Fraktalkid

I scored 79% without even trying, but then I am a Brit now residing in London, although I lived in Chiang Mai for several years. I do agree that the language may be difficult and that some Thais will struggle with this test, but I think this would be mainly due to the complicated English more than how difficult the questions actually are. I have several Thai friends in London whom I'm confident would pass this test, with an adequate amount of time to study.

As others have mentioned, a study book prepares you for this and so putting in a decent amount of effort should ensure a pass. Most of the questions are pretty pointless however - especially the statistics questions. It's not exactly useful knowledge!

Chiang Mai airport: nothing to write home about but SO convenient, as others have pointed out. The only useful addition would be a 7-11 (which it didn't have last time I used the airport back in late 2010).

The vegetarian festival in Chiang Mai is centred around Kad Luang, and they do have a parade (at least they did last year). I haven't heard much about it yet, but noticed that Tesco have started stocking vegetarian food, and you can now buy vegetarian ma-ma noodles in 7-11 (a shame they only stock it during the vegetarian festival!) Also, some of the vegetarian restaurants get really busy, especially for the first 3-4 days of the 9 day festival. Technically the tradition is to wear all white, and to abstain from eating meat, fish, eggs, garlic and onions (jeh). However, in Chiang Mai at least, the wearing all white doesn't seem to be 'in fashion'. Definitely check out Kad Luang though!

Food Grade Diatimeous Earth is a safe, natural method of controlling parasites internally and externally.......as described below from the http://wolfcreekranch.net/diatomaceous_earth.html....

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH CODEX FOOD/CHEMICAL GRADE (Amorphous Silica) - Great for internal and external parasite control. The mineral and silica content seems to increase feed utilization. Reported to kill 75% of flies and fleas that come in contact with it within 72 hrs. Mixed with grains at a ratio of 2% keeps out pests. Great for eliminating ants, aphids, flea beetles, fleas, earwigs, sowbugs, mites, etc. We use it diluted in water and painted on tree trunks to keep ants off our fruit trees. Can be applied as a foliar spray or sprayed in buildings or just lightly sprinkled in pest infested areas or compost/manure piles. Great for internal worming purposes for humans and animals. Helps detox heavy metals. DE is a drying agent, and thus reduces odor and moisture in barns and stalls. Fed to animals daily, it keeps fly larvae from developing in manure, noticebly reducing the fly population. Added to livestock waterers, it keeps the algae from growing in the hot summer months.

Anybody know if it is available in Thailand?

OutOfThisWorld

I too am looking for this and have been to about 10 different shops today in Chiang Mai trying to find this.. Let me know if you manage to get any leads. So far I did find it, however, I only found the pool grade stuff, not the food grade kind

Hey Tipsy,

You'll soon ascend the Mac learning curve - once you do, you won't look back. Windows XP and even Vista really is a step back compared with Leopard.

Rich

PS if you have English and Thai both languages installed you can switch between them by clicking on the flag up on the top bar (near right corner depending on setup). You may have already figured that out though.

Lilly just had poor timing, lovely building but all 2 bedroom plus, in todays prices even if available which they are not, would not be cheap. They ran out of people who could afford it back then, but some units are actually occupied.

I heard the Lilly was haunted. And if I heard that, then I'm sure Thais have heard it too. It might not stop me from living there, but I bet it would stop some Thais. And that's enough to kill whatever value it might have had.

The VIP Condo on Huay Kaew Rd, just east of Canal Rd has been sitting empty for over 10 years too.

Speaking of which, does anyone know the history behind the VIP Condo?

Hi :-)

Well, it depends on your budget and what you're looking for. I'd suggest you start by checking out the 3 or 4 computer malls that run along the north side of the moat (computer plaza, etc). There's also Pantip plaza over on Thanon Changklan (south end of the Night Bazaar). Or if you're after a Mac, head over to the Mac Shop (3rd floor at Central Airport Plaza). There's a big IT shop at Central Kad Suan Kaew called IT City, but I personally don't rate it - the staff there seem quite uninterested in their customers and a lot of their stock is not exactly cutting edge (some of it's blatantly overpriced too).

For excellent prices on kit I've found another IT mall (can't remember the name off the top of my head but it's marked on the Nancy Chandler map) off the superhighway (right hand side coming up from Nimmanhemin heading clockwise around). Not great for parking but I got some great deals from the shops there.

Before you go, decide what you want and then find out what the prices are online for what you're looking for. If you don't know lots about computers, take along a friend who does :-) (I do this at least once a month for some friend or other who's off to buy a computer as I hate to see them get ripped off or buy the wrong thing).

