Editorial
Last week, I received a phone call from a friend of mine who is an ajarn at Chiang Mai University. “Send someone to the Convention Centre on Nimmanhaemin now! There is about to be a large anti-government protest of white V-for-Vendetta-mask-wearing ajarns,” she squealed with excitement. An hour later, our reporter called to say that there were about two dozen men and women wearing Guy Fawkes-inspi … Continued
Clients’ Spot
Doo Dee Pub & Restaurant Looking for somewhere to spend a chilled night out with friends? For good food, good tunes, good brews and plenty of space to enjoy it all, don’t miss Doo Dee Pub. A lively neighbourhood favourite located just south of Chiang Mai Gate, Doo Dee far exceeds expectations with a wide range of excellent 100% MSG-free dishes cooked up by a Thai an … Continued
City7: What To Do On a Rainy Day
WHAT TO DO ON A RAINY DAY It’s raining, it’s pouring…the old man is snoring. But you don’t have to! 1.Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders 72 Nimmanhemin Road, Soi 13 053 211 891 insectmuseum@hotmail.com A crazy, weird and utterly captivating museum cluttered with all sorts of oddities, from a piece of meteorite to a collection of mosquito species named after the museum owners wh … Continued
City Buzz
Eat & Drink Basic Thai Cuisine Situated right off of the busy Rachadamneon Road, Basic Thai Cusine is the perfect place to escape the heat and crowds of the Old City and quell your rumbling tummy at the same time. Step inside and you’ll find a quiet haven for yummy Thai-style breakfast, lunch or dinner. Sophisticated yet inexpensive with plenty of authentic Thai foo … Continued
What’s Happening!
ARTS AND EXHIBITIONS CORNELAGES Now – 28th July @ 116 Art Gallery 089 853 2488 An exquisite paper collage art exhibition by Dutch expat Cornelis Hoek. FLOWER ADMIRER Now – 31st July @ 137 Pillars House 053 247 788 An oil painting exhibition by Nat Posita, displaying both traditional and modern compositions and colours. CONSCIOUS/SUBCONSCIOUS 4th – 28th July @ Chiang Mai University An exhibi … Continued
City Talk
1. Olivia Yerardi, 21Medical Student, AmericanI love going mud sliding down hills. It’s a little harderback home in Colorado because half the time it’s snowing outside, but Thailandis the perfect place to get dirty and go flying down a mud slide! 2. Courtney Winkleman, 22Intern, AmericanThere’s nothing like opening the first page to a new bookI’ve been meaning to read, but never had the tim … Continued
City Talk
01 Rosilda Clark, 24, Traveller, British I love spinning, mainly because of how intense it is. It’s kind of a love/hate relationship because you have someone barking at you to go harder, but it’s so rewarding at the end. . 02 Anupong Sangmeneekam, 22, Student, Thai My best activity is riding motocross into the jungle with my father. I love it not only because I love riding but also becau … Continued
Editorial
Kreng jai. This ubiquitous verb is uniquely Thai, though its sentiments (in spite of Thailand’s claim to it), are universal. The word itself can be interpreted into many layers of meaning, but roughly it is expressed as a kind of self-conscious awareness of others, a sense of consideration, manners, fear of imposition or respect. Better writers than me have tried and failed to succinctly define it … Continued
City Buzz
Citylife has settled comfortably into our lovely new neighbourhood just east of the Ping. A bit of exploring the tree-lined soi that surround our office has revealed a variety of prime lunch spots, and we’ve all got new favourites. Here’s a few we think you might enjoy… “When your eye is in pain, you need to gaze upon the tree. Why?” This is the rather enigmatic slogan for this eccentric little … Continued
Grassroots Shoot for the Stars
All in a Day’s Work Songsri ‘Oy’ Ruankaew is a busy but contented lady. At 39, she has a fledging business, multiple places of work, an adopted 12-year-old son, a car, a motorbike, and best of all, no debt. Life never handed her any of these things. Born to one of the poorest farming families in a farming village in Mae Rim, Oy learnt early in life that if she wanted something, it was up to her to … Continued
City 7: Vegetarian Restaurants
Who needs meat? Chiang Mai is a prime destination for vegetarian goodness. Here are seven of our favourite veg-eateries, listed in no particular order. Enjoy! 1. Brown Rice Organic Bistro Now in a new open-air space in the middle of the Old City, Brown Rice Organic Bistro is a lovely place to linger over healthy juices (G.O.D. – featuring chlorophyll, honey and coconut water – is the perfect refre … Continued
What’s Happening?
