mamborobert

Anybody have an idea of a shop near/in the old city that has the best quality/largest range of monk "gear". I mean very good quality made stuff not a small mom and pop type place that resells Makro or the like. Does Central or Robinsons have a "monk" section?

Want to buy a gift for a friend/monk.

Please no esoteric contributions on monks giving up worldly possessions and so why should they get quality gear (he has a nicer laptop and mobile than I will ever have) etc, or "is this really what your friend wants or what you want".

Its not a deep philosophical navel gazing issue...just a request for directions to a good shop.

much needed a reliable professional factory trained mechanic to add to already existing Harley repair shops

being a Harley theres always a lot of broken down bikes that need the work of professional factory trained mechanic..that said they do make a nice noise for the immature biker who likes to frighten old ladies as he rides past

Not necessarily. The really loud ones have been modded by the owner to make them more noisy.

So you could blame the individual highfalutin owner for that.

But it does stop wifey talking on the phone when riding pillion....

I would have thought that the cheapest and most convenient (for me when i have done the reverse) would be CM to KL and then KL to Clark all with Airasia and then make your way down to Manila (lots of options there)

Plus is you avoid Bangkok, plus or minus you go via Clark. Plus you avoid NIAA or Centenial. Minus is LCCT not that nice so would look at minimum stopover. Could also go direct to Manila from KLIA with Phil. Air. or Cebu Pacific Air (last time I looked they had two flights a day to Manila from KL). Cebu are reasonably cheap.

If the person coming is not that confident a traveller I would have thought Clark to KL to CM all with Airasia. Have the one airline and avoid the big airports and some of the scrutiny if PI national potentially working

Many many years ago (about 35) I witnessed one of the funniest interactions between a Thai waiter and an Aussie. Thai waiter spoke very good English but could not understand one iota of what the Aussie was saying and my wife had to interpret from Oz speak to Thai. This was the Thai waiter's first conversation with an Aussie and unfortunately found that the many hundreds of hours he had spent perfecting his English on the BBC home service in this case left him woefully unprepared. Waiter had to be reassured by wife that "it's not you, it's him".

You angry teerak?

I have always found Richo Motor Sports on Wulai very easy to deal with. Large workshop in the back, pricing good, work very good,English and Thai spoken, and a far better location to drop off a bike and pick up than AJ.

Also have a lot of HD gear as well....and bikes

http://www.richcomotorsports.com/

I am a bit of tangent on this one as the Op may be author of own misfortune.

The Op could try something really novel that old people used to do in the old days........some people call it manners.

Accompany the girl into the complex, into the elevator, up to the door of her room and then say goodnight properly instead of dropping her off at the front and then zooming off on your souped up Honda Click, vanishing into the distance......unless you are the Fonz?

After you in a rush to go somewhere? Is there a good soap on Channel 7?

To me this is basic caring 101 if you are in a relationship. If I saw a girl being dropped off I may think she is not in a relationship, or alternatively the guy has no manners and maybe she would appreciate some so maybe I should give it a go.

If you accompany her up, the guy might have a.) a clue she is in a relationship rather than a short time gal being dropped off, and b.) less opportunity to interact in elevator. After doing this a few times and seeing you and her together rather than her being dropped off things will be clearer to him...perhaps even for gf as well..

Of course if the first time you met her your opening line was "get your bag darling, you've pulled" forget all of the above.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wifey

Available in Oxford English, Oxford US English, Collins English Dictionary, Macquare Dictionary, and Merriam Webster (which records first use in 1786) for the Americans among us.

Try not to use Websters it has many English spelling errors.

The films was fun though....good humour (not humor). the dialogue (not dialog) between characters was great. I don't think it will make it to the theatre (not theater) here in CM.

No matter what...wifey liked the movies and so have her Mandarin speaking friends.

Getting back to original premise of thread I imagine this will lead to an increase in Chinese visitors......

Start brushing up on your "ni hao"

and so to bed........

Downloaded a screener of this film last night for wifey (in Mandarin with English subtitles...wifey speaks Mandarin).

Gotta say the film aint half bad, funny, good acting, great characters, does'nt portray Thailand in any real negative light at all. Nice scenery and you can recognise some of the places in CM, not really cliched at all. Good story and poster on film not really reflective of film itself. Some really funny moments but not trying all out to be a comedy.

All in all quite a good movie.

As a side wifey has been asked to gather 7 other Mandarin speakers for tour guides for plane loads of Malaysian Chinese coming here for Chinese New Year.....apparently for two weeks. Usually wifey will only work with 2 or 3 others so the numbers are on the up (movie plus direct Airasia flights plus Chinese New Year). Funnily enough most of the other Mandarin speakers will probably be Burmese .....

Just for any future posters interested. Wifey got it done today at a place in the Old City. We went to oodles of places to check them out but was recommended to this place by Maharaj Hospital staff. Was over there visiting a friend and wifey noticed that a lot of the nursing staff/students had top notch eyebrow and lip work.

