenties; graduated from CMU, then went to the US where she worked as a waitress at a posh little Thai bistro in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. She also took a management course at a community college.

Now back home and at loose ends, she wants to learn Thai cooking and western-style baking from professionals.

Her own inquiries have resulted in several recommendations for Chiang Mai Polytechnic College on Huay Gaew, across from KSG. Are any members familiar with this place? Information about it - good or bad - would be appreciated.

Other than that, evaluations of other schools would be welcome as well. Language is no problem; she is fluent in English and even speaks a little French. Nor does money seem to be. Her parents are fairly well-to-do.

Much obliged for any help.

Before settling in Chiang Mai semi-permanently, we were frequent visitors, starting in the 1990s.

As snowbirds, our visits would usually coincide with the Winter Fair. In those days it was held at the old Sanahm Gee-lah near the Chang Puak Monument.

It wasn't something to write-home-about, but it was fun, and there were a lot of good things on sale. One year Garuda Airlines had a booth promoting their services and selling craftwork from Indonesia at very low prices. We bought a pair of beautiful Javanese Wayang [is that right?] Puppets that we still have.

What prompted the topic was curiosity about what it is like now.

So thanks for all the helpful replies and the warnings as well.

We'll try to go sometime before it ends.

Our neighbour's daughter and her boyfriend just got back and told us it was "sa-nook"; a predictable response.

Have any members gone? What's it like this year? Is it worth the trip?

Thanks for any input.

This might be of interest to you:

http://jetsetcitizen.com/cheap-travel/doi-suthep-hike/

Great link! Thank you very much. Makes it easy to do on your own not having to enter a competition as to who is the fastest. There are many sights and sounds to enjoy whilst doing a leisurely walk.

Good point.

There are times when you want fast company, and there are times when you don't.

usually cheaper inside the city area. Around 400 and 600. Don't pay for any of the extras (E.M., sweeping/brushing.)

That sounds about right. We recently had two small tanks done for 300 baht each. The arrangements were made by our old Kohn Muang housekeeper who is wonderful in getting us the Thai price for things like that.

Incidentally, we are in the Wat Muang Guy/Sanam Golf area near Nong Hoi.

This might be of interest to you:

http://jetsetcitizen.com/cheap-travel/doi-suthep-hike/

Thanks for that link.

Even if, as FiftyTwo says, it's the wrong way to the top, it's an interesting byway.

Great photos.