1. I want to rent a motorbike – where can I do that really cheaply?
James:
(actually Brooke, editorial intern): There are many places in Chiang Mai where you can rent a bike for as little as 150 baht a day. Many of these cheaper places have seedy reputations though and may give you damaged bikes and this may end up costing you more in the end. You can try Mr Mechanic on Moon Muang Road. The cheapest bikes (like the Honda Dream 125 or the Honda Wave 125) cost around 200 baht and are well maintained. Overall Mr Mechanic has a really good reputation, good service, and the best long-term rental deals in town. Keep in mind that bike theft is not uncommon here so always use your OWN lock, not the shop’s. For more info about bikes in Chiang Mai check out www.gt-rider.com . And for Mr Mechanic’s website go to http://www.chiangmai-motorcycle-rental.info . Tel: 053 207 124.
2. I just came to Chiang Mai and need a cheaper place to stay – I mean really cheap like around 300 baht a day – where should I stay?
James:
(Brooke): There are many places you can stay for that price range. It’s all about the quality and location. If you are interested in staying in a nice guesthouse for about 300 baht a day you can stay at Banilah in a private room near Nimmanhaemin. Most guesthouses will be significantly lower in quality for that range so chances are you will end up in a no frills type of place. It all depends on the style of living you are interested in. Hostelworld.com offers a wide range of guesthouses and hostels to look at. Might want to check out the places before renting from them. Also if you are staying for a long period of time you should look into getting an apartment. They are usually cheaper than staying at a guesthouse for a long time. It is easy to find a place for 2500+ baht/month. http://www.chiangmai.thaiapartments.net/
3. I’m looking to decorate my new house and want to get some antiques. I know there are a lot of places that lie and say they are selling antiques when they are actually new pieces that are made to look old. Where can I go for a fair price and real antiques?
James:
(Brooke): These days it can be hard to tell which antiques are real and which are reproductions. Ask for their export licenses on anything real. The Golden Triangle or Crossroads Asia in Hang Dong have Thai, Burmese, Chinese, European and international antiques and you can also check out their products online. Naga Naga in Kamthieng Market sells Tribal art, antiques, textiles, beads, ornaments, baskets, etc. All for a good price. There is also the Night Bazaar area for one-stop shopping and Nimmanhaemin Soi 1 for quality, designer products at a price.
Hugh:
I myself would opt to buy the fake antiques. The real ones are too expensive and too hard to identify unless you are an expert. If you want to decorate your house then they would be just as beautiful and much much cheaper. Now if you wanted them for investments then that would be different. But only experts should invest in art and antiques.
4. I’m taking a gap year between high school and college. I have fallen in love with Chiang Mai and want to move here. Is it possible to enroll in college here full time? How would I do that? What colleges do they have here?
James:
(Brooke): Yes. There are several schools in Chiang Mai that offer Undergraduate programmes to English speaking students. Colleges with English programs include Chiang Mai University, Payap University, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University and Mae Jo Agricultural University. Each has a different set of requirements. To find out more about the schools and their requirements you can look them up online or better yet go see a counselor at the school of your choice.
Hugh:
I thought you were taking a ‘gap year’. So why go to school? There are a thousand things you could learn here outside the classroom from agriculture through zoology. But if you are thinking of staying, be aware that Thailand has a siren song, like the one that lured Odysseus’ men. I think everyone should go home after their initial visit here. Think about your experiences in the familiarity of your own home and then decide if an expat’s life in Thailand is for you. Talk to foreign students already here and see what their experiences have been. See if that is the life and educational experience for you. Then your decision will be informed based on logic and not the call of the Thai ‘sirens’.