TheVicar

Good advice from Dante. Try to have the landlord fix it (send him a registered letter with your detailed complaints if he does not appear to want to do anything). If he does nothing, have an electrician first look at it and then quote you a price for fixing it. If small, do it yourself and maybe your landlord will even pay it for you. You can use him as a witness if all else fails. If the landlord is unwilling to fix it, you can than claim that the landlord fraudulently misrepresented the house as liveable when in fact it isn't. You have to build a "paper trail" through letters and writing and witnesses. Don't rely on anything oral. If all else doesn't work, leave (but you will lose your down payment). Good luck.

For those wondering about too many Rimpings, let me suggest that our fair city is growing apace. Not tourists, but Bangkokians will shape our future (mostly). I'd be surprised to not see our local region's population double or worse during the next ten years. Our 'small' and 'do-able' city will soon be a thing of the past, a Pai phenomenon writ large.

Nobody's mentioned Rimping's true contributions: Bulk wine; air-con almost equal to 7-11, and Mozart. At River Rimping, coffee and something baked in the rear of the store when the shopping's done on a hot day. (Fruit and fresh vegetables, on the other hand, are better purchased in the early morn, in the open markets, to be sure.)

IMAO

It's true about Mozart but I wish they'd get more than one of his recordings and play it! I cannot count how many times I've gone into different Rimpings and heard the same music in the background. Mozart actually wrote lots of music but you'd never know it from visiting Rimping. Their "bulk wine" (3 bottles for B 1,000) really isn't much of a bargain because it's so bad. It's cheap screw top wine. You have to spend about B 400 for a drinkable bottle. AND wine prices are exactly the same at Makro (and I suspect other places too because of the Thai taxes being the same everywhere). Rimping does have its attractions (their bakeries and cheese sections especially) but its produce is way, way overpriced.

I agree with your observations about CM's future growth.

I would think they could build a dozen with the huge mark up on the food they sell. Turkey was double the price of Mackro.

I think you're absolutely right about Makro having cheaper prices in general but lots of times you have to buy multiple items of something when you need only one. Like 5 bags of sugar! This is good for the small time merchants who load up their vans there but not so good for other customers. Makro does have surprisingly good produce and at cheap prices too. They also have decent cheese and wine sections.

Having said that, I like Rimping especially for its bakeries (very good bread), huge cheese and wine sections and so on. Their stores are also very clean and bright and easy to find things in. I think using both Makro (for better prices) and Rimping for one item items (!) and their bakeries works out really well. I also like their free bags.

I've found friendly and helpful workers at both stores.

First all, I think I have the right to be critical, and if some fine souls in this forum disagree, and in addition, tell me to get out of here, than I have the same for them. I did not start this topic with the intention of criticizing the whole Thai culture. If some in this forum saw it in my post, then they should go back to school for basic english class. For about a week, and especially for the 3 days of Loy Kratong, it was a noisy war zone here for 24 hours. I DON"T LIKE IT. and I wonder if the Thai people like it, because as I wrote, it was a Thai woman who told me she won't go out because it's dangerous. This is the gist of my post.

If you understand this argument, you're welcome to give me your humble opinion,. If, as some of you, you don't understand what I wrote and asked, put earplugs to both your ears and elsewhere. Enjoy the weekend, and thanks to those who wrote about their opinion, even if it's different than mine.

Oh you poor thing. Just little misunderstood you. And hiding your feelings and expressing them through the straw woman of a Thai woman who allegedly doesn't like the holiday. How about the millions who do, have you considered them? Shouldn't that answer your question? You argument sucks as much as you undoubtedly do. YOU DON'T LIKE IT! How sad! If the noise is too much for you, go to your padded room.

So you're not impressed?

Well, maybe we and the Thais are not impressed by you either? If you cannot understand the importance of this celebration to this country and cannot enjoy it, what exactly are you here for? I went all around CM on a motorbike on the 28th and had absolutely no problems. Great crowds by the river and lots of people at the Gate area too. Lots of people enjoying themselves! Grumpy old white man indeed.

