Ajarn

so where are these "nice" lakes in san kampheng?

Here is a map. Enjoy yourself

Here are some directons to Huai Lan resevoir in San Kampeng. First take the 1317 hiway out towards the hot springs. Then at the edge of town about 15 kilos out on the hiway, turn right onto 1137 to Ban Thi. follow this road for 4 kilometers until you get to here, where you turn right onto a cobblestone street. Follow the street out for about 3-4 kilos before you get to the lake. It is a good swimming lake, good for fishing too

How about the Charin Garden Resort?

http://www.chiangraiprovince.com/htl/charin/index.htm

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Reminder-Lov...Rai-t21466.html

Has anyone been to the Charin Garden Resort recently? Tried calling the phone number on the website and it has been disconnected. No new listing from the telephone information center either.

My phone number works.. 081-783-1637 I just talked to them...

sis is down and wants to get some good gems, stones. seen a lot around, night bazaar and everywhere in chiang mai. problem is that, i don;t know of any places i can trust. cheap and most importantly genuine. any suggestions please? names of places and contacts would be very much appreciated.

I've found Nassar of 'Sharez Jewelers' on Thapae Road to be one of the most honest gem dealers I've ever encountered. His stones are good quality, and his prices hard to beat unless you're a gem dealer yourself. I've bought a lot of loose stones from him over the past few years, as well as having stones set. All have been at a fraction of their appraised value in the US.

The Fly Fisherman

Nassar from 'Sharez Jewelers' has a many-year reputation as a thief. Personally, he switched a few pearls which I choose to make a couple of earrings. I would be VERY carefull if I was dealing with him.

My apologies, I didn't realize that this topic was a couple of years old, and that I had replied earlier

Thank you to all who gave me great ideas. Lastly, how do I find a van driver and what can I expect to pay for a day ?

You can rent a van and ask for a driver (about 4oo baht per day) or you can look herehttp://chiangmainews.com/classifieds_job/ I usually see a couple of ads here

My guess, neither knowing you or your stepson, is that maybe that attitude comes from his assumption that you will ultimately 'save' him because you are a farang. It is easy for kids to feel this way, and I have had to deal with this issue a few times myself. If it is true, better to acknowledge it to youself first, and if it is not true, deal with him with Reality.

there's a thread on it in the visa forum here on TV, i was reading it the other day. i find not being able to do a mae sai run a huge inconvenience.

Why do you think you will miss Mae Sai?

Seems to me that you will get to go to Mae Sai twice as much!

Outside of TL, my Thai friends have referred to me as Ajarn for the last 20+ years, so it is my name (Thai nickname)

I don't have a Thai DL and I still got for the Thai price. I only had a Thai business card...

bloody pricey... i havent done it.. not for 2 grand + ! (2000) - should have a Thai Visa discount whatsit.

great location though. My fave little bike ride.

http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/articles/maekampong/

Getting there:

I think this is the coordinate of the nearest village ?

Ban_Huai_Kaew.html

Follow the main San Khampaeng road east for roughly 20kms looking out for the signs to the hotsprings that direct you onto highway 1317. Continue for a further 10kms beyond the hotsprings turnoff and bear left at the only fork in the road, at Huay Kaew village, to reach Mae Kampong. Note that the road over the mountain to Jae Sorn may not yet be indicated on some maps.

http://www.treetopasia.com/

DONT GET A PICK UP! Who wants to be stuck in a minibus hurtling through a rainforest! Get a bike!

Good information. Thanks

yup cavelodge is great!!!!

For CM, rent a bike and drive out to 'flight of the gibbon' - on the way you pass by:

caves - look for a flag on top of a highish peak - before hot springs

hot springs - mellow, commercialised, but very nice. might go this afternoon with the kids.

then before flight of gibbon, you go through several lovely villages (eco/resort villages) but nicely done... chickens in road, dogs that wont want to move from the center of the road etc...

finally you get to flight of gibbon... lovely rainforest village... cool air.. ahhhh... nice

bit pricey to do the slide, but kudos to them, its a great location.

if you have a big bike, continue on this road for some awesome mountain rides and mini loop back to CM/ san K.

my satangs worth.

Where is the 'flight of the gibbon' located? I have never heard of it.

Wife says [but is sometimes wrong] that the anual farm fair is going on this weekend in Maejo.

Please confirm and don't mention that I said that my wife is sometimes wrong......

There's certainly something going on on at The Maejo University Campus. Being quite close by, I popped in for a look and can highly recommend a visit if you're into Gardening or Food. Miles of stalls of plants ( all labelled in Thai-not a Latin name to be seen) down many different avenues and miles of stalls of delectable snacks down other avenues. If you're lnto Orchids or Sausages its for you. No sign of Farm animals ; no pigs,cows,goats,bulls,little lambs or even hens except on spits.

