Paagai

Ok So Gonzo beat me by 30 seconds.

Will definitely try to pop in and try the food this time!

[P.S. Mods - you might want to combine the two threads]

Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere so here it is if anyone is interested. Last years festival was great fun. Starts today at Wat Ku Tao (Behind city stadium - sanam gila)

I think the night bazaar has had its day. People are more interested in the night market, possibly because they don't get hassled so much by the seller of fake this and fake that. Perhaps for other reasons too. Chiang Mai does need a kick up the botty, though. If I were the Governor (God help me!) I'd really clean up and light up the pathways around the moat. I would select certain areas for a night bazaar, widening the pathway as necessary. I would repave and install new lights. I would ensure that the sellers were dealing in Lanna crafts, not copy handbags and watches etc. There would be nice little cafe areas and it would revive the whole area. I'd close the night bazaar with its horrible little cages, pavements that you can't walk on and nightly rip-offs. That's the way forward, methinks.

I don't disagree with you, a lot of re-invention is required for Chiang Mai since everyone got greedy and killed the golden egg laying goose some years back. But, with the various political wills and hidden interests pulling in different directions, I suspect the kind of direction change needed will be a long time coming.

I applaud your proposals as hypothetical governor and I look forward to you reporting back to this forum on how your negotiations with the sidewalk mafia play out

I love looking at gecko crap and taking great pleasure from knowing it used to be a mosquito

If you have them around it means they have enough mosquitoes to live on - leave them alone, they are doing you a favour!

I guess they could refill small bottles from the big ones? May save some cost too that way.

A few unscrupulous Thai Bars have been doing that for years . You know the one's, they have a too good to be true 3 Bottles of Chang for 99Bt type promo. Easy to spot as the level of filling of the bottles varies

Oh. I like those places.. But aren't those usually big bottles? What would they refill those from, from draft barrels?

Yeah, it's putting who knows what in big bottles that I was referring to, not refilling small. It would be nice to think that all they were doing was using draft beer, but I wouldn't like to guess what's really in there. TIT afterall......

I guess they could refill small bottles from the big ones? May save some cost too that way.

A few unscrupulous Thai Bars have been doing that for years . You know the one's, they have a too good to be true 3 Bottles of Chang for 99Bt type promo. Easy to spot as the level of filling of the bottles varies

From personal observations last few days it's small bottles that are in shorter supply. Guess that's more of a problem for Farang/tourist orientated bars and the cold beers in convenience stores. Most Thai bars only stock large bottles anyway... Didn't see any shortage around Santitham last night

There was another thread on TV yesterday about beer supply generally quoting various news items. Gist was: seems Leo is brewed in Khon Khean and supply shouldn't be a problem in Chiang Mai. Singha has lost some factories in Ayutthaya brewing Singha Beer which is directly effecting supply. Heineken were boasting they can just bring it in from neighbouring countries....

Makro Superhighway had several pallets of large Leo yesterday. Also lot's of Archa and a bit of other stuff.

I somewhat agree with expatmakmak's comments. I drank Singha when I first came to Thailand, dallied with Chang for a while before reverting to Singha. I now drink almost exclusively Leo and the occasional draft Tiger or ten Leo seems to have the least morning after collateral damage.

I have conducted a practical experiment into Thai beer tastes by regularly filling the fridge for parties where Thai friends drink for free. Leo is by far the most popular; One box of Leo to maybe 2-3 bottles of Chang. The Singha is almost untouched. Maybe not scientific, but does seem Leo has won a large market share.

To put on a good quality carvery you'd need to charge 500-600 baht and I don't think enough expats in Chiang Mai would be prepared to pay that.

For a decent Sunday Carvery I fear one needs to go to BKK The Irish Pub on Convent Rd (Off Silom) was 499Bt IIRC with so much stuff you'd have difficulty walking afterwards, and they get quite busy. Maybe they cornered the market as several other "Pubs" around Silom have no Sunday lunch offering at all. (N.B. Haven't been for a few months so the above may not be current).

Also anyone who knows about the history of the Queen Vic, will understand that the price charged did not necessarily reflect commercial reality.

The Pub do a great dinner on a Sunday, beef, Pork or Lamb.

I'll second that but not sure if Graeham does bread sauce though.

For sure mint sauce with the lamb, apple sauce with the pork and horseradish with the beef.

Great roast potatoes, nice veggies, Yorkshire puddings and lashings of gravy.

If you do go - go hungry.

My vote goes to The Pub too! Wash down with lots of ice cold draught Tiger.

Edit: Just remembered a picture too:

Seems some people on this forum have short memories:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/448517-bar-inspections-this-week

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/448507-police-in-loi-kroh-last-night

By my reckoning the six monthly crackdown is a couple of months overdue

The great thing about living in Thailand is that the dysfunctionality is entirely predictable! There's always a high visibility crackdown and cleanup before high-season and particularly just before Loy Khratong and Songkran (top up time for the BIB party fund ). A squad comes up from Bangkok every now and then to impress the NGOs and show the locals who's boss. There's another show of force whenever a new police chief gets appointed and strictly enforced midnight closing when certain people are in town (which I heard was the case this time). Seems like business as usual to me

Isn't it about this time of year that the plan to move all party bars and entertainment venues out to Chiang Mai Land, or some other forgotten place beyond the superhighway, is taken off the shelf and dusted down for another airing? We wouldn't want to scare the tourists would we?

