Oneman

(duplicate)

Other examples are the textile manufacturing industry for export to Japan and ceramic manufacturing industry in Lampang. There are practically no exports these days. They are still trying to sell the stocks in their warehouses from last year.

Useful observations: thank you for posting.

No exports = no jobs :: No jobs => then what?

Will they go back to the rice fields, and be satisfied in an idyllic, pastoral, scene, walking behind the water buffalo for the rest of their lives?

Or will they stay in town and steal loaves of bread bags of rice and, maybe, cell phones (and more) from rich farang?

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

Dear Valued Customer,

Mi Casa will be closed from 28th February 2010

until further notice.

(emphasis added)

Su Casa also will be closed from 7th March 2010 until early April.

Received above email today.

Both restaurants owned by the same couple, and have been mentioned here on TV.

Is this the start of restaurants (and other businesses) closing in CM -- due to the economic depression -- or just a long vacation for the owners?

Business climate here seems very confused.

One one hand, lots of remodeling and construction of small shops and small shopping plazas -- like the new electronics plaza across from Chiangmai gate and the announced expansion of Chez Marco restaurant.

On the other hand, many small, marginal stores closing and many signs "for rent/sale" all over town.

I'm wondering if the world-wide depression is starting to hit here, and what the long-term effects will be.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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Nice post.

I'll offer a second.

Red Lion has become one of my favorites in Chiangmai.

Was in just last week -- can report the bangers & mash was up to it's usual standard.

Service is comfortably slow, but, what I like is the food always comes hot.

The Thai manager, Miss Ghing, keeps on eye on everything, so even at the busy times, things run smoothly.

Like the OP, I'm not friends with the owner, although I have chatted with him a few times.

Rather HE has chatted to me -- as with most publicans, it's not a two-way conversation.

Red Lion is notable for being a remarkably riff-raff-free zone.

Not totally free, but very few compared to other bars/pubs closer to the Moonmuang Road.

Could be because prices at the RL are above rock bottom, and slightly higher prices are better than any signs for keeping out the riff-raff.

It's a fine pub for locals and visitors alike.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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tour company ... They drive you around in an old military duck and part of the tour is via the river. Could do the same in CM

Good idea.

Have exactly that in Singapore.

Very popular there.

-- Oneman

Chiangai

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Are there films available that can be installed on the inside of the windows to significantly reduce the heat entering the building,

Yes, there are.

I had my condo windows done about six months ago.

Not only cooler, but, as you would expect, my electric bill for A/C use went down, too.

At first, I looked for auto window tinting.

That was a waste of time.

While I found auto-tint shops were willing, even eager, for the work, clearly, they had no idea how to approach it.

Observing their confusion when talking about the job, I doubted they even had a ladder.

They are trained to do small car windows, not large windows in a building.

Then I contacted a commercial company that did building windows.

They sent out a cute young woman in a smart business suit, carrying a fancy portfolio of samples, a measuring tape, and a prepared sales pitch.

As soon as I saw the saleswoman I expect the price to be very high, and it was.

Finally, I asked the manager of my condo building for advice.

He knew exactly who to call.

And because he -- Thai -- made the arrangements, rather than me -- white man -- the price was reasonable.

Within a few days the job was done by two technicians who obviously had a lot of experience putting film on large windows.

They had ladders and all the tools.

They were efficient and precise.

And they cleaned up neatly after finishing.

Bottom line:

Don't use an auto-tint shop.

Do ask your condo building manager to handle it.

I hope this is helpful.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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Another new burger joint on Nimmanhemin near Kantary Condo was cheaper but no match for the killer fries. 

Everything about the food at "Burger de Tu" screams of being the cheapest possible.

It was the worst burger I can ever remember eating: totally bland flavor, bits of gristle in the meat.

Bun had no flavor, either.

French fries tasteless -- suggesting potatoes frozen for a very long time.

Service was no better.

Mid-afternoon and I was the only customer ordering.

Waited a very long time, but when served, the burger was only slightly warm.

An unusually hot day in January, but air-con was not functioning properly, or maybe was off to cut costs.

As a result, inside the restaurant, that stifling closeness that Thais don't seem to notice.

Not even a fan.

Could sit outside: but that offered frequent traffic passing plus dust from construction site directly across the soi.

The Coke® was fine.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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In Thailand, good to have a backup plan for everything important, especially for Internet.

Simple yet very good advice Oneman.

I appreciate encouragement like that.

a bit of temporary unsecured internet surfing ... I've seen some pop up never to be seen again, so have no idea where they come from ...

Please let me add a very important warning.

Be careful: May be a "honey pot".

A honey pot is something which appears free, but is really a clever trap.

The honey pot trick is common on open WiFi servers.

