KevinHunt

 

behave yourself in your posts

I'll try, but it's not easy. 

Espescially when people effectively say 'Stay at home if you're not like me.'.

And when the people you are referring to are the good folk that frequent the likes of my pub.

As regards to PMing me - You were 'blocked' from my Inbox many months ago.

Anyway, that's enough about me, lets get back on topic please.

Riff-raff?... how do you define riff-raff? and riff-raff don't like aircon? Jeez...

On topic I would agree that it isn't so easy if going on a nice date to find a place which is 'suitable' but I def don't go searching for the 'English experience' (TRL etc.) - if you want that stay at home.

CMF

Chiang Mai

If you don't like the English experience then you can simply choose not to go to English Pubs. If you don't like Italian, French, German, Indian food etc. then you can avoid them too. Why do you tell those people that do like these places to 'stay at home'? Does it bother you somehow?

***flame removed***seems to agree with you and goes on to inform us that 'A poster recently commented not eating any Thai food'. What is wrong with that? If they don't like Thai food, should they stay at home too?

If you are going to stay in Thailand and spend all of your time eating only Thai food, drinking only Thai drinks, and socialising with only Thais then you might want to acquire some of their social skills, the most important of which is Tolerance. 

Yes. it is being shown on True at 3.00 am. If  you intend to stay up and watch it, the best place is Kheuy Chiang Mai restaurant, next to Rasta Art Bar. They will probably have it on, or put it on if they hadn't planned to do so. The only problem is that at that time of the night there may not be too many fellow Ireland fans to cheer along with you. 

Don't get too excited, Nienke. This is only someone promoting someone's business. Happens alll the time

OCD is treatable, you know.  

Is the Red Lion owned by a single farang or is it a partnership, just curious?

I have a Thai partner (my wife). She deserves most of the credit. I'll take the crap!! I'm used to it.

Some interesting points there.

The cottage pie - mashed potato out of a box? Actually, I'm not aware of 'Instant Mash' being available in Chiang Mai, but our mashed potato is made of real potatoes.

Apple Pie - I'll look into it. It is sometimes a bit doughy.

Ice cream - I have some customers who come specifically for the ice-cream. It's made by an Italian living in Chiang Mai. You can't please them all.

Sausages- Waitrose? I've never seen them here. Mine are made locally by an English butcher and I think they're the best English sausages available. I've never had a complaint, but they are English sausages so I understand that they may not be to everyone's liking. FYI - I also sell Gunther's excellent German sausages.

The good thing from this, is that constructive criticism is always welcome - too few dissatisfied customers complain for my liking.

I think I should also point out that on the inside of the front cover of the menu (the first page) is a welcome note that clearly states that if any of the food is not to your taste we will gladly change it for something else. No quibbles. If you don't want to change, we don't charge. Fair enough?

I'm not sure the season has started yet. While the amount of people on the streets and in the hotels is starting to pick up I don't things will get going until December.

This week there will be 3000 or so volunteers coming to help build homes for The Habitat For Humanity. While we might see the Night Bazaar take a shot in the arm I'm not sure if that is the same crowd that will be hitting the bars around Moon Muang and Loi Khroh.

A lot of the Hotel operators that I have talked with have said that they have good bookings starting at the end of November and into December.

If I had to give a personal opinion I would have to say that I don't think that this year will be very busy but I think it will be alright.

I must have tempted Fate, because out of the blue we were unusually busy tonight - hardly a spare seat in the house. I'm sure it was one of those false starts that I mentioned, but it would be nice to think that 'this is it'.

One of my favourites must be Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier from Germany...

Was glad to recently notice that it is available in Chiangmai, and even cheaper than in my home country... pfff.

Bought a case (20 x 0,5 L) from Horeca Supply off Superhighway, the cost was 2000 THB + 140 THB tax.

Very reasonable for such a good beer imho.

They also have Erdinger, Warsteiner, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Chimay and who knows what else...

