Snow! In Chiang Mai!

[Frank James]

It's beginning to look like...PROMO!

We had lunch in the basement of Maya Lifestyle Mall today. The food was great and the price was right. Upstairs, the place seems to be filling in with more shops, and there were a lot of Sunday shoppers. Maybe the place will meet the expectations of its developers yet.

The downside: there is no ATM anywhere on the premises for Bangkok Bank. Maybe they were not involved in the financing? There were ATMs for other banks, but not in large, logical easy-to-find clusters as found at KSK or Central Airport Plaza. I had to hike a fair distance up Nimmanhaemen Rd. to get to the Bangkok Bank branch (I KNOW you don't care!) and after that was not inclined to return to Maya. If they want people to spend cash in their mall, they need to stick ATMs from every bank in there, and make them easy to find.

For music they played a version of “Santa Claus is Comin' to Town” CONTINUOUSLY. It was sung by some unknown lounge singer who sounded vaguely like the late Bobby Darin. Imagine being a musically aware person, and having to work there all day, with that ONE SONG endlessly looping! Arrrggghhhhh!

Across the road, at the former “Think Park”, which has now become some sort of mini-mall, was the strangest “seasonal” promotion I have ever seen. They have bought in many tons of pure, fine, blindingly white SALT (!) and spread it all over the steps, sidewalks and courtyard. This is meant to simulate snow. There are a bunch of dead trees stuck around randomly, painted to look as if they have been snowed upon. The salt is at an average depth of 2 – 3 inches. It feels very strange to walk on.

Children were playing in the stuff, making little “snowmen”. After just a short time walking around in the area, watching people who seemed to be enjoying themselves, I could feel the extra dryness in the air, and tasted salt for an hour afterward. I got very thirsty. It was like a mini-journey across the salt flats of the great deserts, only with lots of happy Thai people milling about, taking pictures.

They also dumped liberal amounts of salt on the rose bushes around the perimeter. Wonder what will happen when they water those.

Only in Thailand...

[narkeddiver]

Hmm - hopefully they don't choose to hose all that salt into these were when they're done

[mania]

The downside: there is no ATM anywhere on the premises for Bangkok Bank. Maybe they were not involved in the financing?

There were ATMs for other banks, but not in large, logical easy-to-find clusters as found at KSK or Central Airport Plaza.

I had to hike a fair distance up Nimmanhaemen Rd. to get to the Bangkok Bank branch (I KNOW you don't care!)

and after that was not inclined to return to Maya. If they want people to spend cash in their mall, they need to stick ATMs from every bank in there, and make them easy to find.

All major bank ATM's take Bangkok Bank cards with no fee added

Give you a receipt as normal.

I often use K bank & SCB with my Bangkok Bank card

[MESmith]

Thanks for the heads up not to drive ANYWHERE in that area for the next few weeks. The last thing we want on the roads around here is SALT.

[elektrified]

You can use any ATM. No fees.

[bangmai]

there is a BKK branch and a Krungsri about 400m W. on the same side of HK. Good sidewalk. Easier than Nimman branch; no busy streets to cross (or walk in). It's that new Harbour Plaza or something like that with a usually empty beer garden out front.

[Mapguy]

Vide the salt for snow. Only in Thailand? Well, yeah, but maybe someone here saw it in Dubai first!

[JulieM]

Last week I roughly counted 1,000 very large bags of salt being stored in the parking garage of the Eastin Hotel in Think Park (it still is called Think Park.)

I couldn't imagine what it was for. Silly me...I should have guessed. I was walking around there today. The salt even feels like snow under your feet, and the place is packed with people.

Edited December 21, 2014 by JulieM

[Shurup]

You almost scared the poop out of me, I'm going on a bike road trip from Korat to CM in Jan and will do some random camping along the way, the last thing I want is to feel like I'm camping back in Canada!

[northernjohn]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The downside: there is no ATM anywhere on the premises for Bangkok Bank. Maybe they were not involved in the financing?

