Chiang Mai – Suitee Sae-lim (52) Gecko [tukkae] man

Via: Chiang Mai City Life

I am originally from Songkhla and now live in Chiang Mai. I’ve bred geckos for sale for over 3 years. Though I have two small geckos as pets, I can’t bear to part with them.

When I began raising gecko I often got bitten by them on my hands. After a while I began to fall in love with these creatures. I believe all animals can be trained. My two geckos are named ‘Ar-Pao’ and ‘Chao Tua Lek.’

I advise people not to fear geckos, they are usually more afraid of you, but if you are ever bitten by a gecko, put your hand in a vat of water and it will let go. (yeah well, that’s helpful to know)

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Read about more ‘Off the Wall’ people, HERE:

http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=3502

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Related post (Tokay Gecko):

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2011/05/27/tokay-gecko/

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Chiang Mai – The Malls are Coming Fast and Furious…

Via: City News – Chiang Mai

You might be unaware that within the next three years Chiang Mai will become home to many more malls, with huge developments and small boutique malls about to pop up all over the place. Some projects are already under way while others are planned for the future. Here are some of the malls you can expect to see in the next few years:

(1 of 9).   Central Festival Chiang Mai (see photo)

This huge project was started in 2010 and should be finished in 2013. It is located near The Child and Family Law Court near Big C Extra. Under the same concept as Central Festival Pattaya, it melds Lanna architecture and decorations with modern design. There will be food courts, restaurants, a Depot Office, B2S, Super Sport, fitness centre, SFX Cinema, loads more chains and many small retailers. This is a BIG project. (yeah, you think?)

You can see, and read about, (8) Eight additional mall, HERE:

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=382

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personal thought:

I see a lot of Thai people at the (2) two existing malls, but I don’t see that many buying ‘stuff’.

Who knows, maybe things will change.

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Chiang Mai – Campaign to Prevent Deadly Strain of Dengue Fever

Via: City News – Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Municipality has set up a campaign in an effort to decrease the prevalence of the aedes genus mosquito which is the cause of hemorrhagic fever.

May 2012 at Thapae Gate, Tassanai Buranupakorn, the Chiang Mai Mayor along with his team led activities campaigning for hemorrhagic fever prevention. Tassanai informed the public that Chiang Mai lost quite a few citizens to the fever in the past few years.

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=399

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Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles.

In a small proportion of cases the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs.

Read more, Here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue

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HELPFUL HINTS:

People can prevent mosquito bites by wearing clothing that fully covers the skin, using mosquito netting while resting, and/or the application of insect repellent (DEET) being the most effective).

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PERSONAL THOUGHT:

‘wearing clothing that fully covers the skin’ is probably a very good idea, but it’s DAMNED HOT here, and is not terribly practical.

But repellants works very well. It’s sold everywhere, and is ‘dirt cheap’.

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This could be an ‘Urban Myth’, but it’s my understanding the Aedes mosquito  is VERY TINY, and are considered ‘day time fliers’, which means you should use repellant in the daytime, as well as the evening and after dark.

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Chiang Mai – Entertainment Venues to get back in Line

Via: City News Chiang Mai

On 30^th May, during a meeting between heads of departments, Chiang Mai Provincial Hall, Governor of Chiang Mai, ML Panadda Diskul focused on the social problem of entertainment venues not complying with the laws and regulations.

He voiced concern that many venues breach various laws and have no respect for the law nor neighours and society as a whole. He was also concerned that the Chiang Mai culture is eroded and the excuse of being a ‘tourist centre’ is being used to abuse privileges. He therefore urges authorities to look into this matter, make sure that all venues are legal and in accordance with the law and are not destroying or eroding culture.

 “FROM NOW ON, Chiang Mai is going to get serious about entertainment venues which do not follow the law,” said the governor. “Relevant authorities will be visiting venues to check for any violations and if there are any complaints about the authorities themselves abusing the law or not doing their duty, then we will ledge a letter of complaint to the proper authorities.”

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=392

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Q: Is there perhaps, a local election coming up?

A: Well yes there is, and what is your point?

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Chiang Mai – A Low-Cost Retirement Spot in Asia

Via: U.S. News & World Report

The Thai city of Chiang Mai has long lured expats from the West. As many as 40,000 foreigners currently call Chiang Mai home, at least part of the year. The primary draw is the cost of living and medical care. Both are a global bargain. In addition, Chiang Mai boasts a more temperate climate than much of the rest of this country, as well as modern infrastructure and an abundance of Western amenities.

Thailand has had its share of political unrest in recent years, but Chiang Mai has been largely unaffected. Politics aside, Thailand is the land of smiles. The gentle, unfailingly polite locals endear visitors and welcome foreign retirees.

Located about 435 miles north of Bangkok, Chiang Mai is nestled in a fertile river valley surrounded by mountains. It’s an area rich in history with a culture distinctly different from that in central and southern Thailand. With a population of about 250,000, the city dates back more than 700 years and was originally walled.

