Ajarn

I agree, especially on the french bread. Chanchao, do you know of any place selling french bread equal to, or better than, Kasem's? The long, big, hard crust stuff, not the soft and wimpy baguettes I see so often in other places

Oddly enough I buy the French bread in Big C. This is the hard crusty stuff. However it's a bit dry and doesn't keep longer than a day.

Thanks for the tip, Lamphun

I don't think french bread is made to last more than one day, though my housekeeper believes that if you just stick it in the freezer, anything will last a lifetime

If anyone is interested in doing something to help locally, there is a place called 'Helping Hand' on Loi Kroh, left side, the shop before Fillmore East. The place is run by a Thai woman, not Christian, and not a chaw khao herself...I've found very few Thais involved in supporting hilltribes- unless it's for exploitation, of course...

Anyway, this lady has a shophouse that runs purely on her money, and the very meager returns from a massage (legit) service...Sometimes they don't get a customer for days...She offers free job training to hilltribe women, mostly Akha. Some of the night sellers are here in the daytime, getting training in massage or computer, going to school, or maybe helping to watch kids while the moms are working or studying.

She also feeds them for free.

Another good heart to support, in my way of thinking.

They can use anything. Furniture, plates, clothing, beds, food, money, whatever....Their massueses are well trained, too- just be polite. 200 baht per hour.

Many talk about doing something, but very few do, in reality. This is an honest place, with good people all around. Nobody is stealing kids here, either. Any support you give will be greatly appreciated, I know.

ps; forgive my poor english

Personally, I don't find your English poor at all...In fact, I'm impressed by its richness in thought and in spirit

However I have never experienced such bad pollution as we are suffering this year and have never previously had to resort to an oxygen mask or medication, as has happened this year.

Yes, agreed. The last few years have been considerably worse than some years ago, and the yearly stats show that. In years past, the particulate level might have reached 200ppm a couple of times, but now it's pretty much a daily occurence, and seems to be over a much larger area than years past.... Also in years past, I don't remember coughing so much or feeling my eyes sting from the smoke.

Thank god for aircon. At home, I can breath freely with the filtered air. Just like when we lived in Bangkok, I feel aircon isn't a luxury- it's a health necessity in Chiang Mai, too now- at least during the dry season.

A few evenings ago, I was cruising north of San Sai, close to sunset. From a small hill I could observe a very small trash fire below, but the smoke had drifted out for at least a couple of kilometers, completely covering, at near ground level, at least a couple of square kilometers- and this from a VERY small trash fire. If you drive into the mountains at night, you can almost always see lines of flames snaking through the forests- and never a sign of these alleged fire crews that the Post writes about....The Chiang Mai governor has made some strong statements, but no action, it seems.

As for the school telling people to get the fake degree - what do you think will happen when the ministry of Labour know its a fake and start asking questions. Your school will drop you in it faster than a hot brick.

It is the MoE (Ministry of Education) which certifies teachers, not Labour. In my experience, the MoE is not very good about checking the authenticity of degrees....I've seen a number of forgeries get through. And some were the crappy copies you mentioned...Once the teacher has their license, there's no reason for the MoE to ever look again....In my company, I did help one applicant with a copy of a degree so he could get certified. Happy I did it with this guy, but I never tried that again. One guy I know got his mid management position at Harrow International school using a Khao San road copy....

Some years ago, my company (which hired and supervised about 100 foreign teachers placed in a few Thai schools) had a potential problem....When they registered each teacher, they used the company address- instead of the workplace address, as the MoE regs required...One day, we recieved notice that the new Director was doing site inspections, and they wanted to make an appointment to observe some of our teachers at their workplace...My Thai boss (owner) worried that if they found out about the registration mistake, the new Director would somehow make an example of us...

So, we made the appointment for the site inspection. Luckily, we already had about 6 classrooms at the office which we used for training and for weekend special classes....She (my boss) then rented a bunch of school busses to ferry in about 200 prathom kids from our contract school in shifts throughout the day. All of their other normal Thai classes at their real school were cut that day to enable the con job to come off ...