You're well beyond confused; a padded room might suit you very well.

Never mind travel agencies! Upyoura.. excuse me Uptheos' ... site post above looks uptodate. But, remember, we're talking a very fluid situation in Burma/Myanmar. Take your pick!

The Burmese government has at least once made a major policy change on on-arrival visas (pertinent only to Yangon Airport). They started off including both business as well as tourist visas, then fairly quickly excluded tourist on-arrival visas.

Check with the Burmese Embassy. Yes, depends on the crowd, but 11:00 should be fine, I believe. Usual bit having to do with filling out forms and paying a fee. It is not a bad Skytrain ride to the general neighborhood followed by a 5-minute walk. And at least call ahead if they are bothering to answer the phone these days. They used to do same-day visas for an additional fee (probably still do): application in the morning, pick-up in the afternoon. BUT FIRST CHECK THE BURMESE EMBASSY/CONSULATE !!!! Not so hard. Otherwise, enjoy a day in Bangkok! Mai phen rai!

Why? If a travel agency here can arrange a legit visa for Burma, that's a huge convenience to those wanting to go there.

Visa on arrival.

http://www.mip.gov.mm/visaonarrival/

This looks cool, thanks. I've been reading conflicting reports about this, I think partly because conditions have changed over the past year. Have you done the visa on arrival before?

No, I have a friend who does mine. Having said that, I had a Burmese Dr. friend here last week and she assures me that visa on arrival is operating. You could call the Burmese Embassy to double check.

Greatly appreciated. I'll be heading to the embassy anyway, but a relief to know I've got a fallback option. I'll confirm this is in operation when I go tomorrow. Many thanks.

If you check out CityLife's classifieds, there is a travel agency based here in CM claiming they can get you a Burmese visa without having to go to Bangkok. I don't know if that is the case and have no inside info. I'd post the link but that might be frowned on.

Pangasius is easily cooked, cheap and tasty, but:

http://www.dietminds...fish-gray-sole/

In Thailand, I believe we're talking about "ปลามง" ("pla-mong"), correct?

Anybody know which restaurants serve this fish, and by which name? Thanks.

No, completely different fish given the image you provided. Pangasius is a huge catfish. See images here: https://www.google.c...iw=1280&bih=663

Best to avoid it because it is full of contaminants.

I personally think the activities you have already planned are going to take up. Most of your time.

"Hi!

I'm flying with my mum tomorrow morning to Chiang Mai, staying for 3.5 days.

Already planing to visit the "weekend markets", Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep."

Doi Inthanon will be a full day trip and Doi Sothep combined with the zoo or Doi Pui another full day The third day you can take with just wandering around the old city plenty of Wat;s to see plus Warorot market is a short walk towards the river.

You are not far from the night Bazaar worth a look. If you decide to buy some thing bargain hard with them.

If wandering around the old city stop in tio Wat Chedi Luong they have a monk chat area where the monks will gladly speak to you about any thing as they are trying to improve their English. Talk about Buddha or yourself makes no difference to them gives you a chance to learn a little bit of the way they live there lives.

I am sure you will wish you had more time. As for the half day well getting setteled in and packing along with the trips to the airport will take care of that. What ever you do enjoy.

As for food I have no idea of what you like or what price range you are looking for. Myself I like Dukes western food on the river or in the night Bazaar or their Thai Fusion at the River Market. These are upper end medium range prices. There is a lot of cheap places also check out the bars for them and for Thai food you can find lots of small restaurants around the old city

