irishinchiangmai

Tuskers is starting their quiz nights this Monday.

Should be a decent night

Nothing against O'Malley's, I just get my Guiness and my bit of craic at the Leprechaun now, thanks to UG's constant (mostly correct) raving.

The Laughing Leprechaun is a great pub - not that I make a habit of drinking Guinness outside Ireland - but when the craving gets too much the Leprechaun does serve the best pint of G I've had in Asia - and the best Irish Stew too!

But yea, the heat has nothing to do with it. You're still gonna die without a helmet. And you're still gonna have bad hear WITH a helmet. Life's dilemmas

Not true - some of us, who are fortunate, have no trouble with bad hair after wearing our helmets. Long live the bald fraternity!

but on a serious note i couldn't urge people enough to wear (a good) helmet having witnessed a farang coming off his bike and splitting his head open.

mighty kind of you MB, but remember to position them for tv viewing come RWC time.

come to think of it, with all the rugby on tv during sept & oct could you supply some beautiful girls to serve beer as a remedy for sore eyes?!

What about if MB put on one of those Tiger/Singha/Chang dresses on to serve us during the RWC - in fact i'm going to insist on it when watching Ireland in the final!

Long Island Iced Tea even and watch the sun go down after a hard days work.

Do you serve Long Island Ice Tea? The perfect drink for chilling out before 'Friday Night Raw'!!!

While it may not be the final word in top class dining, I have to say that I had the best kebab last night (or this morning ) at Woody's – it really did the trick and with a little cheese added it was excellent. Of course, I will have to try one when I am sober to see if it really was as good as I thought – anyone got any thoughts on good kebabs in Chiang Mai?

Sounds like a good night. I'd like to go so please count me in.

Thanks.

Depends what day the outlaws sorry i mean the inlaws arrive this weekend but i will endeavour to join you and your partner in crime for one or three of the said beverages, but starting to feel a little guilty about the amount of free beer we are getting.

The cards have been very kind lately

Well, as they say, luck changes and one Friday it'll be a night of spades - so enjoy it while you can! I'll see you there if you get a pass!

Had the ribs at Tuskers tonight and like everything else about this my favourite drinking establishment they were TOP NOTCH.

Excellent food, Excellent service, BEER LAO and a terrific host what more could a man ask ?

I totally agree, in fact i have made it a regular weekly treat. Although ribs were included in the Friday night, all you can eat, buffet so i may have to make it a twice a week treat this week!!! Maybe see you in Tuskers some time Princealbert.

I believe we have already met and have talked. I am normally a Friday night warrior at Tuskers and enjoyed a beer or two or G & T as the case may be.

Well from that information i would say that we have already met! See you this Friday then?

Thank you Donna for your kind comments and your charming company. I hope we see you back in CM on a more permanent basis.

Thanks P1P. Great to meet you at last and your lovely family.

I crawled in at 6 this morning and am rightfully suffering as a result. I would like to blame McSpicy for leading me astray but in all honesty I think blame should be shared.

Great night all round.

Ah HAH, who led WHO astray?

I haven't had so much fun since the night we celebrated the passing of J. Edgar Hoover way back when.....

Between the:

1) Beer Lao and 100 Pipers and Sang Som (in copious quantities)

2) Reggae dance craziness

3) The Amazing Irish Boys, and their "Finnegan" song

4) Drinks at Jerry's Van

5) How a certain member of this forum, who shall remain un-named, singlehandedly shut down the entire sound system of a notorious nightspot- Go-Go dancers were literally FROZEN in place, like some sort of bad 50's SciFi movie

6) Leaving a NIGHTCLUB (my emphasis) when it is no longer NIGHT, per se

...I can't really decide what was best! I have edited out all references to the twin Bulgarian dwarf gymnast sisters, the motorsai crashes, and other unpleasantries.....

A Great Time Was Had By All!

McG

Great night McG apart from the fact i had to work on Saturday!!! In fact, best night out I've had in a long time - we'll treat you to some more Irish classics next time!!!

Take care.

Got my hands on a sierra wireless air card that support gsm/gprs/edge

Anybody in chiangmai has information about speed and who is the best provider.

Any information will be great

Chiang Mai Free Wireless Internet Wi-fi Hot Spots courtesy of Stickman

Chiang Mai Saloon

Loi Kroh Road.

Apparently it has good food and drink, free monkey nuts or popcorn and free wireless internet access. You can also check email free on the bar's single internet-connected PC.

Panthip Plaza

Chiang Mai City.

Chiang Mai's new computer shopping centre is just a couple of minutes walk from the Night Bazaar. There is free wi-fi access but not many convenient places to set up your laptop.

Charcoa Cafe

Chiang Mai City.

Sripoom Soi 1 in the old town, not exactly free, a 30 baht fee is charged for unlimited access.

Amora Hotel, Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai City.

You can connect to the unsecured wireless network by setting the IP address of 192.168.100.20-255, subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and enter any known DNS server. This saves 600 baht per day.

Dragon Star, Cyber Café Pro

99/4 Ratchapakinai, 50200 Chiang Mai (that's in the old city about 200m southwest of Thapae Gate).

It's free in the sense that paying customers (the place includes a coffee shop) are free to access the net without charge. The place is run by a Danish guy, who used to be some kind of software specialist. Opening hours 9AM - 11 PM every day.

