chanchao

Are you sure you need a witness 'of some status'? Who is the paperwork for?

Whenever I've done documents that needed to have witnesses they only thing that mattered was the number of witnesses.. Who they actually were nobody really cared about.

Around New Years in Bangkok especially but also Chiang Mai, outdoor beer gardens are very much in vogue; they're the closest thing Thailand has to a cafe terrace in Europe: Hang out, enjoy the breeze, drink beer and watch people.

I havent' so far noticed one that stands out.. Sure I see some tables & chairs at Rim Ping (Airport), Airport Plaza itself, probably outside Rydges again etc..

But is there an area that really stands out for this?

Nimmanhaemin Road I dare say does not have places that chose to be there to catch the tourist trade with the exception of a couple shops directly arond the Rincome hotel. For sure some longer staying expats live/go there and there's plenty that caters to them, but it's not a tourist area IMHO in the same way that the Night Bazar area or the Thapae Gate area is.

How about Thai tourists?

Ummmmmmmmm.. depends. If they're young and have friends in Chiang Mai or are otherwise familiar with the area then very likely will they will go out in areas like Nimmanhaemin at night.

If they're families driving up for Songkran, Loi Krathong, New Years, A Flower Show etc then Nimmanhaemin doesn't have the hotels where they'd stay, so the answer most likely would be 'no'. (Except those staying at the Rincome).

They DO however do the Kantoke thing and may visit elephant camps, the Night Safari and the like. And the Night Bazar of course, then they wonder "What the <deleted>?!", but do at least get their opportunity to buy fried pork skin, oranges, strawberries and Assorted Weird Khanom.

So yes, Thai tourists are also very much a target group for many of the more artificial tourism businesses.

The Sunday Walking Street is full of tourists, so is Nimanhemin Road. I frequent both ...

Walking Street is a bit of a gray area, so I did mention in specifically in the poll. It's about equally aimed at and visited by locals, Thai tourists and foreign tourists.

Nimmanhaemin Road I dare say does not have places that chose to be there to catch the tourist trade with the exception of a couple shops directly arond the Rincome hotel. For sure some longer staying expats live/go there and there's plenty that caters to them, but it's not a tourist area IMHO in the same way that the Night Bazar area or the Thapae Gate area is.

The OP asks; as a resident do you visit tourist venues?

I'm not quite sure what you mean. If you mean do I go to The Night Safari, The Spotlight and the Umbrella factories then the answer is no. However, if you mean do I go to Anusarn Market, Walking Street, Doi Suthep and some bars, then yes, sometimes.

That's cool. I don't mean to learn who visits what venue, that can never be concluded from any poll. I'm trying to explore if among the things that attract people to Chiang Mai are indeed tourist-aimed places, or that perhaps the opposite is true for some: they like Chiang Mai *in spite of* the tourist stuff.

I consciously did not include sights that are part of Chiang Mai's heritage and as important (or more important) to locals as they are to tourists. So I did not include things like Doi Suthep, other temples or sights: I'm assuming locals and expats alike do visit those. Also these are things that would exist in ANY Thai town. Say one opts to go live in Phrae. Loads of temples and nature to visit, but little in the way of artificial tourist entertainment that's set up mainly to cater to tourists.

So in deciding if something is an artificial tourist venue, you can do a check "does XYZ exist in Phrae/Lampang/Udon/any-other-not-heavily-touristed-province?" and if it does then it's not the focus of this poll.

So for example, Phrae doesn't have the Hofbrauhaus restaurant. It doesn't have Kantoke dinners shows, or a tourist souvenir market. It doesn't have bungee jumping or monkey schools. It doesn't have Spotlight. All of those things exist in Chiang Mai SPECIFICALLY because Chiang Mai gets a good number of tourists, and I'm exploring to what extent these things are either appreciated OR avoided by residents.

I think it's hard to define what is and is not a tourist venue - all of Chiangmai has something to offer for both locals and tourists. All the downtown area and the old town can be classified as 'tourist area' but I find these areas of great interest and quite entertaining, that's why I decided to live just 5-10 minutes away.

I completely agree. I'm sorry for rambling on above but trying to hit the distinction between something that's native to the area and of interest to locals and tourists alike, and things that are established specifically with tourism in mind.

