Domyamkung

We live in the city and have no problem with water, we do have a large storage tank!

Ended up getting this one, the Eco model.

http://www.saijo-denki.co.th/

Got the ECO 09 9265 BTU

and the ECO 18 18255 BTU for a total of 40,000 Baht including fitting, 1 year waranty parts and labour and a 5 year waranty on the compressor.

Had a nice cool sleep last night with only a soft purring noise.

Happy days.

16,900 Baht installed

good price!

What about Haier air cons... from makro... 9000 baht for a 9000 btu...installed 5 year on compressor as well.. from China ... and over there its rated very good.

Does Macro provide installation and home service? Doubtfull. I think these two items should be your guide, rather than simply prices. Some A/C's are crap, some are okay, some are great (in my experience). A 9,000 btu compressor will cool a average bedroom on most days, but not everyday.

Wrong. Makro do provide service and guarantee for all it's eltrical items.

Also the recommended sized airconditioner for a room 150x 160 is 9,000 BTU and it's adviseable not to put too big of a unit .

I don't believe your(?) figures of 150x 160 feet. Definately not in Thailand...23 years of living here tells me that.. And it is cheaper to run a slightly bigger unit normally..

Centimetres. Mate, I think you've been living here too long.

It's 7.30 pm and still no f********* water.

Water, water, water everywhere except in the tap.

We contacted the city water company and they say there are some burst pipes.

It's 10.30 AM and I've been waiting since 7o'clock to get a shower but there's no water.

Looks like songran has diminished the water supply here.

Anybody got any water?

16,900 Baht installed

good price!

What about Haier air cons... from makro... 9000 baht for a 9000 btu...installed 5 year on compressor as well.. from China ... and over there its rated very good.

Does Macro provide installation and home service? Doubtfull. I think these two items should be your guide, rather than simply prices. Some A/C's are crap, some are okay, some are great (in my experience). A 9,000 btu compressor will cool a average bedroom on most days, but not everyday.

Wrong. Makro do provide service and guarantee for all it's eltrical items.

Also the recommended sized airconditioner for a room 150x 160 is 9,000 BTU and it's adviseable not to put too big of a unit .

With this very hot season .I'm having to buy a couple of air conditioners.

One about 9000 BTU and the other for a large room about 18,000 BTU.

I have checked out all the major stores in town, Santanee, Big C, etc and the best price I'm getting is

17,000 baht for the 9,000BTU and 27,900 baht for the 18,000 BTU.

These prices are for Mitshubishi Mister Slim which I'm told is the best.

Just wondering anybody know anywhere I can get a better price?

Thanks.

Have been trying to get some information about this school but all i have found out is that it is quite near The White Temple and is for special children.

I will try to get more information asap.

BTW good on you for fostering this kid .

All in all, in 2005, the economy is forecasted to expand by 4.7 per cent, though higher than many expected it is noticeably lower than the growth rate of 6.2 per cent in 2004. The current account deficit is expected to be near 3.2 billion USD, equivalent to 1.8 percent of GDP, while annual unemployment rate is expected to average at 1.9 percent .

I think the source of this farytale came from this same source.

My experience is that volunteer teaching like this is legal. I used to teach voluntarily at a school and the head of the school even gave me a letter stating that my puprpose for being in Thailand was to volunteer to teach at that school and I showed this letter to Thai immigration officials when applying for a visa. I had no work permit....they questioned me about whether I was being paid or not...I wasn't....so they said fine and processed my visa.

Wrong.

Please check your facts......volunteering in Thailand without a work permit is illegal.

Even in the tsunami volunteers had to get work permits.

You may have got away with it, others may not be so lucky so please check before you advise people.

I know we can't talk bad about our superiors (forum rules) , but i hope the next time that local natural

major happenings don't get dumped into the General forum.

because of course, the earthquake was only felt in Chiang Rai and not the rest of Thailand, right?

My friend that lives in Sankhamphaeng felt it. I live in Hong Dong and did not.

The earthquake came from Laos near Chiang Rai and was felt in Bangkok and other places so don't go shooting the messenger.