When the Director showed up, my boss wined and dined her, and also brought me out as the Monkey Who Can Speak Thai, and I gave her my best Monkey Charm.. We smoozed for an hour, then did the inspection, which lasted about 10 minutes.

The cost: 20,000 baht to the School mistress where we took the kids from, 5,000 for the busses, and 10,000 in a white envelope as a contribution to the MoE welfare fund...I assumed it was a form of encouraging the Director to overlook any questions she might have, like where our other 90+ teachers were at...Many of them were actually teaching in Phuket and Trang, where we also had offices and a couple of schools which contracted for our teachers....

When my contract as DoS ended, it was a huge relief

Note that I also tried the hamburger place "Mike's Burgers" on the corner of the moat and Chang Moi. Definitely authentic greasy-spoon type of place. Though price I thought is a bit on the high side for what you get, and then the bread is the standard American mushy bun.. again definitely authentic, but someone mentioned French bread and I really think that's the way to go for burgers..

Cheers,

Chanchao

I agree, especially on the french bread. Chanchao, do you know of any place selling french bread equal to, or better than, Kasem's? The long, big, hard crust stuff, not the soft and wimpy baguettes I see so often in other places

And have you tried Mike's chilli and onion rings? They're my favorites...

Here in Thailand it seems that the authorities are determined to join the ranks of the other countries who want highly professional and qualified teachers but don't want to pay them their worth or make their working conditions less stressful.   

Now you're opening a can of worms!

It's tough for many Thai teachers to think that farang teachers are not getting enough salary...Afterall, most farangs get 2 or 3 times the salary of Thai teachers....Or such is the reasoning I often hear...

But, what many don't know about is that there are many other perks that Thai teachers are guaranteed that farangs don't get...For example, most farangs teach at least 15-20 classroom hours a week, while Thai ajarns (in universities) are only required to teach a maximum of 9 hours per week, and are guaranteed at least 300 baht per hour (1000+ per hour is also not as uncommon as some think) over 9 hours. Thai ajarns also get any karachakan (govt official) benefit, like welfare, special work stipends, medical, cheap loans, job advancements...There are many other differences, too. As in most countries, teachers are considered underpaid in terms of salary, but Thai teachers seem to do okay on the perks, being also karachakans....

Salaries for farangs have been going up over the years everywhere except the govt schools. To me, potentially the worst job would be a farang teacher in a govt prathom or mathayom school...I'm not referring to other stuff, like the value in being immersed in another culture. For many, though, that's good enough to balance the minimal pay and support.

I hope that the govt salaries will go up, but there's little reason yet, for them to pay more...As one university dept head said to me (cmu), "Why should we pay more when we already have so many farangs trying to get jobs here"

I sense this will only change if farangs stop applying at the present salaries. But living and working in Thailand is very seductive to many, and working in most universities can be pretty kick-back, if you stay between the cracks

Add another issue to the pot - the minimum taxable salaries of foreigners as published by the immigration authorities.  Government schools do not need to pay these minumum wages as teachers are in a special category.  They can be paid the 25K - 30K per month, get a visa which requires visa runs, and have the privilege of paying tax as if they were on the minimum stipulated wage levels.  What a wonderful scenario to encourage foreigners to teach here in Thailand, whether they be qualified, unqualified, backpackers or others.

Is this true about farangs teaching in Govt schools at the same wages, but still being required to pay taxes on 50,000 + ? I hadn't heard that at all, but, I do expect there to be exceptions for teachers...Where did you read about this? I'm still wondering how it will play out... The government has until July to measure the wind again, it seems...

By the way, farang government contract teachers are still eligible for a one-year visa stamp, and no visa running is needed. Same as always

'And Mac, our definitions differ around backpackers, maybe. To me, a backpacker is simply anyone who lives lightly and simply, and the same if they travel, like out of a backpack. I have found many to have very respectable traits'.

Yep, I think our interpretation certainly is different Ajarn, I must say it seemed a tad strange with the other points you raised with the rest of your thread- Apologies.

