Dozens Of Large Parcels Around C.rai Being Scraped - For What?

[maidu]

Drive around Chiang Rai, just outside the city area, and you're bound to see many dozens, if not hundreds of large parcels which have been scrapped of anything green. It's obviously for construction, but does anyone reading this know who or what consortium it may be. In past decades, Sintanee did this sort of thing, but not on such a grand scale. Maybe it's them? Regardless, does anyone know if the scraped parcels are for houses or apartments or malls or.....?

Many of the parcels are getting fill delivered. To do that, entails digging massive amounts of clay soil in other nearby areas - usually hilly places. The trucks used for that, nowadays, are several times bigger than the trucks used just a couple years ago. There are rural roads near me, which have ten large earth carrying trucks pass by every minute, from sun-up to sundown. It destroys roads, fills whole regions with dust, levels hills. I've always known Chiang Rai city fathers were awol as regards any type of planning. This recent stuff is the pits. And let me guess: there will be no playgrounds built for kids, and the developments probably won't even have a park bench or a tree to put one under.

[villagefarang]

Having a bad day are we?

[DonaldBattles]

It should be obvious that the land speculators are having a field day. The reason for this is middle and upper income people from Bangkok are buying land here for speculation plus plans to build homes here. When you disregard the religious groups and the young transit school teachers I think that you will find the resident western people amount to between 650-750 people. From my view the resident westerners are not increasing. I have notice massive amounts of Bangkok license plates at the used car lots. It is my guess that in 8 years the Amphur Muang population of Thais has doubled.

Chiang Mai has just about killed itself with people, traffic and high prices. Chiang Rai is now the center of attraction in north. When the Chinese get through with their 99,000 Rai industrial estate across from Chiang Sean and the bridge gets open I think that you will find an invasion of Chinese. Already you see loads of Chinese tourist in Chiang Sean. Although the bridge is meant to divert trucks and reduce the amount of river commercial traffic it will bring a lot of Chinese with it. The bridge will also encourage people to go to the new Lao Casino and to drive to China. Hold on to your hats it is coming.

[maidu]

Having a bad day are we?

Perhaps it is partly a reflection of my mind-set. I first came to Chiang Rai 30 yrs ago, and chose to reside here 15 yrs ago. Of course I knew things would grow fast, but the recent land grabs and scrapings are exponential. My outlook is also a reflection of the degree I care about C.Rai. With a modicum of aware planning, the developments could transpire in a less hectic manner. As it is, with the lion's share of investment coming via Chinese or Chinese-Thai speculators (as mentioned above post) it's being done in a money-rules-all mentality. Here's the basic game plan: find a large flat parcel. Find the owner and, without letting on about who you really represent, offer as little as he will possibly take for it. Then bring in land scraping machines and hundreds of loads of fill dirt, and render the parcel flat and lifeless. Draw a grid and pack in as many units as possible, with no thought for park space, and minimal space for cars. Sell units for as much as possible, and pay no mind to the farmer who laments how he was duped in to selling the land dirt cheap. And pay no mind to anything for kids to play on, or a bulletin board for notices (that stinks of community) or any construction that doesn't involve right angles and concrete. Make sure there are a proliferation of walls and security devices everywhere. It's the same consciousness which enables a person to die in her apartment, and no one notices until months later, when there's a stench in the hallway. Yes, maybe it's a bad series of days for me personally, when I observe Chiang Rai embodying impersonality and anti-community - at an ever-increasing hectic rate. It doesn't have to happen this way. There are better ways to develop bedroom communities, but Thais and Chinese can't be bothered to look at anything but money.

[toybits]

A couple of Kilometers from Mae Korn Intersection (near Sriburin Hospital) heading towards Tha Sai (going to Santi Buri) are two rather large projects. On the left hand side are two parcels of land - one of which is still being back filled. The other site has a construction project going on at the moment. Concrete piles now being driven into the soil. A neighbor who is in the construction supply business said that Global Home - a mega store for construction supplies is setting up shop there.

[villagefarang]

I have heard Home Pro and Tesco but I guess we wait and see.

Getting all upset over things I have absolutely no control over seems to me a waste of time. Attaching ethnic labels to businessmen seems counterproductive and tends to distract from the message. I don't know any country were the lone voice of decent, coming from an insignificant foreigner, is going to have any impact, except on the health of that individual. I guess jousting at windmills just isn’t my thing.

Edited April 22, 2013 by villagefarang

[maidu]

I have heard Home Pro and Tesco but I guess we wait and see.