In front of Nimseesaeng Hotel going into town, I was over taken by a Honda CBR 150. He was burning rubber when a pick-up truck cut right in front of him. The biker did not have time to brake and the pick-up driver apparently did not see the biker. So two car Krum!!! (so they collided!!!).

The biker laid sprawled on the pavement but later was able to stand and assess damage to his bike. Pick up driver apparently admitted fault. Fortunately for this biker, he wore a crash helmet. Things might not have been the same had he worned a mickey mouse helmet or if he had not fastened his helmet properly.

By the way, why do motorbike drivers start removing their helmets after 5 p.m.? Cops turn a blind eye as well. This one really escapes me.

Easy, cops less likely to stop you after 5 pm shift changes

I can't work you guys out, someone comes on with a thread that's literate and interesting and instead of saying your only interested in reading about Ultraman you stick the needle into him. If you're not interested don't read it, and if he's promoting a book it makes a change from everything else that gets promoted on this forum.

This pretty well sums up a type of farang you see in this country, prepared to contribute nothing but only too quick to shit on some one who does.

Mr Joel has been hear some time, and if you are interested in old times Thailand, he has

most of the frarang bars stocked with his books. I just said why flood TV with his knowledge,

because he will loose book sales. I don't think you can say sh*t on TV,but you got away with it.

Question: What happened to our moderator Limbo??

OK, I haven't seen it before and I found the comments by another member extremely offensive. I think that the usage of the S word should be a lesser breach of the board rules than the blatant flaming that went on for three posts. There is provision to block another members posts if you don't like what he says and I suggest you both take advantage of it.

I apologise to Domyamkung for calling him dopey, it was the first word that came to mind and my insults are usually more imaginative than that.

Good luck in waking the moderator up.

Accepted. Though I disagree with you that this is a place for pasting large extracts from a book even though you wrote it yourself and as mumbojumbo says all the bars in Chiang Rai are full of unsold books from the same author. Anyway lets agree to disagree and leave it at that.

Anyway, heard the poisoned tongued mod is on another suicidal binge.

Was just looking in Phuket forum where someone was asking about bread and gave me an idea to ask here in Chiang Rai.

I have yet to get nice bread in Chiang Rai, the croisants and french sticks in BigC and the bakery opposite the bus station are terrible.

Anyone know where to get nice fresh crusty french sticks or other breads in Chiang Rai?

Well said Sceadugenga!

I know some of what's the matter with these folk, but can't say it's worth discussion.

Go on, give us a laugh......it might be more interesting than the above drivel.

Look at the never ending haze thread dopey, you'll see the weather plus drivel.

Glad you agree, that why I said it, dopey yourself..... drivel, drivel,drivel+ drivel.

MahaTewi

Movies and myths portray forceful, even fierce, women like Suriyotai and Thao Suranaree (Khunying Mo, warrior woman of Korat), degrees of historical authenticity of whom may be questioned, but other women were more crucial to civilization’s development here. Haripunjai (Lamphun) was said founded by holy men who asked the king of Lopburi to send them a ruler; his daughter JamaTewi went. Legend tells of her overcoming a great Lawa chieftain with female magic… and of twin sons, one which succeeded her, the other of which founded Lampang. Mon, Buddhist Haripunjai thrived independently for over four centuries after her (her dynasty lasted at least 2 – at the end of it, Haripunjai was attacking Lopburi!), then was taken into Mengrai’s new Lanna Empire.

The first MahaTewi I know of was MahaTewi Kaeo Phimpha of LanChang, LanSang or Lane Xang - Laos. Her title derives from Sanskrit mahadevi… This MahaTewi wielded much power from 1428 to 1438, just before Lanna’s “Golden Age”, but surely then, as now, Laos was no great power center. Laos was, though, an important part of a culture which extended through Lanna and the Shan States into Yunnan. This “Culture of the Dhamma Latters” was Buddhist, T’ai and in many ways the basis of present traditions in Laos, Thailand and the Shan States.

