Paagai

Where is a good everyday option for Pizza in the Huay Kaew/Nimanheminda area? Used to like Rustica but they've gone (as per another thread), Tried Koh Lanta twice, once they were too busy, next time they were shut Sahara: once bitten, now very shy, it may be cheap but.... Nimman Bar and Grill (Kantary Hills): uninspiring disappointment - steaks and the Buffet used to be good (not been for a while), but pass on the Pizza. Beccofino: Excellent restaurant, never tried the Pizza as too many other delights on the menu, but it's not really an everyday type restaurant.

Sorry to bring up the subject of Pizzas again, and I know there are plenty of other options in town in the tourist places round Thapae, The Dukes, and the other places people rave about or hate on some outer ring road en route to the extremities of the solar system But, where can I go local to me, when I just want a good honest Pizza? Are there some little gems I'm missing as so much new stuff is springing up in Nimanhemin? Starting to get desparate....

Just curious, what is the "Thai/French beef" the OP is referring to? Cattle bred from mixed Thai French parents? Or, Cattle born in France and raised and slaughtered in Thailand? Or, cattle raised in France and exported to Thailand just for slaughter? Or, buffalo from the new "Thai/French Farm" somewhere near Doi whatever? Or, maybe just a new line in BS?

Ate in Sahara on Nimanhemin last night and I'm starting to understand why they have no customers, at least anytime I've been there. My Thai friend ordered "Fillet Mignon" which looked great in the picture on the menu, and a very good deal at 250 Bt. The small shriveled up piece of meat that arrived with a portion of soggy fries was almost uncutable with the knives provided; he gave up with jaw ache after loads of chewing. Caveat Emptor: if it looks too good to be true.........

I fared no better opting to try the Pizza. OK, the warning was there at 99Bt, so I wasn't expecting much, but I had hoped for much better than what I got! The place seems well run but the cheap food and cost driven menu clearly isn't working.

Your right....Air Bagan

Wonderful, why not skip the trip and make donations directly to Burma's military rulers?

Air Bagan, the Despots favourite airline Mizzima.com - Boycott Air Bagan

Katoeys win hands down! Especially those providing services to army officers

However sitting in Thailand I think we are all aware that we can easily put our foot in it. I think it would be handy if there was a confidential " Hotline " to a trustworthy agency in regards to this subject. The UK police do show great interest in these type's of reports, I have no doubt that the police of other Western countries equally so.

I understand the UK's CEOP www.ceop.police.uk is very active in Thailand: Intenational Child Protection Network - ICPN Thailand From outside the UK visit Virtual Global Task Force - Report Abuse Or why not call CEOP for advice: Telephone: +44 (0)870 000 3344

Their planes and routes look awfully-similar, to what has been marketed as 'Nok-Lite' for the last couple of years, I therefore suspect that this is more of a re-branding exercise, than anything truly new. Which isn't to say that they're not a useful part of the local aviation-scene.

And SGA (Siam General Aviation IIRC) before that. I hadn't realised Nok-Lite had dropped those routes until I saw this, looks like it happened a couple of months back. Pity as they had a great service, so hope Kan keeps up the same. Looks like less frequency though, e.g. only one flight a day to Chiang Rai so you can't go and come back in a day.

If you are in Thailand and you suspect a criminal offence involving a Thai national, then I would think that your first port of call is the local Thai police.

and the Thai police will see an opportunity to extort money from the person you suspect. they may even spin it around (if the suspect pays enough) to slap it back into your face.

If it was pedophillia involving a Thai national you would likely be signing your own death warrant reporting it to the local police. Who do you think runs that business? If it's a Thai national safe options are limited, report it to your National Embassy maybe, or anonymously to one of the NGOs who can feed the information to specialist, non local police units that might do something.

In the case of a Farang perperator, walking in to your local police station and have them write the complaint in their log I suspect will be equally ineffectual and may place you in some danger. If you know any senior police officers (Captain or above) you trust, you could ask them if they are interested in the information. If they can get an "exclusive" that looks good on their record they may actually do the job properly with the suspect arrested and paraded in front of the cameras for maximum Kudos to the BIB, rather than extort money then let him go.

Otherwise, for a Farang, report it to their national embassy or maybe use your lawyer as a go between to report it to the Police (If you have the right lawyer and relationship with them).

A farang is someone at the bottom.

A year or so back a large truck from a major construction site across the way demolished a large concrete pot with palm tree outside my house. It was quite new and we still had the receipt - about 600 at Kamteing (OK - probably the Farang price....) Fortunately, we caught them in the act with his mate trying to put the pot back together.....

