Pearlgirl

Now that's what I'm talking about - I would never have know these areas. Good stuff to work on finding out about - thanks

In early August my husband and I are planning a car trip to Bangkok for about 4 or 5 days and plan on doing some shopping and maybe some sight-seeing. Its been about 5 years since we've been to Bangkok and have stayed in the areas where there's a lot of trendy upscale shopping malls, but this time we are looking for somewhere that isn't quite so expensive - clothing, furniture, home fixtures, that sort of thing. I suppose we could just stumble around in Bangkok and hopefully find areas on our own, but I thought it would be easier to ask you gals who live there where you would recommend shopping and staying. Some places with good restaurants and shops and decent hotels. I've been doing some research on the internet but most of the recommendations are for those shops that cater to the rich and famous.

You're probably asking yourself why we want to shop in Bangkok when Chiang Mai has all the amenities we need right here - well, its just an excuse to get away for a road trip and perhaps see a side of Bangkok we haven't seen yet.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

You should check in the Plants and Pets section of TV - when we moved here to Chiang Mai I got lots of great advice from members in that section, plus there's a lot of info. on flying with your pets/dogs, etc.

I live in Chiang Mai and haven't met any gals who golf - I know they are out there but just haven't met anyone yet. If you're interested in meeting up once in a while for a game of golf, let me know. I live in the Hang Dong area but can access any of the golf courses in Chiang Mai.

I probably should put this in the golfing section, but I am Chiang Mai specific and am looking for gals in Chiang Mai that would like to golf once in a while. I golf with my husband but sometimes want to just hangout with other women and haven't met any yet that golf here. PM me if you're interested.

450 Free Guitar Lessons

There's nothing quite like free video tutorials and downloadable tabs. With videos you can pause and replay until the cows come home and it won't cost you any-more to learn.

Mate, I've added a link below to what is perhaps the best free online guitar lessons ever. I believe the young fella is a Kiwi and he comes across as a smashing bloke too, meaning you're likely to enjoy watching and practising with his materials. There's also a forum for budding guitarists and he sends out a newsletter once a month. He does incorporate a donation system on the site, but this is totally voluntary.

Personally, I cannot rate Justin Sandercoe highly enough. Enjoy

Aitch

Hey, that's great. Thanks and I do have a laptop that can be used outsde, which will drive the neighbours crazy having to listen to someone learning to play the guitar. LOL

450 Free Guitar Lessons

There's nothing quite like free video tutorials and downloadable tabs. With videos you can pause and replay until the cows come home and it won't cost you any-more to learn.

Mate, I've added a link below to what is perhaps the best free online guitar lessons ever. I believe the young fella is a Kiwi and he comes across as a smashing bloke too, meaning you're likely to enjoy watching and practising with his materials. There's also a forum for budding guitarists and he sends out a newsletter once a month. He does incorporate a donation system on the site, but this is totally voluntary.

Personally, I cannot rate Justin Sandercoe highly enough. Enjoy

Aitch

Oops - sorry, hit the wrong button

Does anyoneknow where any english instructional books on how to learn to play the guitar can be purchased? Or, can anyone recommend a guitar teaching instructor can be found in Chiang Mai?

We highly recommend Siam Pools - they are based here in Chiang Mai and Hua Hin

Very professiona, efficientl, non-Thai owners. PM me if you want other info. They built our

pool from the bottom up and have stood by their construction, etc. 100% if we have any

problems. We went with a Magnapool and love it.

My take here and elsewhere really is you get what you pay for.

If he is dearer ,but does a great job, I'm happy.

I've been sorely let down here in the past by people who say they can do a good job for a cheap price

So I would be greatful if you could pm me his number PG..Thanks

You are absolutely right - you get what you pay for. We had our house built about 5 years ago and only used the house one month a year for that 5 years and have now moved in full time. Since we've moved in several very serious things went wrong due to shoddy workmanship - obviously the builder used very cheap labor and got what they/we paid for. Not only did our guy fix and clean up these messes/problems, he upgraded some of the electrical and water issues for us at the same time - all while he and his crew were working on the outdoor projects. He'd do things like put all the electrical stuff in the sala on a separate breaker in the sala so that it wouldn't interfer with the pool or house's electrical. His idea. Or while he was fixing some plumbing problems in the house, he'd change the pipes while he was at it to upgrade them. He just knows. As the English would say, he's brilliant!

