WinnieTheKhwai

I think it's a typical case of 'it is what we make it'.. Most people in that area I guess DO go into town, however there's no shortage of bars of any type in that area, along the Canal Road and ring roads. (Middle Ring especially). And it's truly all types, including bar-restaurants with music as well as bars with the cute girls outside and probably a karaoke machine..

Any of those places could easily turn into a place for the South-Of-Town-Farangs to hang out, all it takes is some planning.

That said, I'm not opposed to doing a meet up at Pit Stop..

Wait a minute.

Bob, let me weigh in.

1. Yes you won't be walking to any sights from there. (Possibly Wat Umong Temple you could hike to.. Do visit that place) However think about the horror of staying in a mass tourism area like the Night Bazar area.. Personally if I had to choose between those two I'd be at the Best Western as well!

2. It's a new hotel and looks like a great deal for the price. I checked the price on agoda.com and it's an awesome price for the standard of the rooms etc.

3. RENT A CAR !!!!!! Seriously. When you do, ALL the negatives of this location melt away. Please, rent a car. If you don't want to drive, find a deal with a driver, either from a rental company (northwheels.com , etc.) or make a deal with one of the local 'Red Bus' (converted pick up share taxis) to rent one out by the day or half-day.

4. Insist on a room facing the mountains. The other side would be noisier both because of the road in front, and you'd probably have a pretty direct line to the airport as well.

5. Please REPORT BACK HERE after your stay and let us know how you liked it. I'm seriously considering booking it for a visiting friend of mine because it's such good value and because he will rent a moped anyway.

6. You're on the side of town where the University is, and a ton of restaurants and trendy pubs. (Nimmanhaemin Area). Very local, no package tourists.

Overall, I think you will have a great experience, but GET WHEELS.

I'm sure something will be organized as part of the ceremony, possibly at Thapae Gate or at the Three Kings Monument area. That would provide something to do and participate in in case anyone's biggest concern is not having something to do.

I also respectfully disagree with 'this hurthing tourism again'... Personally as a tourist I would value the opportunity to witness a very important part of Thai life and culture. Why do so many people equate tourism with drinking booze and partying?

Look at the tourism demographic, it's shifting and it's NOT shifting towards more people who are here for the party. There's a lot more people with kids or othewise more 'mature' tourists here, i.e. NOT the traditional market of xxx tourists getting boozed up or backpackers smoking opium in the hills.

For Ulysses, this is not necessarily a bad thing; xxx tourists aren't here to buy books are they.

Yes, the restaurant that's also at Buonissimo. Order both the cheese platter and something with assorted cold cuts, they have both on the appetizer menu.

Oh, and then there's the wine 'cellar'. (Ok not a cellar, they're on the river so they'd hit water 2 feet into the ground, but they have a permanently airconditioned room with a LOT of wines..)

Oh heck, now that I've exposed myself as a Buonissimo fanboy anyway, the fact that they're on the river, have good wines and cheeses and food and things AND that Loy Krathong is coming up, makes for a pretty promising Loy Krathong night that does involve wine and cheese, but does not involve getting blown to bits by fireworks.

Sincerely, thanks to the OP for an apology. Now if we Americans could earn more apologies.

Yes, not to mention issueing some.

Bummer that it includes Friday.

A whole weekend down the drain. However I won't be trying to find places to drink for this occasion, or even have a drink in private. I know it's silly season on all the ridiculous things they ban alcohol for, but in this case I will personally abide by it out of respect.

!!!!!!!!!!!Congratulations America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

( And to quote Jon Stewart: If the Right was truthful, then there sure is a solid mandate for Islamic Socialism in the USA now. )

Word of warning though, the preferred 'look' of contestants in Thai beauty pageants is really weird. Most foreigners (or people with taste otherwise) don't dig it. Big hair and death-masks. You know, like this :

If you're in that area, on the other side of the road is a really awesome Issan / Som Tam / Grilled Chicken place. It has weird tables with aquariums in it.

It's on the corner of that double-road with the stream in between connecting to the Canal Road.

I was there once and it was Dhammakaya (Thammakaay). They're good at organizing spectacles though.