Viang Bua Mansion Serviced Apartments

Chiang Mai

The password is: abcde12344. It is meant for in room use, but it works also in the

lobby and on the terrace.

VIPA House

14-14/1 Loikroh Lane 1, just off Loikroh Road near Kotchasarn Road intersection

In lobby. SSID = linksys. Good speed, always on.

Prince Hotel

3 Taiwang Rd, Chiang Mai.

They have free Wi-Fi, 256 Kbps, which works in the lobby and pool area also.

Computer City Mall

Outer NW corner of the moat.

Good signal, waiting chairs in ground floor. Upper floor has chairs too, much less people

Duangtawan Hotel

Loi Kroh rd., between old town and river.

Open WLAN, weak signal, but mostly usable (tested in 11th floor of east wing). The *official* WLAN of that hotel costs 1 to 2 baht per minute depending on the amount of time you buy.

Good View Bar & Restaurant

On the river.

Has free wi-fi in very pleasant but conservative surroundings.

The Garden Chiang Mai Guesthouse

Ratchedamnon Road

Has free wi-fi for whoever drops in and has a meal or a drink.

The Pirates Cove/Cave(?)

Ratchamankha Road

Free wi-fi is offered and they also have glasses of white wine at just 50 baht a glass.

Central / Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Centre

That big shopping centre!

IT City has free access. You can relax in the food centre opposite the entrance of the computer shops.

Baan Yin Dee

100 Charoen Prathet Road, Muang, Chiang Mai 50100

Drinks at 45 baht & up. Free wi-fi in pleasant surroundings & music if you bring your laptop. They also have a desktop in the coffee shop.

Mad Dog

Moon Muang Rd, Chiang Mai.

Free wi-fi is offered now in this restaurant(?)

Cafe Mong Pearl

Chiang Mai.

Free, fast wi-fi and decent food and coffee. (A small, brewed, house coffee with free refill is only 25 baht!) Very comfortable, but small cafe. Not sure about hours, but not open late.

Mo'S coffee

Chiang Mai.

It's a sub-cafe of the connected, upscalish restaurant Mo'C Mo'L. This place is tucked just off the main road. Free wi-fi, although the connection can sometimes get bogged down with laptoppy college students. Coffee is not spectacular, but they also have cake, pie and smoothies. Not positive about current operating hours, but it used to be 10-10.

Good wireless connection in Tuskers also - always on and speed is good.

Had the ribs at Tuskers tonight and like everything else about this my favourite drinking establishment they were TOP NOTCH.

Excellent food, Excellent service, BEER LAO and a terrific host what more could a man ask ?

I totally agree, in fact i have made it a regular weekly treat. Although ribs were included in the Friday night, all you can eat, buffet so i may have to make it a twice a week treat this week!!! Maybe see you in Tuskers some time Princealbert.

Hi

It is possible to teach at a Thai university with a BA degree. The pay scale goes up for those with an MA, but only if it is in Education or Linguistics - well that has been my experience here. Perhaps not the best time to be looking for a university job but you never know; some where may be looking to replace a teacher. Otherwise the next term begins in October. In my opinion teaching in universities is very different to what you would expect in Europe or N America for example. Still good fun and enjoyable teaching slightly older students.

Good luck with where ever you teach.

Ok thanks for your suggestions. I will keep looking and make use of GC in the meantime.

Thanks.

Can anyone tell me if there are any good squash courts in Chiang Mai and how much they charge for court time. With air con would be good but i would prefer a good court without air con than a bad court with air con if you know what i mean.

Thanks

The new academic year has started and it might be worthwhile trying to get first-hand updates on what the consulates in Laos and Malaysia are currently requesting. I chose May 1st as this is the date many teachers heard would be the date new regulations would be introduced.

Are police clearance checks being requested?

What paperwork supplied by the school did you need?

Did you need to show evidence of your qualifications?

If you have done runs before, do you feel anything has changed in the way consulates now handle applications?

All straight forward in Laos. No police check asked for, original documents were not checked but they did require photocopies - stamped by the institution offering you a job. Other paperwork seemed straight forward:

• contract,
  
• letter of invitation,
  
• letter confirming your employment,
  
• letter signed by president.
  

This is my first year teaching in Thailand so i don't know if it is any different from previous - all i can say is that it was very straight forward and really quite efficient. As long as the paperwork is in before mid-day you can pick it up after 1PM the next day.

Hope this helps a little, good luck.

Tuskers is the obvious choice - good menu, good size, central and friendly. Wins hands down.

In practice, where I work, we've had pretty good luck with them issuing the non-immigrant B as long as there is A police check. Some folks have given us police checks from the last country they worked in; for example one person submitted one from S. Korea. Another person wrote to her home country and received one. The only person we've had rejected was someone that showed up for the visa without one.

A recent employee, who worked last year in Thailand, we were told he doesn't have to get one--at least for the letter from the MOE. I don't know if they plan to check with the Royal Thai police or not.

I'll let you know what happens when he goes to get his visa.

Yes; interesting to hear of these differences.

I, for example, have not lived in Australia for several years and could have murdered & pillaged throughout the remainder of the known world since leaving.

Not that I particularly wish to have to produce any more papers, but it's hardly thorough.

I got my non-immigrant B visa issued and work permit processed without ever once having to show a police check. Suppose it depends on who processes you on the day...