piewarmer

We have a new police chief in Chiang Mai

He has passed word to all the bars, Karaoke's and restaurants

Closing time is 12:30, no more tea money to the police at all.

The MIB come EVERY night with blues and reds flashing.

The shutters come down most of the way, we quietly drink on ...happily.

Those that remain open fully with music blaring cop 50,000B fine.

I guess there will be a change of heart down the track, it's killing business.

Whats the story in other centres? or is it just happening in CM?

Rule of thumb for Coach travelers. The place to ask for seating side-by-side is AT THE CHECK IN DESK. However, it amazes me to see families of 4 or 5 board the plane with their members seating scattered between <deleted> and breakfast time. Now, did the check-in staff just go with the lottery-like automatic seat distribution, say it couldn't be done and fob the re-seating off on the airline crew on the plane? I would think that is the case as most check-in staff are NOT airline employees but contracted to work for different airlines with only a supervisor from the airline riding herd. The check-in staff can't be arsed to block seats as that usually needs the supervisor's interaction. Maybe even the supervisor says just get them on the plane fast and let the crew sort it out?

Flying at the front of the plane is better of course but in my experience, Business Class is usually full as well so sometimes there's a request for window or an aisle seat to accommodate a couple or group. I am 6'4" and have the bladder the size of Idaho so I refuse to give up my window seat so that some little old lady who needs to tinkle every 20 minutes can look out the window for 2 or 3 minutes total out of a +10 hour flight. Once I stretch out, there's no easy way to get around my legs so don't even think about asking me to take an aisle seat.

I don't like aisle seats, people and trollys bump my elbows and knees.

Samui Thailand and Brisbane Austrailia at the same time or with in hour of each other, the penny finally dropped with the bank and they thought something is not right here have they put a world wide stop on the old card nope!!! it still goes on.

I wonder how a worldwide network of beneficiaries exists under the radar.

I want to get a Wii for parties, no children, 2 player head to head games may be the best ones.

I tried the ten pin bowling one, seemed ok but a bit childish..

any suggestion for a good laugh while drinking beer?

I will have all the AFL games broadcast from ABC Asia

plus Super 14 and NRL

(all with sound) in the bar this season

69 Bar, Loi Kroh road boxing complex

it's the first bar, next to Mikes Burgers,

all welcome, Stewart.

I will show all the Super 14 games plus AFL and NRL

(all with sound) broadcast from ABC Asia in the bar this season

69 Bar, Loi Kroh road boxing complex, Chiang Mai

its the first bar as you walk in, next to Mikes Burgers,

all welcome, Stewart.

Its window dressing tinkering, but it's a step in the right direction, and nice to have some good news !

Why don't they just make entrance fees the same for foriegners as it is for Thai's,

rather than wiping them completely.

First of all: when the premise is of one of the "ruling" class, no police will ever dare too enter.

Second: the Thais have to know to what they have to look. Probably a farang has to instruct them for a couple of years, showing again and again and .. again.. and ... again.

Last: even when anything is found... handfull of THB and eyes are closed

There's a "Third:" to that too -- what about "outside BKK"...???

I was thinking the same thing, is the rest of Thailand not worth looking after?

The horse may have bolted, one horse that is,

Theres still a large stable of gee gee's to be cared for. Good luck with enforcing this.

I agree Mosha, A 3yo holding mums hand stepped backward in front of my truck, I nearly freaked out.

Mum just pulled him back in and kept talking to the food vendor.

One thing that puzzles me is the way Thai's park mororbikes, sticking out onto the traffic lane.

or even double parked, aren't they worried someone will take their motorbike out?

This story was on BBC channel today. its true!

simple logic would tell me that the car will soon be turning left right???

I 'touch wood' I have not had an accident yet.

Well, that pretty sums it all... Globalj got it right left !!!

If you dont want to have an accident, forget about driving the way you USED TO somewhere else, just get local, go with the flow :

when you want to turn left, get your signal to the right ; change lanes as much and as carelessly as possible ; slow down to 10 km/h on major roads ; look on the left when you turn right ; accelerate when somebody tries to get in front of you ; U-turn on 4 lanes roads ; turn off your lights at night ; buy a truck ; drive on the opposite lane (very fun indeed) ; get drunk, etc etc...

Well actually, lets just make it simple : buy a truck and get drunk !

++ ^^

I had to stop at a green light to let a motorcycle complete an illegal turn

it was a major intercection, 11pm at night. the guy was on his mobile

totally absorbed in his conversation...

he had no helmet, but he was wearing his police uniform.

I have flower sellers coming through the bar every night

even during weekdays, when schools are supposed to be attended

we get mum sitting outside sending her very young kiddies to sell flowers,

sometimes beyond 2am. I consider these children slaves.

I just wonder what I can do, buying flowers encorages them too much.

I read an article in a health magazine about MSG

It concluded there was nothing wrong with this chemical at all.

apparently all the bad press over many many years was just misinformation.

If you put me in the monkey house for 10 minutes, I would be begging to pay.

thats the way it is, you don't get to pay a small bail and deal with legalities later.

never got a receipt for the 40K , what a surprise,

beware, they are now roaming Chiang Rai.

I still wont be leaving my passport it stays with me period and my advice is you dont do it either there are shops that dont require you to leave your passport so frequent there business is my advice.

Now off to rent a car for mai sai run (No passport required)

leave your passport at the rental agency, then go to Mae Sai to do your visa renewal, whoops!!!!

I want to hire the expertise of a make-up specialist in Chiang Mai.

I want to help my bar staff, none of them have grasped the correct way

to do make-up, I am sure with a little coaching there would be amazing results.

t would be a nice treat for them too, any suggestions where to look for such a lady?

Hi Thaivisa, amazing board here, Let Me introduce myself

Stewart , 51 years young, Divorced Australian (Sydney/Perth)

Engaged to a lovely Thai girl 30yo for a few years

Living in ChiangMai . . renting a large home in a Moo Ban

just out of town (7 k's). Sponsor a bar (yes, another sucker!)

love gym, cycling, motorbikes, meeting freaky people.

Very glad to be in Thailand, especially the beautiful Chiang Mai.

I will shut up now

Hi all, I am new to this forum, living in Chiang Mai.

I sponsor one of the bars mentioned above.

We were fined 40,000 a few nights ago, mainly for

having a CD case full of burned MP3's. guilty as charged.

I don't see how anyone can refuse paying up on the spot as the

police drag off the bar manager down to the monkeyhouse.

they will not release them until the money is paid. (or you know the cop boss)

I wanted to just get it over with.

Yes, its just another scam, annual fee 5,000.. peace of mind... pffft!

Anyway board members,

I hope to enjoy reading your blogs and contributing myself more in the future.

Cheers, chok dee krap. Piewarmer.