Anyhow wifey reckoned this place was so easy she actually nodded off while getting tattoo, All very sterile. they use a desensitizing agent, and provided balms to apply afterwards. Also touch up work if required in a month or so. Wifey so relaxed about it she wants to go back for lip tattoo where apparently they also let you change the colour once in a year after initial colour. Lady very informative and knowledgeable about subject.

Not the cheapest but certainly the best work I have seen. About 3000 baht for eyebrows....I was not too keen on the idea but gotta admit they look good.

Please no follow up on the price. I know there is cheaper, and have seen a lot of that work. And yes I know that for 3000 baht some posters could get eyebrow tattoo, a retinal transplant, a one week family vacation in Kho Phangan, a Playstation 3, and a sumptuous dinner (with drinks) for 6 at their local noodle shop, and still have money left over for the tuk tuk home.

Map on the web site...

http://ohhobee.com/

Firstly the good. Four shops opposite my place always put tables and chairs out for children's day. They spend the night packing presents into small bags, preparing food, balloons, streamers, lanterns....all looks very nice and it is very well patronised by local families who sit down for a meal and each child gets a meal, soft drinks, ice cream, and a bag of presents.

The bad.....its now been 5 hours of the same 3 minute song on continuous loop at maximum volume......Only broken by PA announcements of the winner of that round on the toddler gogo dancer competition enthusiastically clapped on by adults (winner receives an extra bag of plastic).

5 hours of this white noise and I am now ready to confess to being the third gunman on the grassy knoll and faking the moon landings.

Kill me, Kill me now ....please.

Not too sure if there is such a thing as a small or quiet children's day event though last year took a walk down to Kawilla Barracks and the kids loved it (APC's and rifles).

If you have a Thai reader in the home have a look at link below. Contains info on events at Zoo, Aquarium, Observatory Police, Royal Park etc.

http://www.cm108.com/bbb/index.php?/topic/55080-12-a-cnaca-aaoaaeae-nooeaeeeo-aou/

For the Thai readers among you there is a detailed report on cm108 (link below) with mucho photos (passport etc). Seems to suggest German police involvement as well (hence perhaps computer seizure * 2).as well as posts on internet sites.

Plus copy of video news.

http://www.cm108.com...iuoeeaeaaoaaoa/

Well, I just noted 224 users are reading this topic at the moment.

38 TV members, 184 guests and 2 anonymous.

Seems to have struck a nerve.

Very unusual to see such a high view count on a new topic like this.

I don't usually read this part of CM forum but link came up on a general Thaivisa twitter feed so perhaps a lot have picked it up from there.

Depending on where you are living there are a few AEON ATM's about in CM that do not charge the 150baht. They (to me) seemed to be stuck hidden away in a few places. Search the forum you will see if there is a location near you (or check their web site).

AEON do not seem to have a limit on how much you take out (other than what is set by your own bank). I use the one at the old Carrefour on Superhighway.

Other thing is that some banks (here) have a limit on ATM cash outs (apart from whatever your own bank will have as a ceiling). Bangkok Bank for example only dispenses 20 notes (so you pay 150 baht for 20 000 baht at x exchange rate). Always worthwhile checking a Krungsri ATM as they dispense 30 notes (so you pay 150 baht for 30 000 baht at x exchange rate).

For me Krungsri has always been worth it (exchange rate wise) and have ATM's pretty much where I go.

Thanks for the humour, mamborobert. Yes, this topic did take on a new life. It just points out how valuable the road is to the population here. Would any other road in Chiang Mai draw as much attention? What about the kareoke bars along Chang Klan road? The Nimmenhamen road topic sort of died out. Maybe the hooker bars can all move over their because it's going to be a one way to... to... to where?

"Population here" referring to what?

MSPain

just a guess...he refers to old, bald, over-weight, farang men.

I resemble that remark.

We are getting a bit of track here but Snowbird was written by Gene MacLellan, the same guy who wrote the Gospel song "Put your hand in the hand.....".

Snowbird has been recorded by well known druggies like Perry Como, Loretta Lyn, and Chet Atkins.

Saw him a few times before he died (maybe 20 years ago). He used to perform in Churches/Prisons/Retirement Homes and the like. I was in none of these

I like Loi Kroh....but this is getting a bit serious now. If we keep on posting at this rate could equal or better the "Rain" thread. We have to get things in perspective here. Is Loi Kroh really more important than the "Rain" thread ?

Can we start a new thread perhaps "Loi Kroh in the Rain" or "The Rain in Loi Kroh". or "My Reign in Loi Kroh:, or the "Reign of Rain in Loi Kroh". Or combine both threads, that way perhaps this thread could outlive the cockroaches. A fitting tribute to the two critical day to day issues facing Thaivisa CM forum posters. A monument for future historians and potential expats so that they can readily identify and study the movement of the times.

Still have not seen Keith Richards on Loi Kroh (maybe he is a Cheap Charlie at Veerachai Court), ...but did see Jesus and John Wayne are at the Marriott.