There were ATMs for other banks, but not in large, logical easy-to-find clusters as found at KSK or Central Airport Plaza.

I had to hike a fair distance up Nimmanhaemen Rd. to get to the Bangkok Bank branch (I KNOW you don't care!)

and after that was not inclined to return to Maya. If they want people to spend cash in their mall, they need to stick ATMs from every bank in there, and make them easy to find.

All major bank ATM's take Bangkok Bank cards with no fee added

Give you a receipt as normal.

I often use K bank & SCB with my Bangkok Bank card

Don't a lot of merchants also take ATM cards?

[eyecatcher]

Thanks for the heads up not to drive ANYWHERE in that area for the next few weeks. The last thing we want on the roads around here is SALT.

no worries about finding a slug on your lettuce in the eateries then.

[searcher22]

The Think Park covered in "snow" and decorated for Christmas is quite charming. There were also some "snowflakes" blowing around in certain sections. Hundreds of people were walking around and taking pictures, and kids loved it. I'm from Canada and it really felt like I was in a nordic town. Kudos to the Think Park for their creativity! Now if only a bit of REAL snow could fall in Chiang Mai for a month or so!

[jabis]

Almost had a heart attack regarding this post 30 long cold and dark winters in slush & snow makes Jabis a dull boy - no need to reiterate please

[WinnieTheKhwai]

It's not completely impossible...

(Rural Chiang Rai in 1955)

[gir1]

salt environmental disaster in the making.

[mania]

Don't a lot of merchants also take ATM cards?

Since ATM is usually also a debit card most good size stores & restaurants do.

I mainly use ATM's for smaller shop purchases/cash

Edited December 21, 2014 by mania

[jabis]

It's not completely impossible...

(Rural Chiang Rai in 1955)

That taught me a few new words in Thai language, so have to thank you, kind sir; The words were 'Hima' as in snow and 'thok' as to fall, and also made me wonder whoever has transliterated the word seiayang to chiang - all new stuff for my brain to try and wrap around, especially after a loooong evening with beverages

I still hope that no 'hima thok' for the next years to come

Edited December 22, 2014 by jabis

[Traveling Sailor]

Vide the salt for snow. Only in Thailand? Well, yeah, but maybe someone here saw it in Dubai first!

With all the extra, sitting around, rotting in warehouses, they could have used rice. It's white isn't it?

[Kasset Tak]

We have what the locals call "hima damm" here in Kampheng Phet... It's the ashes and pollution from burning the sugar cane fields that's flowing around in the air.

[quidnunc]

The downside: there is no ATM anywhere on the premises for Bangkok Bank. Maybe they were not involved in the financing?

There were ATMs for other banks, but not in large, logical easy-to-find clusters as found at KSK or Central Airport Plaza.

I had to hike a fair distance up Nimmanhaemen Rd. to get to the Bangkok Bank branch (I KNOW you don't care!)

and after that was not inclined to return to Maya. If they want people to spend cash in their mall, they need to stick ATMs from every bank in there, and make them easy to find.

All major bank ATM's take Bangkok Bank cards with no fee added

Give you a receipt as normal.

I often use K bank & SCB with my Bangkok Bank card

Not if you have the Bangkok Bank ATM card with the security chip. And given the level of fraud here, that's the only kind i would use.

[mania]

All major bank ATM's take Bangkok Bank cards with no fee added

Give you a receipt as normal.

I often use K bank & SCB with my Bangkok Bank card

Not if you have the Bangkok Bank ATM card with the security chip. And given the level of fraud here, that's the only kind i would use.

Mine which I have had for many years now does not have a chip so I don't know....

But I would not have a ATM/Debit card that was attached to any real money anyway so it is

never going to be a problem.Since a ATM/Debit card can only be used vs balance available

No credit attached.

My ATM/Debit is attached to a small account I feed from larger accounts that have no card access at all.