They "listen in" on everyone who uses that free server, in order to steal email passwords, banking passwords, job information, anything.

If you do take a free ride on an unsecured WiFi signal, you can protect yourself with a reliable [omitted per forum rules] service.

That way, even if the unsecured WiFi is "clean", it still can not get anything from you.

According to Thai Visa forum rules I can not discuss any details about [omitted per forum rules].

But, in this case using [omitted per forum rules] is your only protection against data theft over unsecured WiFi.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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[Note to moderator: I'm not flaunting rules here, just trying to be as helpful as is possible, within those rules. If there is a better way, please tell me.]

[Note to interested readers: If you want to protect yourself by using a [omitted per forum rules] service, just send a PM to me and I will reply with the three initials you need to do your own Google search.]

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Very tempting: Thank you, Maccheroncini, for posting that.

- Oneman

Chiangmai

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Thanks, KhunDave, for posting that ... I was wondering, too.

I also have two connections:

Right now, Maxnet is down, but AIS 3-G is working fine.

And that's why I have two connections.

In Thailand, good to have a backup plan for everything important, especially for Internet.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

I went to the 7-ll in Doi Saket and they hadn't a clue what me or my [Thai] wife were talking about, ended up going to the office in town...

No need to go to that extra trouble.

Any refill card for normal, AIS 1-2-Call, is all you need.

Or, at Lotus "lek", can refill with number from cash register slip for AIS 1-2-Call.

The essential is to switch 3-G SIM card into an ordinary mobile phone, then refill that ... at any 7-Eleven or similar.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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I don't have a thai bank account ... Can I just go to 7/11 to get a refill?

Yes, but, first, must switch the SIM card to a real, mobile phone.

After re-fill, switch the SIM card back to the 3-G device to use on your computer.

There is no way to use re-fill cards with the SIM card still inside the 3-G device.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

(PS - Thanks, ThaiGuy55, for the compliment of repeating my every word when you quoted my post. But it embarrasses me to see an "echo" of every word I wrote. Just a few lines is enough.)

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Far from home, surrounded by unfamiliar foods, a club sandwich is a consistently, reliable, light meal.

At any decent hotel, and most decent restaurants, anywhere in the Western world, club sandwich is on the menu.

I suggest that Chiangmai is on the edge of the Western world.

There sure are a lot of club sandwiches offered on a lot of menus in Chiangmai.

Even many Thai restaurants will offer a club sandwich as their sole concession to Western food.

But not all club sandwiches are created equal.

Where to find the best in Chiangmai?

And where to avoid the worst?

Perhaps avoiding the worst is most important.

My vote for the worst club sandwich in CM goes to the dining room at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel.

The Imperial used to have excellent food -- far better than average for a hotel in its class.

I often enjoyed eating there.

But something changed.

Perhaps the head chef was replaced by a cost accountant in the kitchen.

The club sandwich I had there recently was made on cheap white bread -- small slices and pasty texture.

One piece of soggy, wilted lettuce, one slice of ersatz cheese, two scrawny slices of cheap ham.

A few bits of cold bacon sprinkled on top -- I suspect left-overs from the breakfast buffet -- but no bacon in the sandwich.

Instead of French fries, processed potato crisps that come in a can: "Pringles".

Excuse me, but I don't want to think any more about that awful sandwich.

Moving on from there:

One can get an acceptable club sandwich -- hidden among the Thai food on the menu -- at such well-known, Thai restaurants at Suan Pak near the airport, and Khun Mor near Nimmanhaemin.

Those aren't great -- not worth making any effort -- but if a Westerner is going to eat with Thais, and doesn't want yet another plate of rice, those club sandwiches will do nicely.

Now moving up:

So far in Thailand, I've found superb club sandwiches in only Bangkok.

Perhaps due to restaurant competition there.

But here in Chiangmai, so far, I've found two places with good club sandwiches.

Maybe, hopefully, there are others with better offerings.

One is Brix in the Montri Hotel at Thaepae Gate.

Reasonable amount of real chicken -- not a processed "loaf".

Decent ham slices, but nothing exceptional.

Freshly fried egg -- always warm -- not one that's been sitting behind the counter since breakfast.

Sometimes bacon -- not every time.

But Brix has decided to economize: so no French fries.

Instead, a small pile of shredded cabbage in the middle of the plate.

(Yes, I know, can order a side of French fries.)

Another reliable, club sandwich is at The Red Lion pub in the Night Bazaar.

Fresh whole wheat bread, lots of tasty ham, and honest cheese: Swiss/Emmentaler (I think).

And I liked the cucumber slices in the sandwich.

No French Fries there either, just a couple extra slices of tomato to fill up the empty space in the middle of the place.

