davidgtr

....and.....

anyway place near me called Davids Kitchen and another eating joint further along the road at (from memory ) Thanon Lodge......heard good reports ...anyone tried it/them.....?

I heard that David's Kitchen had closed a couple of months ago.

Just heard that John "City Silk" Fulbrook died & that the funeral was yesterday.

John had been in Cnx for 30 years & had a store City Silk, on Thapae & for awhile one on Moon Muang where Pop is now.

He was married with a Thai wife, a 15 year old daughter.

John was 72 years when he died from a heart attack.

RIP.

I was in Tachilek most of Friday afternoon looking to buy CDs & DVDs & all of the shops I know where shut. I could not find one open shop selling Cds or DVDs.

My fave Mr Guitar Man looked like it had been cleaned out, as all the others were where you could peak inside.

I always understood that it was the Wa who controlled / produced the pirate CDs / DVDs in Tachilkek / Burma, & as they are under pressure perhaps their CD/DVD plants have been "temporarily" closed down.

I am now with Bupa and paying over 30,000Bt year for Medical Insurance

Would be nice if there were some cheaper companys doing the smae standard or better

any comments

Yeah it would seem to be difficult to get good clear comparisons between the insurance companies.

A website that I found useful was E Insure Thailand

If you email them, tell them your your name, month and year of birth, gender, & level of insurance wanted they will send you a spreadsheet with comparisons between the companies to look at. Well worth the effort.

Do we have a choice of seats - front or back?

Can I pop in & see my teerak on the way?

Back or front Is that your teerak in Chiangrai or the one in Mae Sai?

The seat choice sounds ok. But the location will only be revealed on the day......

Just in case anyone missed it. Free seat going for sunday...PM me if you need a trip...MM

Do we have a choice of seats - front or back?

Can I pop in & see my teerak on the way?

Looking for a decent torque wrench, doesn't have to be a top-of-the-line digital japanese aircraft-spec wrench, just something accurate for general automotive use.

i know that i could go look around at homepro, global house, the tool shops near sanpakoi, etc, and i probably will. but i am looking for specific recommendations. thanks...puwa

Try NANA SCREWS

3/1 90 Assadathon Road. Tel: 053219422.

for hand tools; nuts & bolts, including stainless. The new Nana Screws shop is on the left, heading North & just 50 metres from the corner of the moat. Check it out for one the best range of hand tools, nuts & bolts etc in Chiang Mai

Anybody ever taken a boat across the Mae Kuang reservoir. My map indicates a small road on the other side of the reservoir linking back up to the 1001 road, is this possible to go by bicycle? I headed out there today taking a single track up to the rim, seemed very desolate, road on the rim of the reservoir petered out while in the other direction it was closed off with barbed wire. Anybody got info?

Yep did this a few years ago (2003).

There's a report with kms, village names & photos up at The Mae Kuang loop.

The only hitch is that the boat service is a bit irregular.

Good luck & enjoy it if you get a boat ok, as it really is a beautiful 1/2 day trip from Chiang Mai.

Doctor Sudhee was recommended by fellow bikers. He's here in Chiang Mai.

Hi

Dr Sudhee evidently is a knee specialist. Where in Chiang Mai can he be consulted? My girl friend has a persistent knee problem and I'd like her to see someone who is likely to do a correct diagnosis. She's been to the Maharaj and the price was a fairly hefty sum for a 10 minute consultation with a pricey medecine prescribed. It doesn't give me much confidence and it hasn't helpe3d her much. Unfortunately I'm out of Tailand for now but when I return I'd like to find a decent knee specialist in Chiang Mai.

Would appreciate any practical info.

DR SUDHEE SUDASNA

38/4 Chiang Mai - Lampang Road. (Diagonally opposite Wat Ched Yot.)

Phone: 053 - 214 139

OPEN 1800 - 1930 hrs

Monday

Tuesday

Thursday

Sunday 0930 - 1130 hrs

CLOSED

Wednesday

Friday

Saturday

Dr Sudhee is a wonderful man & doctor. I’ve been using him for bike accidents & broken bones for 17 years.

He's in his early 60s now, so not so active, but he can provide the best advice & recommendations for docs in Chiang Mai, & elsewhere.

He taught all the ortho surgeons in Chiang Mai & has also treated members of the royal family, so he’s good & highly respected.

I recently broke my humerus head in 5 places falling off my bike (again) in Laos. It took me 2 days to get back to Chiang Mai & see a doctor –Sudhee. However on the Saturday the night before, the pain was too great & at 1.30am I had to go to Ram hospital for a painkilling jab. The duty doc would not do anything until I had an x-ray to confirm it was broken; after which he insisted on the need for an emergency operation. I refused saying that I could wait more 6 more hrs to see Sudhee at his Sunday morning clinic. When I saw Sudhee at his clinic & explained events at Ram he was furious – the doctor was only looking to make fast money David, plus he considered the operation would have been quite dangerous with complications down the road. Sudhee later tracked the Dr down, rang him & gave him a dressing down! Good stuff from a totally sincere ethical man.

