Jockey Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Why not join the Chiang Mai Hash House Harriers? http://www.chiangmaihhh.com/ You don't need to be fit. Many just walk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beetlejuice Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 What a really great and very useful post. I moved in from Bang Saray to Jomtien because I was bored and felt isolated (about 4 Kilometers from the village itself) in a Thai Moban. I don't drink and am not interested in socialising in bars. Since moving here, myself and "she who must be obeyed" no longer needs to be obeyed as we have split up, so now feel just as isolated in Jomtien. The topic the OP has started would be more than useful if one covered many more areas, particularly where a bunch of foreigners might be lightly to live permanently, or long stayers. I remember a good while back. before I met my one time beloved, and looking for "my true love" saying to a friend...wouldn't it be nice if there was a good old fashioned "singles club" or "dance" where a person looking to meet a companion might go to meet members of the opposite sex (or same, whatever tickles your fancy) not the short time relationships that can easily be found in Pattaya. I, like the OP, would be interested in any ideas out there. When I was with the "other half" (8 years together) this problem didn't arise, we would travel around Thailand every 5 or six weeks and life was pretty full. We also had a house and that can keep you pretty busy too. Feel free to PM me if you wish. Not to worry though, I consider these "luxury problems" compared to the problems many others have in today's sad world for those less fortunate than ourselves. If you were bored in Bang Saray, than I don`t recommend moving to Chiang Mai. I am fortunate because I’m well established in Chiang Mai, have a home and a family here and not living in isolation. If not for that, I would never contemplate remaining in Chiang Mai. Solo farangs who decide to plonk themselves in Chiang Mai, having no friends, family or close contacts here have my sympathy, because in Chiang Mai it is extremely difficult gaining social circles as there is no ex-pat scene as such and the one’s you may meet when out and about are hardly approachable and can even be openly obnoxious. As far as I know there are no free non commercial social groups or clubs that have regular meetings purely for the sake of socialising other than what I have already mentioned in my previous post that cater for more specialist themes, which may not be to everyone’s tastes. I am 60 years old but still active and young at heart; mix well with the younger crowds. So every 6 weeks I nip off and spend a few days in Bangkok for my jollies. As regards meeting members of the opposite sex in Chiang Mai, for farangs again the venues are extremely limited or non-existent. There are probably hundreds of free on-line dating websites that are very limited where Chiang Mai is concerned. For meeting women in view of forming long term or permanent relationships, you may have better successes where are are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinnieTheKhwai Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 * Songthaew Surfing. * Identifying stuff at 10 meters distance in March. * Moat rat hunting. * Competitive road crossing at Thapae * Chinese tourist dodging etc. Now, you're onto something, Winnie! When we first moved here, I missed our dog, a terrier. We'd found a good home for her before we left. She was a farm dog, a good ratter. I must admit, after I saw the moat rats I wondered if we'd made the right decision. Perhaps we could have brought her over and started doing urban ratting with her. Strictly as a community service project, of course. Urban ratting! Although.. At home you can take a good dog ratting, but around the moat I'd worry about rats going dogging. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammygood Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 become a ghost writer as a hobby but it might pay peanuts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masuk Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Each year, she rents it out from early Nov thru Feb and comes up here to Chiang Mai, living in a guest house and throwing herself into all the many social activities. She says she makes enough income from the few months of rental to pay her expenses for the entire year and finds the few months of socializing here to be about right. Does she own the whole building, or live in a monastery during the other 9 months? Anyway, for Chiang Mai hobbies I think it would be good if they are specifically Chiang Mai related; clearly you can do just about any generic hobby as well here as anywhere else in the world. So with that in mind: * Songthaew Surfing. * Identifying stuff at 10 meters distance in March. * Moat rat hunting. * Competitive road crossing at Thapae * Chinese tourist dodging etc. HAHA! Some great ideas there Winnie the Kwai. I'm sure we could all add some more hobbies, such as using a zebra crossing expecting everyone to stop. (hospital bills not included); How far you can get pushing a baby pram on a Chiang Mai footpath, or even how far can a pedestrian walk without being forced onto the road by signs, stalls or m/bikes. HOWEVER, there are quite a few expat social activities, as I suggested earlier. The expat breakfast is very popular, but not the sort of food I'd eat at that time of the day, but there are some who enjoy pancakes, pork, bacon, muffins and so on. It's also a good place to meet other expats, if that's your scene. This Saturday morning is the Expats' General meeting, and almost always there's an interesting guest speaker. At our last Birdwatching outing, one couple commented how nice it was to get out and just walk in the forest. Give it a go!