carpediem

Appreciate the responses already given. Many quite specific on where to find what. On the whole I'm encouraged about the availability of decent stuff in Chiang Mai.

Some comments I would add:

Still puzzled why goat meat isn't widely available at butchers - fresh rather than frozen - at least at the butchers of large supermarkets. In europe lamb is commonly eaten and therefore found in shops; in Thailand one doesn't see sheep, but one does see herds of goats. Is their meat always frozen? But I'm happy with the info about Macro's frozen meats.

I have met thai farmers who won't eat the lettuce that's everywhere offered, for example with papaya salad, because they know what and how much has been sprayed on it. But again there was the helpful tip on finding non- or less-sprayed vegetables.

The question of asking restaurants may not be that simple. I once asked a chinese-thai place which was served me a delicious venison dishes where I could buy the meat but got a deliberately uninformative answer. I presume he wanted me to continue to come to him to eat it!

I'd be partcularly interested in buying wild fish - but short of finding/knowing fisherman - this seems the hardest to find. Would anyone know a reliable fishmonger who sells non-farmed fish in Chian Mai?

Finally, by mentioning game I had in mind things like deer, hare, pheasant, wild duck - the sort of game one would commonly eat in europe. I wasn't thinking of exotic meats like crocodile, squirrel, etc

Thanks very much Nienke. I certainly think she's gorgeous and has a lovely nature, but then I am biased.

I think I have sorted out a new home with Dutch, providing Dutch and Monkey hit it off! (which looks likely)

It was a kind offer you made to look after her temporarily, I appreciate the thought. She certainly turns heads and causes many a smile whenever I take her out.

I'll put up a post on the weekend and let you know how things are.

Thanks again.

well, i'm glad that it's all working out. if there's a hitch i presume you'll let us/me know. good luck though.

I'd be gratful if mrtall or skyline or anyone can tell me where I can find contacts of breeders of a particular breed in Thailand. Suggestions I have seen so far are to look for the relevant thai language magazine and to go to a dog show. I was hoping for something simpler, more practicable and immediate - like a telephone no or website.

For example - bull terrier, dogue de bordeaux, weimaraner, sharpei (although I suppose this one will certainly need the wiping in the folds).

I'd hoped your timetable was much more relaxed. Fact is I'm right now in Paris; will return to Thailand early next month. However I will then launch into the process of scouting houses in Chiang Mai to move there - from khao yai - a month later. So perhaps someone else suitable will step up for you. But if not, and you're still in Thailand longer than you foresee let me know. But I guess you'll report progress on this thread anyway.

What is your timetable & whereabouts in Thailand are you?

From the perspective of my relatively brief time in Thailand I'd say pugs are very common in Thailand among Thais - seen more of them than any other pure breed. Their origin being China they should adapt well enough to Thailand.

Does anyone know a breeder of french bulldogs in Thailand? Or a central point of information (tel no or website) for breeders in Thailand?

While a lot of dental procedures are cheaper in Thailand than the West, implants tend to run about the same, for whatever reason.

Thantakit and Bangkok Hospital have good specialists in implants, as do some other places. The Dental Hospital is good, but quite expensive when it comes to implants.

You do realise that if you need a bone implant, you're looking at at least three trips to Thailand months apart?

Well that confirms it then. My bad luck. Would you say that the Dental Hospital's work & materials would be equal or superior to an 'average' implant specialist in England or France? I take it Dental Hospital is accepted as superior to anywhere else in Chiang Mai.

As to travel, that isn't a problem because I'm going to CM to live for a couple of years anyway.

Hi

Well this is a few months on - but I found this thread the most useful in my current search for a place for a month's stay. Having eliminated those that didn't fit my needs, and run into a few deadends I am narrowing it down to Huay Keaw Residence, Flora House & Galare Thong Tower - each of which figures above.

I'm looking for internet in the room, space and decent furnishing, proximity of a gym/fitness room, english tv channel, a good shower. Those are my primary requirements.

If possible I'd quite like some cooking facility, and as an unlikely requirement permission to bring my cat.

Any comments from those with knowledge of one or more of those places would be hugely helpful to me as I decide to make my reservation. If nothing else perhaps a tip as to which rooms to ask for or avoid.

Hope someone will pick this up, even though the thread had petered out a while ago. Thanks a lot.

If someone has had an implant recently, a similar account of experience and cost - perhaps even a specific dentist - would be very useful to me.

Looks like I have mixed up flora condos with flora house - the latter also has apartments of 1- and 2-bedrooms. Flora house is certainly not that expensive. I'm waiting to be quoted precisely, but their site indicates that a 1-bedroom flat should be around 10k baht a month.

I recently asked for a quote for an implant - that's my primary need - from the C M Dental Hospital and was told 75-80,000 baht all-in for each implant. This isn't really less than I paid recently in Paris. (Admittedly there was a slight discount for payment in cash - yes, in France even the most respectable dentist evades tax.)

I was surprized by this as I thought price was a big advantage of dental treatment in Thailand.

Haven't bothered to ask for a quote from Grace because I noticed on their website that they had some of the same dentists as CMDH.

Was my quote inflated because I was patently a farang emailing from overseas prior to arrival in CM?

I too am on my first multi entry non immig o visa. I don't entirely understand the original poster's mention of renewal just before its 12th month and thereby get 15 months.

