Nikki321

I am also looking for thai lesson. Perhaps we can go in together. Class setting is impossible to find in CR. I called few places and YMCA seemed to offer the best deal. First I called they quoted me 3000 baht for 20 hrs. 2nd time I called, 3500 baht Afraid to call again If you are interested I can call them and ask for quotation for two students. They suppose to call me back and I am still waiting.

I would be happy to share classes but YMCA would be difficult for me to get to at the moment as I don't have my own transport. I need ideally to meet somewhere like central which isn't far from home. If you would be up for that, that would be good. Also just to let you know I am 6 months pregnant so will only be able to do lessons for the next 2 1/2 to 3 months probably so don't want to mess you around if we start by splitting the cost and then i have to stop lessons nearer the birth!! Just to let you know so you can decide :-)

Thanks for all the suggestions- I contacted Amber a while ago as I heard she was teaching but she only does conversation and not reading and writing.

Ideally I would like to find someone that will meet at a coffee shop in central or somewhere convenient like that as its easy to get too!!

Hopefully in the future I will actually be able to answer questions on the chiang rai forum rather than just ask them all the time.....but sorry here's another one!!

Want to learn to read and write Thai as its long overdue, conversation practice is also good but get plenty of that at home with husband and with all the family ;-) can anyone recommend someone? I haven't had much luck with finding any group classes so guess private ones would be fine- maybe meeting at a coffee shop somewhere or at home. Thanks for any help!! :-)

Haha yeah I see what u mean....

Update on the furniture situation....found a decent bed at Peenang today opposite makro - had to spend some time persuading the shop assistant that we were definitely not going to be purchasing any of the tasteful diamanté studded headboard range (a surprisingly large percent of the beds!!) and wanted something a little more subtle. Got one that has a very comfy backboard to sit up in as I'm sure once the bump is no longer a bump I will not be getting much actual sleep any more ;-) no luck on the sofa bed situation but we didn't look that hard yet, got a bit sidetracked by makro....

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, looks like today is going to be a furniture shopping extravaganza...or at least I hope we find a good bed....getting up and down from the mattress on the floor is becoming increasing challenging for me and the bump!! ;-)

Has anyone ever bought or seen somewhere that sells sofa beds in chiang rai? Any good furniture shops around with good range of beds, wardrobes etc? If not any suggestions of places in chiang Mai would be useful too. Thanks!!

Hi I'm looking for mums who have recently given birth in chiang Mai to give some advice! I'm due at the beginning of January and living in chiang rai but considering chiang Mai for the birth as haven't found a doctor im happy with here. Some of the methods seem very outdated!!

Am keen to have an active birth without episiotomy done as standard. I have been recommended Dr. Suppachai Sirisukkasem at chiang Mai Ram hospital so any opinions/experiences anyone's had with him or another doctor would be great to hear. Thanks in advance!! Nikki

Sounds like Nikki can fend for herself and will fit in well. Seems I may have heard rumors to the effect she sometimes moonlights as a Hungarian supermodel also.

Yes indeed I have been mistaken for a Hungarian supermodel on many occasions in my life.....very tiresome as you can imagine. Unfortunately at this point and time I would actually be grateful to be still sporting a 1 pack!!

Wow, quite a mixed group then. I can only assume the Hungarian supermodel was also sporting a hairy 1 pack as she managed to fit in so inconspicuously. In all fairness Hungary does have pretty chilly winters so one needs to be prepared.

Disappointed obviously about the lack of speedo's, those skimpy pieces of Lycra are very underrated. I would have thought the Chiang Rai Hash athletes would have fully embraced them. In all fairness though given the hot weather it's probably not advisable to heat up the temperature any more than necessary!

Its probably just as well that you can't make it. A Thai Boyfriend with a bronzed six pack is OK, but you can't beat the real thing .

Think, Red Speedo's; Off-Grey Coloured; bulging ; Beer Swilling; hairy; One-packs !

I rest my case

I feel some photographic evidence would be helpful to get the full picture.....imagination is often worse than reality, though in this case I'm not sure!!! ;-)

Don't forget the Hash this saturday Nikki321. I believe we will have access to a swimming pool after the Walk in a recently built property (trying to keep it on topic) should be a nice afternoon out. a big cross section of Society too. Several of the regulars rent properties and have recently built houses so can give you some tips. We maybe subject to a farang or two wearing Speedo's , but thats just about the worse that can happen at our Family friendly Hash

Both VF and Sceadugenda have been known to attend although very infrequently, and ofcourse they are always welcome

Oh and your Mother-in-Law is welcome too

Haha :-) the farangs in speedos bit almost sold it to me!! I wont be able to make this one though as I am staying in a hotel at the moment with a cold!! My husband had to rush off to Bangkok on weds as his nephew is in ICU (seems to be improving now which is good) - luckily I got to stay in a hotel rather than mum in laws place which has meant the most decent sleep I have had in ages. The mattress has springs in it!!! I'd forgotten the feeling.... ;-)

Thanks everyone for suggestions and pm's. Looks like we have found somewhere and will be moving out of mother in laws finally!!! It's near where we plan to build our own place so once that gets started we can keep an eye on what's going on....