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slipperylobster Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Here are two.. Bitchin and moanin' on TV 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesimps Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 (edited) Wouldn't recommend 'mongering' as a hobby, the girly bars there are rubbish. Edited July 23, 2015 by jesimps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HughJass Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 theres a sword fencing club just off the ringroad in Jed Yod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza40 Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 I guess you're a guy, aren't you Larry? Many women I know have gotten into having regular manicures, pedicures, massages and spa treatments. I've actually seen a few straight guys around here with color on their nails. After all, it is one of the few beauty treatments where you get to admire the results yourself. There are many good and reasonably priced spas and nail salons in Chiang Mai. Many women (anyway) find they kick up their grooming standards a notch once they move to Chiang Mai. A lot of us guys have regular massage "treatments" as well. Are you a wombat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryBird Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 theres a sword fencing club just off the ringroad in Jed Yod This sounds cool, do they have equipment available for beginners for rent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryBird Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 Why not join the Chiang Mai Hash House Harriers? http://www.chiangmaihhh.com/ You don't need to be fit. Many just walk. Thanks for that, I didn't realize they have a website.. It looks like they have a run just about to go off at 5pm tonight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bangmai Posted July 23, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2015 I've taken online courses in carpentry, electrical studies, plumbing, First Aid, Advanced First Aid, appliance repair, C programming language, Linux, Web Development, and currently at www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com. The total cost: ZERO! Some of the courses were better than anything I took at a school system that drives housing prices through the roof. The construction related courses were developed by USAID. I would actually like a "jobby" teaching part-time, but I don't like the paperwork situation. Gambling opportunities are endless, and that can be a full-time job. Trading stocks in the US (also gambling) can take a lot of your time, too. But, it's a fun way to spend a quiet night, as the market hours are now 20:30-04:00....you can follow the action for free by watching www.bloomberg.com online. I actually bought a house in Arizona from an internet cafe in Chiang Rai back in 2010. Every once in a while, I run some former students names through the Department of Corrections database to see if they are still locked up. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circusman Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Wow, NancyL, that's all you've got? Not Nancy`s fault, because that`s about all there is in Chiang Mai. If you enjoy dining out, there are numerous nondescript little restaurants scattered across and around the city, or there are various shopping malls for hanging out, where many people go having not much else to do, no real nightlife or adult entertainments worth mentioning, loads of old granny massage parlours and expensive spas if you like that sort of thing, otherwise can`t think of much else. There is Nancy`s Expats club that is the main and probably the only social club in Chiang Mai, and a few other regular events on the Chiang Mai Meetup and facebook pages that mostly include specialist activities such as Yoga, meditation and strange dance rituals. Much depends on your age. Many elderly nearing the end of their lives like Chiang Mai for it`s tranquillity and perhaps feel the city is their last grazing ground before fading away peacefully into oblivion. The point being, it depends on age and what you enjoy doing? "Much depends on your age. Many elderly nearing the end of their lives like Chiang Mai for it`s tranquillity and perhaps feel the city is their last grazing ground before fading away peacefully into oblivion" I must say thank you for pointing that out to us who are fading away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangmai Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Edit--market closes at 03:00, this time of year, 04:00 when the US goes on DST.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul944 Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 South east of CM there is a little private airfield. I did meet a retired airliner pilot there who builds experimental planes. You can become a member of the flying club and take flying lessons. