Ajarn

A couple of times a year we have a party at the office (dahm hua celebration) and they bring in a large long stainless steel cylinder of ice cream with ice packed around it. I wasn't planning on eating any of it but someone put a cone in my hand. When I took a bite of it I was surprised how good it was, probably the best I've ever had in Thailand, including the imports. Went back for 2nds, 3rds, and .... <lost count>

They said it was made locally near the uni I believe and will try and find out more about it. If not for BB then for myself.

BTW, what's with ice cream on white bread? We had a choice of that or a cone.

An ice cream sandwich, made with bread, is what's offered by the street venors. No bread at your bash means no 'common folks'

The icream used at the Faculty of Humanities is made locally by a small ice cream store just across from the university on Huey Kaew road

I ate what I IMHO consider to be the best value, tastiest breakfast available anywhere in the world this morning.

Big plate of delicious rice, topped with three dishes; Gaeng kheow wan, (melting eggplants, onions and mushrooms, Soft chicken). Laab moo Chiang mai, utterly delicious not too oily, Sweet eggs with chillis and onions. Sublime. Topped it off with shallots, cabbage, bean sprouts and cucumbers. Free ice water!

Total price for this feast 25 big boy bahts.

Ive visited many, many countries and I dont think you can beat Thailand for great food at such an incredible price.

Rose guest house was pretty awesome yesterday as well. 120B well spent.

Better go running soon.

you forgot to mention that the restaurant was impeccably clean and fully airconditioned, the table cloth was top grade egyptian cotton, the plates Meissner, the cups Rosenthal porcelain, the cutlery sterling silver and the waiter who wore a tailcoat addressed you fluently in several languages which you did not understand

Still chuckling at all this while making copious notes! This last one - the waiter with several languages - forces me to ask you - and anyone else reading this, about an international urban myth (oxymoron/paradox there?) I heard here in Chiang Mai 5 years ago.

A Kiwi restaurant owner who had travelled the world told me that there was a team of 14 or 15 French waiters who were available to hire, at very high cost, as a team, for as little as 1 night or 14 days. All were fluent in at least 5 languages and all had memories so good that (having studied the menu in advance) they could take a table full of orders without using pen or paper. Including how you wanted the steak and with which sauce etc etc.

Their manners and service were impeccable and they never made a mistake and were always Very generously tipped. They never need to advertise because top people recommended them to their friends (and governments!) all the time.

True or false?

I believe that is someones fantasy, and I believe it is false.

Hire someone or make your own.

Probably the dinner leftovers from the previous day..

the last 2 elected governments,

Elected governments do not mean much if the elections were invalid or fraudulent.

The current "elected government" may be dissolved because of election fraud committed by the winning party. The fraud has been decided by one court and now The Supreme Court has accepted the case for trial could result in dissolution of the winning party.

The previous "elected government" had its election nullified by the courts.

So to suggest that the recent governments are democratically elected is not really the case.

Therefore, there has never been a democratic election in the history of Thailand. What are the alternatives?

There have been Democratily elected governments in Thailand since 1988.

As for tourists, not many farang visitors, but plenty of Asians, according to friends in the tour business.

I think the Asians are much better than the farangs generally.

What rubbish advice!!

If you CAN speak Thai then OF COURSE you speak Thai with the cop. What other message than 'I'm a clueless newbie, sign me up for 2000 baht' would it send to NOT speak Thai or at least let some experience show if you genuinely don't speak the language?!

Anyway, if you get stopped by police and you know you weren't speeding (by too much ) then simply deny everything until they get bored and consider it's easier to just grab the next guy who may be a doofus and pay up.

I think the rubbish advice is yours. Best to simply pay the 200 baht and be on your way

Up to you, if you want to encourage further corruption and think this is a great aspect of life in Thailand, and want to confirm the stereotype that Farangs are easily shaken out of some money then by all means do so.

If that is your belief, then too bad for you and any cop that deals with you. This happens to ALL Drivers, and isn't just for farangs. I have been caught speeding maybe a dozen times here in 20+ years, each time paying 200 baht. I even got receipts. I figure why make a hassle for myself, paying 200 baht for speeding is a LOT cheaper and easier than home, and A LOT easier than being a pain in the ass farang

What rubbish advice!!

If you CAN speak Thai then OF COURSE you speak Thai with the cop. What other message than "I'm a clueless newbie, sign me up for 2000 baht" would it send to NOT speak Thai or at least let some experience show if you genuinely don't speak the language?!

As for the maximum speed, this depends on the vehicle. If it's a pick-up then the maximum speed is lower compared to a passenger car.

Your main concern should be: What speed is SAFE to drive! And this is most probably not a whole lot faster than 100 km/h, possibly 120 on some stretches.

Anyway, if you get stopped by police and you know you weren't speeding (by too much ) then simply deny everything until they get bored and consider it's easier to just grab the next guy who may be a doofus and pay up.

I think the rubbish advice is yours. Best to simply pay the 200 baht and be on your way

I'm driving up to Chiang Mai this week (yes, I could fly, but I want to drive). It seems there are two key routes, one following Highway 1 all the way through Tak etc, and one diverting via Phitsanulok. I've never been on either route and it seems they are the same distance.

So my question is - which is the better to drive?

Any thoughts?

The route through Tak is mostly preferred by us 'lazy' drivers. Going through Phitsanulok, it is much prettier, and a bit slower as far as time goes. I like a long 'cruise' style, so I prefer going through Tak.

