ChiangMaiFurnishedApts

Me + 1 of course.

Is there any truth to the rumour that Samak will be helping out with the cooking ?

I just had a brainwave as I await my next dash. The BEST ice cream I have ever had in Thailand, in fact in all of Asia is sold by a guy in the Walking Street on Sunday.

He is in the area that used to be a gas station I think just 100 meters down from Tha Pae gate on your right.

Please dont eat all the white chocolate and cookie and cream as each week I have to go earlier and earlier to get some because some idiot blabbed about this guy everywhere.

What shop is he from, does anyone know. He told me that he makes the stuff himself but then every frog seller will tell you the same thing.

There was a guy ringing a bell and pushing a dustbin on wheels outside my office today. I first thought he was a lepar but upon closer inspectation of his bin I found it contained what I assumed to be ice cream.

I parted with my hard earned 10 Bt and in return his gruppy little hands passed me 2 slices of bread filled with said ice cream, sticky rice and some very artificial unatural looking red stuff.

Tasted great but alas I was to see it again later this afternoon.

I can send him up your way if I see / hear him again.

I assume that by now he has refrozen his ice cream and possibly washed his hands.

This response send from computer not to far away from a lavatory.

Even better still ................

Get the BLT to go, pop into Gecko Books and pick up something decent to read and then retire to Tuskers for a nice pint and a relaxing afternoon.

I personally know of 4 people/groups that have cancelled their trips to Thailand specifically because of the protests.

I am sure there are more.

To say it is a wholly global issue and not in some part related to the local issues is simply not true.

Up until about a week ago I would open the e-mail inbox and see reservation requests or requests for more info.

In the last four days I have had 6 cancellations, all for October.

Batten down the hatches because people make their holiday plans sometimes 60 days in advance and its looking to me like they are avoiding Thailand.

Last year during all the smog I was coughing up god knows what and while in Bangkok I decided to get myself checked out. Went to the Bumbumgrad, paid through the nose but got a good Doctor and a readable x-ray.

Too many scarey stories about TB floating around.

Even though I am just a youngster by Thai Visa standards I get a flu shot every year now. You can get that at the "Suandok" hospital quite cheaply.

From my own personal experiences, I would never go to the CM Ram again.

Any port in a storm, I was reduced to only eating American Baked Beans when I lived there, you had to fish out 2 pieces of disgusting pork fat before you ate them.

I am on my way to Tesco now with a pickup.

While there I will also buy some Glade air freshiner to keep on hand.

I wanted to apply a wax or polish to some of our leather sofas to prevent sun damage as well as minor scuffs and scratches. The only stuff I have seen for sale in Chiang Mai is in places like Tesco and its an imported spray more geared to car seats. This leather is usually a tougher/harder grade of leather.

Has anyone seen a decent wax that is exclusive for furniture application.

What you could do to be 'awkward' is what some people did when we were looking to buy a property in the UK some years ago.

The people renting the apartment in London that we went to view, did not want to leave the house they were renting. So when we got there, they had left everything in a complete mess. They did not damage anything, they did nothing to effect the lease, but they:-

- left washing hanging up to dry

- dirty plates on the table

- dirty kitchen

- unmade beds

- stuff scattered around

- beer cans left hanging out of bins

and lots lots more...

It looked like a bunch of students were staying there.

It was thoroughly uninviting.

they even left the toilet unflushed and smelly with a 'number 2'.

It was awful.

We became neighbours to some friends of the flat dwellers later on and they told us they did this deliberately to be awkward, as they were in fact very tidy people

During my years renting property in the USA I came across many Tenants who were pissed off with the Landlord and wanted to prevent the apartment being re-rented.

It became a bit of a joke in my office when we came across one of these units.

Further to the above list, here are a few things that you should not consider doing.

Roach / Ant traps scattered everywhere.

You can buy large metal rat traps in every market, they look great in the kitchen. If you splash some ketchup on it to indicate a recent event that is better.

Spend a couple of hundred baht and buy a cheap funeral urn, find some fotos of some sadistic looking Asian man and put them beside it along with some flowers. In fact,make a shrine to him and video peoples reaction when they see it and post it here. Not too many Thais would consider renting an apartment with a PEE in it.

When I met the Tenants of these Horror Apartments they never had an issue with me. I explained to them that I understood why they were doing what they were doing but I had a job to do. I pointed out to them that if the place showed well it would get rented fast and no one would bother them. But if it showed bad then they were in for a lot of visits as no one would rent the place.

Best of luck with whatever you end up doing.

I'm planning a 2 week trip to Chiang Mai early next year (hopefully!) to visit a friend I met earlier this year and I'm not sure what would be the best accomodation to stay in?

I can't stay with my friend because he lives where he works so not practical, also I'd like my own space.

I think a hotel would possibly be too expensive. Does anyone have any experience of Chiang Mai Furnished Apartments (a sponsor for this thread)? Or would a guest house be better? I'd like to be fairly central. My friend has offered to find me some accomodation (he thinks he can get me a very nice room for 300-600b per night) but he says I wouldn't need to pre-book, he can find when I get there. Is this quite easy to do in January/February?

