my friend I

can check in 3 hours before a flight with airasia[bKK - SIN]

If Tai Orathai was missing it would be front page news. Wish she was at my place!!

Krungthong Hotel has been recently upgraded & the rooms are much better than those shown in the fotos above. The bathrooms are spotless.

There is a restaurant there & a "turkey bath"

A few blocks away is a nice big park with exercise equipment, basketball court, jogging track & foot massage. The sign says food massage..

Close to the hotel are plenty of food places & a group of net cafes at 10 baht per hour.

This area is fairly close to the river

Lots of people speak English. Even in small food shops. Much more than in the north. Some people speak vietnamese but not Thai.

Its easy to go to Laos at Chong Mek to get a new visa.

Does anyone have any information concerning construction of the new bridge from Chiang Khong to Laos or the roads that would lead to the bridge.

Thanks.

Don

My wife has a sister that lives in a small town called Tha Li and the bridge is near there. It is about an hours drive west of Chiang Khan. If this is the bridge you are talking about she says it is open now. To get there you would go up Isaan highway 201 towards the Cities of Loei (and Chaing Khan) but the shortest route would be to turn left or west on highway 2115 a bit north of the city of Loei (don't go all the way to Chiang Khan unless you want to visit there for some reason). Follow 2115 straight through the town of Ta Li and a few minutes further you will come to the bridge. It connects to Laos major highway number 1 on the other side.

This Is LOEI province

there are 2 different bus routes from CK to CR. T he bus that goes via Thoeng takes at least 1 hour longer. The more direct bus takes 2 hours.

bus leaves about every hour. last bus is about 6pm

Budget rent a car in CR next to AUA . There is a place to stay next door

If u want to go on your own [ easy to do ] you will get a normal 3 month stamp.

What passports get you a 3 month chop? I thought most were only 30/14 days?

I am always given a 90 day visit pass. The stamp says Subject to Reg. 12[7] Immigration Regulations.

Last visit was November 07. I have a "farang passport"

I'm guessing u r a shackledragger - u should be getting that visa.

If anyone have info about Chiang Saen, hotels, restaurants, shops, etc, and also what kind of transport which are available from Chiang Rai Airport to Chiang Saen district would I be very grateful.

Thanks & Regards

Chiang Saen hotels

CS River Hill phone 650826-9

CS Lake Hill Resort 650599

Rujira Resort 650369

Golden Land 651100

guest houses

JS House 777060

CS Guesthouse

Siam gh

plus some other dumps

If u go from airport to hiway, cross road to head north, wait no more than 20 minutes for a green bus with Chiang Saen written on windscreen. About 40 miles. A taxi might take u from the airport direct.

There are shops & restaurants there but nothing special.

Tourist Inn next to Jed Yod Temple south side.Doubt they have tv in rooms as its a cheap guesthouse.

UBC is now True vision you need True sports 4 [ channel 64]

Tourist Inn have it in the lobby area - may be a problem if someone wants to watch something else. Good apple pies there at about 5pm.

After about 20 hours of almost non stop rain , this morning from across the paddock..... a fire. They should put fire starting in as a sport in the S.E.Asian games.

First post says a week - in Angeles

If you are at Changhi, go to one of the tourist info desks. They can line you up with a city tour etc. There is no need to go thru immigration with this option.

If u want to go on your own [ easy to do ] you will get a normal 3 month stamp.Plenty of info on places to go in the airport.

There is a left luggage place in the basement.

I feel like I'm fixing to die rag - COUNTRY jOE mC dONALD

Thanks for all the input. I have found out there is a springworks in Phrae - but noone knows the address. That trip will be if I get desperate.

There is a bus CR to KK at 19.30. Its not listed on the timetable.

Probably, but when I was there I didn't look at them because I hadn't come up with this project. I wasn't planning on going back to E-sarn til May & this was something to do in the hot season.

I'll see what I can find in CR this week.There must be a place, even to do repairs.

Yes there still are skylabs all over E-sarn. We were just there 2 months ago. Mukdahan is full of them.

There are plenty of mature trees around but the fruit is not so good - a bit stringy. The best fruit I have seen is in Mae Sai. If its from Burma you could probably ask the vendors to bring in some branches.[ limbs]

Could be a business opportunity for someone who can speak & read Swedish Thai & English

There is a shop about 200m N of the Menglia statue on the east side. It sells steel, castors, nuts and bolts, etc, might be a place to look.

Thanks. I'm going to town next week & hope to check out as many places as possible. Maybe even damaged cars. Something like a Mira & just use one leaf.

I was also told growing from seed means unlikely to get any fruit. We have some that are also about

18 months old. Growing well but a long way from any sign of fruit.

Can book in Chiang Khong in "travel agents"

Spot on Chownah. If I can't make something new I will be looking to get some of those leaf springs. May have to take one out. Though will be carrying about the same weight.

Not sure they still make samlors. Maybe I'll give that old guy who hangs around Beautiful Optical at night a deal he can't refuse.

Ask around among the samlor drivers and ask where they get springs if one breaks....if you find out where the samlor spart parts store is please let me know as I'm interested in making a custom cart too someday..

Chownah

I am a bit worried that the samlor springs may break easily especially if going more than pedal speed.The curved end where the bolt goes thru is small & seems fragile.

Santa Baby - Leanne Rimes

Spot on Chownah. If I can't make something new I will be looking to get some of those leaf springs. May have to take one out. Though will be carrying about the same weight.

Not sure they still make samlors. Maybe I'll give that old guy who hangs around Beautiful Optical at night a deal he can't refuse.