That's what the signs said... They're looking to find an idiot (err, investor) willing to start a franchise there.

If they found one and if they're opening November 8th then I can also confirm that they will close on March 8, at which point the operator will say he's moving because of the bad air, not because the place was empty pretty much all of the time.

(When living in Chiang Mai for a while you begin to see patterns. )

There can't be many countries other than Thailand where military sources are quoted in the media so extensively on non-defence issues. The correspondent must have quite a rolodex! There is a wide school of thought elsewhere that soldiers should refrain from comment on political matters - especially to newspapers.

The military is charged with defending the monarchy... hence it NOT a "non-defence issue".

Their comments were not political in nature, but "defence" in nature.

Welcome to Thailand, which has a rather uncommon systematic situation to those nations that don't have a military in charge of defending a monarch.

A VERY good and true comment.

(Those nations typically have the military in charge of defending the people. But no argument on the military's job description in Thailand.)

RJT, why are you here?

(Feel free to use your own interpretation of 'here')

Maigo, great topic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Loved reading it and I feel very much the same way.

Now there's a hot location.

Isn't this the Dhamakaya sect fringe thing?

I was not aware he had won? My understanding that voting is next Tuesday.

I know it's late, so let me repeat:

" Would like to attend if there is one.. "

Would like to attend if there is one..

Anything planned? Or if not, what places would be likely candidates? Irish Pub?

> Dont forget also the "triangular" cross section of the Banded Krait to help identify it.

After cutting it in half.

I always thought that was funny, to call a snake after it's shape after been cut in half. (Called Ngoo Saam Liam in Thai)

> i can't believe people are suggesting you kill them!

You're in the wrong country if you love snakes.. Locals clobber them, probably for good reason. Also you may not have kids around.

Will be interesting to see if the original poster gets booted out, not having done anything wrong.. Wouldn't surprise me at all, thereby confirming a bit of what was said in #2..

> please tell me what I need to install, to receive FOX NEWS

Nice troll.

Kitti Electronic on Chang Phuak Road.

On the left when coming from Chang Phuak gate, a little after Thanin Market on the corner of a small soi.

Sigh :

A boutique, from the French word for "shop," is a small shopping outlet, especially one that specialises in elite and fashionable items such as clothing and jewelry.

It can also refer to a specialised firm such as a boutique investment bank or boutique law firm. The word is often used to describe a property in the independent section of the hotel market (such as The Rockwell in London) in order to distinguish themselves from larger chains (such as Hilton Hotels). In such cases the idea is that the operation is elite and highly specialised.

In the strictest sense of the word, boutiques would be one-of-a-kind but more generally speaking, some chains can be referred to as boutiques if they specialise in particularly stylish offerings.

-- From Wikipedia.

So essentially, just like a small cozy boutique shop, it refers to something that's not a huge chain but something more personal. I'd say with a lot of guesthouses in Thailand going upmarket, they essentially re-invent themselves as boutique hotels (or boutique guesthouses, I see that term as well).

If you don't like it however then what else would you suggest for such a business operation?

> I hate it when cabin crew come round demanding that all the window shades be closed so I have to sit in

> the dark regardless of what the time is. TG are terrible for that.

Actually when they do that consider that it will likely make sense; they try to get people over their jet-lag faster by adjusting to the time of day it is at the destination. (or some intermediate time to help with the transition). Just add Xanax and/or Melatonin and/or some good drinks and sleep.

First and foremost though, and I can't believe this wasn't addressed in the survey or in any follow ups, THE most important thing for me on flights is BOOZE. And FA's need to be very liberal in dispensing it. This is true mostly on Asian airlines, ESPECIALLY Thai airways. On my last flight, the person next to me asked for apple juice. I asked for a brandy. Guess what, the quantity in both glasses ended up being the same, not just a tiny drop like some airlines do. I attach a picture.

This, to me, is happiness in the air:

You're all off topic. But as you hit it, Thaksin was GREAT for Thailand and especially Chiang Mai, obviously. (not a fan of the Night Safari either, but hey, you gotta try some new things)