And The Red Lion doesn't offer air conditioning.

I didn't order French fries on the side, but next time, I will.

If anyone else knows of the best, or the worst, of club sandwiches in Chiangmai, I hope you'll add to this list.

Worth going out of the way to eat, or worth avoiding, would be good to know.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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The steak my wife had at the Red Lion a couple of weeks ago was absolute rubbish and virtually uneatable.... Keithkarmann

...I don't believe it.

Maybe not the best steak ever, but "absolute rubbish" doesn't match any of my meals at that restaurant.

Actually, the opposite.

...At that restaurant, a couple of days ago, the club sandwich I ordered was superb.

One of the best I've had yet in Chiangmai.

Fresh, whole wheat bread, generous slices of tasty ham, honest cheese, plus cucumber slices included in the sandwich.

A superb effort, totally enjoyable.

And no discount.

I don't eat at Red Lion so often, because the location makes it awkward for driving thru the Night Baazar.

But I'll be going back for that club sandwich again.

However, if they start offering discounts, I'll go elsewhere, because then the quality will start to suffer, sure.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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Personally, I wouldn't care one way or another if I got 10% discount in a pub or restaurant ... Would it sway you, one way or another to go somewhere... if you got 10% off?

I avoid restaurants that offer discounts.

I've never yet found any restaurant that offers both regular discounts and good quality of food together.

Places who consistently try to attract customers with discounts, can only survive by offering less value for the price.

The discount has to come from somewhere -- usually food quality suffers.

There is no free lunch/discount.

I refuse to buy discount coupon books.

If offered discount coupons, I not only don't use them, but I avoid those restaurants, because I know they are cutting corners somewhere.

Or they first increase the price, in order to offer a false discount.

I avoid places that engage in such tricks.

(Of course, a short, limited-time promotion, like a grand opening discount, is an entirely different situation.)

What I do appreciate -- and what is offered by my favorite restaurant in Chiangmai -- is "extras" for regular customers.

I eat at that particular restaurant every week.

Almost every week, the chef will be trying something new in the kitchen -- something not on the menu.

If it turns out well, regular customers receive complimentary portions.

To my way of thinking that sort of "extra" beats any false discount.

But the majority of people like to think they are getting a bit of free lunch by chasing after discounts.

I avoid people who think like that and the restaurants that cater to them.

So, no discounts for me, thank you very much.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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The easiest way I've found is to use on-line banking with a Thai bank -- if your bank offers that.

(For example, SCB does; Thanachat does not.)

At your bank's web site, go to the bill payment section and use "mobile top up".

The additional credit is transferred within a few seconds.

You'll get a confirming SMS to your 3G.

Then, you must voice call to AIS customer service.

They will exchange the mobile phone credit to purchase additional download of megabytes or gigabytes.

Within a few minutes you'll get another SMS to your 3G.

That's it.

There other ways to accomplish this, but that's the easiest, I've found.

If you want a walk-thru, PM or email to me.

By the way, download capacity you purchase expires after 30 days.

Use it or lose it.

So I purchase the smaller packages.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

[Note to moderators: Please don't move this topic to the computer forum.

ThaiGuy55 was correct in posting in the Chiangmai forum, because AIS 3G is mainly available only in Chiangmai, not throughout Thailand.)

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I certainly hope Irishpoly accomplishs his goal of learning Thai from scratch in 8 weeks (to the standard he specifies).

It brings to mind Roger Bannister; the first man in history to run a mile in under 4 minutes.

Once Bannister did, others quickly followed at even faster times.

For the Thai language, Irishpoly may demonstrate what rate of learning is really possible.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Bannister

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If you like Fuji, give Zen Japanese restaurant a try in the Airport Mall too.

That's an old post from 5 years ago, but worth an update, because ZEN offers fine Japanese food.

If ZEN has been there since 5 years already, that's a very good sign.

Definitely a cut above Fuji -- and I am a fan of Fuji.

My first time eating at ZEN this week.

Superb in every way: immaculately clean, speedy service, vast menu with photos (ala Fuji).

But no smiles (Japanese style).

So many tempting dishes, but I selected the grilled, river shrimp set.

Huge shrimps, almost like lobster tail.

Grilled perfectly -- not underdone or overdone, as is easy to do with big shrimp.

The set came with the usual extras: rice, kimchee, miso soup, salad.

I'm not a fan of Japanese rice, but ZEN's rice was more tasty than other Japanese rice I've eaten.

I am a fan of Japanese potato salad, and ordered a side of fried potato salad.

Potato salad, made into golf-ball size, then coated with flour and quickly deep fried.

Interesting combination of flavours and textures, but next time I'll order potato salad plain -- deep frying didn't add anything.

