Ajarn

Almost every place with a 'Resort' is going to give you the same as 'Suansawan' (the same name as my place, but anyway...). Depending on your level of pampering- want a color tv with cable? If yes, this will limit your options a lot. but I'm sure you will find an older, professional place to stay

You will find many 'resorts' each with different facilities, some more than Away Suansawan some less. Pampering can come in a lot more forms than 'watching cable TV'. Look around and find what is best for you, as I said in my post I don't have exactly what you want.

Why this gentleman decides my resort is unprofessional is beyond me, I doubt he has ever been

Yes, I was only saying he had a lot of choices. I would not recommend you, but only because I haven't been there...

At 4 pm, I was able to motor to the moat road, no problem.

Some dreaming cops it seems

I think it is weird how you all hate the red shirts so much, but they haven't done anything close to as stupid as the yellows when they shut down the airport and basically had tourists hostage inside.

Hmm, so violent attacks on government cars & personnel, blocking hospitals, using incendiary devices etc etc is not stupid. These people are rent-a-mob who will continue to trash this country so long as the criminal Thaksin continues to pull their strings & pay them THB1000 per day. Get real, this is close to civil war and it will start in Chiang Mai in a couple of days.

Newbie for more than one reason, I think...

Of course, never buy meds at a hospital (except govt. )

And if you know what you need, and ask for it, almost anyplace will work, including Ram.

Now that I think about it, there is a covered pool inside the moobaan just past Ruam Chok Market on the same side of the road.

If you are referring to Mubaan Tanawan, the pool is not covered, but about 8 miles further up the Mae Jo road, there is a covered pool at the Land and House Muubaan...

Yes Tanawan. I could not remember the name of the moobaan. Thanks for that Ajarn. You are right. It is partially covered.

Boy, I messed that one up

Muubaan Tanawan, partially covered

Muubaan Land and House, not covered at all

But anyway, this is my place to swim (sorry, it is private)

Sorry, my mistake

Thai TV Channel 11 is now reporting that protesters has blocked the Lamphun - Chiang Mai highway.

You mean the two-lane hiway they opened from the railway station?

If so, I think it is a good idea to stop people using that 'hiway' at night...

True. That road started dissolving soon after it was completed - first rains I think. But if it's the super, the police or army have to do something. Other than Thaksin committing suicide, i can't see a solution to all this nonsense.

Exactly, and if it is the Super hiway being blockaded, the police would be most likely to re-route traffic to the two-lane hiway

Now that I think about it, there is a covered pool inside the moobaan just past Ruam Chok Market on the same side of the road.

If you are referring to Mubaan Tanawan, the pool is not covered, but about 8 miles further up the Mae Jo road, there is a covered pool at the Land and House Muubaan...

It is pretty cheap for a foreigner to visit the Chiang Mai zoo. What is it... 400 baht? That's not even a couple of dollars. It's about one third what I would pay to go to a movie at home.

It is about $11 dollars U.S.. San Francisco Zoo is 15 dollars for an adult, but you get a lot more for your money. I have not been home for quite a while, but I can not believe that that a movie ticket is over $30 dollars. - at least I hope not.

I hope not, too. The last movie price I remember in San Francisco was about $5.50

Thai TV Channel 11 is now reporting that protesters has blocked the Lamphun - Chiang Mai highway.

You mean the two-lane hiway they opened from the railway station?

If so, I think it is a good idea to stop people using that 'hiway' at night...

Almost every place with a 'Resort' is going to give you the same as 'Suansawan' (the same name as my place, but anyway...). Depending on your level of pampering- want a color tv with cable? If yes, this will limit your options a lot. but I'm sure you will find an older, professional place to stay

I don't mind double pricing. I think the zoo is good value and I've taken many people there. It's a fun day for the family. The only thing I smile about is Thais don't like to walk very far and it IS a good walk around the zoo if you want to see all the exibits. The vast majority of Thais live on very little money and there's nothing left over for entertainment. They can't afford the luxuries that visitors can. Operating a viable zoo costs money and it has to come from somewhere.

you say you don't mind the racist attitude of thai ???

Ditto......

The Thais can't afford it so make the foreigners pay for it. what rubbish. I saw from another post you only live here six months out of the year anyway....so maybe that's why you don't mind. I have a friend that has the same attitude and spends about the same amount of time here......his attitude is what screws it up for those of us living here full time.

Beachbunny

He is only here six months a year?.. Maybe since you are here 12 months, there is a suggestion that maybe your attitude has twice the influence on life here.

IanForbes - why do you feel you have to pay for an entire family's entrance fee to a National park when it is not even your family? If a foreigner came to visit you in Canada would you expect him/her to pay the entrance fee to a Canadian National Park for your entire family?

I've been to two National Parks in Thailand with two different Thai families. Both times I paid my way and they paid theirs.

