siam-i-am

> Is CM getting more visitors but lower per tourist spend revenues and

> thus lower incomes into the local economy?

No, exactly the other way around. 10+ years ago there were almost ONLY backpackers, and some package tourers who didn't venture much beyond their hotel and restaurants immediately next to them. Does seem that more single men made it up to Chiang Mai 10 years ago though, that segment is completely dominated by Bangkok, Patters and other beachy desintions now. Loi Kroh is indeed pretty gloomy in many ways. (Compared to foreign nightlife areas in Pattaya or Bangkok or Phuket)

> Is it because it's Taksin's home town people (particularly Thai's), are sceptical of

> investing?

No.. Look at all the 5 star mega hotels going up. 10+ years ago there were NO 5 star hotels. (Well, perhaps just what used to be the Westin)

And look for example at Nimmanaemin Road 'Then and Now', then tell me again local people aren't investing.....

> Is it because CM is noticeably spreading out further from the city centre?

Ha, consider the alternative: Unabated expansion INSIDE the city center. Channelling away from the old center is a local policy, AND one that's working.

BTW, some examples posted by people aren't really fair.. Like a picture of Khlong Mae Kha Canal, which was a MUCH bigger mess 10 years ago. It's been beautified on many places on the outside, now what's left is just the water quality. (Which was atorcious also 10 years ago).

> Bad roads

Thapae is a mess, but other than that, the new Ring roads are among the best in Thailand (with the tunnels). The inner city has a one-way system that WORKS. Canal Road is a stellar road now, too. All major roads to outlying districs have been made 4/6 lane separate-lane roads. There's the New Sankamphaeng road, the old one was super dangerous. That one has recently been beautified too with bicycle lanes, footpaths, lanterns and signage in an additional language nobody can read. Remember what it was like driving to Doi Saket or the Sankamphaeng area 10 years ago? Yikes! THAT was bad!!!

> Unfinished projects

Nope. After the economic crisis, almost everything has been picked up again, including the VERY nice new Pantip Plaza.

> Increased traffic

Of course. Comes with growing into a bigger city. If it gets too big then there's always Lamphun or Phrae or something, or Doi Saket, Sanpatong, etc, etc.

If Chiang Mai wasn't a nice place, it wouldn't be growing so fast...

> Filthy air

Is a problem, especially (only?) in the dry season.

> Concrete flyovers

They changed their ways on that one. It's now tunnels galore, which look MUCH better... The people in local govenrment dont like flyovers either, so changes were made for the better. Imagine the old Lamphun road with a big fat concrete flyover.. It got a tunnel you don't even see from that road.

> Expansion in high rise development

Of course. However the new roads and the chanelling of development away from the center means there's a lot of land available AND accessible, so less need for Condo's. The main condo boom was during the bubble years anyway, when they were considered modern and hi-so. There's laws in place that ban high rise condo's in the old center. (And no point in building them further away where land is cheap.). Kudos to the Tessaban on this one.

> Carnival Safaris

Just one at last count. Indeed I don't think this type of project is the way to go. Another ill-conceived Taksin brain fart. Let's hope it will remain just this monumental f-up.

> Early closing

If you DONT have nightlife regulation laws (like before) then you get people complaining about the Karaoke shack next door that keeps blaring until 4am and people would say Chiang Mai is going to the dogs because of the ABSENCE of such regulations. And it's a nationwide thing, obviously. If anything it helps stop the Pattayafication of Chiang Mai.

Cheers,

Chanchao

Chiang mai is certainly more polluted, the powers that be still lack common sense, unless undulating streets through the city and hiding the likes of doi suthep behind hoardings is the new tourist attraction? Why lay new pavements then plant trees and bollards in the middle of them? Maybe because only poor people walk. There's nothing wrong with Chiang mai that political will (and tea money) cant fix. I avoid the city like the plague outside there are still a few beauty spots.

So if people were not to burn the grass ( and garbage come to that!!?) what would happen to it?

Ah hum.... just saying.... thats all .....

Was Darwin right, Stupid people make themselves extinct? Every day I see the very same people riding without helmets breathing in toxic fumes, trouble is they breed like rabbits then send them to university. I asked a student recently why don't you wear a helmet? The reply "fashion" silly me. Taking a little refreshment at a thatched roadside inn I was joined by two of Thailands finest they were not only wearing helmets but also sunglasses it was 7pm, they had a few sangsom and were soon in a happy mood so I asked them when they book someone for riding a m/bike without a helmet why don't they impound the bike? The reply "we would soon be like Chiang rai more people wear helmets no money for us" Do you ever book anyone for black exhaust fumes? "never" why not? "we have not been told to" Call me old fashion but untill the powers that be ride bikes and live in the city it will always be this way.

Forget burning a little grass - it's the toxic garbage bags and other crap they need to do something with. Truck it, bury it, shoot it to the moon who cares.

This is a very serious problem that has been going on for a long time. Back in 1994 it was reported there were 487,213 hospital cases reported for respiratory disease. That number increased to 704,800 in 2003. To put it into perspective, there are about 250,000 people living in the city and a total of around 1.5 million for the region. So roughly one-half of the population was so sick they had to seek medical attention in 2003 due to a respiratory illness and you know they didn't get it from the food they ate. Add up everyone else who is suffering but didn't report in for treatment, you likely have a majority of the people living in the area being affected.

What's worse is this problem is not going to go away. It was 14 years ago when they passed a Public Health Bill that imposed imprisonment up to 6 months along with a 10,000 baht fine for anyone found polluting the enviornment but this incesstant burning is still going on. Maybe if Thaksin retires to his hometown here in Chiang Mai things will improve, but I wouldn't hold my breath on it, no pun intended.