Basically correct. Cut out things because you have only 3.5 days and part of that time will be going to and from the airport and settling in. I'd spend ALL of that limited time in the Old Town with only a brief visit to the Temple at the top of Doi Suthep and a walk along the Ping River and the flower/veggie/fruit markets. But not Warowat market , a rat infested old concrete place nor the zoo. No need for time-consuming day trips when you only have 3.5 days! Dukes is fine for western food but likely this person is coming from the West, so I'd rule that out (mostly foreigner customers too which is probably not what you want). There are a couple of nice Thai restaurants either side of Dukes on the river. Not expensive either. Spend most of your time on foot or on bicycle in the Old Town; you won't regret it. There are hundreds of incredible temples in the Old Town and many of them will be selling food/handicrafts/Buddhist items. Street food and vendor food, by the way, is excellent in Thailand and very safe to eat (contrary to what some guidebooks claim). The Sunday night walking street is A MUST (not to be confused with the Night Bazaar which is not). They have plenty of food/live entertainment/lots of things to buy and take back home. Prego really is exceptional and has Thai and Italian food (highly ranked on TripAdvisor). Save it for your last night in CM.

Only one of the weekend night markets is necessary, they're both the same really. I'd go on the Saturday on Wualai Road, but the Sunday is more popular with the majority and starts at Tha Pae gate where you'll be staying.

My recommended do it yourself 3.5 day etravaganza tour.

Friday - go for a wander around the old city after you arrive. Eat at Tiger Kingdom in Town, a few hundred metres south of tha Pae gate on Moon Muang Road (everyone I've taken there who is not used to Thai food has loved it). Book a day tour of your choice for Sunday at one of the many travel agents ( I recommend the wooden shack between UN Irish and Zoe in Yellow, opposite side of the road, lovely old lady in there).

Saturday

Temples - Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singha are both walking distance for able bodied folk from Tha Pae gate. Then get a red Songtaew to the zoo and another up to Doi Suthep (rent a motorbike if you can ride one - if not forget it). Alternatively rent a song taew and driver (not sure on cost, I'd say 1000B) to take you from the old city up to Doi Suthep and then onto Doi Pui where there's a market with northern Thai made products at reasonable prices. The truck will take you back as well! Evening meal at the restaurant on top of the Porn Ping Hotel. After dinner, wander the night market. 10pm take your mum to Spotlight Agogo, or at Archers if she's not into the dancing ladies of the night.

Sunday

Tour you booked on Friday, pick up at hotel, drop off at hotel. Evening meal at Riverside or Good View - both very popular, choose whoever has seating, if you go there Saturday you'll be waiting for a table.

Monday

Probably exhausted from the tour.

Warorot Market/Kaad Luang, wander around, cheap stuff, watch out for quality.

Tuk Tuk over to Nimanhaemin - coffee, have a goose and a gander at whatever art is on display at the Suthep Road end exhibition centre (forget the name). If you're staying another night, TukTuk it up to Palaad Tawan Ron (up the mountain from Suthep Road) for a meal overlooking the city.

Some good ideas here but I'd make a few changes. 1) forget the Nimmanhemin Road area which is usually congested and definitely overpriced. It reminds me of a seedier (and less interesting) Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok. 2) Warorot Market, that old, rat infested piece of concrete junk? No way. But nearby are lovely flower markets/veggie and fruit markets to wander around in. You can start your walk from the river near the American consulate 3) Definitely do walk or go by the Ping River area (especially nice at night) but I would not go to either of the restaurants recommended (Riverside or Good View). Both are crowded and overpriced. Neither is especially Thai. There are far better choices along the river (just look for a place that strikes your eye and has some locals in it). Speaking of the river, you can take a boat on the river and that's really nice too. 3) spend more time in the Old Town (where you GH is; by the way, ask them for some tips on restaurants) than this poster recommends. It's definitely the place with the most character in CM. Given the short period of time you have, no need to take time-consuming day trips outside. The first time I came here, I spent 7 days all in the Old Town! Just walk around, or bicycle (you can rent a bike from lots of places; pay no more than B 50 per day). The old part of town is also loaded with temples and nice little coffee houses/boutiques/restaurants, just choose what looks good and has customers. The real highlight of CM is its charming and peaceful ambiance so I'd spend more time soaking that up in the Old Town. 4) if the big flower exhibit is on in CM when you are here, definitely go to see it. It's a bit out of town but well worth it. I'd give the zoo a pass if where you come from has zoos. Aside from the pandas, pretty much routine. 5) you probably have one mountain too many for 3.5 days. Stick to Doi Suthep which in addition to being a mountain, has several interesting and must see temples. 6) I highly recommend Prego Restaurant in the Old Town (Google it; it's also a top one at Tripadvisor). Thai owner/chef who makes great Italian food but his Thai food is outstanding too (and far cheaper than the Italian)! Nice ambiance too and likely close to your GH.

