Fishenough

My son, I, and his boy scout friends cycled doi suthep several times most months of the year, but when the pollution was bad we would simply hire a songtaew to take us, our bikes, and a selection of nice drinks and snacks to the campground above the Wat, and we would enjoy taking our time getting to the bottom. Also during Songkran before and after time it was more enjoyable not having the workout of the climb combined with all the splashing. Also all the spots over the years we stopped to tour at had parking for our bikes that was supervised when we locked them and left them.

Once the affair with a wonderful Thai lady was over, you noticed that Thailand is a dirty place and Thai girls are a load of bunk. No, we don't do ignorant generalizations. No, we don't give advice on a Web forum. This web site is not for you. Spend more time with Canadian dating sites. That's better for all of us.

The perfect response that I both enjoy and look forward on this forum, one that is randomly negative and a critical assumption that couldn't be any farther from the truth. No offense taken, sorry to disappoint but even just a brief read is open to all of my life in Thailand and past travels since 1988 to Thailand.

Don't usually feel so strongly about advice given on a Web forum, but follow your heart. Of course have a long, and painfully honest, talk with your lady about what both of you want. Go from there.

I lived single in Thailand for a couple of years after my marriage ended well there, and have now been living just over 2 years in Northern Canada. Found in both countries that if you put yourself out there (Internet dating) there are a huge number of women to meet. Heck I to was smitten by an wonderful thai lady, and if it wasn't for the fact that I'm a single parent could likely still be living there. Like yourself have returned to Thailand after a break from living there and been shocked at the dirtyness that I overlooked well living close by.

Be sure to ignore the ignorant generalizations about Thailand and thai women posted here, even the ones you find you can relate slightly to are a load of bunk.

Don't forget that Nong Hoy extends well across the highway/ Mahidol as well. I used to live down there. Never any troubles. It's nice to live among the locals. Those who feel they need to live in gated communities or condos in over-trodden areas really miss out on being integrated into the community.

Wherever I live I also always take it upon myself to be gracious and introduce myself to neighbors, share if I bake a little something extra, or bring back some kind of candy or something for kids when I travel abroad - keeping your neighbors on your side as extra ears and eyes is always helpful. Plus you get to (hopefully) make some friends in the process. I've been invited to untold numbers of parties and celebrations because of this, and also sometimes am greeted with a neighbor bringing over a portion of a curry or khanom jin, say, just because they cooked a bunch and they want to be neighborly. Get connected and enjoy the area.

Spot on bro.

That's been my experience exactly.

x2 for my experience in 5 years living in Nong Hoi. My home baked Biscotti proved most popular with both locals and expats, alomst couldn't keep up with the demand, and my 11 through to 16 year old son walked the streets alone or with friends often.

Hi, yes I know I don't live in Chiang Mai but I would recommend a friendly phone call to The Well International, as it is surprising how often visiting groups plan a trip to Doi Inthanon and ride sharing might be fun. I still have plenty of missionary friends on Facebook and chat also with them, so many 'see the sights trips' always on the go. Also I'd ask on CouchSurfing Chiang Mai - the more the merrier/cheaper/safer in that van to visit.

Great, and affordable places to stay include the camp ground across from those nearby visible falls (Siriphum?) on the 1284 road (there can provide tents and bedding) and the fantastic Royal Garden Orchid Project a little further up the same road (that place is awesome, nifty Flintstone style housing and the most amazing deck views in the north).

BMW GS 800 is over my budget, the 3 bikes I chose are within my intended budget!

As I've shared before, I've ridden the Versys extensively in Thailand (rentals over a 2 plus year period, week long tours on one a couple of times), and a short 50 km ride here in Canada, and I agree with the reviewers in the link provided. The Versys is a better bike for the reasons they've listed, and a big item for me is I am a lifetime dirt bike rider, and the Versys is the natural fit for my style. On a twisty road I'm confident I'd be faster on the Versys easily by a small margin.

Last year I bought a V-Strom new at a deep discount as it was priced to move onto the new model year, and I made the right choice. For the longer mileage in northern Canada the strom's engine is more pleasant to spend the day with a more enjoyable character. At the end of a full days riding on the Versys I was sick of the engine, and to buy one vibration damping foot pegs and bar mounts would be a best. End of the day with the Strom and I could find myself blipping the throttle, something I wouldn't want to do after a full day in the saddle with the Versys. This winter I'm planning on buying new handlebar mounts for my Strom which will give me the more upright ridding position of the Versys. So I think the Versys is a neat bike, the one of the 2 I prefer ridding on gravel with, but anywhere I was given the choice I would choose the Suzuki.

Must not have debt out on the car...ownership book

Vehicle must be in your or your partners name and that person must be with the vehicle.