6 months later I’m on the mend, riding again, after only having to endure an arm in plaster for 6 weeks, plus regular therapy. Cost minimal.

Now I have to say also that Sudhee’s therapist at the clinic is excellent. If you need any physical therapy try Dr Sudhee’s clinic. I’ve had lots of physio at Ram, but Sudhee’s therapist really is brilliant & knows exactly how to manipulate the muscles & get you moving the right way again.

Any Ducati riders around?

Got a few Ducati riders on the GT Rider board, if you want to take a look.

Yeah, I know of this board. I think they're mostly trail bikers up North.

I'll take a look see though.

Actually it's not mostly trail bikers, but lots of big bike riders who do ride all the time, all over the place.

You might sometimes get the impression that it's mainly trail bikers, because they might have a more fun time riding & contribute more road & trip reports. However, there are a lot of big bike riders who ride, but as their tendency is often just to ride fast they seldom enjoy the scenery / local culture as much & so don’t feel as if they have constructive road & trip reports to contribute. A shame & disappointing really, because as they contribute so little you get the false impression that they (big bike riders) don’t exist or ride. I guess you only get as much as you put in, so please join & help remedy the situation.

Any Ducati riders around?

Got a few Ducati riders on the GT Rider board, if you want to take a look.

5,000 baht for lenses sounds like graduated lenses to me. I too tried these once & gave up after a week. If you've never had these before, then I understand it should take weeks, if not a month or two, to get fully used to them. Could this be the problem / rip off?

The times I've been on Riverside over the years, on any given night it's about 10-30% Thai and the remainder farang.

Not sure about that one at all: 10-30% Thais & the remainder farang on any given night?

What planet are we on there - not the Chiang Mai Riverside!

What do you drink or smoke before going "on Riverside" MS?

A couple of friends and I are planning on riding our bikes into Laos and over to Vietnam in October.

Anyone know what will be required to do this. The bikes are registerd and current with tags and whatnot. My bike is registerd in my wifes name and the others are in their names. We all have Non O visas if that matters.

Thanks in advance for any help.

John, Martin, and Oscar

Dont waste your time trying to get into Vietnam.

Laos is ok, except at the Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai & at the 3rd Friendship Bridge at Mukdahan / Savannakhet.

If any bike is not registered in your name, then you need permission from the owner to take / export the bike.

For full info go the GT Rider Crossing Borders page, plus the GT Rider Lao forum for the latest on entering Laos.

All the info you need is there.

Keep the Varadero & forget the F650!

I reckon that the Jet petrol station on Maneenopparat Road has a pretty good accurate automatic gauge. I take my own gauge to double check when I do my bike tyres & it aint that far off. Every couple of weeks seems reasonable to check for city driving, but if you're going up country check 'em every time before you go. And yeah it's best if you check them yourself.

Holding the gauge on straight 'n tight is best.

When does Maejo have shepherds pie coming up next on the menu?

I'm hoping to drive to the border tomorrow but I haven't got a "car passport" for driving into Laos. Someone told me that I could leave my car at the Thai side of the border with the immigration officials, who will watch over it for a small fee?

Has anyone done this, is it crazy? I just bought this new car, and am a bit worried to park right at the border, but I also really want to drive this new car, and the thought of a long bus ride isn't too appealing.

Is there any safe place to park in Nong Kai?

I would appreciate any comments on this.

Thanks,

John

If youve fully paid for the car & got the ownership book in your name, then you should be able to get the ITP "car passport" in Nong Khai.

No parking at the actual border by the bridge, but pick a good hotel to stay in Nong Khai at & it should be ok.

What's the sensible border/mekong crossing point if starting in the north (chiang mai/rai)? Is the road in Laos to LPQ ok for a car (ie not a pick up or a suv)? Is the frontier paperwork tolerable?

In the North you only have Chiang khong (T) / Huay Xai (L).

Cross the Mekong by car / truck ferry.

From Huay Xai its 180 odd kms to Luang Nam Tha.

There should only be about 70 kms of dirt left, but I would not recommend this in a car in the wet season. And maybe, & only maybe, is the dirt is ok in the dry season for a car.

The Thai / Lao border crossings are

1. Chiang Khong (T) / Huay Sai (L)

2. Thai Li (T) / Nam Hueng (L)

3. Nong Khai (T) / Friendship Bridge, Vientiane (L)

4. Bung Kan (T) / Pakxan (L)

5. Mukdahan (T) / Savannakhet (L)

6. Nakhon Phanom (T) / Tha Khek (L)

7. Chong Mek (T) / Vang Tao, Pakse (L)

Temporary import papers for a vehicle can be done on arrival at all the Laos border crossings except at Thai Li / Nam Hueng, where you need prior approval.

To get out of Thailand into Laos with your car you need the ownership book, plus an ITP International Transport Permit.

Check out the GT Rider Crossing Bordersfor more info.

Plus for Road & Trip Reports with lots of photos in Laos take a look at the Lao Forum of the GT Rider board.

Yeah well this is the "odd soi out" & it is indeed Thapae Soi 2.