Secondly, unless I misunderstood something, there was discussion on another thread about extending the 90 days stay of the non immig o visa - which again confused me. I thought one simply had to leave the country and re-enter before a 90 day period expired.

Please enlighten me.

I am puzzled. This seems to be about extensions to the 90 day limit of a stay under the non immig o visa. I have such a visa, and had no idea that there was any way to avoid leaving the country (visa run) before the 90 days expired. Yes I'm new to all this - it's my first such visa. Please enlighten me.

Thanks in advance.

if you want a good deal and want a basic house don't go to an agent - they have expensive properties because they work on a commision (the more expensive house the more commision - for the same work).

I don't know CM - but if in Bangkok houses you are looking for go for 10h to CM would be half of it.

Just talk to local people when you are in CM, from a guesthouse receptionist to shopkeepers to waiters - everybody has relatives and friends who might have a property to rent.

walking/driving through the neighbourhoods to find empty properties is an another way - but you need Thai speaker to call the owners of the property

Thanks again - for these practical tips. Actually I want something more than a 'basic' house, if by that you meant spartan to some degree. It would need to serve as my home for at least the next 2 years - and probably more. But perhaps you meant 'unfurnished'.

Should I deduce from what you say that the better - and therefore the more expensive - houses to rent will be with the agents? But even if this is so I will hunt initially without the agents - and my car and thai girl friend should be a big help with that.

I'm on the point of making a firm booking at Flora. My decision is based to a large extent on their telling me that they have internet access in the rooms - is that not true?

I'd be very grateful for your comment as I'm not in Chiang Mai, or even Thailand, to check for myself.

size of studio/1 bed in sq m, what floors of the building, whther the 1-bed has a proper kitchen - these details would be useful to me to know.

the 1-bed with the tv and fridge would be 10,000 (9000+1000) baht? plus utilities and the 500 baht at the end?

I am in a very similar situation to that of Priceless, so stumbling on this thread was very lucky. All my previous efforts on the forum had drawn a blank. Not wanting to any further chances I sent off an inquiry to Flora and they still had a one bedroom flat available. I sent them some questions but I'm going to take it regardless of their reply. I hope to tke it from late October.

I'd be quite relieved if someone who's stayed there could tell us if they were happy with the place. In particular in regard to internet, view out of the window, the balcony - if any, the furnishing.....really any comment will make my blind booking less blind. Is there by any chance a website with actual photos of the place - exterior or interior?

even if the islamic centre doesn't do the marriage itself, it seems to me it's more likely than is this forum to give you the information you want.

thailand has a lot of governmental, legal and official provisions in place spefically to facilitate life for its muslim citizens. you will very quickly obtain the answers.

Well just go to the office at Hillside 4 and they will tell you what they have avialable.

its as easy as that

I'm sitting in paris just now, so not feasible. Back in thailand next month but would like to fix up something from here with the convenience of my 18 meg internet connexion and a phone. If someone could provide the email and/or phone no of such an office of hillside it would be a huge help - but I can't get it. (must be stupid, but i really can't.)

Viangbua have said they're full up right through to year end. If someone can suggest any other possibility of an apartment for a one month rental - with internet - in the 20000 to 25000 baht I'd be equally grateful.

i've already bought a one-way ticket from paris - on the web; wasn't given any trouble or asked any questions.

as it happens i do have a non immigrant o visa. i assume there is absolutely no-one who had any problem getting on a plane in such circumstances - or should i be ready to tackle any questions? by showing them my visa or offering to sign the waiver or some other rejoinder...?

Thanks a lot for the (only) reply. looking at prices of places on agents' websites your suggestion looks HUGELY below market - but certainly encouraging to me.

Would you know CM well enough to recommend particular accommodation within 15 minutes drive that'll give me more space than an average hotel room and access to internet and that I could rent for a month or so?

cd

Hi

I hopped on this thread because I've been searching (and asking about) for suitable accommodation near chiang mai.

I want to go for a month, before year-end. My plan while there is to look around for a house to rent from next year - for much longer. I will have my own car.

I need somewhere offering me more space than an average hotel room, within 20 minutes drive of Chiang mai, with access to internet and which would offer me a discounted monthly rate (ie much less than 30x daily rate). I can afford about 20000 baht a month depending on the accommodation. Those are the essentials, but obviously an attractive location, charm, possibility of walks etc would be welcome.

I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions from anyone. I've never been to Chiang Mai or environs - even though I've been trying to read up here and elsewhere on the web.

cd

PS Navasung looks good and I will check with them on my points above. But how long is the drive to CM?

didn't pick up the irony in pakboong's original post. so withdraw mine.

(but i don't think i miunderstood jd one word response.)

I too would be interested - any period of 1 month (or a shade more)between 15october and 15 december. With internet.

i pay on average about 300bt for electric a month in my condo thats two of us and if your looking for a nice condo in town 2 minutes two night market ect try doi ping mansion 1 bedroom 8000bt good value for money very small pool

Hi

Yes, this is excavating an old thread but I need to find a place for a month or a bit more in CM. Would you know if Doi Ping offered adsl internet with connectibility to my laptop or wifi? How big approximately was the 1-bedroom flat? And if they accepted rental of a month - some places have a 3-month minimum.

Thanks a lot for any info on these points.