The night I visited the place was 3/4 full and I didn't have to wait at all for service. I suspect part of the "waiting time" depends on the individual; I just raised my hand to beckon a waiter over and he came over immediately with a menu. Many times, the Thais, especially in the North, do not want to "rush" you so unless you are proactive, nothing much will happen. After the first waiter came by, two others did too plus the owner. As mentioned in the review, the owner not only told me about his background and concept for the restaurant, he came over after I dined and asked how everything was. That's good service.

One poster is certainly right about the clientele. Next to the Vicar, there were 4 lovely young Thai university ladies (from Payap U.) who chatted up the Vicar; one even offering to show him "around the town". I had all my Thai waiters (young men) nodding in amusement and pleasure.

This is not the best pizzeria I've ever been to in regards to the food and not even the best pizza I've had in CM but the service was great and within its own limitations, this is a decent place to go to. I marked down the place on ambiance since it is not especially Italian and it certainly isn't sophisticated or even smart. I'd say a pretty typical college type pizza place which in the West would be serving below average food (no home made pastas; pizza tasty but not great; limited menu; no home made desserts, only store bought ice cream) but you'll have an enjoyable time and decent food and the prices are cheap.

Actually, the best pizza I've had in CM was in a little place almost directly across from Wat Prasing. It has gone out of business in the past couple of weeks. Had a large Italian flag outside and they delivered. They made the pizza dough fresh for each pizza in front of you (from the flour and the eggs) and then put it in their brick oven. It was great and cheap too. It had but 1 table outside and the inside had no atmosphere whatsoever but their pizza was divine.

I have often wondered about the conventional wisdom on salt. A recent study which disputes the claim that salt is bad for you appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in May 2011. 3,681 healthy European men and women aged 60 or younger were followed for about 8 years. Those that consumed higher than average amounts of sodium did not experience increased risk for hypertension, stroke, or heart attack. Dr. Jan Staessen MD, author of the study, said that the study’s findings "do not support the current recommendations of a generalized and indiscriminate reduction of sodium intake at the population level.”

Also, Australian studies have shown that those individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes actually die in larger numbers when following a salt restricted diet, but diabetics are usually advised to severely restrict their salt intake even though another 2010 study from Harvard University showed that participants developed insulin resistance when put on a salt restricted diet and insulin resistance is a condition that indicates a strong likelihood for the development of Type 2 Diabetes.

From the same man quoting, on a different thread, a Vietnamese government official in charge of promoting their catfish industry (and co-owner of the larges such company in Vietnam) on the safety of the Vietnamese catfish industry. Take it for what it's worth.

The Journal of the American Medical Association has pretty good reputation and they don't own any salt mines. Most rational people will not just dismiss an eight year study of 3,681 patients.

One of the 2 parties quoted above uses the premature death of one man as a statistically significant proof but discounts studies that number thousands and thousands of people. John Allen Paulos, a mathematician coined the use of "innumerate" to mean the mathematical equivalent of "illiterate". I will leave it to others to decide to which of these 2 parties it ought to apply.

But the individual man I referred to was the man who developed and marketed (and presumably drank a lot of) V-8. I think that is relevant although I would agree with you that it might not be statistically significant, a claim I never made to begin with. The overwhelming weight of medical studies on sodium (which is salt) is that high levels of it are very harmful to the body. And the fate of the V-8 developer (dead at 52 of a massive heart attack) falls into that statical projection rather well.