Getting all upset over things I have absolutely no control over seems to me a waste of time. Attaching ethnic labels to businessmen seems counterproductive and tends to distract from the message. I don't know any country were the lone voice of decent, coming from an insignificant foreigner, is going to have any impact, except on the health of that individual. I guess jousting at windmills just isn’t my thing.

It's ok to have different perspectives and varying ways of expressing things. However insignificant farang are in their adopted places, I think there are some changes which can be affected. Example, if you have an acquaintance who is building a restaurant, and they have some fallow property alongside, you can suggest they build a little park or a childrens' playground. They may not follow your suggestions, but then again, they may.

Posting mini-rants here may not change anything one iota, but then again it might. Example: when the 'new bridge' (sorry don't know its name) was finished, I noticed trash and graffiti piling up below. I made a mention on Thaivisa and loaded a 20 second video. Within a week, trash barrels were put out, and graffiti was discouraged. Maybe someone with authority saw or heard about what I wrote, maybe not. But slight improvements were enacted. We are not completely powerless, even though we're getting older and living in a foreign land.

[MESmith]

Chiang Mai II

Good luck

[maidu]

Chiang Mai II

Good luck

That's the trend. Chiang Mai will try being more like Bkk, and C.Rai will try being more like C.Mai.

Mae Chan looks rather nice, but maybe I shouldn't mention that.

[toybits]

I asked laborers coming from that lot where construction is on-going and was informed that it was Home Pro.

[maidu]

I asked laborers coming from that lot where construction is on-going and was informed that it was Home Pro.

Home Pro, ok. But that accounts for one large flat parcel. What about the 455 other parcels?

[Totster]

Call the post office, they should be able to help..

totster

[MESmith]

I asked laborers coming from that lot where construction is on-going and was informed that it was Home Pro.

Once Home Pro opens & is fully staffed, there wont be any unemployment in the province

[DonaldBattles]

There is no unemploymnet or poverty in the provice unless it is caused by individuals who don't want to work. Getting someone to do quality work is another issue.

[toybits]

Unless, shops like Himkee, Saha Paiboon, Sinthanee complex, mom and pop operations are able to survive having a Giant in their midst.

I asked laborers coming from that lot where construction is on-going and was informed that it was Home Pro.

Once Home Pro opens & is fully staffed, there wont be any unemployment in the province

[villagefarang]

Most of those roadside parcels, which are being prepped for construction, were anything but pristine habitats and have long been devoid of anything unique in the way of flora or fauna.

Being modern developments my guess is they will have far more than “minimal space” for cars. The play area for children, if they have any, will be indoors like the recreation area on the cinema floor at Central Plaza.

I guess I don’t mind our city becoming a little more city like, as long as there is some nature only minutes away. Living more than 50 kilometers from town I actually enjoy coming into town a couple times each week and have really come to appreciate Central Plaza as a one stop shopping venue for most things and a great meeting place.

We always bump into people we know and it is a comfortable place to get in out of the heat, have a meal or take in a movie. I am looking forward to see what they build next.

[maidu]

Most of those roadside parcels, which are being prepped for construction, were anything but pristine habitats and have long been devoid of anything unique in the way of flora or fauna.....

I agree with that: existing large flat parcels which aren't used for growing things, are covered with gnarly weeds. Yet, consider that most of the parcels I was referring to are agricultural type: large, flat, decent soil. When such parcels are steadily taken over for bedrooms and malls, there is less land for growing crops. Perhaps that's not a big concern for people (essentially all of us, especially our kids) who increasingly segue to semi-artificial snack foods.

[wileycoyote]

Yes ,lots of land being cleared.

However,it is still vacant months later.

I believe that there will be slow growth.

Lots of opportunities but it will need a lot of money .

[DonaldBattles]

Looks like the Tesco Lotus-Home Pro Building is going up fast on the Toerng Highway.

I notice that shop houses are being built in many places with no reasonable parking space in front.

I think that the largest business in Chiang Rai now is dirt hauling. The trucks are everwhere. You may also notice that back filling is taking place everwhere but no buildings going up. I assume that the land speculators figure that they can get more for the property if it is backfilled. In some areas rice field land is still selling between 150-400 K per rai. More cars and more people are on their way. When the Chinese finsih their 30 thousand Rai project across the river from Chiang Sean I think that we can expect a lot of visits from the 1 million chinese who are expected to be there. It was reported to me that in Feb. alone the river side immigration passed 10,000 Chinese visitors across into Chiang Rai.