To me they are those simply looking to extend their stay by whatever is the easiest means possible before moving on, a 'year out traveller' type if you like.  The very essence of that make them IMO not only unsuitable for this job but should not be suitable for TEFL or other courses of this nature.

"

I think the governing bodies of these courses should become much more stringent with not only the enrolment criteria but the whole application process for being a registered provider.  This irresponsibility is making the job here for any genuine foreigner with long term aspirations more and more impossible."

I completely agree. The impact a teacher has on people is often enormous, and teachers should be screened and monitored throughout.

In the province I am currently residing, there has been a debate for the last few weeks in the local paper in regard to backpacker types and the problems a school with it first intake of native speakers has had. They have been very dissapointed  to put it mildly, and this is not just teaching attitude or motivation, but smoking in front of children and coming to work dressed like you were going for a day at the beach!  In other words, not an ounce of understanding or respect for the culture or the profession they appear to have latched onto in order to earn enough for the next place of interest.

In my own experience, the 'backpacker' type of teacher is far less likely to be disrespectful of, or lacking interest in local culture than, lets say, single males (qualified teachers) teaching and living in Bangkok. I rarely had this problem happen because most of our teachers had common sense, and of course, our training included info about the culture here. In schools where there is some good farang management, the teacher is much more likely to get training and support of any kind.

I also think that when Thais are talking about backpackers, they have a whole different criterion than either of us. And there are lots of behind the scenes politicking going on among any group of Thais I've ever worked with. In some cases, complaints from some people aren't really honest, and are more a reflection of some other hidden agenda or prejudice. Sorry if that sounds so terrible to say, but I do have many years of working in Thai offices and schools. The hardcore stuff that sometimes goes on in schools is scary. Not everyone, everywhere, of course, but plenty to keep any foreign contract teacher in most schools to always feel they must tread on eggshells. I've had many friends get forced out by this stuff.....

Finally - and this is something of a pet peeve of mine, but it is not directed at any particular individual - I do wish Farang would not assume that the title "Acharn" can be immediately adopted by anyone who arrives in Thailand and happens to land a teaching job here!

I'll leave it up to others to decide for themselves, but after 18 years of being called an Ajarn almost every day here, it's stuck

And so has my nickname, LarryLek.

Up to you which 'lek' or which underlying meaning

I certainly agree that a Degree is no guarantee that the recipient is a competent teacher, however it does offer some evidence that the holder has had the discipline to set a personal goal and achieve it; is someone who is planning for the future, not simply content to wander around the world living from hand to mouth.

Yes, very good points. My apologies if I seemed to be dismissing a proper degree. As one who has spent the time in school, I certainly recognize the important and valuable foundation of further learning a good education presents (hopefully).

In saying that, I must add that what I would call my most valuable skills, I got from the experience of teaching itself, rather than listening to lectures. The value in my classroom came from feedback from my teacher and peers, and being able to observe my peers teaching- Man, watching other young teachers just opened up floods of creative ideas!

How often do you get observed as a teacher? Not very often, Right? I know I was always scared to be observed by people I respected, afraid of losing face perhaps....Anyway, after a dozen or so times of being observed, and more importantly, getting consistent good feedback, I became less nervous...sometimes ;-)

I really feel every teacher needs to be observed regularly by folks whom we trust and whom feel comfortable with in listening to their feedback. And, the support goes both ways, in that the observer can also get some fresh ideas (making sure they include that in their feedback to the observed teacher!) This is a key to supporting each other as teachers, I feel. As foreigners here in so many ways, it's important that we network with each other, such as this forum, or by observing our friends teaching. Every teacher has something to teach others, na'?

*****

And Mac, our definitions differ around backpackers, maybe. To me, a backpacker is simply anyone who lives lightly and simply, and the same if they travel, like out of a backpack. I have found many to have very respectable traits.

Does anybody know where i could find "chinese lawn" ? (that the way they call it in Africa)

As far as I know, it's a lawn that doesn't grow too high and that doesn't need much upkeep.