HTH

Since you live in India, why not fly over on your time off and check the place out? You might find that Chiang Mai meets 9 requirements out 10, but if that last requirement is one of your most important then it may not be the place for you. Like everywhere it has its ups and its downs, more of which you can read in the boards here and elsewhere on other sites. Generally though, the attitudes of farang in Chiang Mai is quite different from those in Phuket (having lived about a year in Phuket and 3 in Chiang Mai) - in my experience in Phuket, the local farang don't integrate with the local Thais to the the extent that they do in Chiang Mai. But then the types of people you get up here are quite different - whereas in Phuket (and I'm being stereotypical here) your average farang has made their money and living a life of luxury, the average Chiang Mai farang is still working or otherwise occupied - teaching, travelling, volunteering, working on a business or seeking enlightenment.

Having said that, generally I've found it easier to make (farang) friends in Phuket, and Thai friends in Chiang Mai - the local farang in Chiang Mai tend to be quite private until you get to know some of them. To do that, join in on some activities and if you're nice you'll soon get invited out to parties and stuff

As for your 4k USD, yes it will go a long way. Although keep your eye on the Baht : Dollar exchange rate as the Dollar is getting weak against the Baht (so is the pound for that matter ).

TT&T offer 3 tiers of packages, and at the moment they're doing a special promotion for people willing to sign up for a certain amount of time (I believe it's 12 months). The special promotion looks very appealing indeed.. However, if like me you're out of the country a lot and already have a router then you don't have to sign up for a set amount of time - you setup the ADSL and then can cancel it after a few months and then set it up again when you return - the whole process takes about 20 minutes.

The three tiers of packages they offer are as follows:

Indy - For home users, has limited int'l internet bandwidth and no good for Skype etc - 1024/512 kbps connection on this package costs 1000 B / month

Premier - This is their small business package and works fine with Skype and downloading from int'l sites - 1024/512 kbps for 3400B/month (this is the package that I use)

Biz - For businesses, these package seem a rip off to me but I imagine the contention ratios must be very low - 1024/512 kbps for 15900B/month

The page (in Thai but with enough English to figure out the packages if you don't read Thai) is at http://www.maxnet.co.th/product_adsl.php

The staff at the TT&T office in Kad Suan Kaew (downstairs to Tops, walk through the Food court and bear right, office on the left) probably speak a bit of English, as I've seen them speaking English with other farang before.

Y'know, maybe the idea's not so bad, esp if all of the money collected went into infrastructure improvements.. I mean, moving up to a 32+mbps reliable service has gotta happen somehow, and funded in some way.. still though, a 2 tiered pricing system and the thought of buying dongles at 7-11 sent shudders up my spine! Especially when I saw the picture of the RS-232 dongle that would be required - we'd all have to retro-fit our computers with serial ports!

Its amazing how many arabs lie about there true background. You hear many bar girls say that also. A muslim wil say he is either Spanish or Italian to get a woman.

I hope they mess this guy up in prision. What he did, he deserves only the hardest punishment.

Who mentioned Arabs? you sound f'ed up? You must be english.

That's quite insulting. How can you assume that all English people are f'ed up as you put it? Granted I take Westybrook's mistake calling this guy an Arab to be misguided, however your view is misguided too. I hope one day you will be liberated from your narrow mindedness.

Rich

Finally, I would like to add, condolences to her family. I'm sure they must be in a state of shock right now at her untimely death.

I've been wondering this for a while - does anyone know why Bangkok taxis don't have seatbelts? It seems unusual to me that they've physically been taken out.. For that matter, I can't seem to find out why Thais dislike them so much, except that my Thai friends say 'Thai people hate following laws!' But seatbelts in particular for some reason.. They think I'm odd when I belt up in their car.

This taxi seatbelt thing seems to be particular to Bangkok, where really they could do with them (I've had several white knuckle rides where I've had to ask the taxi driver 'kab rot bprot-pai dai mai khrap?') Perhaps I'm being too 'provincial' in my thinking (read: normally resides peacefully in Chiang Mai)...?

Fraktalkid

If anyone's interested in seeing 'another side' of silk, check out this link: Beauty without cruelty .

Since the production of this fabric involves the killing of animals (silkworms), I personally would consider it 'un-Buddhist' to buy or make use of this fabric as it involves cruel methods of killing (the insect being boiled alive in order to separate it from the cocoon). Whilst I understand that silk makes a very chique fabric, its manufacture is quite unnecesssary in my opinion, especially with a wide range of synthetic and plant-based fabrics available.

I acknowledge that most people don't really care about the lives of insects. I think it would be great however if people would at least say a little 'thank you' to the hundreds of silkworms for giving up their lives next time they wear a silk shirt.

Fraktalkid

One of my friends runs the local vegetarian restaurant - if she doesn't see me at the restaurant during the day she'll bring a bag of hot, fresh food to my house and then text me (in Thai) saying 'I've left some food for you outside'. I don't think anyone in my native country (England) would do that for me.

Chung Puak hospital.I think I know the apartment block you are talking about.Pink building.just get to the main enterence of the hospital.I think it is a one way street.If you get to the Hospital,you have passed the apartments. ..they are a couple of doors away.

How cheap is cheap?