Does anyone know of anywhere decent to rent in the city? Would be for about 6 months while we have our house built. A house or apartment would be fine, ideally with some kitchen facilities. Not more than 15000 a month, preferably less! Thanks for any suggestions (have not have any luck in the internet so far!) Nikki

On another note...anywhere that sells tasty whole wheat homemade bread? One of the downsides of pregnancy is I have completely gone off Thai food having previously loved it (it's causing a lot of distress here with the family!!) all I want to eat is English style comfort food like baked potatoes and toast with marmite!!! Very inconvenient ;-)

Nikki321,

Our Hash is sort of a 'soft Drinks and leisurely walking' club. we do have almost a handful of people who run, and a handful of people who run and then drink beer afterwards, you have to take your hat off to this hardcore minority who try to keep the Centuries Old hashing traditions alive, by occasionally drinking Beer and showing there bottoms. There always seems to be lots of women and children and babies around which is why I mentioned it.

Likewise the Potluck but it's forbodden to show your bottom , so you must resist the desire

I will try to stop myself, can't promise anything though ;-) sounds fun!! This weekend we are driving to Bangkok so will miss the hash but may be back in time for the potluck if all goes according to plan (sorting out visa for husband and me to go to uk in sept)

Thanks so much for everyone's help, it's a great start. I suspected that it would be hard to find mum and baby groups given the big family style here but worth a try. I have lots of lovely people living around us here (including lots of family) but sometimes it's nice to escape a bit and meet other people (have an opportunity to speak english sometimes too - give my poor brain a rest!!) especially as this set up is all new to me. Thanks again :-)

My wifes (Thai) English is ok and I know she would love to chat with you, she has a 2 and 3 year old. We are in Chiang Saen and I will be back there in July, so if you fancy a trip let us know

That would be lovely, please get in touch when your back. Chiang Saen has good memories for us as we got married there 3 months ago! Spend 4 days and lots of my family stayed too :-)

That sounds good, will try out Dr Athitaya at Overbrook then. Are there different packages you buy depending on what level of care/ type of birth you want etc?

On another note...what is a hash? Sounds interesting! We will be away for about 5/6 days so won't be able to make this Saturday but still curious!! Forgive my ignorance!!!

Thanks :-)

At the moment I am working out what I want to do living here, as you say I think having a purpose is very important and if possible I hope to set up a small business in the city so I have something outside the village up go too and make a living. It has been complicated slightly by finding out im pregnant a couple of weeks ago, very early days only 7 weeks so I have been feeling pretty sick :-( we're really happy about the baby but it makes me more keen to get started with finding somewhere else to live (it's fine here but with a new baby I am worried about quite a few hygiene issues) its just a very different way of doing things from what I'm used to and I guess I want to bring up my baby in a way that's more familiar to me. Unfortunately I have gone from loving Thai food to not being able to stand the sight of it at the moment, this is upsetting ppl a lot- no one can understand it!! Had to stock up in the city on things I can eat, lucky we're only 30 mins away ;-)

Thanks so much for everyone's help, it's a great start. I suspected that it would be hard to find mum and baby groups given the big family style here but worth a try. I have lots of lovely people living around us here (including lots of family) but sometimes it's nice to escape a bit and meet other people (have an opportunity to speak english sometimes too - give my poor brain a rest!!) especially as this set up is all new to me. Thanks again :-)

Hi, I'm interested to hear from foreign women who live outside the cities with their Thai husbands and how they get on with cultural changes, how it was to adjust at the beginning etc

I have recently moved to a village in the outskirts of chiang rai where I'm living with my new husband in his mum's house (for now but not forever!), it's quite a big adjustment in many ways- some wonderful things and some more challenging. What are other peoples experiences been?

Hi, just looking for some advice from women living in chiang rai. I've recently moved to Huai Sak with my husband who is from here (I'm English) we were living in Bangkok before. I don't really know the area at all yet and I'm hoping somebody can advice me about hospitals as I've just found out I'm pregnant. Would love to hear from anyone who has given birth here or is pregnant at the moment to find out their experiences. Are there any expecting mum's groups or looking ahead mum's and baby groups? Thai or farang, my Thai is ok.

Thanks so much, will be grateful for any advice!!