Ignore khwaibah's post. I have driven both my truck and motorcycle, both registered in my name, to Laos several times and had nothing but the best experience.

Have no idea about the debt issue.

Local motorcycle forums (GTRider.com and RideAsia.net) I find are the best places to find out what documents to prepare and bring - bring plenty of photo copies as advised of necessary documents, and have a fabulous trip.

Are you looking for an exporter or a freight forwarder?

If you are looking for an exporter, why would anybody export your goods and take all the risk of the goods being pirated or stolen goods, or have drugs embedded into the frames? I recommend against being the exporter for other people's goods. If everything is clean, you would want to be the exporter yourself, otherwise it smells fishy from the beginning.

If you are looking for a freight forwarder, that's another story. There are some specialised in art products. As long as you are willing to be the exporter.

Hello,

I am looking for specialized art products, made in Thailand, for shipping to North America. It's easy enough to use the Thai postal system and over countless time I've mailed things either way with no issues what so ever. I am here and would like to buy some art.

My neighbor had several near perfect condition GTO's, older bikes that sold for well over 15,000 baht. None mint, old police bikes and such, but each torn down and put back together properly and with the correct parts. And that was 6-8 years ago.

Farang's tend to focus on the Wave but don't look over the veritable Honda Dream, 15,000 could buy you one in near new condition and would be easier to sell than the bikes you have listed. Ya you gotta lift the seat for a fill, but I've see a couple of modified seats that allow you to fill without doing so.

http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/showthread.php/25479-Day-Trip-The-MHS-Loop-on-a-Honda-Dream

No ideas?

I have emailed all the shops I could found online for Baan Tawai; the majority came back as undelivered and the rest just haven't replied. I even had a paragraph in Thai typed out by a friend to assist but no luck.

I honestly have a friend whom owns 3 boutique home decorating stores in the northern Canada whom would be interested in items to.

Definitely songtaw is the way to go, they've done kayak drop off and pick up for me.

I, and others, would greatly appreciate a trip report of your trip when your done!!! Good luck chasing the Giant Snakeheads

Hello

I would like to find a trusted and recommended art and home decor exporter, as I would like to buy some personal decor items with a Thai theme for myself now that I'm no longer living in Thailand. Far north Canada is just too far removed from SE Asia and some small reminders would be very welcome during the long winters.

Simply looking for a recommended and trust worthy exporter to purchase a few items, wall hangings, fabrics, lamp shades.

All recommendations appreciated, along with the candor and frankness that I enjoy on ThaiVisa.

Cheers,

Kev

Caving isn't on your list and there is a crazy variety of caves in the north.

Plenty of places to wild fish if that interests you, though the pay ponds are fun, easy to hook something and so affordable.

Thai national parks offer accommodations from tenting to large comfortable houses, plus all sorts of opportunities from caves, nice swimming waters, hiking, natural hot springs, bird and flower watching. The further away from the city the quieter the park, I've stayed in a couple dozen different parks and some our real gems.

You mentioned kayaking; have you floated the remote regions of the Ping and other neighboring streams, which is a great way to spend a day and not see another soul, have you enjoyed a night away on the floating cabins on nearby reservoirs?

Depending on your interests local clubs from all different types of hobbies are extremely welcoming of people with similar interests (far more so than the clubs in the town I live now); ie RC's planes, flying real ones, 4x4 exploring, mountain biking, fly tying, etc etc list is huge.

Softball, golf, and ultimate frisbee are not out of the ordinary, only if you consider the challenge of doing these activities in 40c plus weather bizarre.

Sports world in kad suan kaew has the largest selection of camping gear.

I have three children, the youngest just turned 2 and I educate them about snakes and remove them as previously mentioned if dangerous. I've removed Cobras and a Malaysian Pit Viper, which kills the most ppl. in Thailand, that climbed out of the outdoor shower drain while my GF and baby were showering (the video of me removing it is on Youtube in anyone is interested) in Hua Hin and just last Wendseday we saw a Temple Viper, one of the world's most venomous snakes, in a tree just above all my kids and I in Khao Sok National Park. We took picture and moved along. Here in Chiang Mai my dogs sometimes kill the snakes but they don't know better, we do! So as for kill first and learn later theory I think my "If it doesnt kill you it will only make you stronger" school of parenting when dealing with dangerous snakes makes about as much sense

Youtube link?