Honestly, he can do anything. Give him a call. As I said earlier, he knows what foreigners like and expect and doesn;'t do shoddy work.

Can he build a house extension ?

Thanks :jap:

Our projects are finished (for now) and I just wanted to share some of the photos of the work Noi and his crew completed. I also wanted to again let anyone know who's interested that he is not only a very skilled and varied artistic construction person, he is reliable, honest and trusthworthy. He always thinks things through and if he anticipates a problem, he'll talk to you about it and suggest an alternative. He did a great job here and I would recommend him to anyone for any type of job needed done around the house or office or restaurant. No job is too big or too small for him. We are very lucky to have had him do this work for us. So, he's available for anyone who needs some work done. Please feel free to PM me for his contact numbers.

[

(I hope these pictures get posted?)

Pearlgirl

In the last 5 years Land and House have built and sold 500 houses in Mae Hia, which had prices starting at 3.5m, near the airport...sold them all and are now building another 500 with prices starting at 10m B (so my Wife says)...about the prie, but I can testify that the first 500 have been sold as I look at them every day out of my window !!

Someone's buying

Hmmm, that's worrying. But ta anyway.

Why's that?

Because it contradicts the trend that I thought existed, aka low sales on all fronts. Also, L & H in Phuket is simply not selling at all, their prices were static for a year then they raised them, three months ago they announced a sale and lowered their prices back to what they were previously. Throughout all of that the number of properties for sale has remained broadly the same, prices around 6.5 mill!

Phuket is a totally different market than Chiang Mai and it is notorisiously more expensive than here.

Good gawd - I didn't realize it would be so complicated? I've been out all day and haven't had a chance to thoroughly read all the notes, but I will tomorrow. Thanks you guys - this is great, but as I said, complicated for me to comprehend so will take some time to digest.

PG

We want to have a website built for a friend of our's, as a gift, but we don't know any one that can do it. It'll just be a simple and uncomplicated site which will hopefully help to promote his business. Any suggestions? I'm totally computer illiterate so no suggestions on how to do it because I'm sure it'll be way over my head.

There is only one serious swimming pool contractor you can trust in Chiang Mai. It is run by Jimmy Nolan, I have known him for 10 years both here in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. His comapny is Siam Pool shop...do a search for that or see www.siampoolshop.com

Tell him Darren recomended you and you will, for sure get exactly what you want.

Jimmy does not dig a hole and line it with tiles...he constructs fully re-inforced, professional pols...see his portfolio and you will see.

Darren

Jimmy did a great job for me, but it seems he has disapeared from Chiang Mai, do you have any mean to contact him ?

Jimmy is no longer with Siam Pools. I believe he's returned to Australia. Siam Pools built our pool and we are totally satisfied with the work and work ethics of that company. The new contact at Siam is Em - he's Thai but his English is excellent and he's very accommodating.

Maybe I can answer my own question. Hunting on the web eventually came across an outfit that may fit the bill. Has anyone had any dealings with these folks?

www.homikitch.com/

Our kitchen was designed and fitted by Homikitch. We were very happy with the results. They will sit down with you and take the time and help design the kitchen, top to bottom. They have all the fittings as well.

I saw an ad in the latest edition o fCity Life for bbq's available in 3 colours and a pretty good description, with a pic. the website is rivervalleygrill.bravehost.com # 080-497-2775. We emailed them but didn't get a response. If its in City Life I'm assuming its a Chiang Mai company?

