Pantip

The ones next to the rimping supermarkets are still going strong.

I don't like to stay in CM either. It's not fun anymore. Young people, whether Thai or Farang, become, year after year, more and more aggressive.

So my son and I go to places where Songkran is still celebrated in a festive and peaceful manner (Tha Ton, Phayao) and we have lots of fun.

Same same - We hot foot it to the mountains and get out of Chiangmai for that week.

Congratulations to you lot of posters. It has been very interesting following all your comments and light hearted banter. You are obviously addicted to cricket which in my opinion is the sport of sports. Whilst watching the ashes on satellite TV it was really interesting reading your comments in parallel, almost ball by ball.

I was sourly tempted to join in at times but I would only have been repeating things you guys had already commented on.

May be next time we (both camps) should all watch the series together on satellite TV, we can stock up on the beer, have a barbie and carry on the good natured agro live. We should choose an independent venue such as the Polo Club or perhaps even better watch games in alternate Oz/Pom venues

Italy is the only place to get a good pizza. So, short of flying to Italy the next best way to get a reasonable pizza is if it is prepared and cooked by an Italian using the traditional Italian way. The worst pizzas are those prepared and cooked American style.

If people have never tasted a true Italian pizza in Italy, they are not qualified to give an oppinion.

That's my two Lira worth

Just had my normal afternoon snooze and woke with an enormous hunger for a real good juicy steak or some good old fashioned falang food ?

All thoughts and suggestions welcomed.

From a truely steak hungry brit

I suggest you try the Down under in (Nimmanhamin Rd) – We had a nice juicy tee bone with baked potato and butter at the Down Under the other day. Friendly place with a reasonable selection of Oz and Thai style tucker.

Just had my normal afternoon snooze and woke with an enormous hunger for a real good juicy steak or some good old fashioned falang food ?

All thoughts and suggestions welcomed.

From a truely steak hungry brit

How about giving the Down Under a try (in Nimmanhamin Road) - We had a meal of nice juicy tee bone with baked potato and butter the other day.

Folk Guitar - I'm interested. Where and when can we meet, any day after 3.30 pm suits me.

Remembrance Day is the day we pause to remember those men, women & children who have died or suffered in wars and conflicts around the world over the past 100 years.

Does any one know where the ceremony will be held this year – last year it was at the foreign cemetery.

I have visited Down Under on three occasions for an evening meal with friends and relations. On each occasion we had a good food beautifully cooked, their steak is the best in town and they have a good selection of Australian wine.

I am told by the management that thy employ Uni students as waitresses to help them with their English language skills, so a little patience is required.

I other respects we think the staff are happy and friendly, we will in future be regular visitors to the restaurant - especially to watch the rugby.

You have to remember that This Is Thailand, wonderful isn't it.

I had to get a paper signed a couple of years ago and the Hon Consul in CM (Mike Walther) a really decent bloke gave me a paper about the visa service in CM.

I remembered this morning and scratched around in my extensive and comprehensive filing system and by a miracle I found it!

You can get a visa for Australia in Chiang Mai. There are a few charges but a lot cheaper than a week or so in Bangkok.

Details are :

GDA Courier Centre - Chiangmai

Contact Mr Song Tongkuampian

Pioneer Cargo Services Chiangmai Co Ltd

55 Chiangmai-Hod Road, T Suthep, A Muang Chiangmai 50200

Tel : 053 202 225, 282340

Fax : 053 202231, 273754

The courier service is (was) 428THB, Courier charges 500 THB

There is a visa charge but it is not specified...

Just to confirm what Niloc says about getting a visa for Australia in Chiangmai. I don’t know if Khun Song is still there but the Embassy Visa Agent is in the Pioneer Cargo building right next door to the Nissan show room opposite Lotus on the Hang Dong road.

Friday October 13, 01:47 PM

Perth man on drug charges in Thailand

A Perth man being held in a Thai jail on charges of possessing heroin is expected to face court next week.

Daniel Burgess, 28, who has lived in Thailand for about two years with his common-law Thai wife, was arrested in a drug bust in the northern city of Chiang Mai earlier this week.

Police allege he was caught in possession of a quantity of heroin.

Burgess is said to have arrived in Thailand from Western Australia in 2003, and decided to stay after meeting a Thai woman.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/061013/2/10wea.html

Is Daniel Burgess the son of the guy that OD'd at Boom Bim Bar in Aug last year - Same family name.

> Just How Corrupt Was Thaksin?

It was quite well known even before his first election victory that Thaksin was extremely shrewd, and ruthless in business. Even

before his first landslide victory, he was under investigation for corruption during an earlier administration where he was a government minister. Still he was elected in a landslide. People knew very well what they were getting into, and, after the Asian Economic crisis and perceived inertness of the Chuan administration, people still seemed to prefer a smart crook to run their country over an inert good-guy.

Since that first victory, this basically hasn't changed. There was growing opposition in urban, educasted areas againt Thaksin's style. Yet up country, where most of the votes are, he remained popular and not without good reasons that went beyond simple election day money hand-outs that were always common place also before Thaksin and most certainly not limited to TRT.

For all his merits and being a 'good-guy', Chuan and other administrations never seemed all that bothered about improving life up-country. Many things Thaksin did were questionable, such as funding for a grand 'gold card' 30 baht healthcare for everyone' wasn't solid. But, I think to his voters, this was most definitely a sign of being taken serious, and objectively it IS a start to affordable health-care for all, where previously there was none.

Up country people have good reasons for liking Thaksin. It seems their voice/vote will not be heard again this year, but it is inevitable that they will decide elections for a long time to come. .........assuming we will have elections.......