Before you tuck your legs into the seating compartment, take off your shoes and put them into the little, lighted, compartment underneath your seat.

When you are finished eating, and about to leave, waitress will take your shoes out and place them conveniently along side.

Nice.

But, still, no smiles.

Finding a high quality meal in a shopping mall is rare.

ZEN delivers at Airport Plaza mall.

As you might expect, Japanese-level prices, so not the place to find a cheap meal.

A typical set, plus one side dish, along with beverage, in the neighborhood of 400-500 baht per person.

And that's actually an advantage, because it keeps out the sort of riff-raff who pollute Moonmuang Road.

Next on my list to order at ZEN:

-- Grilled saba fish with salt -- can they get the skin slightly crispy without over-cooking the fish?

-- Katsudon (pork chop) with curry on rice -- a standard Japanese meal, to compare against the standard in Tokyo.

ZEN: Highly recommended.

Location: Airport Plaza, first floor.

To find, easiest is to ask at the information counter at the main entrance of the shopping center.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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(Did I make a mistake in the URL link? Probably. I was trying to get fancy by embedding video in a post.)

I just checked:

The video is here: http://www.thai-faq.com/faq/bangkok-motorcycle-taxi/

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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This code makes the video show up:

[youtube]87XesTKy0ro[/youtube]

It does???

It didn't for me -- not in this new post: Thai Visa post with video link

All that appeared was the "code", not the video from YouTube.

Is there a secret code or something?

Please advise what I did wrong.

Thank you.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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The quintessential Bangkok experience -- up close from the back of a motocy taxi -- in 2 minutes, 9 seconds of video.

So vivid you can almost smell the traffic fumes.

Sensational camera work -- all apparently hand-held.

Look for fingers along side the bus and school girl with skirt in the wind -- both scenes close to the end.

http://shrinkify.com/1jvr

[youtube]HH-ryeLlG18[/youtube]

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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At this time of the year go find newly harvested type of rice Hom-Mali or not (locally called "Kaw Mai" "ข้าวใหม่"). I suspect you probably had those kind of rice.  

I didn't know about ข้าวใหม่, but what you say makes perfect sense.

Now, I will search for that.

Thank you, Maccheroncini.

There is a rice mill just up the road ... about five kilometres before you get to Doi Saket on the left hand side of the Chiang mai-Doi Saket road. I don't know if they sell rice or just mill it.

Appreciate very much that information with directions.

Even if they don't sell rice in small amounts, would be interesting just to go to see a rice mill.

Thank you, PaulChiangmai.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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May seem an odd question, because rice is everywhere around here.

Ah, but not the Grade A; the highest grade of rice -- that is proving difficult to find.

Does anyone have any suggestions where to find Grade A rice?

Are there any rice mills near Chiangmai which might offer that?

Here's the story behind the question:

On a recent trip to Chiang Rai I was served the best rice I've ever tasted.

Even my Thai assistant enthusiastically agreed it was delicious, and she's normally very critical of food.

So, after finishing the meal, I went to talk with the owner of the restaurant: "Suan Charin" -- on the road to Chiang Rai -- justly famous for pies, but they also serve Thai food.

The owner was visibly pleased when I complimented the taste of the rice.

He explained they buy it directly from a rice mill in Chiang Rai.

There is no brand name.

It is not sold in the markets.

But it is the best quality rice available ("Hom-Mali" Jasmine rice, milled and polished).

Returning to Chiang Mai, I started asking my network of Thai acquaintances, where to buy Grade A rice.

The question was beyond their understanding.

Thais think in terms of lowest price.

To ask Thais about highest quality, well, I might as well have been speaking Swedish, because they had no idea what I was asking, nor how to respond.

Until now, my approach to buying rice has been to simply select the most expensive available.

Whether at Rim Ping or at Makro, I look for the 5 kilo bag with the highest price, and put that in my cart.

So far, good rice that way, but nowhere near as delicious as this Grade A variety that comes direct from a rice mill.

If one eats a lot of rice, might as well be delicious.

Perhaps some others here feel the same.

So I am still searching:

Thank you for any help.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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The topic though is about an expats club and I am sure location will not be a problem for organisers.

Caf is right on the mark.

This topic is an inquiry about interest in such a club, not a discussion about locations.

And, as a private club, meeting locations would never be announced in newspapers, public forums, etc.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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Gentlemans club gets my vote, but at a location with ample parking. (also bar staff able to order a taxi when necessary!)

Meetings in private dining rooms of various restaurants around town.

Some will have ample parking, some may not.

Any discussion of building location or club facilities is too far in the future to even mention at this stage.

If interested, the approach is not to "vote" here.

This is not sponsored by, nor approved by, the management of Thai Visa in any way.

-- Oneman

Chiangmai

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