I could have missed them as it spreads over many, many acres and I never got a map. But its hardly a FARM FARE. Its a plant and food fare. A classier mixture of Kamthieng Plants, Thanin Food,and Warorot miscellaneous,( I got my catapault there), lots of good cheap clothes, - 99baht for a really good tee shirt-and wonderful wood furniture, but all in a pleasantly expansive environment.

There was also a large football-pitch-sized Stadium which was being prepared for some sort of Concert, maybe Saturday. You could flounce around in a pony and trap at your pleasure or go with the proles on a little train like at the the zoo. Altogether an interesting half days entertainment. It was packed on Friday afternoon so what Saturday will be like is anyon'e guess. Its a big, big Market. And very enjoyable. Its not an Agricultural Fare as far as I could see. I saw no Cowboys.

Do you know What time does it open each day,and is on until the 10th as a previos poster said .Thanks

They open each day for selling at around 8 am.... Yes, it is until the 10th.

heybruce, go up to doi suthep, right at the top.. 100% jing jing. pricey as hel_l... but as i said, you can get an offcut for a few hundred baht, or less,(in the work room behind) then take it to the night market stone polisher... easy peasy.

How do you know it is real quality Jade ??

Sounds dodgy to me..

It's a xmas present for a farang, who cares if it is real?

It is neither a popular or unpopular question Ajarn.

Its just one that nobody knows the answer to.

I don't even know why you bothered to make your second post on the subject when you have nothing of value to add

Ditto your reply

Oh and if Mae Sai suits your needs, the bus ride is actually pretty comfy. Just make sure you take the VIP bus (one with the least seats). Leg room is great!

Definitely DONT recommend the bus to Udon. Did it once (overnight bus) and the hours travelling on what was advertised as a VIP bus (but definately wasnt) round hellish bends at(what seemed like) breakneck speeds, coupled with lots of snoring people, interesting smells (including the pungent toilet), just wasnt worth it!

Looks like I have no choice but to get the bus to Udon. Can't be arsed paying extra to go through Bangkok then back to Udon. No flights any more to Udon from here, the lady in the travel agents said no trains to Nong Khai either, have to go to Bangkok first???

Will be getting my usual 90 day non O. Oh well, suppose I'll have to take a bottle of Sang Som on the bus with me.

You always have had to take the train from Bkk to Nong Khai, there never was a route to Nong Khai otherwise

Well, obviously, a popular question

My Wife said that She saw a big procession with dancing gilrls and music playing on a large convoy of trucks yesterday.

Guess they must be promoting something to co-incide with the King's Birthday.

Does anybody know what though? I have seen nothing on TV or anywhere else about it.

Cheers

TP

It could be anything. A new bar opening?

Why do you think it was promoting the King's Birthday, and why ask about the Night Safari?

No one has told you but you would be best off to get a bank account at a bank near where you live. Many banks will charge you for services outside of your local area. Like everything in Thailand, if one won't open an account for you, go to the next one. Trust me, you will eventually get a bank account. Now a credit card, that is a whole different story.

LSM

no doubt you are correct. But the OP would not be able to choose which bank he prefers being on a tourist visa.

Truthfully, I would be surprised at anyone not being able to open an account at any main Thai bank in Chiang Mai.

One of the things right now is visible humidity, which sometimes can be mistaken for pollution. Otherwise, good clean weather at the moment

After reading this post, wifey and I went over on Sunday . . .

sort of used the map which is ONLY USEFUL IF YOU CAN READ THAI!!!

Great food, great value, and I was the only Farang in the village!

David

No, you weren't the only farang. I have two farang friends with families that live out there

Diablos needs to make an 'away' menu. Now they have some photos, but none of burritos...

I drove over, parked down the street, and sent my gf in to order. NO BURRITOS!

so where are these "nice" lakes in san kampheng?

Here is a map. Enjoy yourself

I'm afraid the only restaurant outside of the drive-ins before you pay, is in the 'fishing raft' zone on the West side of the lake. Everything else is dead as far as food goes..

Thanks Ajarn,

I wasn't sure if it was just the one restaurant/kitchen in that complex by the swimming raft - or several.

Just that one that I'm aware of. You might find some sellers across the lake where the Thai tourists have fun. On a weekend or holiday

There are plenty of nice lakes around, for sure. But rarely will you find any restaurants or boats. But everplace I have been to has tons of places to sit/hang around and enjoy food or drink (that you have brought yourself )

I like Huay Thung Tao because it is convenient to my house, but in the San Kampeng area, there are 5 or 6 nice lakes to hang out at