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If you live in the Huay Kaew Road area, I recommend the watch repairman in the basement of Khad Suan Kaew--near Mike's Burgers and the east exit. He replaced the broken stem and crown on my Citizen.

Brasserie – last Sunday night. We used to go to the old Brasserie every so often. We miss Took and hope he is doing well. Last Sunday, Brasserie was really cooking. Terrific performances from Mai Blues (great to see him again) and outstanding performance from Chai Blues Band. When it was over, the audience called for more and Chai and his band were nice enough to do one more. It was really a good time. I hope someone posts some video.

Apparently Took & Co. have relocated--according to this TripAdvisor post:

September 28, 2012

As of the 26th September the Brasserie has moved to the corner of Chaiyapoom and Chaiyapoom soi 1. For exact location see here: http://m.google.co.uk/u/m/dkPZtV. Unfortunately Took has had a family emergency and will be out of town for a while. The bar itself is nice but the restaurant is not properly stocked yet. Hence the average ratings, atmosphere was anyway...

Oops! Error in subject/verb agreement: shuttles deliver! (It pays to proofread...)

Why spend the night on a bus? Nok has three comfortable, daily non-stop flights to Udon Thani that take little over an hour. From the Udon airport THAI and Nok operate shuttles that delivers you directly to the Nong Khai crossing at Friendship Bridge. Nok's roundtrip fares to Udon are much cheaper than Lao Air's to Vientiane, which usually involves a plane change in Luang Prabang.

I am in Vientiane now. This charming, hospitable, and laid-back town is by far my favorite Asian capital--boasting the best French food outside France!

Highly recommended is Mr. Brown, who charged Bt.500 for a house call last time he visited me. Living here on a retirement visa, for obvious reasons he keeps a low profile and doesn't advertise--but he's expert. His phone number: 0846117638.

Very sorry... I made a mistake! Deluxe rooms at The Dome are US$40--not forty-nine. (It pays to proofread... )

If you like the CMU / Nimmanhemin area on the west side of town, I recommend The Dome (http://www.thedomechiangmai.com/) on Huay Kaew Road--about a block from Khad Suan Kaew shopping center. You can read more reviews at TripAdvisor (

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293917-d1214647-Reviews-The_Dome_Residence-Chiang_Mai.html). I have stayed there three times and enjoyed it very much. Ample inside parking...

One word of advice. Standard rooms are very small, and low-floor rooms look out on a blank wall. Suites (advertised at Agoda) are $39 a night, but the ones I saw consisted of two cramped, chopped-up rooms. The best deal deal are the deluxe rooms, available at $49 on the internet at The Dome's own website. Best would be to take a look at all three room categories and make a selection from what is available. Although you are talking about high season, The Dome is a big hotel; tourists are not flocking to Chiang Mai; there should be plenty of space available at The Dome.

Besides the post-midnight departure from CNX, the other thing you have to consider very carefully (especially if you have children in tow) is the long, long layover at Inchon. A hotel room will add to your ticket price...

Returning to Chiang Mai, connection times seem to be much better.

Thanks (a year later!) for the above recommendation. A good thing, too, that your directions were so specific. The shopfront is very nondescript; I almost missed it. No English spoken, but the owner understood what I wanted and did an excellent job--including rounding the corners. A glass tabletop, 50 centimeters by 120 cost Bt.400--ready (and wrapped) in an hour. The shop no longer delivers...

If you mean nonstop, no.

But almost as good is Air Asia nonstop to KL, then connect same day nonstop to Indonesia destinations (Bali, Jakarta, Lombok, etc.). To avoid a KL overnight, return to CNX from Bali via Bangkok.

Very comfortable is Silk Air / Singapore Airlines--but also more expensive. Return to Chiang Mai on a Sunday to avoid a Singapore overnight.