The sign on Chang Moi at the entrance to the soi says Thapae Soi 2, not Chang Moi Soi 2.

Confused, then follow this:

Chang Moi Soi 2 is the next soi west of Thapae Soi 2.

Chang Moi Soi 1 is the next soi east of Thapae Soi 2.

So Thapae Soi 2 is sandwiched between Chang Moi 1 & 2, plus on the wrong side of Thapae as all the Thapae Sois are south of Thapae, except for Thapae Soi 2, which is north of Thapae.

Thapae Soi 2 really is the odd one out. Weird isn’t it - this would be a good trivia night question for Cnx experts?

Now if you’re still in doubt, the address for Veerachai Court is

19 Thapae Rd Soi 2, Chiang Mai.

Finally to get a clear picture of it all take a look at this map.

P.S. Who can place Chang Moi Soi 1 & 4 on map?

I want to go up there in the next month or two for a couple of nights via car.

I figure if I leave BKK at 4pm on a Friday, I can make it to either Udon Thani or Nong Khai in about 6-7 hours. Sleep over night there.

Crossing the border at 8am...1 hour to cross, 4-5 hours from Veintiene to Luang Prabang. Be there by mid afternoon on Saturday...Thoughts?

No chances of Vte - LPQ in 4-5 hrs unless you’ve got a Ferrari, are M. Schumacher, AND know the road.

Vte - LPQ = approx 380 kms & takes approx 7 hrs, 6 racing if you know the road.

Vte - Vang Vieng is approx 3 hrs fast non-stop.

VV - LPQ is approx 3 1/2 - 4 hrs, fast non-stop.

If you've never done it before, stop in Vang Vieng on the way up, then have a crack at it non-stop on the return.

R13 Vte - LPQ is arguably S E Asia's greatest m/cycle road. It's better than the Mae Hong Son loop, higher, better scenery & views. More hill tribe villages.

But you have to drive on the right, in a R hand drive vehicle, so it gets a bit tricky in the tight twisting mountain roads where you cant see around any corners safely.

R7 Phou Khoun - Phonsavan is an even better road / drive than R13, as it flows & winds a lot more, plus is an excellent road surface. (A bit of a racetrack for bikers.)

If there's heavy cloud cover then you are more than likely going to be in the wet most of the time, with poor visibility & slippery conditions = takes more time.

Allow at least 2 nights in LPQ. It's silly to drive all that way to just turn around & come back the next day!

Pick up a GT Rider Laos map in Vte (at AVR Rental / Scandinavian Bakery) to have all the right kms & know exactly where you are.

Take care, keep to the right & enjoy the drive.

Santia's Grotto is off Thapae Soi 2 but most easily accessed via Chang Moi. If you take the turn to Warorot Mkt just b4 Mike's Burgers, continue down just till after the big curve, Santia's is about the 3rd soi on your right - if you peak just in the head of the soi, you'll see the yellow sign there. At that point on Chang Moi, you will just have the bridge over the smelly klong in sight, as well as the funky-no-stopsign intersection before Warorot up ahead. From Thapae, you have to turn down the soi where the sign actually tells you no right turn. There is also a small spa sign there, and it is opposite Wat Bupparam (I believe). It may take a couple attempts to get the right soi, believe me, several of us got lost the first time we went looking.

<deleted>, with directions like that it's not surprising it may take a couple of attempts to find.

Forget about the turn to Warorot Market, Mikes Burgers, the big curve, the bridge over the smelly klong, the funky no stop sign intersection, the spa & Wat Bupparam, and just say it’s in Thapae Soi 2 at the entrance to City View Tower / diagonally opposite the new Veerachai Court block.

Or try this rough map for a better idea…

The airport Limo service is the way to go. Dont have the number but you can ring them & they will pick you up as well. I have not done this, got the g/f to drop me off, but a mate does it all the time.

From SMH

Meanwhile, Thaksin lost his passport, foreign currency worth $8,700 and a video camera when a thief stole his bag at a fast food restaurant in Moscow, his spokesman said on Friday.

The bag was stolen before Thaksin was to receive an honorary doctorate degree from Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics, said the spokesman, who declined to be identified.

"The handbag with his Thai passport and UK visa in it was stolen," the spokesman said.

"It was carried by a Thai policeman who travelled with him. A former prime minister like him won't have to carry his own bag," said the spokesman, denying Thai newspaper reports the belongings were worth more than 1 million baht ($30,600).

Foreign Ministry spokesman Piriya Khempon confirmed that Thaksin's passport had been stolen and said that the Thai embassy in Moscow had issued him a temporary travel document.

PG Gals?

PG = Promotion Girls...... you know the girls in the hot sexy outfits promoting BOOZE: Tiger, Cheers, Chivas, Leo, Beer Chang, Benmore, Heineken. They should know where the cheap party apartments are...

The # 1 Pub & Restaurant in Nan is the Verachon.

Channel X is the disco to go to late.

The Poom 3 Italian restaurant was the place to for farang food, but I think it might be closed at the moment.

Dont know about apartments, but ask the PG gals where they stay...