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgenon Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 My friend does birding 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhatmasterson Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 The Gate Theater Group are auditioning for 3 plays. They also need stage directors and set & lighting designers. https://www.facebook.com/TheGateTheater/posts/851083051613080 www.gate-theater.com 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlodnick Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Nobody mention gardening yet? I find it very relaxing and useful. The wife and I always have enough organic vegetables for ourselves and some for the neighbors. If space is an issue, how about flowers and plants? I grow chun chom (desert rose). They are beautiful, no 2 are alike and easy and inexpensive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HughJass Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 theres a sword fencing club just off the ringroad in Jed Yod This sounds cool, do they have equipment available for beginners for rent? they have equipment for you to borrow at no charge..there seemed to be 3 or 4 farang guys that were the core along with a couple of thai women and some teenagers...all very friendly,unfortunalely for me an old leg injury has excluded me from taking up the activity...heres the facebook link https://www.facebook.com/ChiangmaiFencing found another useful link with lawn bowling ,bridge clubs,judo scrabble and more http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/current/happenings.shtml 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiniyeow Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 I used to do Archery as a hobby back in the states until the arthritis in my neck got too bad. it was a lot of fun. I believe that there is an archery range just off the SW part of the moat if I'm not mistaken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loptr Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 I used to do Archery as a hobby back in the states until the arthritis in my neck got too bad. it was a lot of fun. I believe that there is an archery range just off the SW part of the moat if I'm not mistaken. There is an archery range on the same property as the Star Dome Golf course... I've got more hobbies than I have time to enjoy them all... Cycling Motorcycles Golf Gym Swimming Cooking R/C airplanes Reading Travel / exploring new places Learning more Thai language Socializing (if that's a hobby) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibeachlovers Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 You give no info as to what you live in. If you live in a house, gardening is a worthwhile hobby and you can eat the results. If it's your own house, DIY has given me many happy hours working on ours. Usually do a better job than the hired workmen too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiniyeow Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 You might also be interested in what I just started, learning how to play guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinnieTheKhwai Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 (edited) So, it turns out I was not joking with the Songthaew Surfing. Followed this dude pretty much from Thapae/Kotchasarn to around the corning on LK, occasionally hanging on to the Songthaew Red Bus to maintain speed. Now, I've actually done that myself, but only on a bicycle. This is much closer to actual Songthaew Surfing. Edited July 27, 2015 by WinnieTheKhwai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibeachlovers Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 So, it turns out I was not joking with the Songthaew Surfing. Followed this dude pretty much from Thapae/Kotchasarn to around the corning on LK, occasionally hanging on to the Songthaew Red Bus to maintain speed. Now, I've actually done that myself, but only on a bicycle. This is much closer to actual Songthaew Surfing. Can't see him lasting long. The roads are so bad that small wheels like that will either fall in a hole, or self destruct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masuk Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Why not join the Chiang Mai Hash House Harriers? http://www.chiangmaihhh.com/ You don't need to be fit. Many just walk. Thanks for that, I didn't realize they have a website.. It looks like they have a run just about to go off at 5pm tonight? That's certainly a well-kept secret. I've been here 3 years and often wondered why there was no CMHHH. ON-ON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryBird Posted October 19, 2015 Author Share Posted October 19, 2015 Thanks everyone for the good suggestions. I've started reading a bit more, and gone on some walks in some of the nice trails in doi suthep. I will be looking to go to the fencing club either this week or next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mapguy Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 I guess you're a guy, aren't you Larry? Many women I know have gotten into having regular manicures, pedicures, massages and spa treatments. I've actually seen a few straight guys around here with color on their nails. After all, it is one of the few beauty treatments where you get to admire the results yourself. There are many good and reasonably priced spas and nail salons in Chiang Mai. Many women (anyway) find they kick up their grooming standards a notch once they move to Chiang Mai. Good to know ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orang37 Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Watching Geckos catching insects makes time fly, and is a cheaper hobby than many others. ~o:37; 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibeachlovers Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 I always found playing Connect 5 to be an enjoyable hobby . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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