Hi Popmybubble.

We have some mid range apartments that should be ready by January / February of next year ( touch wood at least 5 times ). The prices will be lower than the current ones advertised on our website as the buildings will be different and in different locations. The quality of the furnishings and everything else will be the same.

Mostly they range in size from 32-45 SQM depending on the building and what the owners have done to them.

Go to the website and send me an email vis the " contact us " site and I will reply to you with some more information including prices.

Just mention this posting on Thai Visa.

Derek

" ...................as well as providing plenty of tasty Dutch treats "

Space Cake ?

Just out of interest, are there any legal issues with owning or possessing a BB gun or pistol in Thailand ?

I would agree that coming with bags full of cash is the way to go. But the problem with going back is that you start to get caught up in the life again, car payments, possessions that you don't really need or want, going out to eat etc.. Lifestyle conforms to the money your making. Sure you can sock away small amounts but to live in that world the distractions are the only way to self medicate. If your healthy, excessive exercise can take the place of the things mentioned above but I see too many people slip back into this horrid circle of life that's very hard to get out of. Years go by and you see your life tick tock away doing something you really don't want to do. I might older than the OP and I do have a way to make money over here. But I think looking for a way, to get to where you want to be in the most direct route is the way to go. Living for tomorrow is not living.

Its hard to break the cycle of debt especially when you have a lease contract that ends one time, a car lease that ends 6 months later and a cell fone contract you have another 1 year to go on.

I went home a few years ago to work and to start up my life again cost me a fortune. its amazing how much money you need to spend to find an apartment, buy a car, cell fone , winter clothes,.........

I have friends I keep telling to " get out " and take what money they have and come over here. I even offered to pay their air fare for them ( that was until recently ) just so that can see that there is a better way of life. But some people are just happy in their own enviorement and will never stray more than 50 KM from where they were born.

The high end condos are all very expensive but you get what you pay for ( in most cases ).

If you have the time and the patience you might be better buying an older unit and then " faranging it out " to your tastes. Even with the newer places you always have to spend money to change things.

If you look outside the main city area you will see that the prices drop dramaticially. At some point it can be a better investment to buy a house, thats if you are in a position to do that.

As with real estate everywhere in the world, its all about location. If you are considering renting out the place then you will get a higher rent and more people looking in the city area.

The newer buildings have a better resale value over the next few years. Some like Peaks Garden have already sold out their foreigner quota and units that become available are jumped on fast.

Try : The Flora Condominimum ( nice but can be expensive for upper floors )

Punna ( close to Nimenhaemen Road ) Cheaper than Twin Peaks.

There are some older Hillside buildings in that area also.

On the klong close to the Chiang Mai Phucome Hotel there are some older buildings I have looked at with some great deals. There are units around there I have seen on the market for over 2 years now. Great opportunity to help out a seller with a charitable offer.

You never mentioned what sized place you are looking for ?

We have our office in Chiang Klan Plaza and there are quite a few spaces for rent there in a variety of sizes. Parking is great and Pantip area is 5 minutes away.

Go to the office which is about 50 meters inside the main enterence on your right or pm me and I will give you the Managers mobile number.

Thanks Brian and I am glad you and your girlfriend enjoyed yourselves.

I only wish that every one of our Guests left the place as clean as you two, the maid was in and out in 20 minutes.

Hope to see you again sometime.

I just wanted to put out a recommendation for Chiangmai Furnished Apartments (.com). I won the draw for a three-night stay, and I took my girlfriend there earlier this month. While all the apartments aren't finished yet, I think this place will be a mainstay in Chiangmai for a long time to come. I should clairify that I have no financial interests in the place at all; I won the contest and told the owner that I'd post my thoughts here on ThaiVisa.

Pros:

Extremely friendly service (even went out for drinks with the owner, although his liver might explode if he did that with all his customers)

Great location (5 min walk from night bazaar)

Beautifully equipped apartment:

TV/DVD/Speaker system, great kitchen facilities (full-sized fridge, stove, toaster, kettle, cookware/cutlery/etc) tasteful design, food already in the fridge, great security (with imported locks, so folks can't just go down the street and get a copyof the key), more stuff that I can't remember.

Price (hey, it was free!)

In all, the overall benefit of this place is autonomy. If you don't like eating the food from your hotel/guesthouse lobby, you can cook for yourself here. If you don't like the fact that the only movie being played in the common room is 'I, Robot', you can put on something good in your own room. I rented a motorcycle from a place just down the road and had a degree of freedom which I don't even have at my apartment in Bangkok (just too afraid to drive here!). This applies doubly if you already live in Chiangmai and have folks coming to visit you; giving them the ability to fend for themselves will help with their sanity and your own. A word about price; of course, I stayed there for free, so I can't complain at all. However, even if I had paid, I would have found it to be great value. I stayed in what's called a 'Small One-Bedroom', which is 1760B/night, with service charge. Definitely on the more expensive side of accommodation in Chiangmai, but I tell you right now that it is worth it for the benefits of autonomy.