The Old City was an integral market and manufacturing center on the busy trade routes between Yunnan province in southern China and the port cities of Burma, where goods traveled to and from the trade centers of India and beyond. Many crafts and raw materials were made and traded here and then distributed throughout the region. Beautiful sculptures, pottery, woodcarvings, silver jewelry, and fabrics continue to be manufactured here. However, tourism has since replaced commercial trade as the major source of revenue.

The heart of Chiang Mai lies within its old city walls, where dozens of ancient and modern Buddhist temples coexist alongside public and international schools and residential and commercial neighborhoods. Street markets and festivals occur almost nightly, and there’s a great array of restaurants catering to all tastes. For these reasons, many expats choose to live in the center of the city, within the ancient walls, where they also enjoy affordable rentals and close proximity to all services.

Chiang Mai has grown beyond the ancient walls, and now extends for several miles in every direction. Large shopping complexes are located along a superhighway and a multi-lane, controlled-access ring road that circles the outskirts of the city. Mega-malls and big multinational grocery and department stores line the superhighway access roads, creating many shopping options for retirees.

Upscale neighborhoods include the area north of the Mae Ping River, which is popular among affluent foreigners. Another well-regarded area among expats is the neighborhood around Thanon Nimmanhemin and Thanon Huay Kaew, where you can find housing in all price ranges. Located a short taxi ride or a 20-minute walk west of the Old City, this area has dozens of popular restaurants and nightclubs, modern shopping malls, and excellent medical facilities.

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The cost of living in Chiang Mai is reasonable, largely because the cost of housing can be a bargain. A retired couple could live here comfortably on a budget of as little as $1,000 to $1,200 per month. You could rent a furnished studio apartment in a nice area for as little as $300 per month. A bigger, better appointed place might rent for $500 per month.

Another important attraction to Thailand and especially Chiang Mai is the standard and cost of medical care. Thailand has become an important medical tourism destination. Medical tourists sometimes find it much less expensive to fly to Thailand and receive treatment than to have the same procedures performed in their home countries, even allowing for the cost of international travel. You can see an English-speaking doctor for as little as $20. More serious care also can cost a fraction of what it would in the U.S. A heart bypass, for example, that might cost more than $100,000 in the U.S., costs only $10,000 in Thailand. A total hip replacement in Thailand costs around $11,000, while the same procedure in the U.S. can cost seven times as much.

Retiree Paul Richard considered many options in Thailand, including Samui, Phuket, and Hua Hin. He chose Chiang Mai over those other places because of its climate and “the people seemed a lot friendlier and more helpful” than in other areas he visited. Richard also likes that Chiang Mai is home to such an established community of fellow foreign retirees. “Chiang Mai has every type of leisure activity you could want from golf, tennis, and bowling to plenty of good Western restaurants and the Chiang Mai Expats Club,” he says.

The Chiang Mai Expats Club, with 650 members, is one of the best ways to become acquainted with this city and to tap into the experience of retirees already living in the area. You could also meet new people at a Lions Club, a Scandinavian Club, an Alliance Française, a Writers Group, a Flying Club, a Radio Amateur Society, and a Rotary Club.

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/On-Retirement/2012/05/21/a-low-cost-retirement-spot-in-asia

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photo link:

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Thailand/North/Chiang_Mai/Chiang_Mai/photo1154732.htm

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Thailand – Transport Ministry: BKK-Chiang Mai high speed rail ready by 2018

Via: NNT

The Transport Minister has expressed confidence that the first high speed railway connecting Bangkok and Chiang Mai will be ready for service by 2018.
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Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan has disclosed that Thailand and China have agreed to conduct a feasibility study on the country’s first high-speed rail project. With Chinese experts surveying the planned route of the Bangkok-Chiang Mai high speed rail construction, which spans over 745 km, it has been suggested that the railway should be constructed to support a velocity of 250-300 km/hour while focusing on passenger transportation.
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The feasibility study of the project will take a year to finalize before construction can commence. The Bangkok-Chiang Mai high speed rail is expected to be ready in service by 2018.  (yeah, right)

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The source of fund remains to be determined based on public interest whether it should solely come from the Thai government’s budget or a government-to-government cooperation.

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Under a total budget of 983.47 billion baht ($31.2 Billion USD), the Transport Ministry has plans to construct 5 high-speed rail routes, including Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Nong Khai, Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani, Bangkok-Rayong, and Bangkok-Padang Besar.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255505220005

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How about interplanetary; say, Bangkok-Uranus?

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Thailand – Children Books – ‘Tua and the Elephant,’ by R. P. Harris

Via : New Your Times

“A  master mahout becomes one with his elephant,” we are told in this charming novel for middle-grade readers.

“He is brother and sister, mother and father, and son and daughter to his elephant. He lives, eats and sleeps with his elephant. He feeds it from his table, and bathes with it in the river. The mahout becomes an elephant, and the elephant becomes a mahout. The two are inseparable. But just as there are all kinds of elephants, so, too, there are all kinds of mahouts.”

