CM hotel connected to four deaths gets police all clear

Police have ruled out foul play after four people staying at a Chiang Mai hotel died over a 16-day period.

Two foreign tourists and a Thai tour guide were all found dead in the DOWNTOWN INN Hotel in Chiang Mai’s Muang district last month. A third foreigner staying at the hotel later died in hospital.

Despite some coincidences and similarities in the deaths, police do not believe any of the victims were murdered.

The first death was that of Thai tour guide Waraporn Yingmahasaranont, 47, whose body was found in front of the bathroom inside her fifth-floor room on Feb 3. Police said she had suffered from diarrhoea before her death.

On Feb 18, New Zealand tourist Sarah Carter, 23, was killed by an apparent bout of food poisoning.

Hotel staff interviewed by police said Carter and two foreign friends, who had also checked in to a room on the fifth floor, had brought barbecued pork and chicken back to the hotel that night and later became violently ill.

The staff took them to a local hospital, where Carter died. The two friends recovered and have since left Thailand.

Pol Lt Col Sawat Lakas, deputy chief of Muang district police in Chiang Mai, said investigators were still waiting for results of the post-mortem examination on Carter and Waraporn.

The next night, an elderly British couple died in their fourth-floor room.

A post-mortem examination confirmed both George Everly, 78, and Elean Everly, 74, died as a result of an unusual enlargement of their heart muscles with blocked arteries, Pol Lt Col Sawat said.

However despite the coincidence, doctors found no trace of poison in their stomachs, nor did police find any evidence of a struggle in the room.

The deputy chief said all three of the guests who died at the hotel had locked their rooms from the inside.

Hotel manager Thanthep Boonkaew has been called for questioning by police.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/225026/chiang-mai-hotel-connected-to-four-deaths-gets-police-all-clear

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Coincidentally, I don’t believe in coincidences.

Amari Rincome Hotel will close 1May-2011

The following was sent to hotel executives in the Chiang Mai area:

Dear all executives,

Greeting from Amari Rincome Chiang Mai ka. I’m Ping- the HR Manager of Amari Rincome.

It is my sadness to announce that on 1st May 2011, the 42-year old Amari Rincome Chiang Mai will close its doors to facilitate a new urban development project which will include a new, smaller Amari hotel. The 85-room property will be part of a larger redevelopment project which includes a community mall, retail areas, cinemas and restaurants.

Amari Rincome has been an integral part of the local community for over 40 years. It is therefore with sadness that we announce the end of this particular era. My team members were officially informed yesterday regarding to the transformation plan issue and their last working day will be on 30th April which coming very soon.

However, it will be my great pleasure to have your kind support for the list of vacancies in your property. This will be very useful information for my team to prepare and plan themselves for those who could not travel out to be a part of others Amari properties.

Hope to hear from all of you very soon. And sorry if I miss some contact.

Thank you very much in advance for your kind support and regards,

Ping

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It’s a very nice hotel, and wish them the very best with their  new venture.

However, what I’m going to miss most is the wonderful lunch buffet at the La Gritta Restaurant.

Chiang Mai – Viangbua Mansion – review

STRUCTURE:

The building is a modern eight-story high rise, and is approximately five-YEARS-old.

Note: The maintenance, unlike many places in S.E. Asia is outstanding, and could easily be, ‘five-MONTHS-old’.

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ATMOSPHERE:

The lobby and the rooms are beautifully designed in the Lanna (Northern Thai) style.

Reference – Photo Gallery: Rooms, Lobby, Coffee Shop, and City View.

http://www.viangbuamansion-chiangmai.com/photo_gallery_service_apartment.htm

Note: They might not always be available when you book, but if I were you, I would request to be on the mountain side; i.e. the Doi Suthep side.

Reference – “Freeing the Birds – by Ed Liembacher’ post:

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/freeing-the-birds-by-ed-liembacher/

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LOCATION:

First of all, it’s NOT in the touristy Night Bazaar/Thapae Gate area, nor is it in the yuppified Ninmanheiman area; which by the way, I love both areas of town.

Q:  Where is it then?

A: It’s in a very Thai neighborhood called Chang Puek, which is located about a mile north of the moat.

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Q: Why would I want to stay there?

A: Well, presumably you are coming to Thailand to ‘experience Thailand’; in Chang Puek you can do that, 24/7.

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Q: How?

A: Right next door to the Viangbua is the Thanin Market, which I believe is the FINEST market in Chiang Mai.

I mean it’s got everything: food stalls, fresh fruits and vegetables, bakery goods, everythinggggg!

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Q: What if I want to buy a bag of Pepperidge Farm Milk Chocolate Macadamia Cookies ®; does the Thainin Market have those; huh, huh, huh?

A: Possibly/probably not, but a five-minute walk up the main road is a newly renovated Tops Supermarket, and they got ‘em, plus a gazillion other items to cure the ‘homesick blues’.

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Q: I KNOW I will want to go the Night Bazaar/Taepae Gate and the Nimmanheiman areas; how do I get there?

A: If you ended up eating the WHOLE bag of Pepperidge Farm Milk Chocolate Macademia Cookies ® I would suggest you might want to spend twenty-thirty minutes walking to the above mention areas via the very colorful  back streets (sois).

>>> Reference – ‘Chiang Mai –Buddhism’ post:

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2009/05/17/chiang-mai-buddhism/

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>>> Reference – “I believe the literal translation of …” post:

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2009/05/09/i-believe-the-literal-translation-of/

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Q: Are there other means of transportation available?

A: Of course.

>>> Reference – “Chiang Mai – toolin’ rond town” post:

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/chiang-mai-%e2%80%93-toolin%e2%80%99-round-town/

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>>> Reference – “Chiang Mai –Samlors” post:

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/chiang-mai-samlors/

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CLEANLINESS:

In one word, SUPERB!

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SERVICE QUALITY:

From the guard out front, to the desk staff, to the housekeepers, to the Manager, it is ‘absolutely top of the line’.

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FACILITIES:

There’s a beauty shop, and a room with washers and dryers on the ground floor; and a fitness room on the second floor.

Viangbua Mansion has cable TV and WIFI in each room, and free internet access in the lobby.

Unlike many hotels in Thailand, the rooms come with very good American style showers, and ALWAYS a sufficient supply of hot water.

>>> Reference – Photo Gallery:  restaurant, fitness room, etc, etc.

http://www.viangbuamansion-chiangmai.com/facilities.htm

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FOOD and BEVERAGE:

The restaurant is open from 7 until 3 and serves both Thai and Falang (foreign) dishes. Room service is available, as is a coffee shop in the lobby.

In addition to the food stalls next door at the Thainin market, directly across the street is the Spirit House Restaurant and Bar.

>>> Reference – ‘Chiang Mai – Spirit House Restaurant and Bar’” post:

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/chiang-mai-%e2%80%93-spirit-house-restaurant-bar/

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SECURITY:

In addition to the guard out front, security is tight throughout the building because you need a electronic floor specific keycard to access the elevator and stairwell, and of course the guest rooms.

Every room has a safe.

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PRICE:

There are several types of rooms, ranging from studios to one bedroom; with daily, weekly, and monthly rates.

>>> Reference – Viangbua Mansion ‘Room Descriptions’ and Rates:

http://www.viangbuamansion-chiangmai.com/room_rate.htm

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SUMMARY:

First of all, Chiang Mai has an incredibly wide range of accommodations, ranging from the top end Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental, to very good Guest Houses, to unbelievably skanky Guest Houses.

However, baht for baht, dollar for dollar, I believe the Viangbua Mansion is a TERRIFIC VALUE, whether for a single night, or an extended stay.