With lots of smiles we confronted him. He tried to deny it, even as my Thai staff are taking photos. He was about to drive off until we say we will call the dreaded (ROFL) "Tamruat" and his employer who's number is on the truck.

He immediately offered 300Bt and a sob story about being a poor truck driver. We accepted and he left with everyone waiing smiling and Kor thoting. When in Thailand....

I'd call that a result, even thought those lovely people at Kamtieng still reamed us for a new pot.

Moral: Jai Yen Yen

Given that it was an accident, and that 300Baht is close to 2 days wages to him and sweet FA to you, I hope you feel really bad about yourself for taking that money.

With him having made the offer, I'd expect any reasonable person to be a little more considerate.

Moral: Greng Jai

This is so flagrantly wrong , I cannot see the authorities stepping in and putting a stop to it

It also surprises me to no end that Pim and City Life have not jumped all over this with some kind of article to bring it more out into the public eye.

Perhaps all Farang owned bars in CM should get together and refuse to play ANY music until certain situations are resolved. Plus providing handouts to customers explaining why and making sure it gets some Press/PR coverage including TAT?

These are just scamsters preying on the weak/uninformed. I've seen what happens both when you do and don't stand up to them. In reality they are cowards, period!

United we stand....

A year or so back a large truck from a major construction site across the way demolished a large concrete pot with palm tree outside my house. It was quite new and we still had the receipt - about 600 at Kamteing (OK - probably the Farang price....) Fortunately, we caught them in the act with his mate trying to put the pot back together.....

With lots of smiles we confronted him. He tried to deny it, even as my Thai staff are taking photos. He was about to drive off until we say we will call the dreaded (ROFL) "Tamruat" and his employer who's number is on the truck.

He immediately offered 300Bt and a sob story about being a poor truck driver. We accepted and he left with everyone waiing smiling and Kor thoting. When in Thailand....

I'd call that a result, even thought those lovely people at Kamtieng still reamed us for a new pot.

Moral: Jai Yen Yen

Here is the link to another thread about recent activity in Chiang Mai here:

Thread with Pattaya videos

For various reasons, I keep running into these scammers as it was again last night..... only this time down at the main police station. As, I was not involved it was interesting to watch them at close quarters. They are definitely not police. They didn't have an office or even a desk, but were trying to print documents with a laptop and portable whilst they sat perched in a corridor. Their car is a new looking white Yaris (I think) - very distinctive with red trimmed alloy wheels and brakes.

The people they'd caught were all waiting outside and not in the main waiting area. No one was actually "arrested" as such. The only time they went into the actual Police area was to pay when a deal had been done (25,000 Bt I believe). They seemed to be packaging up a few CDs as evidence and took everything with them when they left, including their printer, so the "evidence" was not secured by the Police or immune from tampering.

The Police seemed totally disinterested in them apart from one guy who seemed to be involved in negotiations.

Can't be certain but two of them looked like two from the Pattaya videos: the guy in the lime green shirt in the first video and the guy with blue and yellow stripes in the second. There is also a very distinctive girl with them, very small and wiry with a thin face, who keeps blinking all the time. They'd done at least two places last night.

My understanding is there are two stories here. Playing Thai music without a licence for Thai music - seems they only have to find one CD with Thai music, even if your not actually playing it. I know of one case where they searched a customers hand bag and found a CD. Nothing to do with the bar at all! But, if you don't have a licence, your position is hard to defend even if the evidence is spurious. The other story is the real scam with the people who claim to own some Thai songs not covered by the Onestop licence. Even if you don't have them, they'll try to put them on your computer!

I heard Onestop are really pissed with these guys and, if you call them, will come to the bar or Police station, even late at night.

From my observations re-iterating a few points on this and the other thread: Get the Onestop licence. Call onestop IMMEDIATELY if these jokers show up. Don't let anyone go to the Police station unless arrested/ordered by a Police Officer who shows his ID. They want a vulnerable person to hold hostage! Don't let them take your computer. This may all be easier said than done so - if it does end up at the Police, call your Lawyer (or friendly neighbourhood henchman if you have one ) Refuse to pay anything and say you want to take it to court with your lawyer - remember if it goes to court these guys get nothing if they are not legitimate, and still have to pay the local BIB their cut . They may then want to hold someone in Jail, but you should be able to bail them if proper charges have been laid.

If the people involved refuse to show Police ID or follow proper process you can press charges against them(e.g. kidnapping, or theft of your computer) do this immediately as they are criminal charges that can't be ignored.