When Mengrai Dynasty Lanna began to crumble, with no reign ending peaceably for a quarter century, a LanSang ruler, King Potisarat, began to fantasize of becoming the ‘wheel-turning universal monarch whose righteousness and might make all the world turn around him.’ Unfortunately, at the same time, so did a King Burengnong from Toungoo (due west from ChiangRai, separated by Karen people and the mighty Salween River). After Mengrai’s direct line ended, half of the last independent rulers were women. One, MahaTevi Jiraprapa (sometimes said named PhraNang Yout KhamThip), was a full, absolute ruler from 1545- 46. Then Potisarat’s son ruled briefly until duty pulled him away and for 4 years, no central ruler commanded at all. Jiraprapa may have been returned to power by Burmese King Burengnong, or perhaps he put her sister, whom we have little reliable data about, on the Lanna throne. There’s a problem with the few records which remain, in that a person or place is known here as this, there as that, and in another place and time gets referred to in another way entirely! But, to understand, we must endure.

In July, 1545, Shan King FaYongHui of Mong Nai (Muang Nai, on the Salween, were Lanna’s last king was from) attacked ChiangMai. As he did, an earthquake destroyed nine revered reliquaries there, including a couple of the most important (finials at Wat Jedi Luang and Wat PraSing). For a month attackers poured dirt into the city moat and tried to cross it with bamboo bridges; but defenders burnt the attackers’ encampment, and the Shans withdrew. Then Jiraprapa, daughter of King Ket Jettarat (deposed, then brought back by ministers who soon assassinated him), was given rule. Perhaps envoys from Ayudhaya had rushed message of Ket’s murder home; anyway, it’s thought they supported the rise of Queen Maha Jiraprapa (a.k.a. MahaTewi), and likely also they who not only requested military assistance from Ayudhaya, but had Ket’s killers killed. Regardless, an army from Ayudhaya under King Chairaja (or Borommatraijak) came near; either Jiraprapa persuaded (bribed?) him to hold off, or, as the ChiangMai Chronicle says, “He was defeated and fled.” Anyway, armies and devotions were displayed, and the Ayudhayan army “proceeded back to Yotthiya”.

Her cousin, Phaya Ket’s 12-year-old nephew (some say he was 19) from LuangPrabang, Setthatirat (a.k.a. Uppayo), was invited to rule under Jiraprapha’s regency. The Laotian government holds that King Potisan (Phohthisat, married to Ket’s daughter, who’s also said to have had the same name, Yotkamtip), conquered Lanna; if he did, he certainly didn’t rule it (unless through his wife, which is not claimed). 100 years before, LanSang attacked Nan; 50 years later it briefly took much of Lanna, but the tattered bits of Lao history which remain seem to miss these events… Regardless, according to local chronicles, in May, 1546, Setthatirat came to ChiangSaen and ChiangRai, appointed local rulers and went to rule in ChiangMai. He stayed until August 1547 (well, for 2 years, say the Chronicles, and ‘til 1550, they say in Laos). According to the ChiangMai Chronicles, in June of 1546, Setthatirat, accepted as king, “went to reverence the Emerald Buddha at its pavilion” in Wat Jedi Luang, then on 17 July was coronated as Phra Ratcha-uppayo. Pra TonThip is named as his first royal queen (and there are 2 daughters mentioned, casting doubt on his being aged 12). Pra TonKham is named as the Queen’s younger sister.

Word came that Potisan was killed by accident during a wild elephant round-up, and that younger brothers (if he was 12, well, supporters of younger brothers) were fighting for power. This threatened to divide the country, so Setthatirat returned to LuangPrabang. In April 1551, he handed ChiangMai over to “the queen”, Phra Ton Thip. Not KhamThip (though her sister was Pra TonKham… ‘Tip’ – a popular nickname, meaning to kick or rise as a kite?). David Wyatt’s 1984 “Thailand, A Short History” (published over a decade before his Chronicles translation) refers to Thao MaeKu, who was deposed after less than a year. The similarity of that name to the name of the next and last King is confusing but interesting. Mae Ku – mother of a pair? Popular Thai historian Manich Jumsai says this was Princess Chiraprabha, “(sometimes known as Maha Devi)” who resisted, perhaps foisted off, ‘King Prajairaja’ of Ayudhaya – King P’rajai or Chairacha, who died almost soon after return to Ayudhaya.