[maidu]

I agree with Don, that sometimes it seems dirt hauling is the most dynamic biz in C.Rai. One reason, the building is not started, is the filled areas need to settle for at least a year. I foresee immense scale building projects starting in 10 to 20 months. Boomerang Park is alongside a road with nearly endless trucks hauling sand and gravel from nearby river. The noise and tearing up of the 2 inch thin tarmac road goes on and on. Every 6 months a pickup truck with a couple guys comes along to try and fix the hundred potholes, but (surprise) the fix lasts 2 or 3 days, and the potholes get pounded deeper still. Plus there are dozens of hill tribe kids who play along that road, but when did truckers (working for the load, not the hour, so speeding is advantageous) give a hoot for kids' well-being.

[Big Gary]

I agree with Don, that sometimes it seems dirt hauling is the most dynamic biz in C.Rai. One reason, the building is not started, is the filled areas need to settle for at least a year. I foresee immense scale building projects starting in 10 to 20 months. Boomerang Park is alongside a road with nearly endless trucks hauling sand and gravel from nearby river. The noise and tearing up of the 2 inch thin tarmac road goes on and on. Every 6 months a pickup truck with a couple guys comes along to try and fix the hundred potholes, but (surprise) the fix lasts 2 or 3 days, and the potholes get pounded deeper still. Plus there are dozens of hill tribe kids who play along that road, but when did truckers (working for the load, not the hour, so speeding is advantageous) give a hoot for kids' well-being.

I hope that if a Tesco Lotus is built it will include a Burger King. I dont know if anyone can remember but Chiangrai had a Burger King franchaise nearly 20 years ago. It ran on a 6 months trial and naturally it shut down after 6 months because back in those days the Locals new buggar all about eating Hamburgers. Naturally I was a good customer but only a handful of Falungs lived here then. Only tourists were Back Packers and they lived on Rice and Soup for 5 baht.

It was situated directly opposite the Regaee Bar sort of place which has old motorbikes out the front, just up from where the Old Dutch was. There used to a French Restuarant on the site before. Also another bit of trivia was the first Burger Bar was called Mr Macs Burgers(25 years ago) which was the same side of the street but on the corner where its now a Travel Agent. He had it set up similar to a MacDonalds and sold good burgers also but closed due to lack of customers.

That was the same era as my first Kangaroo Bar/Coffee Shop beside the Wangcome Hotel. Shut down after 11 months due to not many drinkers in town and as mentioned before only penny pinching Back Packers.The drinking place then was Betong Bar on the opposite side of the Wangcome to my place. It was the only place for us locals to meet other than the Beir Stuub.

[DonaldBattles]

God only knows what is coming for Chiang Rai. For sure people from Bangkok are coming in large forces. Don't think that the Minor Group will open another Burger King in Chiang Rai. If you notice MacDonalds there are a few young Thais eating there and does not justify the cost of the operation.

What Chiang Rai needs is a good hamburger joint. Making a good burger is about the quality of the beef, cooking and the ingredients Previously I had the opportunity to provide burger pattys to Burger King. It should be noted that the pressing machines for both Burger King and MacDonalds involves punching holes in he burger when it is pressed. This way you think you are getting a lot of beef because it covers the bread. Not sure about the weights and mixtures now but before they were 50-80 grams and 50% fat. There is only supplier of quality beef in Thailand and they stay sold out most of the time.

[villagefarang]

On my drive to town I have been watching a few big “scrapes” and wondered at first what they might be. Eventually they have been leveled and covered with concrete. With open sided storage and small weighing stations, they are clearly meant for processing the cassava harvest in the area.

Before, they just used the dried out rice fields for drying and sorting the cassava root, but if the rains came early, they had a big mess and probably lost some of their product.

So these “scrapes” are a direct result of an agricultural boom, at least away from town in our direction.

[Big Gary]

God only knows what is coming for Chiang Rai. For sure people from Bangkok are coming in large forces. Don't think that the Minor Group will open another Burger King in Chiang Rai. If you notice MacDonalds there are a few young Thais eating there and does not justify the cost of the operation.

What Chiang Rai needs is a good hamburger joint. Making a good burger is about the quality of the beef, cooking and the ingredients Previously I had the opportunity to provide burger pattys to Burger King. It should be noted that the pressing machines for both Burger King and MacDonalds involves punching holes in he burger when it is pressed. This way you think you are getting a lot of beef because it covers the bread. Not sure about the weights and mixtures now but before they were 50-80 grams and 50% fat. There is only supplier of quality beef in Thailand and they stay sold out most of the time.

