AjarnP

Hey folks

I need a website design and would be super-grateful if anyone has any experience with a designer here in the Rai.

Yes, I do know that there are squillions of websites that let me do it myself. And no, I don't want to do it that way, but thanks for the recommendations anyway.

Trouble is that the ones I have already contacted are telling me to put down what I want and they will put it on a website for me! If I knew that I would do it myself wouldn't I. I need someone, with a reasonable amount of skill in the subject to tell me what I want and then put it together, is this a bridge too far?

Thanks anyway.

AjarnP

p.s.

Merry Christmas and a Happny New Year to all

Japanese bakery? where's that?

My guess is that he was talking about Yamasaki near Tops on the ground floor.

No, it's the Japanese Guest House on Jed Yod Road, that has tousists inn. and yes, it's nowehere near as good as it used to be.

Frankly, I start to be concerned when bread lasts too long, Is it full of "E" numbered preservatives?

Welcome to Chiang Rai, Fiddlesticks and welcome to the TV forum too. Don't believe a word they say, we're a decent bunch really (LOL)

Thanks to Scea for organising the get-together. Hopefully peace can reign for the festive days ahead.

Surely instead of literary slagging between members an open and polite discussion would help sort out much. If you're not prepared to say it to a face, then don't write it either.

I for one will be there and hope to meet a few others too.

Maybe The dream-walker could consider a draft peace treaty.

My wife told me today about another flower festival,at the same time-schould be in the park down at the river-where people are going to Songkran-dont remember the name of it.

She say that she have seen it on the big banners in town.

I have tried to look around the internet-nothing.

Some one who knows about this and can give further information about it.

There is a second flower show put on by Chiang Rai Municipality on the site of the old prison, in town. It will be opened by Governor Wanchai on Friday evening (14th December) and is purported to run until February though the closing date is not clear. On some nights it will also feature "Music in the Park" at the same site.

Enjoy

AjarnP

BG that sounds like a TV challenge.

Massaman, as far as I know is certainly available in some Bangkok restaurants. Often though it is not on the menu as the cooking time is longer than the usual blast-furnace wok type cooking.

It's one of my favourites too. But are you sure you don't mean Gaeng Haeng Lae which is more common up here in the North.

If you cross at Chiang Khong/Huai Xai there are some pretty serious speed bumps (aka mountains) to scale too. Slopes of between 10 and 12 percent. You'll need good gearing to cope.

Also large portions are not yet surfaced. Take plenty of spare inner tubes!!!

I drove there to have a good looksee.

At optimistic guesses I reckon minimum 6 months to complete the facilities on this side. It will take three months to install and commission all the IT gear and as yet, there's no building complete enough to put it in.

I'd actually be surprised if it's even been put out for bids on the supply yet.

The main "trade" supplier is called Wattana (I think)

It's 100m south of the Mae korn (little duck) lights on the northbound side. The place us nothing from the outside but a goldmine to bakers inside.

I think its important to become part of ghe community. In our village there's a regular clean up along the road edges and so on. We rarely physically take part due to our own commitments but we always donate a few liters of fuel for their weedwhackers. Everyone is all smiles.

I'd love to be part of something like that but I'm afraid the rickety old body wouldn't be up to a 60km walk, even over 2 days.

Scea, If I can do it....

I was at Wat Phra Keaw in town on 30th morning (as is my wont) and chatting with the Abbot, I learned that there is going to be a long walk from Chiang Saen to Doi Tung on 19th and 20th November. The route covers a total of 60 Km., with 42 Km. of fairly flat ground on day one (19th) followed by the scaling of the ramparts up Doi Tung itself on day two. A few hundred monks with an even larger contingent of followers (last year there were a few thousand) will take part in this special occasion as part of the 750th Anniversary commemorations.

Everyone is invited to join but even if you don't then there should be some good photo opportunities for the procession. (Svenivan to note - LOL) If you do want to join the walk though you will need to be at Prathat Chedi Luang in Chiang Saen on 19th November at about 7 in the morning.