Just because you and I and others here come from countries where the average person earns more money (and where there is a higher cost of living) than a Thai does, does not mean that we are obligated to pay their way for everything. I don't understand farang in Thailand to feel that they have to pay for all the Thai's and can then justify it by saying that "it was not much in Canadian Dollars", or in Euros, or whatever.

I think it is different many times with the standard Thai belief that the richest or most important will pay for guests

Also, Yesterday I acquired a copy a notice that was given out by the Chiangmai Traffic Police (in Thai only) notifiying us of their plans to control the 'traffic mess' that happens over Songkran break around the moat. For Mon-Wed (13-15) they will prohibit traffic from entering into town near the moat. The times for this closure are 12:00 (noon) to 18:00 p.m. They have made arrangements for transportation to be provided from the larger shopping malls-stores. (Big C, Lotus (x2), Makro, Carrefour, Railway Station, Airport Plaza, Amway Parking Lot (?), ChiangMai Cultural Center, Municipal Stadium.

They say that these 'shuttle' services may charge up to but no more than 10 baht per person.

Contact number for the radio dispatcher.... 053-235-595

Very nice photos!

Thanks Greenside

I just drove through Mae Jo, Mae Taeng, Mae Rim, and back to Meechoke Plaza. The entire trip, I witnissed one person tossing water. Hasn't started up here yet...

The Redcoats have NOT taken over dowtown, but the have taken over Thapae Gate area..

Fun, but hi-pressure isn't optimal for the spirit. It's always the Farang who go ape-$hit n think it's Rambo time. Had a guy squirting me in the eyes a cpl yrs ago with a reservoir tank. Had he not screwed up my contacts n caused me some temporary loss of vision n pain I would have jumped down from the truck n started something. Total ferking idiot. Spray me with cold water, lots of water, strong water, but don't try to take me out. That's not the spirit.

For myself, I'll have a 10 B bucket n a long piece of cheuak so I can just toss it back down into the moat for all-I-can-throw refills. Easy, fun, and can be done softly or thrown for distance too.

Agreed ... Please don't anyone spray or get sprayed in the face by these high-pressure GUNS

Remarkable. Third rainfall in, what, a week or so, all during a period when the old hands say it never rains in Chiangmai.

I don't recall anyone saying it never rains in Chiang Mai. Who said that?

It hasn't rained at my house since a midnight rumbler some weeks ago...

What is your plan to make up for the vast amounts of income that would be lost by getting rid of tourism during a major economic crisis?

Re-tooling

I'm not complaining and I don't have my hand out. I work 7 days a week.

Yes you were, and 'standing in line with your hand out' means you are grabbing the tourist money, which you are, I believe..

That is because someone left you a hefty inheritance and you will never have to work again. If you had to earn a living in Thailand, you might have very different ideas on tourism.

I say this with the utmost in jealousy by the way.

You are complaining because you are standing in line with your hand out, right?

My ideas on tourism have nothing to with my situation, they come from my 25 years of experience here.

I truly believe what I'm saying, and I'm hoping for the best

Why increase tourism? To make money... ? I think this whole country would be better off with no increase in tourism at all.

How did he drown? Did he not know how to swim ? I made sure to teach my kids how to swim at an early age. Also at 12 years of age i was all over the place with out my parents supervision. At that age kids are old enough to know what they can and can not do. hel_l 12 year old kids in the USA are trusted as baby sitters in the USA.

You know we are not positive but.......The news reported that he swung & jumped 2 or 3 times & the last one did him in.

Sorry sketchy I know but I thought the same as you. After hearing that I guessed he maybe hit his head or? Also they did not say how they knew this....perhaps there was more than one kid?

Having grown up on a Island I like you learned early to swim. But later today while at the Lake I couldn't help but notice all the Thai kids hanging onto the rubber tubes. It was obvious they could not swim. I guess here there is not that much opportunity to learn

Lastly to JBG who posted where the &^$ were his parents........Who knows & who cares?

This is sad that a child dies this way period. Maybe his parents work? Maybe he sneaked off as kids often do who knows? But believe me there is probably no sadder thing in the world than for a parent to out live their child.

I have as much compassion as any person on the forum, but, I do not allow it to blind me of who is responsible for what.

You have children then "YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM" full stop.

And a large number of Thai parents to not demonstrate this responsibility.

Just remember that there are two people killed every hour on the Realm's roads.

What is anybody doing about it??

You are right, "SFA"

I agree with you 100%

All I'm going to say is, if you get on the road to Chiang Rai make sure you stop at Charin Resort at kilometer # 142. They have the best Pies you will ever have in Thailand:)

You've never been at the bakery at the Oriental Dhara Dhevi right? Time for a visit!! (Discounts apply after 7pm)

You've never been to Charin Resort, right? No discounts on pies, but they are only 45 baht at the most