The study cited by another poster in JAMA is an outlier, that is, an observation numerically distant from the rest of informed data. I could fill an encyclopedia with studies showing how sodium is bad for the body, including dozens of other studies in JAMA. Do a Google search if you don't believe me.

Here's a good simple essay from one of the top medical clinics in the world, the Mayo Clinic, on sodium and why too much of it is harmful. http://www.mayoclini...odium/NU00284

Similarly, the American Heart Association recommends strictly controlling sodium levels and warns that "The best way to reduce sodium is to avoid prepackaged, processed and fast foods..." which is exactly what V-8 is.

And here's expert commentary on the article referred to in JAMA which says it is a poor study:

And the JAMA paper has attracted criticism from experts in this field. For example, Professor Graham McGregor said in a Heartwire article last week that:

‘this is a ’badly written paper,” and there are “severe methodological problems” with it, most notably with urine collection in the group that had the lowest salt intake, MacGregor notes, adding that “JAMA has published a lot of controversial papers about salt. I really don’t think this is worth paying attention to. They are trying to create a stir. This is clever, but it’s harmful in my view. It’s like saying we don’t think cigarettes are harmful so we shouldn’t do anything about smoking,” he adds.

“The overall evidence [in favor of salt reduction] is overwhelming,” MacGregor asserts. “That isn’t to say we wouldn’t change our mind if we had really good evidence, but I don’t think this is it. This will not divert us from reducing salt intake worldwide. At a high-level meeting of the World Health Organization, salt reduction has been recommended as the next thing after tobacco reduction because it’s so cost-effective to implement and so easy to do.’

Source: http://sciblogs.co.n...or-your-health/

Who to believe? The Mayo clinic, the World Health Organization, the overwhelming weight of authority in JAMA and the American Heart Association--or you?

Any competent dentist here can diagnose and treat something like this.

(Many seem to think dentists only deal with teeth).

Perhaps you should get a biopsy to make sure it is not something more serious.

18 months you have a growth in your mouth, and you have not had it seen by a specialist?

I go to Grace, but I'm sure others can recommend various places with excellent Oral Surgeons as well.

This is good advice. Wikipedia indicates your condition as an oral cyst. Here's some other info that is pertinent from wiki:

"Treatment

Some mucoceles spontaneously resolve on their own after a short time. Others are chronic and require surgical removal. Recurrence may occur, and thus the adjacent salivary gland is excised as a preventive measure.

Several types of procedures are available for the surgical removal of mucoceles. These include laser and minimally-invasive techniques which means recovery times are reduced drastically.

Micro-marsupialization is an alternative procedure to surgical removal. Micro-marsupialization uses silk sutures in the dome of a cyst to allow new epithelialized drainage pathways. It is simpler, less traumatic, and well-tolerated by patients, especially children^[4] .

A non-surgical option that may be effective for a small or newly identified mucocele is to rinse the mouth thoroughly with salt water (one tablespoon of salt per cup) four to six times a day for a few days. This may draw out the fluid trapped underneath the skin without further damaging the surrounding tissue. If the mucocele persists, individuals should see a dentist to discuss further treatment."

I've had good results at Lanna Hospital which also has a Dental Clinic and a very good young dermatologist (although an oral surgeon or dentist seems a more likely choice for you). I highly recommend them. Prices there are reasonable (they're private and there is no line or large pool of waiting patients). I do think a hospital dental clinic would be better for you than an individual dental clinic because a biopsy (to see if there was any abnormal tissue in this growth) might be a good idea. Good luck and let us know your progress.