Oh right, sorry. I missed the Ordained into priesthood; shows you how much I know about what people typically get ordained as. Confused with 'baptized' I guess.

Also, there's a big Karen Christmas celebration somewhere every year right? I still plan to join it one of these years. Should at least be more true to the spirit of Christmas than going to Airport Plaza.

The only party any serious voter could possibly vote for would be the Democrats,

LOL... Well that's a gem.

Or maybe she's just Southern.. Anyway I know plenty very serious voters who aren't going to be touching the "Democrats" (not the quote marks) with a bargepole, and rightly so.

I've noticed it as well, and the place was recommended by some Thais to me. What I didn't know that it was the former place inside Anusarn!!

Will DEFINITELY pay a visit.

Well waddayaknow... I agree with the Plus' post above from start to finish. Excellent analysis.

(Though I think we may disagree on what needs to be done to improve, or even disagree that something needs to be done at all)

I do think that some individuals in some parties DO aspire to an ideology, even if it's a mix that you wouldn't see in the West. That's how you arrive at parties like TRT, who supported 'business' at all levels AS WELL AS sucking up to the poor at the same time. From a Western perspective you'd have to cater to one or the other.

I also think banning politicians was a major mistake, firstly because it doesn't work and secondly because it means that what would and should be a clique of derelict dinosaurs that everyone thought were dispensed with are now floating towards the surface again, like turds that won't flush. That's why Thailand may end up with guys like Samak, Chavalit, Chalerm, Sanoh, Banharn and all those back in government and NOT banned-but-capable guys like, say, Somkid.

So, what is achieved with banning people: Samak heading a major block in parliament (or even becoming PM) instead of Somkid.. Way to go. I personally think it's intentional though, to weaken the power of the elected facade (politicians); divide & conquer.

....I'll soon be on my way to Land of smilesfor my annual vacation(approx 3 months)but I'm deciding where to visit on my hols,.....I can say that I have visited previously Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket,Chaing Mai,Koh Samuii,Koh Samet,and know central Issan well,.......so the question is where should I go that I will find different from the above mentioned places and why,plus,perhaps and more importantly where to avoid.

I've never been to bridge on the river kwai......should I take a look?

Well.. Yes, primarily because it's on the way to Sangkhlaburi, which would be a prime target for someone who's already seen/done the basics.

Furthermore, I submit the following: You've covered pretty much every region in Thailand, but that does not mean that you need to now find a different region per say; rather I think there's opportunities in each of those regions to explore deeper and further, beyond the level of a casual visitor. You mentioned you went for example to Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai is a huge province, with some very remote areas. I think you can explore beyond the 'basics' for each of the places you visited with the possible exceptioin of Samui and Samet: they are what they are. But even Phuket is a big place, worthy of another visit to further explore Phuket Town, Phuket Province and the surrounding area.

So, pick an area that you enjoyed and go dig dig digggg deeper.

And IMHO there are simply no places to avoid. Even places you don't like to spend too much time in can be very interesting to have seen at least once. Be flexible, don't make too many fixed plans, rent a vehicle.

Isn't this a really strange/early time in the season to be out of water? I always figured the main crunch was near the end of the dry season, yet right now we've only entered the dry season since about a month or so?

In a recent topic someone made an excellent point about separating tourist-needs from resident's needs. I don't remember who it was (cause it wasn't me ) but I pondered this a little further and wondered if there's people who lived here a couple years and still embrace (some of) the things that were established primarily with tourists in mind, or that there's people who consciously avoid the tourist circus.

Personally I consciously avoid the Night Bazar area, but still embrace certain bars that are established with a focus on tourists, such as some bars on Loi Kroh and some bars in the backpacker 'reggae' area behind the Irish Pub. I recognize of course that some places blur the lines, probably intentionally, to get BOTH the tourist trade as well as residents. (Say, a place like Mad Dog).

I'm asking this specifically to people who've been here a couple years (or who feel 'established' otherwise, ) not people on their first 6 months in the city who are still exploring the lot of it.

How about yourself?

Well it improved heaps since you left. Better coffee, for starters, and a more multicultural feel. And the poles go vertical again instead of horizontal. Christ that was ridiculous.