10 second youtube search to find it. Nice yard Junglechef.

http://youtu.be/wSuTjCmiMsc

My son was part of boy scouts troop 731 for many years, they camp most every month of the year, so if you're looking for more information contact them for endless camping options in the north. Camped at all the parks you've listed; Ob Luang is close to town but offers not very remote river distances to travel, Mae Ping is pretty fantastic if you like remote unsupervised camping - a short distance from Doi Tao your can get to pretty hard to access areas that you should be completely self sufficient, if you go north of the 1009 leading to Doi Inthanon on the 1284 there are a couple of less crowded campsites though no rivers but a several great water falls to visit. My personal favorite for a great river to float would be the Mae Ngao national park, they rent tents but kayak rentals, etc would be more of a challenge. Most of the camping we did ourselves was in unsupervised areas or at Thai national parks, often just as a getaway or part of our fishing trip.

For a special area, to fit your requirements plus access to fantastic caves and rather remote - non touristy rafting, you should contact John of Cave Lodge for recommendations. Would't hurt to contact the Flight of the Gibbon, they have eco resorts and campgrounds past the Mae On area, and would be able to provide any equipment you may need (I know they partner with the kayak shop arcoss from the CM train station for example).

Happy camping

The area around Chiang Mai is surrounded by reservoirs of many sizes, check it out on Google earth. Your lake front home could be humble or huge, floating or not. Boats, power or paddle of a wide variety, can be had easily in CM though trailers tend to be a rare sight. Not just Mae Ngat reservoir has floating cabins, or lake front housing; heck talk to local fishing shops for update info about surrounding lakes. Even the remote stretches of local rivers support float cabins and water front living spots.

More to the north east, waters can contain liver flukes - ehhhh

Lets not forget the Thursday barbecue.....Well worth the trip. Sometimes we drove back to CM, other times over the years we book a cabin if there was room. Wicha (sp) is truly a wonderful host, even stopped by a couple times at our restaurant for a meal and a visit

Thursday night is a must visit.

You could call a Honda CB500X or a Kawasaki Versys 650 an Adventure bike, but the reality is that they both not really come near a real Adventure bike.

An accurate statement, as a true adventure bike is one that the average owner has no hope in getting upright solo after a fall in offroad conditions.

Ridden both the VStrom and the Versys a lot over the years, and find the uglier Versys the better bike in many ways.

Any bike can be an adventure bike, since the beginning of June I'm seeing hordes of (lucky) fully dressed Harley's and GoldWing heading up the Alaska Highway, many planning on riding the unpaved Dempster or Dalton Hwy's. It also depends on the riding position you prefer and how tall you are; I haven't ridden the CB500x, but from sitting on one found it a nicer fit for my height than the nice ER6n.

Rent both for a day, than you'll know.

Just to note I have seen many a good quality fly rods and reels available in a couple of shops in Thailand. Loop is one example. Not a lot of fly fishermen in Thailand despite some excellent opportunities for varies species, including even pong catfish.

With all fishing reels you can buy the cheap beyond belief units all the way through to the top of the line premium reels.

Happy shopping!

I've always wondered if and where there might be other non touristic caves into the Chiang Dao mountain. There must be many that the tourists haven't trampled or the locals haven't exploited.

Any secret caves???

And I've often wondered what's on the top of the mountain, which is one of the tallest in LOS. Has anyone been up there and are there any roads up?? Maybe there is a 'lost city' up there..........

My son and I explored many out of the way caves thanks to the http://www.thailandcaves.shepton.org.uk/cave-co-ordinates website. Also the rock climbing center, in downtown CM has a regular group of spelunkers that organize trips in the area, though their explorations were a little to technically involved for our interests.

Highly recommended to view the google map of cave locations, if even just to realize the cave density within northern Thailand. During our motorcycle tours, we would carry a set long long sleeved shirts and pants, normally army surplus gear found in the open shops south of airport mall, along with 5 high quality flashlights/headlamps.

Yep, never use elastic bungie cords to secure something on a moto. I used the feel free branded ones bought at the kayak, outdoor supply shop across from the train station just a short distance off of Charoen Maung road. Proper quality ones sold for securing kayaks and available in rather long lengths.

Google map link

I went to the location and they only said "no have" and so on. Went on down the street towards the moat and showed the pic to some bike/car/stuff stores and all of them just looke like "that looks like a useful thing to have" and shook their heads.

How can a country survive as a nation without being able to secure stuff without using tape, concrete or the lives of the neighbors children in the back of a pick up truck.

Yeah, been there. Owner deals with Feel Free kayaks and got me straps in less than a week, the staff just said no with a smile the first time I visited. Feel free Thailand sells kayak accessories and that includes good quality tie downs.

Same same, 2.7 and 3.6 m lengths

http://www.feelfreekayak.com/products/accessories/general.php#strap

Yep, never use elastic bungie cords to secure something on a moto. I used the feel free branded ones bought at the kayak, outdoor supply shop across from the train station just a short distance off of Charoen Maung road. Proper quality ones sold for securing kayaks and available in rather long lengths.

Google map link