Need New Friends/aquaintences.

[maturin]

I'm an Australian maths and science teacher who's into Indian fusion techno, serious topics and humanitarian work. I'm a straight,older guy with the usual complete raft of expat problems. I've been here since June and just need someone or many to 'shoot the breeze' with. Because I'm not a pub or party animal I find this difficult. Anyone out there in CM in the same boat? If so, please get in touch.

[Nienke]

Have you tried the Chiang Mai Expat Club (CEC), already? http://www.chiangmaiexpatsclub.com/index.asp

They have a meeting every 2nd and 4th Saturday morning of the month at 10.30 am at the Chiang Mai Orchid Hotel.

You can also ask this same question on their google group forum: http://groups.google.com/group/chiangmai-e...l=en&start=

Nienke

[realthaideal]

Nice to post like this.... but maybe you also oughtta patrol places likley to find ppl of your ilk. Check the specific community and subject boards here on TV. Also check out the CM Expat Club that meets every other Sat at the CM Orchid.

As far s drinking and being a party animal, I'd say I have my moments, but hitting the pubs n bars is one place to meet up with ppl, or to find new ones. Some days I only drink a 7-up or a soda. Other nights it's game on! and I hit it good. The drinking doesn't have to be the main pt, though for many it is. All up to you. I find social bars like UN Irish and Tuskers to be fun places to meet a younger crowd, though with a wide age mix. The Pub is good too. Music jams at Santia's. Oldies hanging at #1 bar are good for tall tales. The tavern and speakeasy has always had it's place for it's social lubricating effects.

And if you're really daring hit a bookstore and talk to someone reading or perusing a subject that you dig. That's like one of those MSN hot 10 dating tips straight from the RTD!

This post'll likely get shoved to the back soon though, so heed the words you get from respondents. And also, they say about marriages and such, that you're most likely to meet that special someone thru a friend of a friend. Same goes for buddies in CM. You find one good one and then expand your circles together. It takes time out here to sift thru the chaff, but you'll get there.

[Ulysses G.]

I'm an Australian maths and science teacher who's into Indian fusion techno

Is that anything like Acid House or trance?

[SwaziBird]

I'm an Australian maths and science teacher who's into Indian fusion techno, serious topics and humanitarian work. I'm a straight,older guy with the usual complete raft of expat problems. I've been here since June and just need someone or many to 'shoot the breeze' with. Because I'm not a pub or party animal I find this difficult. Anyone out there in CM in the same boat? If so, please get in touch.

Welcome to CM "maturin".

Have to endorse Nienke's and other posts. The Expat's Club is a terrific organisation and is the springboard to many other activities where you are bound to meet up with people with whom you feel comfortable.

Suggest you might search this forum for "Discussion Group" as well. Run by a really good bloke who, with the real name of Pierre, speaks a perfect English as well. You will be able to request an invitation to his group - which does exactly what the title implies - and the topics are usually serious too.

But, for entertainment value and the opportunity to meet new people, you'll find it hard to beat the Expats Club. Why not attend as a visitor and see what you think. Next Saturday's programme will be different from the usual in that rather than a speaker, it will include a "Quizz" run by the CEO of Tuskers - and he has plenty of good experience doing that.

If you decide to do that, I recommend that you arrive by no later than 10.00 a.m.

Chock dee !

Cheers.

[ShakaIsuzu]

Well, clubs and associations kind of scare me, especially 'Farang clubs', but if over time it turns out we share a certain activity then meeting up is not out of the question.

Of course if we do share that activity, we will meet there no matter what.

[BossHogg]

what is it you do like and doesnt scare you? maybe we could point you in the right direction....any hobbies?

[ShakaIsuzu]

I'd rather not say.

[miltonbentley]

There are loads of options in Chiang Mai you just have to put yourself about a bit.

As has been stated Expats Club is a good place to start. They are a very friendly crowd with a hugely diverse range of interests and a number of special interest groups have grown out of the Club including photography, computers, board games, dining out etc. The Expat Newsletter lists all the groups and contact details.

If you like please come along to the twice monthly Welcome Dinner at Tuskers and you can meet other new expats in town. Drinking alcohol is entirely optional and they are very relaxed, friendly affairs.

As to humanitarian work there are dozens of groups covering just about every human issue under the sun here in Chiang Mai who I am sure would bite your arm off to have a willing volunteer involved.

As to Indian fusion techno well that's all Dutch to me but I'm sure they're out there somewhere

[maturin]

Well, clubs and associations kind of scare me, especially 'Farang clubs', but if over time it turns out we share a certain activity then meeting up is not out of the question.

Of course if we do share that activity, we will meet there no matter what.

Hi,ShakaIsuzu.

Would o genki desu ka? be out of line?

Naturaly your answer is very intriguing. Would the martial arts have anything to do with it, or perhaps a gentler form of competition .We share the same feelings re. clubs etc ...most emphatically.

My activities are somewhat curtailed here since there is a notable lack of Great Southern Ocean to battle with my sea kayak and I find it a bit hot to do long bushwalks. In fact I find it a bit hot in general.