Ten-year-old Tua (Thai for “Peanut”) recognizes immediately that the mahouts she sees on a city street with a lovely young elephant are no good. She follows them to their camp, waits until they drink themselves unconscious, then slips off the elephant’s chain. And this is how she finds herself on the streets of Chiang Mai, Thailand, “in the company of a fugitive elephant.”

So begins the adventure in “Tua and the Elephant,” by R. P. Harris and illustrated by Taeeun Yoo. Tua’s story follows one of the great traditions of children’s literature by dispensing quickly with potentially pesky parents. Tua doesn’t appear to have a father, and her mother, doting but overwhelmed, leaves for an evening shift at work within a couple of pages. Left to her own devices, Tua dashes off to Chiang Mai’s popular Night Market, where familiar and loving people ensure Tua is well fed, entertained and parented in absentia.

Harris’s description of the Night Market is an early high point among many providing a glimpse into the tastes, sights and sounds of Thailand.

Read more HERE, and I hope you buy you kids, “Tua and the Elephant”.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/books/review/tua-and-the-elephant-by-r-p-harris.html

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Chiang Mai – 24th on World’s Best Places to Visit (Trip Advisor)

photo: Sun setting behind Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai

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Via: City News – Chiang Mai

The site doesn’t says much about our great nightlife, international dining scene, and other more dynamic daytime activities, though they do praise the elephant parks and nature. That’s enough, another list of bests Chiang Mai joins.

The Full List

<!–[if !supportLists]–>1.    <!–[endif]–>London 2.New York, 3.Rome, 4.Paris, 5.San Francisco, 6.Marrakech, 7.Istanbul, 8.Barcelona, 9.Siem Reap, 10.Berlin, 11.Chicago, 12.Florence, 13.Buenos Aires, 14.Sydney, 15.Beijing, 16.Prague, 17.Las Vegas, 18.Bora Bora, 19.Shanghai, 20.Honolulu, 21.Los Angeles, 22.New Orleans, 23.Cape Town Central, 24.Chiang Mai, 25. Dublin

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personal thought:

It’s a very good place to visit; but an even better place to live.

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Chiang Mai – Hotel History

Via: Chiang Mai Citylife

It’s hard to imagine Chiang Mai without the smattering of hotels that now occupy almost every block in the city. Before 1921, however, there were none.

Then came the Terminus Hotel (see photo above), Chiang Mai’s first accommodation built for tourists, which was founded by Queen Rama VII. Even though the opening of new hotels seems like somewhat of a daily occurrence these days, some hotels have become part of Chiang Mai’s deep history. For example, The Sriprakard Hotel was opened by the first mayor of Chiang Mai, Luang Sriprakard. A short time later, a group of hill tribe people began to sell things in front of the hotel on Chang Klan Road. Little did they know, many years later, this tradition would carry on in what we now know as the famed Night Bazaar.

Some of Chiang Mai’s hotels are more famous than others. The Chiang Mai Orchid (then Hyatt), for example, housed the likes of Lady Diana and Prince Charles and Prince Chow and Rkihito (the Prince of Japan) during what was called ‘Visit Thailand Year’ in 1989. The Orchid was also used as one of the locations in the film ‘Rambo’ as well as being Mel Gibson’s stomping ground during the filming of ‘Air America’.

Chiang Mai is home to some of the best luxury resorts in Thailand. Travel + Leisure Magazine has recognised The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi and The Four Seasons Resort as being among the BEST in the WORLD, recently awarding them the No. 1 and No. 4 spots respectively.

http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=3431

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Chiang Mai – Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi

http://www.mandarinoriental.com/chiangmai/

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Chiang Mai – Four Seasons

http://www.fourseasons.com/chiangmai/

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Chiang Mai – Floating Body Found in the Moat Shocks Bystanders and Police… TWICE!

Via: City News – Chiang Mai

A woman was seen floating belly up in the moat on 23^rd of April at 9 a.m. next to Chang Puak Gate where bystanders had gathered somewhat shocked by the sight of the woman’s body and the flip-flops she had left at the side of the moat.

When authorities arrived at the scene they could hardly get through the throng of people also exacerbated by a heavy traffic jam. The inquiry officials initially feared that it was a murder case, so they asked the Department of Forensic Medicine of Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, and officials at Forensic Science Regional Sub 32, to cooperate in the investigation while the witnesses were still present.

Police officers, a recue team (you would of thought they’d send a rescue team- guess not, huh?) and reporters who had been waiting for over an hour for physicians to arrive at the scene were shocked (shocked, I say!) when someone in the crowd pointed out the hand of the women was moving, which also caused panic and commotion in the crowd.

The rescue team then proceeded to jump into the moat and found the lady, who seemed to around 45 to 50 years old, was still alive!

She was sent to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.

Police thought it was possible that the lady may have been drunk (no kidding?).

Anyone who recognises the lady can contact Maharah Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=181

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