Having seen a posters recommendation here for Koh Lanta Pizzeria, I went there and did a review of the place which can be found at this website at:

There is a great place called Fiore Rosa formerly in Bo Sang which has now moved to the Saraphi area on Suthep Rd. Italian guy Robby does all the cooking and the food is just great. Very reasonably priced and he always has interesting specials. A bit out of the city but worth it.

http://www.facebook....reRosaChiangmai

Thanks for that link. The pictures there look yummy! And goat meat (served N. African style!). Can you give me more info on the location (I'm not a facebook member)? I'll definitely go there since I love Italian food.

Well there seem to be a number of pitches at 'Billy's' ethnicity. To the best of my knowledge he is not mixed race but is 100% Chin (from the Western side of Burma). He learned to cook Italian food whilst working for Sergio when the latter owned Buonissimo (as did a number of his compatriots). He has a worked extremely hard to build his business up from a single shop house to his present location in Chez Gibus old place. Haute cuisine it isn't, but for good, no nonsense Italian food at very reasonable prices, it takes some beating. I agree with the vote for Steffano's. Girasole in the Olde town also has some good quality dishes.

Good information. I do think that it is necessary, if cooking an ethnic food, to either be a part of that group or to have lived there for a long, long time (and be a good cook to boot). Speaking the language of the ethnic food is also a prerequisite, because language is important in food and vice versa. "Prego" is the only Italian restaurant I recommended with a non Italian owner/cook. And Prego's owner/chef (a Thai) lived in Florence for more than a decade and worked there in restaurants. He's good (as are his Thai dishes). The owner of "Why Not", I'm told, is either Italian or Swiss/Italian (southern Switzerland, Canton Ticino, is mostly Italian speaking). I have mixed feelings about that place; which has a delightful atmosphere. Billy's story is interesting. Maybe he should call his place "Billisimo" ( a play on the Italian "bella" meaning "beautiful" and also on "benissimo" meaning very, very good). Billy's doesn't cut it for an Italian place, but it is more understandable given the history above. I will, however, give his place a go after the recommendations here.

Stefano is Italian and speaks Italian and he is on site all the time. I've lived in Italy and his place is as good as many as I have been to in Rome (on the trattoria level at least). I believe that his family also owns the Gondola restaurant which no one here has mentioned (I've looked for it and have not been able to find it).

Where is Girasole located?

Looking at Google for Girasole's location, it seems that the same family that owns Gondola/Steffano's owns Girasole as well as Pasta Paradise.

UG is correct on Gondola; it is closed. From an interview with the female owner (her husband is Stefano):

DG: I see that all your restaurant logos include the term “by La Gondola”. Can you explain this?

K.Jim: La Gondola was our flagship restaurant on the Ping river on the ground floor of the Rimping Condominium. We opened that about 10 years ago and ran it for 6 years. It was very successful at the time and was quite popular with both locals and tourists. Unfortunately our lease was not extended after 6 years so we had to move out. Nevertheless, the positive name recognition lived on and people were still talking about La Gondola long after we closed. Hence, we decided to keep the name as a kind of quality label for the other Italian restaurants which we would open up thereafter.

DG: Have you tried to move La Gondola to a different location?

K.Jim: Yes, we did, with mediocre success, though. The locations we had chosen could never live up to the original location on the Ping river. So we decided to give different names to our other restaurants and use “by La Gondola” only as a kind a quality label.

DG: Like at Girasole?

K.Jim: Right. We opened up Girasole about 4 years ago. It’s got a great location and upholds the same quality standards as in the original La Gondola.

Source: http://www.dininggui...h/label/Italian

I wish I had known this earlier! I've been driving around the city looking for Gondola!

PS. The whole interview I linked is well worth reading. Good job on the interview!

Well there seem to be a number of pitches at 'Billy's' ethnicity. To the best of my knowledge he is not mixed race but is 100% Chin (from the Western side of Burma). He learned to cook Italian food whilst working for Sergio when the latter owned Buonissimo (as did a number of his compatriots). He has a worked extremely hard to build his business up from a single shop house to his present location in Chez Gibus old place. Haute cuisine it isn't, but for good, no nonsense Italian food at very reasonable prices, it takes some beating. I agree with the vote for Steffano's. Girasole in the Olde town also has some good quality dishes.