Sorry that at this time details are scant. I will try to post more details as and when I find out.

AjarnP

Welcome to Chiang Rai.

I have the same opinion about Mick Jagger

Great pics from the master. Thanks for posting.

Hello mike I am new to this site and I wish you well on your trips.

Would be interested in any future trips you organize up north any time in the future. As au have not explored any part of northern Thailand yet but it's on the cards.

HI Rambee,

I liv ein Chiang Rai and am also an avid ROAD cyclist. This area in my humble opinion probably has most of the very best cycling routes in the country. I would be pleased to point you in the right direction for some great rides flat, hills or just plain cliffs we have it all. One nice little tour is to head out in the general diection of West and head over to Chiang Mai, depending on route it is either around 220 Km or nearer to 300 (or perm any amount beteen the two) so two or three days for me.

Another really wonderful trip is to ride a loop from Chiang Rai, to Mae Sai/CHiang Saen, along the Mekong to Chiang Khong and back on a route via Phu Chi Fah. It's a while since I did it but from memory its about 350Km with day two being pretty steep.

Drop me a PM if you'd like to continue.

Cheers

AjarnP

Bah humbug....

I demand Thailand lives up to it's world wide reputation as a hot tropical country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll tell you a very strange story about buying a wood burning stove for here when I see you one day LOL

A good thing is that winter is here. All the pundits are saying that it will be the coldest for many years. Now,,,where did I put those old long-johns?

Tourist Police are always available throughout the country with usually English speaking personnel on tel. 1155.

They will tell you where they have a physical presence I am sure. As a TP Volunteer I would be pleased to help too. Drop me a PM for personal telephone details although I am not in Bangkok.

A few years ago whilst cycling the biog river loop I stayed at the River Hill Hotel,

It was cleanish, the ale was well chilled and the service, well what do you expect....

From memory they charged 800 per night with a breakfast of sorts and town and river were only a stone's throw away.

Good luck

AjarnP:

I agree that there are some disreputable places that should be avoided and your proposal is very well .... but:

Places like El Shadai, which is quite normal. family who has taken a lot of children to it, otherwise no chanse to get just a fairly upbringing.

I doubt that they have the charitable registration documents that you referred to, anyway you can of course read about many many people who visit the place when they are in Thailand and all of which confirm the sincerity of this project-which incidentally never ask about money, but about things, food, clothing, etc.

So that they do not have the evidence, is no proof that they are not good support opjekter that are worth helping.

Brian,

I am sure that there exist some very worthy causes which, for some reason or another are not registered charities in Thailand. However, apart from "word of mouth" how are we ot know who they are and what they will do to utilize the donations they receive fairly and efficiently i.e. that the organizer is not driving around in a brand-new Fortuner (or worse) and running his own tribe of concubines in the rubber plantation.

I am sure too that the OP is grateful for your advice and that of others. I do though stand by what I mentioned in my previous post.

Any purported charitable operation requesting and/or receiving funds without proper registration with teh appropriate authorities is operating illegally. There ain't no if's and's or but's about it.

I agree with VF, Nim See Seng is a very efficient operation gathering and sending all sorts of wares all over the country.

Believe it or not though, you may also make some enquiries at your local Post Office. I have seen motorbikes covered in "clingfilm" being sent from Chiang Rai to Phuket, so halfway down the axe-handle shouldn't be too traumatic.

Final choice from me is that somewhere near the market in PKK there will be a stand of trucks offering their services "for hire" often these ranks include larger than normal pick ups and even six-wheel panel vans.

Good luck

Hi

You have a great question.

Sadly, there are some very unscrupulous people around. If you are intending to donate to any of the many legal charities in Chiang Rai or elsewhere; please insist on seeing their official charity registration documents. It will help to keep the honest one's alive and drive out the less desirable.