Not sure about Chinese, but I use Yar Malay for undercover areas and Yar Yippoon for outdoors. Have use yar malay outdoors here and there but it isn't as good.

In Khomtien Market, drive in from Superhighway, to the traffic lights, turn left, go to the end turn right, first on the left an 60 metres down, has both, at 15-16 baht per square metre.

They are obvious because there are always trucks there picking it up and dropping it off.

IT/Gardener

Thank you very much, IT Gardener.

I love driving around looking at all the garden offerings behind Tesco...I haven't had much luck with the Yaa Malaysia, though. It seems to die easily for me. I prefer the shorter yaa pass yiboon that adjan mentioned, even at 20 baht per piece. It lasts longer, it's easier to trim, and seems to handle foot traffic better....

There are also a couple of places that sell reasonably priced (around 2,000 baht) large water fountains, delivered and set up. Sure does add a nice touch to any garden, and it's probably good Feng-Shui, too

Does anyone know what's happening with the 'Second Chiang Mai', planned for somewhere out the newish San Kampheng Rd? I remember lots of talk in the eighties and early nineties (when they built the road), but since then, I haven't heard much...

Judging from how long they took for the Hang Dong Road underpass, figure about one year at least.  They seem to have enough people/equipment to do sites at the same time. Better to just get it over with. If they'd start on the next one only sequentually then we'd really be stuck with this for a decade.

I agree, it will be great to get this finished in one shot. My concern regarding the way they are going about this construction though is that funds run out about 60% of the way through, much like what happened on the Highway 11 four-lane upgrade construction a few years back between Doi Khuntan and Lampang. Recall how long that mess just sat in a half-finished state?

Or the Hang Dong Road, south of Hang Dong?....Some sections have been under contruction for more than 5 years....

And the asphalt road to Mae Jo, less than 10 years old, but already so pitted that cars can't go more than 60kmph anywhere in the 10k stretch...

Just wanted to add that some of the best teachers I've hired have been backpackers... There are some great 'natural' teachers out there. Some of these backpackers are just what many Thai students need...fun, open minds open to learning, a true desire to help others to learn, and an ability- sometimes natural, sometimes trained- to illustrate a teaching point in such a way that the student will understand and gain increased skills in the subject. This is the same basic idea for any teacher/trainer teaching/training anything....

A good teacher English teacher can be from any nationality. In my experience in training teachers to teach English, some things pop up regularly...

1. Native speakers know what's right and wrong, but they can't remember why... Ask your friend to name and give examples of the 12 verb tenses, for example...

Most need to take a refresher course in grammar....Maybe part of the reason CELTA uses grammar questions in their screening, and why their courses focus so much on grammar, and illustrating it successfully in the classroom

2. Foreign teachers often know much more about English grammar than many native-speaker English teachers, but they lack the cultural experience that is the root of English and all other languages. Most are unable to illustrate the various 'flavors' of English as effectively as the native speaker. Roots of idioms and slang are a couple of examples…

3. Students mostly prefer female teachers. Me, too

4. Classroom management is often the key to success, or failure as a teacher.

and one more ...

for "kaar-moo", the real number one place!

Chang puak food market, start around 5pm, the Kaar-moo stall in the middle left, run by a lady, one thing to recognize it, they have a wood-step to be high enough for work

the meat is the smoothest I have ever taste, and the sauce is simply divine

francois

Sorry but i have to disagree: my GF makes the best kha moo in town. Simply unbeatable.

And the directions to your GF's place?

"Well.. I like prawns made to order as well, but I can't bring myself to spend more than double for them at what's basically an outdoors little restaurant with grumpy Chinese owners."

Well, maybe grumpy to some .....But, I'll admit to liking the people and overall scene there as much as the food...I like the open feeling, and having a great view of the passing parade of people, myself quietly away from being 'TheShow' for others...I've been going there for many years, so the owners and waitresses are all quite friendly, even waving at me whenever I drive by but don't stop....Dealing with tourists is incredibly stressfull at times, and I'm constantly amazed at the ability of some waitresses to smile, sincerely, year after year. They make me feel welcome in their establishment, and when I receive friendly service and decent food, I'll be sure to return. Frankly, the price does not enter into my reason for returning, or not returning...That's why I continue to do most of my shopping at Kasem Store...Everything is at least a couple of baht more than any other place, but there's so much more to Kasem's, in my view.