I'd like to update some info. on our handyman. This morning we awoke to a big pile of water on the bedroom floor under the air con. Our guy showed up for work, as usual, we asked him if he knew anything about aircons. Turns out one of his employees (he has 3) used to work for an air con company and they fixed it, on the spot. Then we had a leak under our kitchen sink, he fixed it in 1/2 hour, no problem. This guy is gold. I ccan't say enough about him, same with our bathroom sink this week (this is the week when everything in the house seems to be falling apart).

Funny, I never thought to spread the word here, but I have two great handymen who don't make enough money at their other day jobs. I put up a thing for them in classifieds under 'Handyman' (or was it handymen?) and since then they've gotten a ton of work all with people highly satisfied. They work quick and neat, and build with the level of quality and price you desire. I post for them as they are not computer savvy, and then I just forward the phone numbers or address info onto them. I get nothing out of it. Why would I do it ? 'Cause these are great guys who work with skill and heart, and if I had my own company I'd hire them away to work for me instead, .... but I don't so...

btw.... some of the jobs they've done for me and ppl who contacted me thru the tv ad: building fences, installing wiring, fixing stoves, laying tile, woodwork, building merchandise shelves, constructing custom bookshelves and closets to fit the space, roof repair, plumbing n toilet repair, building garden beds for a plant lover.... pretty much everything and anything as well.

These guys have worked for a very picky Farang and understand our priorities and what we consider important about quality of job and cleanliness, so besides helping good guys feed their families, I also pimp them out because I know they'll do work that's worthy. Feel free to contact me about them as well, or look for the ad under classifieds.

That's exactly what this guy is and does and that is exactly why I'm doing this. I can't support his family, but I can help them in other ways such as this.

Great post. Late next year I'll be building a house (in the BKK area) and will be looking for a reliable and reputable company.

Post like this are a great way to help us who are planning work, not only that, it helps the good guys keep in work.

Hi

Sorry, but he only works in the Chiang Mai area. That's too bad because he's the type that would love to take on building a house.

Me too Pearl - I need his contact info as well and would love to see pics of his work......kcore

Edit = What is his daily rate?

Hi I sent you Noi's telephone numbers. I'll get pics from my camera and send them to you too. He built a laundry area off the back of the house, a shade area for plants at the front of the house, and now he's building a sala for us. There will be a few other things for him to do as well. His rates are daily or by the job - you can discuss that with him if you decide to use him.

For the past three months we have been using a very talented and skillful and artistic "handyman" around our house. He can do anything and he does it all extremely well. Not only that, but he understands what farangs want and makes incredible recommendations on how things should be or can be done. He used to be very very busy, but with the way the economy has gone here, he is always looking for work. Right now he'll be tied up with us for at least another month - he's building a sala for us, complete with electrical fittings, etc.. He has built a couple of other things for us and we are extremely happy with what he has done. He charges by the day, but if its a big job, hecan give you a quote and will guarantee that the project will be within 5% either way. If anyone wants his name and telephone # - PM me and I'll gladly give you the number. I can also submit some pictures via email of some of the jobs he has done for us. He also speaks enough English to communicate with us non-Thai speakers. We were very very lucky to have him recommended to us by our friends.

He works in the Chiang Mai area - and no job is too big or too small for him.

Oops - forgot to add that he lives in the Chiang Mai area.

For the past three months we have been using a very talented and skillful and artistic "handyman" around our house. He can do anything and he does it all extremely well. Not only that, but he understands what farangs want and makes incredible recommendations on how things should be or can be done. He used to be very very busy, but with the way the economy has gone here, he is always looking for work. Right now he'll be tied up with us for at least another month - he's building a sala for us, complete with electrical fittings. He has built a couple of other things for us and we are extremely happy with what he has done. He charges by the day, but if its a big job, hecan give you a quote and will guarantee that the project will be within 5% either way. If anyone wants his name and telephone # - PM me and I'll gladly give you the number. I can also submit some pictures via email of some of the jobs he has done for us. He also speaks enough English to communicate with us non-Thai speakers. We were very very lucky to have him recommended to us by our friends.