goski

Yes, the 30 days that people from different countries get when entering the kingdom is not a visa. A tourist visa on the other hand is the ususally 60 days that you have to apply for and they also stick it in your passport.

Very different thing. Haven't seen any people with 30 days getting that piece of paper saying "The Kingdom of Thailand" in their passports?

Well, that's a handfull for you! Isn't "wai to your face but tricks you behind your back" more suitable? The backstabbing bit seems a bit over the top

Goski, check out post number 5 in this thread.

Keep them coming... excellent photos.

Thanks alot, will do!

Yes, very nice countryside Jai Dee! I'll throw in a couple of more while I wait for someone to exlplain how to insert thumbnails so I won't take so much space

Time for breakfast after that first picture!

Yes, they changed it 1/8 and now you hav to fill in an application on the Burmese side and also get your picture taken. Nothing serious but it takes a while so if you have to swing across the border every month, go early in the morning. Last Tuesday it took me 4 hours totally since I had about 30 people in front of me. And yep, it costs 500 baht now.

But I think that they will reevaluate the whole thing since noone actually crosses over anymore because they have to wait too long.

Yes, why not? I won´t reply to that anyway since I don´t understand why it is so tremendously important that jokes/sarcasm have to be explained in the most intricate way before someone actually can take it for what it is.

Rajabhat, Chulalongkorn, Mae Fha Luang etc. They are universities and let´s keep it at that then.

Ah, the best way is as usual to go somewhere by yourself to experience it. Trusting people on a web forum sometimes tends to be biased, especially for small towns like Chiang Rai but nevertheless bigger cities as well.

Doesn´t matter, as long as people like what they eat or experience it´s fine.

I would just like to add something. If the whole thing is that someone else makes the food, shouldn´t it be at least as tasty as you can do it yourself and reasonably priced? Otherwise, what´s the point?

Hello and Hi!

I must sadly go back on what I said about the Japanese restaurant about a week ago. The restaurant has changed owners and the Japanese man has gone back to his ancestral land with his Thai wife. Fair enough. But, really it isn´t because he took some of the quality and charm with him and what use is that for the present owner?

They still have a good Miso soup and a decent California Maki but when the Sashimi is frozen and the Yamamori mixed with Phu Khao Tong (PKT is a salty soy sauce for those who don´t know the brand) is doesn´t feel right at all. Sake not there, menu items have "not arrived yet" and so on.

Well, it would just like to say that it was better before. Does anyone else know about a decent Japanese restaurant in the vicinity? I saw that there is a Japanese food shop now at the intersection before the bridge going towards Mae Sai. I can always try to poison myself while attempting a Sushi on blowfish.

No, no problems with that. In fact I hardly care but you do and that´s fair enough with me. I´m well aware of Rajabhats history and the western teachers there. Back to topic perhaps?

Have you actually asked around in the market? It´s very strange that they don´t have it. Cumin is called "Yee raa" in Thai by the way. I´m sure it exists in other shops than just NFP.

I agree, on most things you say

As a former Bangkok resident I actually enjoyed the possibility to not have to engage in an afternoon of planning how and when to go to a certain restaurant and actually order from Pizza Company. In Chiang Rai it is useless. You can buy two take-away pizzas from Da Vinci for about 300 baht where a set delivery menu from Pizza Company ends up at around 400 baht. Ridiculous considering that they are competing with a place that has a real pizza oven.

I remember that before Da Vinci existed, I lived close to the Mae Fha Luang university and ordered a pizza from Pizza Company. Problem is that they don´t deliver that far so we made a deal that I would wait by the sala after the Rajabhat University (shouldn´t be called a university btw). The pizza guy came and the transaction was done in front of many a curious thai that were wondering why a 1.90 m tall farang was doing dodgy culinary deals out in the middle of nowhere

Actually, speaking so much about food and these tips about italian restaurants makes me consider this day to be a gastronomic one Thank you for those.

Another tip is the Japanese restaurant that if you continue south on the Phahonyothin Road until you almost reach the super highway will be found on the left hand side with some typical kitch decoration so it is easy to see. It is owned by a Japanese who also cooks the food himself. It is good, better than Oishi or Fuji which is Japan´s answer to McDonalds.

For a good Khao Soi close to Chiang Rai, Khao Soi Nang Lae is the place. At least there has been another farang every time I´ve been there which probably means it´s good or that they have menus in English (I don´t know if they have that). Left hand side and if you can´t read Thai you will probably miss it or you can start looking after the Pepsi factory.

Can someone recommend a good moograta? Korean hotpot that is. The only one I´ve been to so far is the one across from Big C which has good naam chim but not so much more than that.

Speaking about the Mexican restaurant by the Overbrook Hospital, don´t eat there unless you´re a big fan of microwaves popping open or if you have a cold and can´t taste anything.

I say this because it´s ridiculous to pay Bangkok prices for a meal that you can easily make yourself, put in the freezer and 6 months later heat, eat and experience the true essence of what this restaurant has to offer.

If you have never tried Mexican food you probably won´t be disappointed (because you don´t know what to expect) but I´m sorry to say that the linguistic abilities of the lady has nothing to do with the quality of the food.

Why not wait until next time you´re in Bangkok on a Tuesday and try out Bourbon Street on soi 22 which has a buffet for about 250 baht with REAL Méxican food. Just a tip, you won´t get disappointed.

Actually, the western restaurants in Chiang Rai are very mediocre compared to what you can get elsewhere. Even The Old Dutch that used to be a very good restaurant in Bangkok seem to have lost every bit of sizzle after moving to Chiang Rai. Is it the quality of meat and veggies in Chiang Rai or what?

Sure, the Dutch almost have a monopoly on restaurants along the Nightbazaar street and one or two are quite alright.

I was happy though that there is a Lebanese restaurant next to the Thai Airways office that has ok food for ok prices.

Saying that Da Vinci is the only Italian restaurant in Chiang Rai is a pure lie since if you continue south on the same road and turn right at the next intersection AFTER the Meuang Tong restaurant you will find another one. Haven´t eaten there so I don´t know if I should recommend it or not.

I clearly missed the Norwegian aquavit but then again I had plenty of the Danish which in my opinion is better.

Nevertheless, very nice of Sven to arrange such a high spirited party for a holiday that one could almost compare to the Thai "Songkran". Although with the slight alteration of celebrating only for one day and instead of throwing water at eachother it tends to be more self inflicted pain by throwing snaps down your own throat.

Thanks Sven!

Instead of starting a new thread I'll take a chance and see if anyone notices this

If you overstay a multple entry tourist visa for a few days, will the next 60 day period be cancelled when you go across the border or do you just pay the fine and everything goes back to normal?

It's a bit like when you extend a multiple for one month at the immigration in Bangkok, you consequently loose the next period of your multiple for the sake of the extended month. Not the same as my question of course.