For those that don't want to sit at home drinking, all of those beers (except Chimay)  are available at The Red Lion.

Back by popular demand, The Gate Theater of Chiang Mai presents The Odd Couple by Neil Simon at the Studio Theater on the 7th floor of Central Kad Suan Kaew shopping mall. See the show on Friday and Saturday weekends in November, specifically, November 13 & 14 and November 20 & 21 at 7:00 pm each Friday and Saturday night. Doors open at 6:00 pm for food and drinks.

4 performances...not 2!!!

How ODD.

How? Odd? 3 would be odd!! 

I visit the town about 3 times a week for a meal and some nightly entertainments.

As far as I can see, the high season hasn`t happened. Last Saturday the numbers of Farangs I saw in the Loi Kroh road, could be counted on one hand.

Sad news for all the business owners and for everyone all round.

For the last few years I've hardly ever seen the bars on Loi kroh busy. I don't use them, but I do drive past occasionally. At best, some of them  seem to be busy after about 11pm, but other than that they always appear to be pretty dead. I remember sitting at the Belgian restaurant (Mayflower)  one night and what struck me was that what appeared to be busy bars where in fact just the bars with more girls, that looked busier. Most bars had only 2 or 3 customers and some had none. It was only about 9ish so still a little bit early, but all the same it didn't look like they were going to be busy. One or two seem to do okay, but the majority look like they always struggle to get the punters in.

There do seem to be mixed signals. Some tour leaders I met talked about good bookings for the high season and some not.

An interesting fact I discovered yesterday was of increases in Air Passenger Duty (APD) form first November in the UK*. Supposedly a 'green' tax on airlines, with talk of it increasing in stages to 80-150 pounds by the end of 2010. My sister looked at flights from UK to Thailand for February and reckons that they are about 150 pounds more than the last time she came ( 18 months ago).

*http://www.adamsmith.org/blog/environment/air-travel-duty-a-stealth-tax,-not-a-green-tax--200911034381/

It seems to me that there is a lot of expectation of a good high season this year. So far it seems to be a bit hit and miss from my reports. As usual, there are a few false starts where it gets busy for a few days and you start to think 'Here we go, the high season's arrived' only for it to fall flat for a couple of days. That happens every year, in my experience. It also appears that certain parts of town are busier than others. From what I hear, Tapae/Moon Muang/Loi Kroh is a bit quiet whereas the Night Bazaar seems to have picked up.

What do you think? Is it going to ba a good high season? Are your favourite haunts busy? Will it be up or down? Will there be more political strife or a re-emergence of H1N1 to scare away the tourists? I can't remember the last time that there wasn't some sort of negative influence - Economic downturn, Political strife, Sars, Bird Flu, Tsunami, Coups, etc. Could this be the first busy, problem-free high season for 4-5 years?

If you've got Crystal Balls, I'd like to know what results you got by rubbing them.

If your travelling with a two year old and you want a more upmarket place to stay I'd recommend the Horizon Resort which is around 11km from Chiang Mai town and is adjacent to Taweechol park which has a decent play area for children as well as a boating lake and a small zoo including an area for feeding the deer. I live up the road and after three years of visiting my children still enjoy it.

If you have a car it's easy to make trips from this area.

I don't particulary recommend the long neck village if you want to visit a zoo Chiang Mai has a pretty good one.

I'd go along with that. Their web-site has rooms from 2,000 baht a night which is great considering how nice the place is. The park, that is basically part of the same development, is a great place to cycle round. One of my sisters discovered it for me and having lived here for so long, I was surprised that I hadn't heard of it. Beautiful gardens, a mini zoo, and fantastic topiary. Look at the site for the Botanic gardens here (only in Thai but great photos).

http://www.tweecholbotanicgarden.com/

As for interpretations, someone posted about going to Immigration to get an "exit" visa... I would guess that is a very distorted interpretation of a "re-entry permit". Maybe thinking of getting out rather than getting back in. I don't see why anyone would need a visa to exit anywhere. Again, this is just to emphasize how interpretations can make a difference.