Edited December 22, 2014 by mania

[junglechef]

Turning into a snowball fight? (at least i'm trying to get this thread back on topic )

[mania]

Turning into a snowball fight? (at least i'm trying to get this thread back on topic )

The ATM part was On Topic since it was part of Original Post

But yes snowball or saltball fight

I had wondered if the kids tried it

Would sure sting the eyes of the recipient

[Sophon]

The downside: there is no ATM anywhere on the premises for Bangkok Bank. Maybe they were not involved in the financing?

There were ATMs for other banks, but not in large, logical easy-to-find clusters as found at KSK or Central Airport Plaza.

I had to hike a fair distance up Nimmanhaemen Rd. to get to the Bangkok Bank branch (I KNOW you don't care!)

and after that was not inclined to return to Maya. If they want people to spend cash in their mall, they need to stick ATMs from every bank in there, and make them easy to find.

All major bank ATM's take Bangkok Bank cards with no fee added

Give you a receipt as normal.

I often use K bank & SCB with my Bangkok Bank card

You can use any ATM. No fees.

Above is only partly true. The first four transactions each month using another bank's ATMs are free, after that Bangkok Bank charges 10 Baht per transaction.

Sophon

[mania]

The downside: there is no ATM anywhere on the premises for Bangkok Bank. Maybe they were not involved in the financing?

There were ATMs for other banks, but not in large, logical easy-to-find clusters as found at KSK or Central Airport Plaza.

I had to hike a fair distance up Nimmanhaemen Rd. to get to the Bangkok Bank branch (I KNOW you don't care!)

and after that was not inclined to return to Maya. If they want people to spend cash in their mall, they need to stick ATMs from every bank in there, and make them easy to find.

All major bank ATM's take Bangkok Bank cards with no fee added

Give you a receipt as normal.

I often use K bank & SCB with my Bangkok Bank card

You can use any ATM. No fees.

Above is only partly true. The first four transactions each month using another bank's ATMs are free, after that Bangkok Bank charges 10 Baht per transaction.

Sophon

True if used as follows

"Intra-region cash withdrawal or balance enquiry using a National ATM Pool"

It is always free If using for

"Cash withdrawal or balance enquiry using a Bangkok Bank ATM located within the same province where the account is held"

Scroll down to "ATM Services"

http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/WebServices/HelpCenter/Pages/FeeTable.aspx

Not 100% clear to be honest but know I have never been charged any fees if used within Chiangmai & do often use others machines

but maybe as you say & I have just not used other more than 4 x per month?

When I go to say Nan then I do see a fee...although I forget what it was

Edited December 22, 2014 by mania

[A1Str8]

Salt! In Chiang mai! Would be more accurate.

[tookwan cottage]

Do you know how disappointed I am because it is fake snow?? I was highly skeptical, but you gotta watch the headlines!

[Frank James]

Thanks for all of the ATM info. I wanted a Bangkok Bank ATM because I needed to transfer some baht from my account into my Wife's BKK account. I don't know all of the tricks, which to you high rollers is child's play.

As for the salt, I was concerned for the little kids, who have been known to put random stuff into their mouths and eyes. It will be interesting to see how they remove all of that salt, and where they will dispose of it.

Edited December 22, 2014 by Frank James

[cruisemonkey]

I hope the locals don't go to the mall, see the 'snow'... and go home to get drunk & eat poisonous animals.

[oztaurus]

The downside: there is no ATM anywhere on the premises for Bangkok Bank. Maybe they were not involved in the financing?

There were ATMs for other banks, but not in large, logical easy-to-find clusters as found at KSK or Central Airport Plaza.

I had to hike a fair distance up Nimmanhaemen Rd. to get to the Bangkok Bank branch (I KNOW you don't care!)

and after that was not inclined to return to Maya. If they want people to spend cash in their mall, they need to stick ATMs from every bank in there, and make them easy to find.

All major bank ATM's take Bangkok Bank cards with no fee added

Give you a receipt as normal.

I often use K bank & SCB with my Bangkok Bank card

... unless you have one of the BKK Bank chipped cards, which only work in BKK Bank ATM's