Burger King in Australia ( which trades under the name of Hungry Jacks) claims their beef patties are virtually fat free due to the "Flamed Grilled" cooking process of their burgers. The Fat content is supposed to be "Flamed off".. MacDonalds still grills theirs on a Hot Plate.

Another little story as to why Hungry Jacks name is used in Australia and not Burger King as all over the rest of the world is that when Mac Donalds arrived in Australia I think in the late 60,s, it was way before Burger King arrived and MacDonalds had a jingle in their advertising. One line said Ronald MacDonald is the marvelous magical "Burger King". So having a patent on the Jingle/Song prevented Burger King from using that name in Australia when they arrived on the scene. A bit of trivia again.

[BookMan]

God only knows what is coming for Chiang Rai. For sure people from Bangkok are coming in large forces. Don't think that the Minor Group will open another Burger King in Chiang Rai. If you notice MacDonalds there are a few young Thais eating there and does not justify the cost of the operation.

What Chiang Rai needs is a good hamburger joint. Making a good burger is about the quality of the beef, cooking and the ingredients Previously I had the opportunity to provide burger pattys to Burger King. It should be noted that the pressing machines for both Burger King and MacDonalds involves punching holes in he burger when it is pressed. This way you think you are getting a lot of beef because it covers the bread. Not sure about the weights and mixtures now but before they were 50-80 grams and 50% fat. There is only supplier of quality beef in Thailand and they stay sold out most of the time.

Burger King in Australia ( which trades under the name of Hungry Jacks) claims their beef patties are virtually fat free due to the "Flamed Grilled" cooking process of their burgers. The Fat content is supposed to be "Flamed off".. MacDonalds still grills theirs on a Hot Plate.

Another little story as to why Hungry Jacks name is used in Australia and not Burger King as all over the rest of the world is that when Mac Donalds arrived in Australia I think in the late 60,s, it was way before Burger King arrived and MacDonalds had a jingle in their advertising. One line said Ronald MacDonald is the marvelous magical "Burger King". So having a patent on the Jingle/Song prevented Burger King from using that name in Australia when they arrived on the scene. A bit of trivia again.

A good story but im not sure it is correct

I think you will find that the name 'Burger King' was already trademarked by a burger place in South Australia or WA. The first 'Hungry Jacks' stores, a name chosen by the Australian Franchisee, started in Western Australia.

[Big Gary]

God only knows what is coming for Chiang Rai. For sure people from Bangkok are coming in large forces. Don't think that the Minor Group will open another Burger King in Chiang Rai. If you notice MacDonalds there are a few young Thais eating there and does not justify the cost of the operation.

What Chiang Rai needs is a good hamburger joint. Making a good burger is about the quality of the beef, cooking and the ingredients Previously I had the opportunity to provide burger pattys to Burger King. It should be noted that the pressing machines for both Burger King and MacDonalds involves punching holes in he burger when it is pressed. This way you think you are getting a lot of beef because it covers the bread. Not sure about the weights and mixtures now but before they were 50-80 grams and 50% fat. There is only supplier of quality beef in Thailand and they stay sold out most of the time.

Burger King in Australia ( which trades under the name of Hungry Jacks) claims their beef patties are virtually fat free due to the "Flamed Grilled" cooking process of their burgers. The Fat content is supposed to be "Flamed off".. MacDonalds still grills theirs on a Hot Plate.

Another little story as to why Hungry Jacks name is used in Australia and not Burger King as all over the rest of the world is that when Mac Donalds arrived in Australia I think in the late 60,s, it was way before Burger King arrived and MacDonalds had a jingle in their advertising. One line said Ronald MacDonald is the marvelous magical "Burger King". So having a patent on the Jingle/Song prevented Burger King from using that name in Australia when they arrived on the scene. A bit of trivia again.

A good story but im not sure it is correct

I think you will find that the name 'Burger King' was already trademarked by a burger place in South Australia or WA. The first 'Hungry Jacks' stores, a name chosen by the Australian Franchisee, started in Western Australia.

Yes you are right as I was told it was a MacDonalds store in South Australia but now know it wasnt. They still couldnt use the name Burger King.

[Aftrmidnyt]

The very large piece of land across from our house in Rim Kok has been cleared and a G'zillion (one digit less than B'zillion!) loads of dirt brought in. This has happened since I left in January and returned in June. Mrs. Aft sez there was a sign up briefly that it was for sale in 3 rai parcels. The sign is now gone and so is all of the vegetation. I'll have to make some inquiries as to what is going on there. On the bright side, that noisy "Off-Key Karaoke" Bar is also gone! Maybe I should have posted this under the "Good Things" thread. haha