It seems generally agreed MahaTewi Jiraprapa first convinced the king from Ayudhaya nothing was to be gained by violence, and, doubtless with tribute, persuaded him to return home. When Setthatirat abandoned Lanna, or in January, 1546, Chairacha or Borommatraijak (“King of the South”) came back, and Jiraprapa then led successful resistance. The leader of this resistance is not said to be Setthatirat’s wife. At any rate, “Many Southerners died, and they dispersed” – according to the ChiangMai Chronicles – “30,000 Southerners went away by water”, “10,000 infantry and 3000 war boats were taken”, and 4 elephants!

The Portuguese had captured Islamic Malacca in 1511, and sent gunnery instructors to assist in wars to the north, supplying arms and soldiers to both mighty King Burengnong (Bayinnaung, or Jao PoengPawa MinTaya of Pegu, an important city south form Toungoo - on the Sittaung River - between its mouth and Yangoon) and King Maha Chakrapat of Ayudhaya. King Chairacha (Phrajai) may also have had some of these instructors, when on expeditions against ChiangMai, but despite Portuguese mercenary help and the violent power-jockeying which had been dominating things within Lanna, he was completely routed by MahaTewi Jiraprapa.

Setthatirat took away the Phra Kaeo Morakot (Emerald Buddha), other important Buddha images, religious texts and treatises, and many monks and scholars, when he effectively abandoned Lanna. He attempted to consolidate Lanna and LanSang in 1558-9, then before heading off to secure things in the south, established a new capital at WiangChan (Vientiane), much farther from Burmese-held territory than LuangPrabang (with more of difficult, unpopulated Saiaburi (Sayabuli or Xaignabouri) to cross. Or, as others hold, Potisarat chose WiangChan as a better capital “within the expanding Lao world” and for better communication with Vietnam, Champa, Cambodia and Ayudhaya.

Lanna endured anarchy and civil war, with nobles fighting on elephants in the middle of ChiangMai City. Petty officials and rulers of principalities proved more interested in their changing relative power than in the threat from Burma (as seems the case today), until Mekut of MongNai (a Shan State where rebellious descendents of Mengrai were sometimes sent to rule) was made king in 1552. In 1555, Mekut’s brothers attempted to seize Lanna’s Mekong region, and gained ChiangRai and ChiangSaen… so Mekhut “was not at first inclined to listen to his brothers’ cry for help” when Burengnong, who’d become king in 1551, took Ava in 1555, then Hsenwi, then KengTung… Mekhut surrendered to Burengnong, who accepted him as a vassal, but soon revolted against his new obligations. Setthatirat, returning with help from the governors of Lampang, Prae and Nan, took ChiangMai and begged pardon before the Sangha (Buddhist clergy), handing “all the country of ChiangMai over to the Queen” (according to the Chronicles). He almost took ChiangSaen, but Burengnong forced him back to LuangPrabang, where Mekut had taken refuge (leaving Lady Wisutthathewi – his consort, says history professor at ChiangMai University Sarassawadee Ongsakul, to rule in his place). Burengnong seized Mekut (the Chronicles say this was in ChiangMai) but Setthatirat escaped to pursue guerilla warfare until Burengnong ran out of provisions. For a year Setthatirat launched harrying sallies against Burmese patrols and supply lines, until they withdrew in mid-1565. Perhaps before going back to Burma Burengnong married Princess Jiraprapa, now in her 40s (at least). The woman who ruled Lanna from 1564 until her death in 1578 is called Wisutthitewi (again there is name confusion: Mekut’s full name was Mekutawisutthiwong). This PhraNang Visuti (Wisutatewi, a.k.a. MahaTewi) whom Burengnong replaced Phra Mekut with, may have been a different, younger daughter of Phaya Ket; and maybe Potisan’s wife was Ket’s sister…

Anyway, Mekut died in exile at Pegu or Ava, and became known as one of Burma’s famous “37 Nat” spirits, YunBayin. The Mengrai line is said to end there, but the last person descended from Mengrai to rule might have been Thado Gyaw, 4th Lanna ruler (descended from Burengnong/MinTaya) through MahaTwei Jiraprapa). Mon rebels, aided by Shan and Siamese prisoners resettled to the area, burned Pegu after Burengnong hurried off to deal with an Arakanese invasion; he sacked Ayudhaya in 1569, but didn’t absorb it into empire, and died (1581) without subduing LanSang. He sent another expedition, which again briefly occupied Vienchan, but Setthirat directed more guerilla warfare against them and has remained a national hero since, despite dying (well, disappearing) a year later.