Good information. I do think that it is necessary, if cooking an ethnic food, to either be a part of that group or to have lived there for a long, long time (and be a good cook to boot). Speaking the language of the ethnic food is also a prerequisite, because language is important in food and vice versa. "Prego" is the only Italian restaurant I recommended with a non Italian owner/cook. And Prego's owner/chef (a Thai) lived in Florence for more than a decade and worked there in restaurants. He's good (as are his Thai dishes). The owner of "Why Not", I'm told, is either Italian or Swiss/Italian (southern Switzerland, Canton Ticino, is mostly Italian speaking). I have mixed feelings about that place; which has a delightful atmosphere. Billy's story is interesting. Maybe he should call his place "Billisimo" ( a play on the Italian "bella" meaning "beautiful" and also on "benissimo" meaning very, very good). Billy's doesn't cut it for an Italian place, but it is more understandable given the history above. I will, however, give his place a go after the recommendations here.

Stefano is Italian and speaks Italian and he is on site all the time. I've lived in Italy and his place is as good as many as I have been to in Rome (on the trattoria level at least). I believe that his family also owns the Gondola restaurant which no one here has mentioned (I've looked for it and have not been able to find it).

Where is Girasole located?

The Thai solution is to cut all trees down and pave them over with concrete. End of problem. (said with a touch of sarcasm).

The internet is a wonderful thing. Since you found your way here on it, you should be able to use Google. It can do wonders!

Like I said in an earlier post, make your own juice; it's healthier and tastier.

Yeah I suppose so but with the Stoly and Tabasco I'd never know. Say Vicar do you reckon the V8 we get here is made from the pesticide-laden local veg you blend up or does it come from the States?

As an aside, the developer of V8 juice, W. Peacock, died at what age? He made it to the ripe old age of....52! Died of a massive heart attack. That's what big doses of sodium does to the heart.

Ate too much fiber probably. Yes there are some people who are salt sensitive especially if they kidneys aint workin too good.

I look to Winston Churchill for inspiration myself.

Actually, I blend up veggies from an organic farm, available readily here in Chiang Mai. Yes, they do cost more but are worth it. To return to the theme of this thread, the man who developed and marketed V-8 juice died at the totally non-Churchillian age of 52, from a massive heart attack. And the juices he was drinking by definition do not contain fiber. Where do you come up with your nonsense? High salt (NOT "too much fiber") content causes heart attacks.

I have often wondered about the conventional wisdom on salt. A recent study which disputes the claim that salt is bad for you appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in May 2011. 3,681 healthy European men and women aged 60 or younger were followed for about 8 years. Those that consumed higher than average amounts of sodium did not experience increased risk for hypertension, stroke, or heart attack. Dr. Jan Staessen MD, author of the study, said that the study’s findings "do not support the current recommendations of a generalized and indiscriminate reduction of sodium intake at the population level.”

Also, Australian studies have shown that those individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes actually die in larger numbers when following a salt restricted diet, but diabetics are usually advised to severely restrict their salt intake even though another 2010 study from Harvard University showed that participants developed insulin resistance when put on a salt restricted diet and insulin resistance is a condition that indicates a strong likelihood for the development of Type 2 Diabetes.

From the same man quoting, on a different thread, a Vietnamese government official in charge of promoting their catfish industry (and co-owner of the larges such company in Vietnam) on the safety of the Vietnamese catfish industry. Take it for what it's worth.

Too many cheap Charlie's expect something for nothing in this town.

Books between 5 and 20 baht! That makes you an extortionist, UG.

Well I for one had a great time…. I think your whole crew this year did a great job of organizing the event and my hat is off to you. Could it have been done better? Yes of course…. But having run several of these events over the years… there is always room for improvement each and every year. Nancy… As long as you made some money for a good cause…. in the grand scheme of things It went just fine.