My most 'missed' activity is general interaction with non-alturistic people.

To be blunt I returned to Asia after thirty years to take the road of no fixed destination from which I somehow strayed. Naturaly looking for it precluded any chance of me finding it.

I,m looking forward to hearing from you again.

Your's

maturin (always passing islands, but never setting foot on them)

[maturin]

what is it you do like and doesnt scare you? maybe we could point you in the right direction....any hobbies?

Hi BosHogg.

Nice of you to reply. When I'm not indulging myself in my work which I love dearly (to the point that I hardly consider myself to have done a day's work in my life) I am sea kayaking, studying design (privately) playing chess or doing humanitarian work. It's contacts in the latter field that I'm most urgently looking for, but I.m also in need of a range of community contacts of the non-alturistic kind.

Thanks

maturin

[maturin]

Have you tried the Chiang Mai Expat Club (CEC), already? http://www.chiangmaiexpatsclub.com/index.asp

They have a meeting every 2nd and 4th Saturday morning of the month at 10.30 am at the Chiang Mai Orchid Hotel.

You can also ask this same question on their google group forum: http://groups.google.com/group/chiangmai-e...l=en&start=

Nienke

Thanks Nienke,I'll do that.

[maturin]

I'm an Australian maths and science teacher who's into Indian fusion techno

Is that anything like Acid House or trance?

There may be as many as 32 similarities or as few as 5. It all depends.

yours

maturin

[maturin]

There are loads of options in Chiang Mai you just have to put yourself about a bit.

As has been stated Expats Club is a good place to start. They are a very friendly crowd with a hugely diverse range of interests and a number of special interest groups have grown out of the Club including photography, computers, board games, dining out etc. The Expat Newsletter lists all the groups and contact details.

If you like please come along to the twice monthly Welcome Dinner at Tuskers and you can meet other new expats in town. Drinking alcohol is entirely optional and they are very relaxed, friendly affairs.

As to humanitarian work there are dozens of groups covering just about every human issue under the sun here in Chiang Mai who I am sure would bite your arm off to have a willing volunteer involved.

As to Indian fusion techno well that's all Dutch to me but I'm sure they're out there somewhere

Thanks for the pointers miltonbentley.

[sylviex]

Also, get yourself a copy of Chiang Mai City Life magazine. Much of it is online, though maybe not the adverts for activities which may interest you most.

[Nienke]

Can this be of some help, to start with:

Foundation for the Education of Rural Children (FERC): www.thai-rural-education.com

Viengping Orphanage: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...mp;hl=volunteer

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...mp;hl=volunteer

Rejoice Charity Home (Aids care) http://www.doctorsan.com/superdirectory/?m...amp;rf=province

Animal welfare charity: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...p;#entry1657209

And some more on voluntary work: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...mp;hl=volunteer

Nienke

[ShakaIsuzu]

My activities are somewhat curtailed here since there is a notable lack of Great Southern Ocean to battle with my sea kayak and I find it a bit hot to do long bushwalks.

There's Mae Ngat lake where you can do quite a bit of kayaking... As for exploring, it's indeed rather hot on foot, but it's cheap to rent a moped or a Suzuki Jeep and explore that way. That's one of the things I do enjoy.

[maturin]

Can this be of some help, to start with:

Foundation for the Education of Rural Children (FERC): www.thai-rural-education.com

Viengping Orphanage: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...mp;hl=volunteer

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...mp;hl=volunteer

Rejoice Charity Home (Aids care) http://www.doctorsan.com/superdirectory/?m...amp;rf=province

Animal welfare charity: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...p;#entry1657209

And some more on voluntary work: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...mp;hl=volunteer

Nienke

The links are really helpful, thanks Nienke.

[maturin]

My activities are somewhat curtailed here since there is a notable lack of Great Southern Ocean to battle with my sea kayak and I find it a bit hot to do long bushwalks.

There's Mae Ngat lake where you can do quite a bit of kayaking... As for exploring, it's indeed rather hot on foot, but it's cheap to rent a moped or a Suzuki Jeep and explore that way. That's one of the things I do enjoy.

Allow me to wax lyrical for a moment on The Great Southern Ocean south of Tasmania, Australia.

Imagine a huge, almost unworldly oceanscape with totally deserted beeches ten kilometers long and one wide backed by moors and mountains, all deserted and roadless. Then try to imagine waves and wind to match; bigger and stronger than anything you have ever seen, even on calm days. Of course I only use its fringes and 'safer' bits and it terrifies me to go out in it every time, day or night, but the presence of that unimaginable power is like a drug. It may be the end of you, but you miss it.

I will investigate the lake, and I'd like to try the Ping going upstream with some spate in it.

I'm not knocking the local scene, visitors should not do that; besides, it's pretty good. I just wanted you to be able to visualise another. One that I have seen one experienced traveller after another gape at in shear disbelief that anything on that scale exists at all.

With thanks

maturin

I've been thinking about the Ping for a while.

I've been wondering about the enigmatic activity also.

What a pity you can't cross Myanmar to Bangldesh or China by land. How exciting this part of the world would become!

maturin.