In 1595 the kings of LanSang and Nan took ChiangSaen; amazingly, Burengnong’s son on the Lanna throne asked King Naresuan of Ayudhaya for help; this resulted in a Lao noble acting as Siamese commissioner there. Then, for about the length of time they’d been an independent power, ChiangMai and ChiangRai were vassal states required to pay annual tribute of gold and silver trees, and manpower as necessary in times of war – usually to Burma, occasionally to Siam. MahaTewi’s descendents may have continued in local rule. After Setthatirat disappeared mysteriously while campaigning in the south, LanSang suffered a 70 years of wars of succession and reduction to a Burmese vassal state, until King Suriyavongsa (Suriwong?) restored independence.

It all goes to demonstrate – national borders, royal lines, culture and economics are hardly hard and fast realities; national historians often portray things differently from their neighbors, and any set of important records needs corroboration, even if from a very different way of looking at things! Many records were destroyed, but Thailand’s MahaTewi remains respected; really though, who was she? Is she little more than an amalgamation, like the movie heroines?

Drivel, drivel, drivel

What's the weather like in Chiang Rai?

Does anyone know where you can buy camping gear here in Chiang Rai?

I would think that the army supplies stores, opposite the main army barracks, on the way to Chiang Rai beach would have some camping equipment.

I was at this bar towards the end of January and met the manageress/owner who was very helpful and assisted with our onward journey.She gave me a contact phone number which I have lost.It is impossible to get a number from overseas.Can anyone give me a number for the bar.Thank you

Are you sure you were in Chiang Rai?

We have more than one bar here so it is not easy to help you if you don't have more information!

:D

edit:

Sorry, I missed the second line, Top Ten Bar.

I have not a clue where that one is. Was it good?

:D

Jeez - try googling communithai, chiang rai.

Jeez to you too.

You jerk, I thought people were helpful here, I didn't know there was a website .

I think we have an opportuntiy to support a fellow Farang in his endeavours to provide us with a free service. in the form off a very much needed Chiang Rai magazine. Its is so very easy to give negative feedback, im guilty of that myself on occasion, but we have choices, for those who dont like it dont read it, for those who like it but can see opportunites, contact the Mag, they seem very open to ideas and feedback. Commuinthai, keep up the good work, and thanks for providing us with a free Mag that gets better all the time.

Well said.

I have mislaid my old copy of the mag and can't find the address or no.

Anybody know where to contact them?

Thanks

I'm looking forward to the next edition of the magazine.

Sorry about all the pessimism.

Thanks lukmar , its help ...... deferoxamine is expensive for the this her family definately but My sister has promised to help ( tho i dun know how long she will help)

My wife is not familiar with that drug but she said that the 30 BT system, as long as she is in the 30 Bt system, should cover some of the cost unless they have changed the rules since we moved to Canada.

You should contact the Thai Society of Hematology, website above, as they may have some programs that you may be able to get her on, My Thai is not good enough to sort through the information. From their website 30% of the cases in Thailand are in the North so they recognize the problem and they had a 10 year plan starting in 2001 so it should be well on it's way to implementation at this point. They may be able to put you in touch with other NGO's that may be able to help.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the 30baht scheme has been abolished and been replaced by free medical care for those people that qualify.

Just went to top up my skype account, and waited over 1 hour to get credited, only to find out I bought the wrong credit.

Cannot contact Skype and now I have found out tHAT THEY ARE CHARGING A CONNECTION FEE FOR ALL CALLS.

Not very customer friendly, are they?

So tomorow is the big day, i have a request.

Because Limbo's car is packed with presidents, meyers, generals, and other high VIP,s, i am looking for someone who can give me a ride to Chiang Sean, if someone is interested to take me, i can promise you that i will behave my self (at least on the way up there) Maybe we can meet at Bo,s place, where i can buy you a beer for the trouble?

or two.

Only room for the high-sos', so the rest of you can walk.

Thats a bummer.