Then there's the on-going rivalry between some of the big venue owners trying to get one over on the competition. Who's currently shut down, Fabrique or Discovery? Probably Mandagay's turn next seeing the old competitor just re-opened. The merry-go-round keeps on spining, maybe with a little Spice this time

Some local Police guy would probably buy it

"I want to meet real people who live and work here." I think you've been really badly treated on this thread so can I recommend a Karaoke bar on the super highway called Cassanova? It's near Jet Yod. A truly excellent place to meet people who live and work here, and you certainly won't find any whingeing ex-pats in there whatsoever. I'm sure you will make lots of new friends and have a real unforgettable Thailand and Chiang Mai experience; should be just the place for you to really enjoy. Have fun!

N.B. It doesn't open until 10 p.m. but so you can avoid those horrible bars where all the nasty ex-pats who've been posting on this thread hang out, there are plenty of local restaurants with two dollar food and cheap beer you can visit first.

Khun Chai

0898357848

053271869

Does good work. 200B to 300B per hour. If its over 1 hour, its 200B.

I'll second that! He does excellent work and knows what he's doing; he's been doing many jobs for us over the last five years, including some quite big ones, and can turn his hands to many things. Not the cheapest, but you get what you pay for and I've seen some of the horrors comitted by other so called electricians

When driving to CR I like to take a longer route, rather than go straight there. e.g first day - go across to Phayao and have lunch at the lake before heading up to Chiang Rai. The drive from Wiang Nua to Phayao has some great scenery and Phayao is a tranquil place with not many tourists.

Coming back, go via the Mae Fah Luang gardens (best earlier in the day) and/or Doi Tung, then stop at Doi Mae Salong (Chinese tea growing hilltop village with interesting history). Again stunning scenery! Return to Chiang Mai via Thaton (nice to stop by the river) Fang and Chiang Dao.

In CR I always like to eat at the Night Bazaar food area. They must have forty plus stalls so great selection and a nice atmosphere. Nowhere near as commercial as CM NBZ, with many Thai customers, though the live entertainment is a bit tacky.

Just west of the city is a beach like area on the south bank of the river with lots of wooden food shacks. Good place to go and enjoy a late afternoon beer and snack.

There is a redeeming factor however, in that it's opposite the excellent Lemon Tree restaurant. So you can have excellent Thai food there, while you vehicle is getting the spa treatment.

If you want food try J.T. Car wash on Santitham Road, they have their own restaurant! Cheap, Thai-Chinese style food. They're on a big lot to the west of Santitham Road between Tewan and Thongkwao Roads. It's a decent sized operation and they seem to do a good job. Mainly cars but also Bikes IIRC. Fun bunch of guys working there too

There's a new one on Santisuk Road between Soi 3 and 5, as well as another near the Playhouse/Tops (On the exit Road to Chang Puek Soi 4). Dunno how well either do with bikes.

Here you go OP.

Oooohhh, that's a real low down nasty trick to post that, dammn you! Now I'm gonna have to brave the rain, bury my pride and head, to Tops......the temptation is just too great! At least they do sell a decent French baguette in the bakery.

Akha Ama Coffee sell their excellent, award winning own brand free trade coffee from their small coffee shop in Santitham area. Very popular with those in the know, though a little hidden away.

You can see their website for details: www.akhaama.com

Wait until you see the price tag. Makes Nutella look cheap.

I know, I often look at it longingly on the shelf at Tops, but at 199 Bt for a small jar it's gonna stay there. And then you have to buy some decent cheese etc to go with it......

Tesco Online says GBP 1.15 for 360g or 55 Bt (262% more), But I guess they don't deliver here

I thought all the weirdos had left town.

Two + years on, seems they're still going strong

IMHO the last week, with no rain and little cloud cover, has been great, though definitely hotter during the day. Conversely the lack of cloud cover has led to much quicker cooling in the evening and very pleasant night time temperatures. Hopefully, aside from the odd afternoon thunderstorm in the coming days, hopefully we are done with rainy season.

There's a place on Chang Puek Soi 4 that always has piles of car and bike seats outside and looks busy - no idea about what the cost/quality is. Opposite the big open area with several bars in front of the Playhouse and just near the Soi with the sign for "Venus Love Hotel"

Just a note of thanks to all who took the time to stop by.

Glad it went well. We stopped by a couple of times but you were always packed so we didn't fight through the crowds seemed like you were doing excellent business. Will have to pop by the Pun Pun instead

Seemed quite a few less people than last year, but IIRC last year, the big day was a Saturday night.

Will you be doing Shan New Year - Pee Mai Tai - in a few weeks time?

Thai's generally buy a bottle between the group when out in clubs, where as it is western culture to buy your own individual drinks. Not sure its Thai's that don't want westerners in the club, but the management may not want the trouble that we usually bring.

Dunno about Fabrique, but the policy at Mandagay (owned by the same family) I believe stems from not wanting the back packer and farang drunk crowd there. You know, the ones who get drunk on Chang specials elsewhere, buy one beer which they nurse all night and are too overt chasing the women..... If the staff know you, and know you spend money and behave, they don't ask for 300 Bt. Indeed, those Farangs who spend money are treated like VIPs.

Anyway, this topic is old news..... any amount of whingeing on TV won't change the way it is.

I would think therefore there must be two different 'Bob's', but then again 'Bob's your'e uncle' as Bob would say!

If you're Bob don't give my Bob the bob that your Bob owes my Bob, my Bob's gonna give your Bob a bob on your Bob's bob!

As my Grandmother oft used to say......

Maybe way back when, Spicey had some attraction

Way back when it was Night Illusion and only slightly better than its reincarnation as Spicey's. I did spend quite a few late nights/mornings when it was Night Illusion but only at the girls insistence.

Must have quite an affect as it was never called 'Night Illusion'.

Nice Illusion perhaps, although the name was quite misleading, but quite apt for many in there.

I have to say, I thought it was Nice Illusion, but have heard many over the years calling it Night Illusion too. Whatever, it was a long time ago.....who knows (or cares).