Now – 12th June LIFE AMIDST THE RUBBISH @ Pongnoi Community Art Space www.jeffsjournalism.com This photography exhibit by Jeffrey Warner provides a chronological, hour-by-hour window into the daily life of Burmese refugees living on a rubbish dump located on the outskirts of Mae Sot, Thailand. 7th – 27th June THE 3RD BANGKOK TRIENNALE INTERNATIONAL PRINT & DRAWING EXHIBITION @ CMU Art Museum T … Continued
Clients’s Spot
Born to be wild? Get fast and furious without risking your life at Chiang Mai Speedkart, where you can hop into a high-powered professional grade go-kart with a 270 cc engine that will reach speeds of 80 to 90 kilometres per hour. Chiang Mai’s most exciting new adrenaline rush is located on 11 rai of land just off Canal Road, near Royal Park Rajapruek. Here, a 700 metre track is your open road, wi … Continued
Chiang Mai Then and Now
Citylife’s photo editor, Boontawee Russameenin, started working at Citylife in 2000. He left for a few years to go to Australia to gain his diploma degree in photography, then came back to us. He then left again for six months when he had a family emergency, but like a boomerang, he came bouncing back. This time he insists that he is leaving for good, off to become a freelance photographer and spr … Continued
Clients’s Spot
Oasis Spa Baan Saen Doi Heaven is a place on earth, and it can be found at Oasis Spa Baan Saen Doi, the renowned spa chain’s latest Chiang Mai locale. From the moment you enter the property, a teakwood palace ripe with Lanna flavour and surrounded by lush gardens, trickling fountains and mountain views, you’ll feel the worries and stresses of daily life fall away. Tucked away in a quiet, tree-line … Continued
City Buzz
What’s for Lunch Tired of noodle soup? Check out these brand new eateries. My Secret Cafe The best things in life are worth waiting for… or spending a little time seeking out… or just calling to ask for directions. This new and cutely-named bakery and cafe is a bit hidden, but totally worth the journey, with many happy returns guaranteed. Tucked into the middle of an orchard oasis off a grav … Continued
City News
CityNews, Chiang Mai’s first daily-updated English language online news site brought you the city’s biggest news events last month, as well as some hard-hitting feature stories that we hope you enjoyed. So, what happened in Chiang Mai last month? The pollution is on everyone’s lips…and nasal cavities, and eyes, and lungs, and hair… In short, the city’s dreams never came true and in spite of all … Continued
City 7: Wine Buffets in Chiang Mai
Wine Buffets in Chiang Mai Wine is all the rage these days as this previous luxury is becoming more and more affordable throughout Chiang Mai. This month, we show you where the nectar of the gods flows freely… and cheaply. Just don’t blame us for the hangover. 1. Ka-fe-vi-no Defying the old adage about location, this wine bar and restaurant in San Sai Noi is hugely popular for its great internati … Continued
City Talk
01 Na Waves, 23 Student Teacher, Thai I beat the heat in April by slowing down, dressing simply and avoiding strenuous activity. I also make sure to drink lots of water, even if I’m not thirsty. Drinking water keeps your body cool. 02 Martin Talbot, 25 Teacher, British To stay cool this summer I plan to either live in the snow dome at the Chiang Mai Zoo…or move back to England. 03 Aun Dechaboon, … Continued
A Place to Grow: The Kids Ark Foundation
35 years ago, Rita Holm Gustafsson and her husband flew from their hometown in Sweden to Bangkok. They’d never been to Thailand before, but they weren’t here for a vacation. They’d come to adopt a child. Today, Rita’s adopted daughter lives in Northern Sweden with her husband, seven children and four dogs. But Rita herself lives in Thailand. “When I decided to adopt a child, it didn’t matter … Continued
Editorial
Two steps forward and one step back virtually demands the popping of a champagne cork in situations where one step forward and two steps back are the norm. I am talking about combating the Big Brothers here in Thailand. The authorities’ many and frequent failings range from the benignly incompetent to the scandalously corrupt, and it is so easy – so much so that according to an ABAC poll, 76% of T … Continued
City Buzz
Grab some of your best girlfriends and treat yourselves to a day of shameless indulgence. Shopping, pampering, food and wine. Honey, it’s a woman’s world. De Iann Jewellery Tucked inside a lovely old Lanna Colonial building on Tha Pae Road, this handmade jewellery shop is stocked with glass cases full of high quality, candy-coloured adornments just waiting to be browsed and bought. Ranging in … Continued
City Talk
01 Sharon Fleming, 63 Teacher, American I want to visit Nepal because I want to see the Himalayas and do some trekking in the high mountain regions. I also want to get to know the culture in Nepal by spending some time in some of the villages. I would like to view some wildlife that is unique to that region of Asia by visiting Bardia Park, which is quite unaffected by tourism and changes to the e … Continued
Editorial
The Pope is alive. Long live the Pope! I had to change one word there from my May 2005 editorial opening sentence, excerpts of which I shall simply transfer here, being still relevant nearly eight years later. Not being Catholic, or religious, I did, to a certain extent, mourn the passing of Pope John Paul II. I didn’t know much about him, but I felt him; he was a presence. Like an avuncular Santa … Continued
City News Chiang Mai
CityNews, Chiang Mai’s first daily-updated English language online news site brought you the city’s biggest news events last month, as well as some hard-hitting feature stories that we hope you enjoyed. So, what happened in Chiang Mai last month? The weather changed, and so it was feared that as summer came there would be more pollution, but as I write this in mid-February it is looking like there … Continued
What’s Happening?
Now – 20th March PHOTO THESIS EXHIBITION @ CMU Art Museum A photo exhibition by Fine Arts students at Chiang Mai University. 11th – 29th March ART THESIS EXHIBITION @ CMU Art Centre An art thesis exhibition presented by undergraduate students of Department of Printmaking, Painting and Sculpture from Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University. The opening will be on 11th March at 6 p.m. 2nd March … Continued
City News Chiang Mai
CityNews, Chiang Mai’s first daily-updated English language online news site brought you the city’s biggest news events last month, as well as some hard-hitting feature stories that we hope you enjoyed. Last month, though the parties, frivolities, and decadence were fun, there was also quite a few accidents, injuries as well as drunks doing bad things. It was a good/bad month. Bodies were st … Continued
Harvesting Melodies Festival
It’s still festival season in Chiang Mai! For a family-friendly fest with a cause, check out the 2nd annual Harvesting Melodies Festival, organised by the Sangob Foundation, a unique local charity seeking to spread self-sustainability and permaculture by establishing Thai Food Forests in remote and impoverished areas of Northern Thailand. “Our projects consist of collaborating with the most … Continued
Editorial
As most of you know, the current partying-in-power, Pheu Thai, slid into parliament on a smooth mud-slide. Arguably the party was elected for its platform of populist promises, one of which was that first time car buyers in Thailand in 2012 would automatically receive up to 100,000 baht in cash back from the government. Call it a tax rebate, a present from the rest of the taxpaying public (t … Continued