Cons:

Too bright in the mornings

Too hot

Hard to find (first time)

I feel I must put in the caveat here that these cons are pretty subjective. In other words, my girlfriend had no problems with the lighting and was cold, rather than hot (I'm a robust sort, so I'm always too hot). Similarly, I quite possibly have the world's worst sense of direction, so 'hard to find' applies to everything from distant locations to my bathroom in the dark.

Again, I have no interests in this place; I just had an excellent stay there and wanted to spread the word. If you have other questions about my stay there, feel free to PM me.

BFD!

I have looked for the same thing but could not find it anywhere.

Its not something that we need or ever hope to have to use, but its handy to have around just in case.

Let me know if you find it please.

As our places are newly built we dont even have a Gecko calling the ceiling home yet.

I hear that Baan Thai is nice and fits most of your requirements. There is a pool and ample parking and most places ( studios ) rent for about 6.000. With reasonable utilities you bill will be around 7.000.

They have wireless internet access and free WETV.

They will do 6 month leases.

thanks for that, had a look there earlier today funnily enough and it seemed pretty good. very friendly and helpful desk staff.

Just accross the road from there is the new building where the Bangkok Bank will be and the new Lotus Express is. It is not open yet but my guess is that alot of people from the other older buildings will move there. Units on the rear of both buildings get FREE nightclub music until 1am.

They installed the AC units last week so it should be opening in a month or 3.

thanks again but that's a wee bit down the line. . . .am looking to grab something in the next week or so really.

Whatever you do, stay away from top floor units unless you enjoy baking in the heat all day and hight. Rear facing units ( west ) are nice when the wind blows, great Doi Suthep views but the noise from the nightclubs is a problem sometimes. You can always close the balcony doors.

I hear that Baan Thai is nice and fits most of your requirements. There is a pool and ample parking and most places ( studios ) rent for about 6.000. With reasonable utilities you bill will be around 7.000.

They have wireless internet access and free WETV.

They will do 6 month leases.

Just accross the road from there is the new building where the Bangkok Bank will be and the new Lotus Express is. It is not open yet but my guess is that alot of people from the other older buildings will move there. Units on the rear of both buildings get FREE nightclub music until 1am.

They installed the AC units last week so it should be opening in a month or 3.

I moved to Chiang Mai 2 years ago and hunted around for the same thing you are looking for. There are numerous cheap / budget apartment buildings where you can get short term leases. The price they charge is dramitically less than a guest house if you stay there for a few months. Best thing for you to do is come up here and stay in a GH for a few days while you work out where you want to live.

Nimenanhamen Road is a popular ex-pat area and there are lots of clubs and bars within walking distance. Lots of modern and some new apartment buildings going up there as well.

There is a decent place there called Baan Thai, its has a pool and free parking ..... It will cost you between 5-7ooo a month depending on room size.

Its easy to get a 3 month lease there.

Even if you are only staying 6 weeks its still cheaper than staying in a GH.

Browse through the Chiang Mai forum and you fins that alot of people asked and had answered similar questions before.

Good Luck

I am bored with looking at chimps mate and listening to Christy Lou Stout on CNN talking through her nose.

Christie Lou Stout might talk through her nose, but she is as cute as a bug in a rug..

" bug in a rug " ?

Well have you noticed that she has a " bun in the oven " ?

And what type of name is " Stout " amyway, she makes me think of Guinness when I see her and Kermit when I hear her.

I actually like the little guys because they control the flying insect population. Some of the apartments we have are in a brand new building and I am sad to say I am Gecko-Less at the moment. I did see one baby skuttling around in the hallway and I hooshed him into the apartment and locked the door.

Feel free to bring the pregnant females over to me. The ones I dont have room for I will just release in some local used bookshop.

Ray and Jane.

I read IndiaMike and agree that it is a wealth of information. ThaiVisa is also but you have to work to get what you are looking for. Every question you might have has been asked and answered somewhere on the site. Search all the forums and then there are specific forums where you will find information on subjects like real estate, cars ....

Another site that has alot of information is www.stickmanbangkok.com.

Before I came her a few years ago, I must have downloaded 500 pages of info and you know something, I have never read it since.

There is also the Chiang Mai expats club : http://www.chiangmaiexpatsclub.com/index.asp

Tuskers bar offers a welcome dinner for new comers to Chiang Mai. http://tuskersbar.com/index.php?page=movingtochiangmai

The thrill of travelling is the sheer fun of experiencing the unexpected. dont get too bogged down on facts or peoples opinions about the place. Come see for yourself.

First thing, isolate the computer from the dogs, you dont want the virus spreading.

Then go to Google and type in " free anti virus scan ".

It will give you a few options like Panda, Norton ......

Run one of these and it might tell you what virus you have.

Do you have anti virus software on your computer ?, if so update it, if now download AVG. Its free and quite effective.

If you have used any thumb drives recently it could have come from or jumped to it. Scan it as well.

Before you scan, just copy your important documents into one file and burn it on CD / DVD, just in case.

Good Luck

Thanks for the 2nd prize Derek. The Rat and I will get our discounts worth in the near future.

The rat is welcome as long as it is a registered guest, does not have tattoos on its lower back and can not beat me at pool or connect 4.