There's a small apartment block on the same soi as my house with rooms that have internet (not sure about cable tv, probably) I believe they're going for about 3000 baht a month (5 minute walk from Chiang Mai Uni north entrance - soi opposite Boat Restaurant). I don't think they have air conditioning though. The popular choice is Baan Farang errr sorry, Baan Thai on Nimmanhemin, more expensive at (I think) about 5000 baht a month, they have A/C, cable and internet plus a pool. Personally I like this side of town (west side) because it's a bit quieter and less busy but still really convenient... Of course Chiang Mai has so much accomodation so I'd say it really depends on what you want to be close to..

If Tha Pae then you might find a place inside the moat, although I personally think it's nice to stay outside a little especially if you don't need to be there every day.

Best advice is to put on the walking shoes and take a walk around some of the areas.. :-) You might discover a hidden gem of a place that's perfect for you (if you have the time that is).

You can also buy electronic Thai-English dictionaries at places like Tesco Lotus and IT City @ Kad Suan Kaew - they're sold under the brand name 'CyberDict'. They're not cheap, so would recommend you try it first before you buy.

Thais call them "Talking Dicks".

hehe right... 'mee dick yai chai mai?' is definitely a double entendre

one friend who didn't like the joke ended up using the formal word 'pot-ju-nan-nu-grom' round me instead! I guess she thought I wasn't very riap-roy!

Rich

Maybe better if I don't look like some wanky rich pharang flaunting his money.

Can anyone tell me where to get an english-to-thai pocket dictionary and a thai-to-english pocket dictionary. Though both books might be too big to fit in my pockets =/

Pretty much any bookshop will supply these (Suriwong Book Centre, DK Book shop, some of the secondhand bookshops in the city) - if you or the other person can already read Thai script, the SE-ED pocket dictionaries are good, if for you and you can't read Thai script, The Thai-English English-Thai dictionary from Benjawan Poomsan Becker is good as it has 3 sections - English - Thai, Phonetic Thai to English and Thai Script - English.

You can also buy electronic Thai-English dictionaries at places like Tesco Lotus and IT City @ Kad Suan Kaew - they're sold under the brand name 'CyberDict'. They're not cheap, so would recommend you try it first before you buy.

I wonder if these conclusions would be the same if a similar study was conducted in say Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. Certainly I see a lot more westerners here making an effort at speaking Thai and eating the local food than elsewhere in Thailand, obvious exceptions permitting :-)

www.dabs.com

www.savastore.com

www.scan.co.uk

or if you want to buy from a retailer, check prices and specs online and then head to Tottenham Court Road and negotiate a price (this is what I did for my latest laptop).

:-)

Rich

Several of the best florists are over at the flower market at Kad Luang (flower market is facing the river). Reasonable prices too.

:-)

Rich

Lots of good info. I better join a gym before I start my detailed research. I want everyone to know I appreciate you taking the time to help with this! Thank You!

:-) And please feel free to share any interesting finds from your assignment, I'm sure other members would be very interested too.

Also, someone I know recently started a website about Chiang Mai vegetarianism, in dual Thai and English language. The website is new, I don't believe it is (yet) entirely comprehensive, but you can check it out here:

http://www.chiangmaivegetarian.com/

Here are some that I like to eat at (I've been vegetarian for about 10 years so eat regularly at these places):

Khun Churn Nimmanehemin Soi 7 - Relaxing, good to take friends and have long conversations.

Jao Ngoa Huay Kaew Opposite CMU North Entrance (Na Mor) Chinese vegan place, I eat here almost every day. I particularly like their Gaeng Hok, Gaeng Fak Tong, Gung Chiang jeh - they also make really good Ba Mii and Yen Tafo. Also their food is spicier than normal Chinese vegetarian restaurants in Chiang Mai and they'll make some dishes fresh if you ask :-)

Blue Diamond Moon Muang Soi 9 Not entirely vegetarian but their menu is generally healthy. They have a nice mix of farang and thai food.

Mi Casa (not vegetarian) I was there recently and was quite impressed - they have a few really wonderful vegetarian things on their menu (I had their pumpkin and cheese tart and the mushroom risotto)

The Jeh Restaurant on Thanon Suthep (nr Suan Dork) is also recommended (although I don't go do there much).

I would say Khun Churn is probably the classiest vegetarian restaurant in Chiang Mai, but certainly it doesn't break the bank (for a westerner).

Cheers :-)

Rich

Some of you mentioned that having veneers done was very expensive, what sort of figure (roughly) does this normally cost in Thailand?

When was the border shut exactly?

Because if it was shut off overnight, anyone staying there would've been prepared to stay overnight and (one would assume) would have more than 300 baht in their pocket... most people cross over and then cross back during the day if they're just a border run daytripper and skint, ie. before the border shuts in the evening and before the coup..

So most people rubbing their 2 bahts together would've come back before the border closure, right? Unless of course they decided on a gamble...