And that concludes this discussion.

This time 'round.

No

Farang is what we are..............

Non Asian.

Thais have words for all the Asian nations the rest are Farang.

Simple, eh.

Jesus.

Please go back to school. Farang means 'Caucasian / Westerner'. Non Asians who aren't that therefore aren't Farang.

I mean Come ON... go learn some basics about the language before posting BS.

Maybe you need to go back and re-read astral's post before insulting him.

He just said that Farang are non-Asians and that the Thais have words for all the Asian nations, the rest are farang.

What part of that is not exactly the same as what you said?

Jesus (2)

The "The rest are Farang" - part. Because the rest are NOT all Farang. The rest includes Africans, Arabs, Eskimos, Native Americans, and so on and so forth, AND Farang.

Although it doesn't seem like it on this forum, there's a lot more people in the world than just Westerners. (=Farang)

Astral made it sound like Farangs is everyone non-Asian. Astral claimed 'we' are Farang even though we know for sure many forum members aren't. Astral made it sound like Farangs were somehow singled out in the way they're lumped together when in fact they're not. It's no different from Europeans usually preferring to identify other Europeans by the country of origin simply because they're near, and distinction between a German and Frenchman is required. When it comes to Asians or Africans from a European perspective, it becomes less granular. Same same.

Anyway, always happy to explain. It's the teacher with a streak for scorching sarcasm in me..

Out of curiosity, when attacked by a dog (or two), what's the best way to fight back?

Transfer the money by bank (ATM) to your friend, then tell him to put it in one of the envelopes.

Or, assuming you're not sending ten-thousands of baht, a card may make it in time when posted today and sent by EMS. I'm not sure it matters that much if it's a day late.

Good opportunity to have a 'rolleyes' ( ) moment with his Mrs.

The outgoing Michelin's lasted under a year ( I drive hard & fast)

Dont scrimp on Tyres, they might just save your life sometime.

Alternatively, (or additionally), drive less hard and less fast.

How many kilometers per year do you drive in Thailand? What percent is city driving and what percent is in the country? Between my wife and I we drive only about 6000km per year (between two cars)....most of it is in Bangkok.

So.. you basically spend more time talking about your car than driving it?

Check here: http://one2car.com/

Then on the right, select the following, then click the button below.

(Second encircled field sets the price as 1-200K. If you want to see a little above 200K then select the next one: 200-300K.

Should give him a good idea.

For example, small & reliable:

168,000 baht.

199,000 baht

199,000 baht

the worowat market

Wa-ro-rot market. Better known as Kad Luang+

do mcdoonalds hire native farng kids here? ive never seen one. mcdoonalds very important in the growth of kids.

Indeed.. I recall Dr. Thaksin having the very same opinion and had his daughter (I believe) work at Mc Donalds for a while.

Anyway, they wouldn't hire non-Thai kids for the simple reason it would be exceptionally cumbersome to obtain work permits. A more common scenario I guess is half Thai half foreign kids with Thai nationality... Would I let her work at Mc Donalds... I don;t think so. I do believe in having the experience of working for the money as it builds character, but it would NOT be in a pointless menial job like McDonalds.. I'd let her run her own burger cart, sure, but not just be a cog in some multinational's machinery. Thaksin's other kids did likewise, running their own business from an early age.

just from a fincial viewpoint. so those of you who dnto mind raising yr kids thai style, you dont mind them making 200$ a month and thats if they reel smart.

Framed this one in an extra ribbon of quotes as it's such a classic.

Anyway, raising kids Thai style, they might still be able to find the spell-checker.

As i have seen with the Thai culture is that they have their children and hand them over to Gran or Granpa to be looked after until they are old enough to start going to kindergarten (3 years old) In the western world that doesn't happen nearly as much as it does here in Thailand.

Why bother having children if you don't have the time to spend with your children!!

Well, because if they didn't then they wouldn't have kids at all. Having kids, unlike in the West, is not somewhat of an optional excercise in life, it's literally a life or death matter in a country without anything like a pension or welfare for the vast majority. It's really not optional, and with the grandparents having the time and the love available, it's really a very sensible option. And, mum and dad still get a shot at raising kids when THEIR kid has kids.