This is great news. Before it was hard to track the gentleman down and was not able to do any proof of income things, albeit that was many years ago. seems a lady is dong the job since 1997?

APPOINTMENT OF AUSTRALIAN HONORARY CONSUL CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

25 March 1997

I have today announced the appointment of Ms Hillary Clare Brown as Australia's Honorary Consul in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with jurisdiction throughout the provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Uttaradit, Sukhotai and Tak.

Ms Brown is a New Zealand citizen with close ties to Australia. She has lived in Chiang Mai for twelve years and operates a business and communications centre in the city.

Australia has enjoyed a close and cooperative relationship with Thailand over many years, reflecting our geographical proximity, shared strategic perspectives and mutual economic interests. Our bilateral relationship spans a wide range of fields including trade, education, defence cooperation, tourism, narcotics control, refugee resettlement and development cooperation.

The appointment is a reflection of the importance of Chiang Mai as a tourist destination and the sign)ficant Australian presence in northern Thailand.

The Australian Consulate is located at:

LotusHall Limited

Plaza Floor Hillside Place and Condotel 4

50/12 Huay Kaew Road Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand

Honorary Consul is a man.....Michael Walther has been for last eight years. (see article under from Citylife in September 2012)

.

The Honorary Consul

Mike Walther, Australian Honorary Consul in Chiang Mai, is no stranger to foreign lands. Walther, who has lived here for 30 years, and his Chiang Mai wife, jointly run two successful businesses in the contracting and upmarket interior design industries. Walther has voluntarily held the position of Honorary Australian Consul for the last eight years, after being nominated by his friend the Australian Foreign Minister at the time. Even though he is beyond traditional retirement age, at 78 years old, Walther still works full time, loving it and believing in keeping mentally and physically fit.

I met Walther in his consular office which piggybacks on his wife’s family business in construction. An Aussie flag and a small consul plaque hung from the shop front which was adorned with ceramic decorations, plush tiled pavements and gaudy religious garden statues...

“The average age for Australian expats here is mid sixties, most are retirees,” he explains. “We had a backpacker who was found on Loi Kroh Road recently, he was walking down the street naked. He’d been drugged and robbed of everything including his clothes. The police didn't want to arrest him. It was harder to get him out of the psychiatric hospital than putting him in. I had to get doctors to sign all kinds of forms, and by the time you get people out of that place, some of them go half mad anyway.”

Born in the mid 1930s in Norwich, UK, Walter moved to Uganda after boarding school, where his father was living as a colonial judge. Walter worked in Uganda as a refrigeration mechanic and although his father wished for him to study law he decided to join the army. During his time in the army he gained a degree in architecture, from then-Rhodesia. “It’s funny I have a degree from a country that doesn’t even exist anymore.”

“When the balloon went up in Rhodesia we left, all my family was moving to either the UK or Canada. After living in warm climates I refused to move to either place. I took the ‘Ten Pound’ passage to Australia.” After a two month journey across the ocean Walter’s ‘Australiaisation’ began and he continued to live in Perth for the next 20 years, building up his own construction company.

After heading various projects in Thailand and Asia with his company, Walter eventually relocated to Thailand where he has lived happily ever since.

Jinda Charoen Konsong

236 Chian Mai-Doi Saket Road (Highway 118), Sansai

053 492 480, 081 837 7750

www.dfat.gov.au/missions/countries/thch.html

i avoid number one bar its about the only one i really wont go in as a guy i know walked in one day asked the waitress how are you she replied thirsty you buy drink for me ? hes response was no and walked out never to return i wounder how many have done that

a little training may be in order

I noticed the same thing and have not been back for yonks. I presume as the girls are not expressly take away they draw more from the drinks.

The (now demolished) Best Bar next door to me was much nicer and relaxed. Whenever I drive past the Number 1 it always looks a bit club like to me, like a retired officers lounge pontificating on the last days of the Raj.

I quite like the placed directly opposite the CMEC (the ex fish spa)...its a nice point to sit down and watch the world go by. I do go up the other end (near the moat) on the odd occasion but that is a lot more, how can I say, intense.. So fun/loud/boisterous is the moat end for me and my contemplative bars are further down.

I did like the Smile Bar until Richard left (I guess almost a year ago now) that and the Two sisters bar next door (with great food and a side line on cheap phones from Burma) were nice places to watch the world go by.

As a matter of fact I just received an email from him today as I am going to be in CM in about 3 weeks. Yes he does do the Proof of Income letter and yes they are accepted at CM immigration as my brother was able to get his 12 month extension using this letter. Just google Aust consulate CM and you will find his email address.

Many thanks for the quick reply....good news all round.

Not sure what my prob is with google...get the address and phone ok but not an email but will give him a call and start the ball rolling.

Once again.....thanks

Anybody know if the local OZ honorary consul does income letters for immigration? and if so, are they accepted by CM immigration.

Any info gratefully accepted.....is there a fee, best way to contact (does not seem to have email address on DFAT page), is there a separate web site etc.

thankee

Even Homer nods.