I also like being able to see into a restaurant's kitchen from the dining area. I've seen some kitchens in Thai AND farangs joints that made me gag...The former America restaurant comes to mind...ugh! Everytime they left open the small window through which the food was passed, the diners would be innundated with flies and gnats from the kitchen. And Rose guest house kitchen, which used to buy the garbage off THAI flights arriving in CM, then their kitchen staff would sift throught it looking for unopened (usually), but tossed, jelly and butter packs from the flight's breakfast meal...A savings of 2 baht.

As far as one place serving more authentic food, or more delicious food, that's mostly subjective. I may like the traditional foods, like Geang Hang Lay, but many others might not like the moo saam chan that's used, saying it's too fatty, or not meaty enough....Authentic doesn't neccesarily translate to 'better', in my experience. Atmosphere and service are my primary interests, as long as the food is edible, to my taste.

"More good news: We're getting tunnels and flyovers at Yeak Khuang Singh, Sarn Dek and perhaps Nong Pratheep (Makro)"

It seems that these are planned for all the intersections on the two outer (northern) Ring Roads as well....Amazing how many new and fast stretches of road have opened in just the last couple of years. Everything seems to be designed to route N/S E/W traffic around downtown Chiang Mai...A great idea as downtown is already completely saturated. Now, if they could replace more of the empty songthaews with a few more busses.....There are also plans for underground subways, with the first one running from CMU out under Huay Kaew rd...Another line is to go under Chotana from ? to City Hall.....

And speaking of crazy road works, how about the daily watering of plants in the main road dividers during the rainy season...Rain or shine, they're out there watering, or running the sprinkler systems...

Has anybody tried one of those freshwater shrimp places?

Not the shrimps, but the live freshwater prawns served at the place inside Anusarn Market, across from 'Fatties' Restaurant.....Spendy at 490 baht per kilo, but they'll cook them any way your heart desires...Tourists like it because they can catch their own prawns from the large pools, around which the dining tables are set. Also, during the hot season, you can get a nice cooling breeze off the water....

What about a place to veg out for a couple of nights away from home?

A place with UBC, great room service, great food, great massage, great beds, giant bath, mountain view..?

Or how about a mountain hideway with a private swimming pool (and UBC!) ?

getting hot

Another one ...

Building damaged, but no one was hit

Therdsak Jiamkijwattana, a political canvasser for PAO presidential candidate Udornphan Chantaraviroj, was shot at three times in what turned into a wild shootout at Chiang Mai Journalists Association building.

Therdsak survived the ordeal, and in fact didn’t even get hit, but did manage to pop off a few shots of his own, which he said chased the gunmen away. No one, either in or out of the office, was injured.

francois

And, if I remember correctly, arch nemesis of khun Busaborn Yongbaitoey , also a PAO Head candidate, and Busaborn's husband, Maj Gen. Intharat Yongbaitoey, better known locally as SaeMoi, an 'Influential' Senator now, but before that, he was better known for his dealings with night bazar mafia some years ago..His brother was arrested last year for smuggling Thai guns to Burma. a few months later, he was shot and wounded because of alleged 'business conflicts'....

Chiang Mai sure ain't boring

(p.s. How was the pie?)

Where to buy music in Chiang-Mai ?

I know quite a lot of small shops but not what i call a decent music shop.

Any idea ?

Well, being an old fogey, my idea of 'decent' music is music made prior to The Monkees- 60's stuff, Greatful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin....Also stuff like Nat King Cole.

I've had good luck with finding a good choice of old stuff at the small shop in the night bizzare near the MacDonald's intersection on the main drag...80 baht per CD

My Thai friends seem to all go to Tesco or Carrefour (sp), but they only seem to carry the Thai pop stuff.

