I had thought it would be simple to hire a boat from the Mae Fah Luang Boat Terminal and float downstream to a riverside restaurant for a special birthday treat. However, this now seems to be a very difficult exercise. The restaurant I had in mind says it has no approval for a pier, and apparently might never get approval. Is there ANY restaurant downstream from the MFL Bridge with a pier?

welcome to thailand

Yes, welcome to Thailand. I love Thailand and would not want to be any other place, but....just remember a couple of things and you will do fine here. First and foremost, Thai logic is a bigger oxymoron than rap music is/was. Secondly, take it for granted that 90% of Thai drivers will and do take their half of the road, out of the middle of it, especially in mountainous areas that are loaded with blind curves. These are the main two things to readjust to. Good luck on finding a suitable restaurant on the river. Now if you want to wait until after the wet season and the river goes down, there are many lovely eateries right on/in the river down at CR Beach area, especially before and after Song Kran. You might look/ask around where ever they tie up boats in CR and find someone with a boat that might prepare and serve a meal right on/in the river. But you probably live in CR and it would be so handy to do this special event here, but do keep in mind, that there is always Lampang and the horse drawn carriages (Go only in the cool season, though). Also check out Chiang Saen, there may indeed be something like that, there. pg

Thank you both. Yes indeedy, it is all too hard. This is crazy: CR has been here as a river-side city since at least 1250 AD. The river could be a vital and exciting place. I trialled the downstream trip. I am not interested in the monolithic constructions such as Dusit, Legend and .... I forget the other monstrosity. My idea was to hire 2 boats, decorate them, and have the guests of honour in one and a band in the other to serenade them as we went downriver. I might as well be speaking Japanese. I wanted dinner @ BaanChivittThammaDa, but they have no pier. We trialled it, and certainly, that option ain't going to work. I looked @ Pattaya Noi, but no, not for an up-market Thai dinner. And besides, looking at the various access ways to Pattaya Noi, they are generally in a bad state of repair. Not for the middle-aged Thai, dressed up for their birthday! So, I might try the Riverside Restaurant a few houses up from BaanChivittThammaDa.

Thank you both for your comments.