Now this should liven things up!!

MSPain

Maybe they have worked somewhere like Saudi Arabia where the only way to leave was to have either an exit/re-entry visa or an exit visa. Without either of those stamps in your passport you couldn't leave! If one day you decided that you'd had enough, then buying a ticket and heading for the airport wasn't possible, you had to get your employer to apply for an exit visa first. No exit visa, no exit.

This is just to emphasise how misunderstandings can make a difference.

Sorry to digress, but who IS reputed to be the best tattoo artist in Chiangmai?

Are you thinking about an 'Up The O's' tattoo? With the two dragon's just below? I think it would look great.

Don't forget to ask your parents first, though.

PS . when did the spell-check on TV start? Great idea.

Back for more, Mike? That'll be your browser btw.

On CM, long way from the outlaws

At this time of year, with the sunny days with clear blue skies and fresh, cool evenings  (I can't comment on the mornings!) then I reckon it has to be the best weather possible. Absolutely perfick (as Pa Larkins would say). 

 

Patriciachas, if you read kh posts ( including those now banned) you will find he chooses to bait certain people and can be quite abusive. while his posts can be funny and lighten up a day, his constant attacks on sassienie and others should not elicit your response of " lighten up my friend" Wait till it's your turn - you may have a different view.

Maybe you'd like to give us an example of my being abusive? I've given you some 'stick' about accusing me of 'subliminal adevertising', which is fair enough I think (you did know it would get me banned). For some reason that you've never explained you have this thing about me advertising. If I was promoting my business (rats in the kitchen?), then what does it have to do with you? If I was advertising it subliminally, how did you know?

Back on topic. I've had a request to do a tour of the Gymkhana. Is anybody else interested? One afternoon this week maybe? A quick tour and lunch on the Balcony? Wednesday at noon is the preliminary date. 

 

How dare you use the name of our Lord & Saviour, Cheerful Charlie in vain?

Don't know why you are picking on poor ole Charlie. Maybe you're jealous because everyone likes him, from the riff raff to the hierarchy upwards.

And yes, everyone is cheerful at Charlie's. Being cheerful is a good reputation to have, don`t you think? And as for the sausages, please do spell it out, maybe some of us don't get it.

I think it`s time for another poll. How about, the most loved and the most detested restaurant owners in Chaing Mai. It would be interesting to see where you come in.

Your avatar of Basil Fawlty trying to choke one of his guests is certainly apt.

I'm sorry, I think you have missed my point. I was merely suggesting that some of Charlie's Cheerfulness may have rubbed off on you, and purely as an attempt at humour. If you read it the wrong way, then I'm sorry but I can assure you that no harm was intended to you or Charlie.

No you didnt tell us about selling German sausages, but you have obviously got many such advertising treats in store for us.

Glad you have changed your mind and now admit it was all subliminal advertising all along.

"The 'subliminal' advertising didn't generate a great amount of extra business"

Perhaps as you now realise that it is not productive you can spare us the agony of having to endure it.

Just concentrate on funny posts. You're good at that.

It wasn't subliminal advertising, I said that with a sense of irony! I don't have any advertising treats in store. Being an advertiser merely allows me to make references to my daily activities, which are usually set in a pub, without me being accused of advertising or being banned for such offences. In my previous post, my mentioning German sausages was only for the purposes of humour*, and wasn't intended as an ad. I can do that now, without fear of reproach. If being an advertiser brings some extra business, that will be a bonus.

The story about my rat-sniffing talents was a true tale, and the reason for me not mentioning 'my place' was obvious, I thought. The fact that my purposely not mentioning 'my place' was seen as 'subliminal advertising' was very funny. 

Just concentrate on your funny posts. You're good at that.

* for those of you that missed the point - eating Cheerful Charlie's F&C has made Sassienie cheerful, so maybe if he eats our big thick German sausages ........ ( do I need to spell it out?)