But there are a couple of Cop Stops around Tak, and none that I have seen from Phitsanulok to Chiang Mai

Hi all, noticed I need to renew two tyres on my truck.

recomendations please, I have seen seen, the horror stories befor

re some, not nice vendors. so your help would be invaluable fellow members

thanks Random

In my experience, there is nothing to worry about if you are a polite customer. All prices pretty much the same

I was the Manager at John's place in 1994. Good memories

Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia.

Lived there for a year. Lovely people- and no farangs!

Here in CM it was hot and sunny till about 2:30 PM. Winds kicked up from the SW, sky got dark and cloudy. Nothing much happened until about 6 PM, when the heavens opened up and it absolutely dumped....I guesstimate it should be just about to hit in the Rai shortly.

Just what you need there....more rain.....

What evidence do you have that suggests a connection between the storms in CR and CM ?

It was announced at the Expats Club's last meeting that the Immigration Office has resumed issuing these certificates. I cannot personally confirm but that is what was announced.

Could anybody confirm ? Because my embassy charges THB 1'800,00 for this f..... certificate ( a rip off when you think it's just 3 lines on a piece of paper) . So it would be nice if the IO would issue it again.

I suggest you go there and ask, if pressed, or call them up. They do have a telephone number and do speak English. Or wait until the next meeting of Chiang Mai Friends and ask the colonel himself. People have been asked to submit questions in advance.

Now, one of the questions I am interested in has to do with those who are unable to physically travel to the office or who can not, because of stroke, perhaps, not even complete and sign a 90-day residence application. Given the average age of the expat community and the the high level of alcohol lovers, "fry up" freaks and cinamon roll fanatics, I think that is a reasonable question.

For now, a simple question. Anyone actually thought of this, or are people in denial --- except for the next "fry up?!"

Mapguy, I send my housekeeper each time to take care of my ninety day thing, and once a year, for my visa. For the last three years, there has been no problem from immigration. This is one of the reasons I love living in Thailand, not all the 'rules' are enforced unless needed.

What decrease?? Looks like the same (higher) prices!

Before, everyone was 20 baht local, 200 baht foreign.

Harry, I think you will be fairly comfortable here in your whelchair. Any place that requires some walking finds me in a wheelchair (hospital, airports). I have someone to push me because I don't have two arms I can use. I find people give me a hand whenever I need it, and happily get out of my way when I'm moving. If you are in town, most places are not wheelchair accessable, (restaurants, hotels) but enough are to make some travel fairly easy. Streets are the real bitch, forcing me to avoid many areas because my movement forces me to face too many obstacles. I can't travel freely anywhere I want. I have to plan a lot if I want to go anywhere in a wheelchair. The end result is that I don't go out much, and I stay at home, using the phone to order food from restaurants. I live in a house, so I don't know the situation with condos, but my sense is that it generally is okay for wheelchairs

But there is always help available when you need it. It is the general kindness of people here that attracts me

La Teefe's baked beans are the BEST in Chiang Mai!

I gotta agree. Every order of mine must include at least 4 portions of beans

My favorite Vietnamese place is (can't remember the name!) located on a soi, just down from the Super hiway and Huey Kaw intersection. Go east from the intersection for 1 block, turn left and go to the end.

Thanks for giving it to me straight. I've had your food, so I know that you have good taste.

What is your favorite American style pizza in Chiang Mai?

Italian style?

My favorite pizza, based on consistency and good taste every time, is Pizza Hut.

In my opinion, their pizza tastes like crap. Most other CM places have better quality. But they are very nice folks

Thanks Ajarn,

What about acomodation? Nan is a small town and google search only revealed three hotels there.

Sorry, I haven't stayed there for many years, so try the GT riders book

" Pho Saigon"

Meechoc Plaza

Normal "street" Vietnamese. Cheap.

If you think they are good, what have you eaten from there. I have ordered mostly everything they have (ain't much), and found it to be very crappy food, even if it is cheap. When it opened, I was hoping for some good vietnamese food close to my house, but was dissapointed.

The Nan boat races are usually held during Awk Pansaa, starting in Sept and ending in Oct. I don't remember the Awk Pansaa date, but the races are a lot of fun

Both are available at Kasem store

I have been a Thai Love Links visitor for a few months. I think it is an excellent operation. Many very nice ladies in Chiang Mai and throughout the Kingdom. If you have a decent photo, there are many ladies who will be interested in you

Recently received invitation:

Dear friends,

May we invite you to join the Mayor talks to the public. This is an opportunity that people from all walks of life dicussing together for making Chiang Mai a pleasant place to live.

Venue: Art Museum, behind Three Kings Monument. Rachawitee Road.

Time : 5.30-8.00 p.m.

The topic will be

" Developing the vacant lands to be the gardens"

The talk will be in Thai and English. We have a great honor from Khun Dang to be the interpretor.

You idea, comments, suggestions are more than welcome.

Look forward to see your love for Chiang Mai.

If anybody will go there could he/she please mention.. Chiang Mai will be a much more pleasant city without Songtaws and Tuk Tuks..

They make a lot of noise and dirty smoke and are not troubled by any yearly checks...WHY?

Seems to me a more important issue then talking about gardens...

No Songthaews or tuk tuks?? Why not? They offer service to people and are good for chiang mai