I also would like to find some place with a selection of Classical music, but haven't had any luck in Chiang Mai...Anyone know of such a place?

The best (and cheapest) vegetables: Muang Mai Market.

Yep, but you gotta be carefull about chemicals, too..

The produce market out near CMU is much better because they are chemical free

With the lack of controls or enforcement on chemical pesticide use in Thailand, it pays to try to find the safest vegies and fruit....Some years ago, a beautiful watermelon put me in the hospital...The pesticides had caused my heart to go into an abnormal rythym...Oranges, cantalope, cabbage, watermelon are all especially dangerous, according to my doctor.

Actually, I have to amend my list of best hamburgers. The Easy Diner, or whatever Mango Tree used to be called when it was near Thapae Gate, had fantastic burgers, but when they changed location (at least for a while), they became much smaller, and lost my vote( I think that the price went down, however). Maybe they are big again?

Also, hey Ajarn (the first Adjarn to use that term in his e-mail address around CM). Your sandwiches and brownies were great at CMU. Those amazing brownies would still win as best around, and it is many years later.

Chok Dee L.!

Ulysses, thanks for your kind comments. More proof that if you present a unique product, with good quality, at a good price, people will buy it- and even remember it fondly almost 10 years later

Were you a teacher at CMU then? Those were great times in my life, and the people I worked with at CMU were great, too. Lots of fond memories....

The burgers at Mango tree come in 2 sizes...small and huge. I only buy the 'baby burger' there now, because I was never able to get through more than half of the huge one before getting full...

And Philip, I didn't know about the french bread at Mango Tree.....When I think of french bread, I'm only thinking of the hard-crust french bread from Kasem Store (Mae Kasem also being one of the nicest, kindest, people I know), toasted over a charcoal fire.

If you've got that, you've got me....

Gawd, what a cheap date I am!

What happened to the Irish Pub by the way?  I recall a huge jumbo-burger there a couple of years ago that was pretty decent, too.   Especially again because of the bread, they have their own bakery.

Or maybe we should do a 'hamburger round up' listing the cheapest, best and biggest hambugers in Chiang Mai.  Ah heck, maybe list the worst, too. 

I used to eat quite regularly at the Irish Pub when Rosemary and Daeng were still together and running the place...I liked the food and the owners. Their homemade bread was, imo, the best in CM at the time. My wife's sandwich business at CMU used their bread, exclusively.

After Rosemary took the kids and escaped back to Ireland, Daeng took care of things himself, but, he often told me his heart wasn't into it anymore. He took on a farang partner (allegedly for 3 mil) who he had problems with, then later sold out and left...

From my experience, it seemed like the new owner was more interested in the upstairs 'sports bar' more than than the food downstairs...Maybe he was intimidated by the sour-faced cook, who Rosemary was quite good at keeping in line...

The last few times I ate there, I found the food to be pretty blah, and often poorly prepared and cooked. The exception was the baked stuff, which I thought was still quite good.

As for the worst hamburger, that's easy....Any Thai-run restaurant.

Many still give you a ham sandwich....Others only offer up a pork/chicken patty, rather than beef. I never even think about ordering farang food in a Thai-run restaurant anymore. I'm sure many of you have experienced the Thai version of spaghetti. I don't think I've ever had decent farang food from a Thai kitchen without farang training......Better to enjoy their Thai food and be able to walk away with a good taste in your mouth, I feel

2) The Saloon:  and 3) Filmore East: 

Can you give us some directions on where they are ? like to try them to sometime.

Fillmore East is on Loi Kroh, 50 meters past Mango Tree, on the left.

Because they BBQ their hamburgers over charcoal, and have good French bread as a bun option, they get my vote as Best Hamburger in Chiang Mai...

(If Philip, Mango Tree would get some french bread and charcoal, he'll get my vote. He's already got the biggest (hamburger) in town

The Saloon is also on Loi Kroh, further down, just before the Kampheang Din intersection, on the right....Good Chilli dog, but Mike's is much better, imo