I couldn’t agree with you more, a very balanced analysis. Voters new what Thaksin was like before he was elected, in fact that was the very reason he won such an overwhelming majority. The country got the Government it wanted which is a reflection of the average voter and man in the street. As voters, we can’t blame anybody but ourselves.

I wonder how many of the leaders of the current coup voted for Thaksin??!!

> I'm guessing, but not sure, that you're all living on income based in your

> home countries?

Not me..

Spending about 50K/Month.. Wife, kid, 2 cars, house, Cable, Internet, etc, etc.

Hi David, I agree with the general consensus of the guys responding to your questions. The bottom line is you that need to check things out for yourself.

One thing is for sure, most of us do not require anything like the income we used to get back in our home countries yet we are able to lead at least as good a life style.

I have been living and working my own business here for over 25 years, our profit margins are a lot less but by the same token our overheads and tax are also a lot less. My wife, my children (all now married) and myself wouldn’t want to move out of Thailand – ever. But then “to each his own”.

There are some elderly expats I know of who hate it here, but because they have burnt their bridges they have nowhere else to go.

Well the AFL Aussie Rules finals are starting this weekend, so has anyone got any tips for the best or new places to go watch the games & maybe have an ice cold beer & a steak sandwich?

Yes - the Down Under is the place to go this evening. Big screen, Ice cold beer, Dinky-di Australian steak and tucker to-gether with a good mob of expats. See you there.

iv seen a few strange ones

french fried(always tickles me)

much cheapness

blackpackers welcome! (kotchasarn road)

Another one in our local deli ".....ice cold cock......"

Excellent, its coming together slowly but surely!! Will be good to see anyone who can make it!

Looks like the UN Irish pub is the favourite, so to avoid confusion, we shall name that as the venue for deffinate!

Any more for any more?

Phil

Yes - I'll be there. What time ?

If you're a guitar nut or just love classic rock/psychadelic as per Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, Steve Miller etc... then Took at the Brasserie is hard to beat. If you catch him on a really good night he's absolutely smokin'.

I agree with you – In my opinion Took is the best and most versatile guitarist in all of Thailand, but it is “pot luck” as to wether he is in the right mood to play at his best (like all musicians). At his best Took mesmerises me and every one else listening to him.

"Not to change the subject, but does anybody know where to find a canned ham in Chiangmai."

My wife has just arrived home with two tins of canned ham from Rimping !!

Hi

Mainly for you England fans.

I live in Mae taeng and rarely go out in CM but will be looking to watch the first 3 England matches in a bar or a good place to watch the games.

So ...

England vs Paraguay - 10 June, 8pm Thai Local Time - where will you be watching this game?

England vs Trinidad & Tobago - 15 June, 11pm Thai Local Time - where will you be watching this game?

England vs Sweden - 21 June, 2am Thai Local Time - Will there be anywhere open to watch this game? if so where will you be watching this game? Its my birthday this day so it should be a douboe celebration!

I have thought about the Queen Vic but am open to any ideas.

Cheers

Ash

I'll be at the Outback - Batu Tharpae for all the games.

I wish you all the best Pauly – you deserve it. I’ve been trying to retire for years. I find that having burnt all my boats on several occasions, I slide into another activity without hardly noticing it till I end up in serious trouble with the doctor or my wife and then I go through the whole process all over again.

I am at the stage for the third time of burning boats again, the only difference is that this time round I will be making damned sure that I am not tempted into anything that looks like work.

With CM home to quite a number of nationalities there are probably many who don't even know what cricket is or how the game is played, but how many CM expat residents will at least visit the event at the Gymkhana Club for some 'education' and a bit of very relaxed and pleasant social drinking?

Catch the Thai kids whacking a few balls...

The event is on until Saturday April 8th.

Yes it’s great fun and a chance to catch up with some of the guys you played with in your youth. It’s a regular annual pilgrimage for me, great to see sport being promoted so well by our enthusiastic band of local stalwart expats and to see the kids play as well.

The Farang connection and The Blues Factory are Thaivisa institutions by now

I've never heard of either one of these places...

I am sure that The Fagang Connection is Lampard 10's place in Surin. The other one I have never heard of either.

CV I will invite everyone over, just as soon as we have completeed a few more things as we want to get our Western Menu up and running as many TV members like a change from Thai Food once in a while (and I am always polite )

TP

As an avid follower of this board and an appreciative consumer of both Thai & Farang food I use this forum as an indicator of possible new food centres in which I can indulge. It makes no difference to me who recommends it, it could be my favourite bar girl or the Queen of England or a TV moderator. Even the best cook in the world would not stop me from trying a new place to eat.

I for one will be visiting your place once you give the green light.

Keep the ball rolling guys and lets hear everyone’s opinion and please stop the haggling.

Pantip

Anyone else getting an error message when trying to send an email to MMS capable phones ??

Been getting this the past 3 days:

[email protected]

to me

More options  9:33 am (1½ hours ago)

????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Sorry for your inconvenience. The system is under renovation.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As of 9.30 am today I am still having problems here in CM.

The Boom Bim bar is next to my restaurant and my head chef was first on the scene after the initial discovery of the bodies. She took their pulses, which was a pretty hopeless thing to do as lividity had already set in.

I knew Clay Burgess, not well, but he was always smiling and friendly and ready to help and offer support and friendship. He was a popular, if eccentric, member of our community here. He knew he had a problem, and was trying to dispose of his bar to help himself to overcome it. He will be missed by us all.

Please show some respect.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I also new Clay, not well but I am familiar with some of the personal problems he had to cope with. He was a rough diamond to be sure and found it difficult to control things to such an extent that he sought refuge in alcohol and apparently drugs.

It’s all very sad. My condolences to his wife, his Father and extended family.

It’s a pity that the moderator has allowed so many brainless idiots to bring this board down to the gutter.