Just a couple of thoughts you may want to put in your notes for next year….

1^st The parking attendants need to be told to back off when the vendors are bringing in their items to set up. This one kid actually thought he was going to have me carry a hundred pound cooler from the parking lot to the food court. I don’t think so…. And who issued them the whistles?

2^nd Having two or three food/drink areas… was a bit confusing. Yes I know the front area shut down around or before noon… but it then looked to me as if the whole event was shut down for the day…. at your premium location… the front entrance. Now I know a troop of dancing girls probably would not have been appropriate…. but you should have something/someone who knows what’s going on posted there next year to draw them in and steer them around to the back.

3^rd Last but not least… First come * First serve. Every year, these events have people that cancel at the last moment. Every year, these events have people call at the last minute trying to get a spot. I can only say that I have never found a foolproof answer to this problem…. Its just human nature I guess. Getting everyone to commit and pay in advance with no chance of a refund was my rule. If the spot was not occupied an hour before the event… it was sold again to anyone on the waiting list. A larger deposit would also be a good way of making sure they showed up…. Way to easy to walk on your booth fee.

Well there is my two cents worth. Just a side note to a couple of the comments posted here. There is no down side to constructive criticism….. But as a manager my first consideration would always be the source. If you have never rode a horse!!!!

1. How can you not make money for the good cause when a portion of the proceeds went to the charity? Unless no one came, you'd make money, so is that really the test? I think not.

2. With respect to the "if you never road a horse" line, it was Nancy who began this thread and came here asking for constructive criticism. She got it, and not only from me. Note that the person above your post was under the impression, quite properly so given the name of the event, that it was a Christmas event for children. Another person, who never attended the event but nonetheless applauded it, had not even seen the publicity for the event. So, there are lots of grounds for improvement, if the people responsible really want to do that (I would suggest a name change and change of the date of the event to begin with). And I would, by the way, agree with all of your other points above, which also can be read as critical. What often happens is that people asking for constructive criticism are really asking for anything but that and really want applause and support, and I suspect that is what happened here. What should be applauded is the dedication and enthusiasm of those volunteers who worked for a good cause. Do it again but make it much better next year. Really make an effort to change what went wrong rather than going through the lip service and the brownnosing.

3. All attendants in Thailand have whistles, as anyone who's lived here any length of time knows. It goes with being a low level official in Thailand, whether they be a policeman or a parking lot attendant. It is part of their persona. It's akin to what a stamp is to Western bureaucrats. It is their "badge of authority". And aren't you being dismissive of him by labeling him a "kid"? It's likely he was given his instructions and he was following them (yet another point to be changed).

Elektrified wrote: "The one (Royal Project Store) on Huay Kaew usually has smoked trout (but nothing else except yogurt with expired dates). Honestly I don't see how that place stays open. I've been in there many times and I have always been the only customer."

That was my experience for the one off of Suthep Road: not much aside from honey, dried noodles, overpriced veggies plus rude service and no prices on many items. These places can stay open only because of their patronage. I was the only customer on a Saturday afternoon at the Suthep branch. There are venders selling much the same stuff just outside at lower prices and they smile!

I'd much rather buy produce from the farmers at small Wats (many wats have a market day once or twice a week) and buy the packaged stuff from Rimping stores (excellent!) and Makro (great prices and good produce too). Just stay away from the Vietnamese catfish.

I like the store at CMU but have found that if you go in the afternoon before closing time that there is nothing on the shelves except a few dried things and some veggies, like you said. If you go earlier in the day you will find more selection. I don't understand their stocking procedure...but whatever...just go early in the day. The one girl at the cash register has been there since they opened and never smiles.

I went well before closing time on a Saturday afternoon. The girl at the cash register needs to be replaced with someone who can deal effectively with the public, she cannot. I'll never return, and I suspect that is the impression most people have had and the reason the place was absolutely empty.