Thread Hijack:

Can you rent clubs at any of these or any other CM courses? What kind of price/quality are the rental clubs?

Also which courses can you just turn up and play at without proper attire?

I think that the Gymkhana requires you to wear shoes, trousers and a shirt. Which one don't you have?

Since the closure of Nang Nuan (with an "n" note and not an "l") .....

It is, in fact, Nang Nual (นางนวล) and I've only ever seen it written as such, but since an 'L' at the end of a word is pronounced 'N' then technically both could be right. Anyway, they're closed in Chiang Mai, although the original in Pattaya (walking Street) is still going .

Nang Nual Pattaya

Cecco,

 It closed maybe a year ago, presumably because other than their popular lunchtime buffet they were never very busy for such a big place.

No signs of anything else opening up there.

 

Holy jumping macaroons, this is a social establishment for the idle rich.

And I wonder if Kevin Hunt as he calls himself at present, is going to donate something to the poor fund having saved a lot of money promoting his businesses on the Thaivisa forums for free?

Whilst golf may be a bit expensive (as it is everywhere) and is arguably a pastime for the idle rich, poor old me is a hard-working tennis player.  The 'subliminal' advertising didn't generate a great amount of extra business (even the Free Water post) - a few curious souls looking for a John Cleese lookalike maybe. So, unless TV members and visitors pile down to the pub in their hordes, my funding of the poor will have to remain at current levels.

Just to correct Anonymouse, I did indeed have other log-ins during my days of banishment (Chiangmai Oldhand and Muggins) which of course led to extended bans, once I was 'found out' (a warning to those thinking of repeating the errors of my ways) but those days are behind me now. 

'Holy Jumping Macaroons'? Was/is Sassienie really a Batman fan? I suppose he was young once, and may still be by the sound of it, when the mood strikes him. Did he fancy himself as Batman, or Robin, I wonder?  

His Avatar used to be a cloaked mysterious Jack-the-ripper type and now he's a sweet Merry Christmas tree (a bit early, maybe). That's quite a transformation!! Maybe it's from eating all those Fish n Chips at Cheerful Charlies - they've made him cheerful!! 

Did I tell you we sell German sausages? The long thick ones. 

Make use of the public transport, either bus or taxi. Probably cheaper than the petrol if going by car.

Let someone else have the stress of doing all the driving and you, your daughter and her friend can relax and take in all the scenery.

How could anyone relax when there is a Thai at the wheel? Don't you remember that classic last line of every crash report involving public transport - 'The driver fled the scene'.

If I have visitors, I quite enjoy the drive to Chiang Rai & Mae Sai . I like to drive straight to Chiang Rai or Mae Sai - with a short stop at Charin resort for lunch or coffee and cakes - but return the next day via Payao, with a stopover at the White temple south of Chiang Rai (Wat Rong khun) and Payao for lunch. 

If you think that Mae Hong Son is too much, Pai may be the answer. I quite like Doi Mae Salong at this time of year too. 

A day trip to Lampang is quite pleasant.

Sawasdee Khrup, TV Friends,

I and I once were told the Gymkhana Club had a libraray, and we went there thinking we might have the good fortune to come across a complete set of Siam Society publications, or some other treasure. But no one there the day we went there could even tell us if they had a library or where it was.

ioho 50k baht per year and 7200 baht in yearly fees is very expensive.

best, ~o:37;

It's 50,000 baht for a lifetime, transferrable (ie saleable) membership, not 50,000 per year!! 30,000 baht for a lifetime, non-transferrable membership - cheap as chips!! Of course, it would depend on what 'life time' means. To some of the older folk here, that might not be such a good deal.  

wantin to know of a place or tennis club in chiang mai where I can get use of a ball machine (for hire).

where/ how much?? thanks.

where is rmutl tennis club???

How do you pronounce that?

By the way, was I hallucinating? I'm sure that last night there was a spell-checker here. Did anyone else notice?