Install a recording CCTV system and make it obvious! Above all, find a music delivery system that does not involve CDs or computers anywhere in the bar, e.g. playing from TV or radio, or a media streaming player that get's music from the internet or a remote computer hidden elsewhere in the building. Better still use an old fashioned record player

Same as others - Passport and Work Permit in safe, copies and DL in wallet. Except if going somewhere it may be needed (Travel outside CM, or business meetings/government offices/bank etc).

Having seen some of the IDs my Tai Yai acquaintances get away with, I can't take it too seriously. Few of them have proper ID, just a variety of half IDs, medical cards, rent receipts for their room, various NGO ID's, receipt for WP application, UNHCR card, etc etc. In certain parts of town they get stopped regularly and it seems to work for them most of the time, though not always

The Police even asked a friend to sing the Thai national anthem once - to prove he was Thai

I understand Shopping Mall too, but thought it was some Japanese company? Forget the name, or maybe them in partnership with central?

Apparently will be on both sides of Huay Kaew. Upgrading the intersection is probably wishful thinking TIT, and what with redevelopment at the Amari too they'll be construction on 3 corners of a nightmare intersection......

They (at Na Na) just got a new espresso machine...someone's been reading this thread!

IMO, the coffee now is as it should be, rich and strong.

Went to Koh Lanta last night, but, to my amazement at 9 p.m. on a Tuesday, it was packed! With a large group having arrived just before us we didn't stay fearing a long wait.

Went to Sahara instead. The total opposite applied; it was deserted. What is wrong with the place? Someone obviously spent money on doing it up nicely, the menu is good and the food is OK(had Kebab and burger) and ridiculously cheap (though alcohol is not so cheap, but not expensive for the area either.) Service was largely OK too. Am I missing something or do they have a problem with ghosts?

They used to be great but the writing was on the wall when the last two visits they didn't have mushrooms That was maybe two months ago, haven't been back since! Sorry to here they've closed as it was good pizza.

On a recent trip, I had a very friendly check-in agent. He went out of his way to make sure my bags were checked in to my final destination despite the fact that he didn't have to do that as I was flying multiple airlines on different tickets. Then when he handed me my boarding passes, he also gave me a free pass to the business class lounge that I wasn't entitled to. how much would the big tippers here have given him?

If he was cute he would certainly have got what he was probably looking for - my phone number

If you did a qucik search you would find this:

New Mall in CM

Same old BS

You might benefit from reading the following very informative article:

www.avert.org - Thailand AIDS and HIV

Still B.S?

In Thailand I mix with prostitutes ....... I know of none with HIV or AIDs, I know none who have died.

Just my personal experiences.

The friends and relatives I know of prostitutes who have died from HIV in Chiang Mai could provide you considerable enlightenment on this subject. So could the many I know who are living with HIV.

what next? tip box at immigration?

Many here will recall the days when certain foreigners often accompanied by their wives, went into immigration bearing more bloody gifts than the three wise men!

Others attached a plain envelope to their application form.

There are still plenty of creeps doing this - just keep your eyes open.

I wouldn't dream of "tipping" or giving gifts to immigration. That's what I pay a lawyer to do

what next? tip box at immigration?

They have a large one already, it's just under rather than on top of the counter

What does prostitution have to do with tipping?

In Thailand, everything, as the phrase "tip" is used euphemistically instead of the much too direct version "payment for sexual services".

Apologies if that was lost on you

Sarah's Bloke is right. Taxes are not paid for salaries under 12K baht for single people and I think it is more like 16K for those that are married.

Not Tax, but regular employees are deducted 5% Social insurance every month, even if they only make minimum wage.

I think that tipping has gotten way out of control in the west and now it is corrupting Asia.

If you think that, try going out in Europe or American with a nice western lady, then offering her a $30 "tip" after sex. You'd better be ready to duck when she slaps you

Since I live in an old wooden shack and only ever wear cheap T shirts I'm paranoid people will think I'm one of the cheap charlie brigade To pander to my paranoia I always tip very generously in the bars and restaurants I visit regularly, and it pays dividends in great service with a smile next time.

In a restaurant I don't know so well I usually let my Thai companions deal with the change and leave the tip, though i sometimes override them if they are being too stingy.

I'm with Winnie on the small change, can't stand the stuff in my pocket, and if I leave it lying around at home it just disappears. Also, I don't want it scratching the front of my 999Bt Nokia in my pocket So that usually goes in the tip box or tray. Except, as others have said, leaving 1 or 2 bhat for a tip on a tray is seriously uncool, better not tip at all than do that.

Now 7-11, well I do confess there have been occasions when the cute, smiling, camp thing behind the counter has been rewarded with my phone number. Some have even called in search of a bigger tip :whistling: