The Life of Wine
Wine tastings are great, aren’t they? Not just because they involve drinking wine, which is always fantastic, but they make the act of getting drunk more classy and legitimate than popping out to a bar and getting spanked on Chang. Saying “I’m off to a wine tasting, dear” has a far nicer ring to it than “I’m off down the pub for lager and darts with Terry and the boys, don’t wait up.” The end resu … Continued
Community Services
01 Informal Northern Thai Group Tuesday, August 14: “Balloon Culture in Thailand” by Yut Wanichanond. For further information, please call 053 117 319 or gabaudel@loxinfo.co.th. 02 Nicotine Anonymous Want to stop smoking? It works! Meetings on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. at the 7 Fountains, Huay Kaew Road. For more information please call Earl 086 194 6300, Peter 087 145 9655. 03 AA group I … Continued
This is Thailand
1. I’ve been renting for too long in Thailand, please can you tell me how to go about property buying? Mo (Intern): I found Rodney Waller’s book ‘A complete guide to buy a property in Thailand’, a useful overview of the subject of buying property in Thailand. Basically foreigners can buy and own condominiums, according to the Condominium Act 2008 such as villas, pool villas, apartments penthouses, … Continued
If Music be The Food of Love
…then they better be more careful in shops about what they are playing. We’d been paying some bills and Mrs. D decided the best way of dealing with the emotional trauma of parting with lots of money was to buy a new handbag. Despite my protests of this causing more filthy lucre to disappear, I was dragged round the shops, complaining all the way. Things picked up when we reached the bag section … Continued
It’s Not Just ABC: the Politics of Teaching English in Thailand
In 2007, Bangkok Post reporter Erika Fry wanted to see how easy it was to fake being an English teacher in Thailand. Her resulting article, ‘Thailand’s School Daze’, encapsulates all of the little horror stories we’ve heard of faked resumes, careless school administrators, and overcrowded classrooms. After contacting an employment agency on Khao San Road, Fry found herself in a classroom of 50-som … Continued
Brothers in Peace: veterans of foreign war
Being born over ten years after the Vietnam War, my impression of this significant historical event is a collage of black and white images of long haired flare-wearers in anti-war protests, as well as the film The Deer Hunter, which I watched with my Dad. And of course, I cannot forget the harrowing pictures of Agent Orange victims I saw in a museum in Ho Chi Minh City. Whilst researching for an a … Continued
Diet Pill Delirium
Growing up an overweight teenager in Thailand, where most Thai girls are skinny and petite, hasn’t done wonders to my self-esteem. I wondered if there was something wrong with me; some genetic curse I could blame, some mistake I had made and karma decided to plump up my thighs. But then I wondered…Maybe there was something wrong with the girls who had managed to maintain a size zero their entire … Continued
The French Connection
Honorary Consuls, like the rest of us, come in all shapes and sizes; Thomas Baude, the Honorary French Consul since 1995, happens to come in a particularly elevated package. Towering above his consular counterparts at official receptions, typically decked out in his dapper blue and white pinstripe jacket and with his moustache quivering in humour, Thomas Baude is a bon vivant whose irreverence alw … Continued
Beach Life
Nothing screams summer like a beach holiday…(Well, we are officially in the monsoon season, but it is summer somewhere in the world, and it certainly is on the islands.) For us mountain-bound bouquetins, a trip to the azure seas of the south is an especially precious treat, and with direct flights to both Phuket and Samui from Chiang Mai, you can now have white sand between your toes quicker tha … Continued
K-Pat: The Korean expatriate community in Chiang Mai
Thai people love all things Korean: be it the ubiquitous kimchi, the Thai-adapted Korean bbq grills, South Korea’s high tech offerings, and most of all, K-Pop, the highly manufactured boy and girl pop bands which have taken the world by storm. The K-Pop phenomena, along with the popularity of Korean fashion, food, films and TV series, can be lumped under what sociologists describe as the ‘Korean W … Continued
What’s your Poison? Government Clampdown on Teen Drinking
Let’s face it: when was the last time you saw anyone checking for IDs here? But going out one night recently, I brought my ID anyway. I had just turned 20 and, as I have been studying in the US, was excited to have a holiday in a country where I was legal again. And so, as my friends breezed past the bouncers, I took out my wallet and practically pushed my ID into the bouncer’s hand. I knew it was … Continued
K-Yum: Where to go for a taste of Korea in Chiang Mai
Arirang restaurant has been running for twelve years. Apart from the standard Korean barbecue, two recommended dishes are Dol Sot Bi Bimbab, which is rice mixed with vegetables in a stone kettle, and Bulgogi, grilled marinated beef, chicken or pork. Most dishes are not too spicy. The traditional Korean flat metal chopsticks may require a bit of practice. We hear Her Royal Highness, Princess Ribha, … Continued
Agent Orange’s DOW in Trouble with Vietnam over Olympics
It is the world’s biggest sporting event. TV programming in at least 150 countries will provide saturation coverage. Men and women from all races and religions will compete for Olympic glory and gold. Added to the usual extolling of lofty Olympic ideals (long undermined by doping scandals in so many international events) this year the organisers are bragging about the ‘Green Games’. Public relatio … Continued
Tackling Tourism in Chiang Mai
Some visit for a taste of paradise, an adventure, to find themselves or perhaps at the prospect of meeting an Asian sweetheart. Whatever visitors are seeking, Thailand, with its layered charms, multiple attractions and world famous hospitality, has never failed in seducing a diverse range of tourists in the millions. Many expatriates, perhaps even you, came to Thailand for the first time as a tour … Continued
An interview with Kulateep ‘Star’ Chawla of Star Avenue projects
Citylife and CityNews followers are probably already aware of the numerous commercial developments taking place in and around the city. You may have also seen some of the tell_tale muddy building sites accompanied by huge billboards of beautiful people frolicking and smiling in happiness by various roadsides. While many projects are from foreign or Bangkok investors, there are some malls which are … Continued
Brave New Macau
Swashbuckling pirates roaming the South China Sea, ancient Chinese temples wafting pungent incense, priggish Portuguese Padroado reaching across the oceans with their clenched Catholic fists; these are impressions of Macau which endured for nearly 450 years, until the process of the 1999 handover to the Chinese government began. Today, as the Chiang Mai media was settling onto the virgin direct Ai … Continued
Linking Thai and International Trade
The International Trade Promotion Regional Office in Chaing Mai acts as marketing arm to promote Thai Northern Products and Services to the world market by providing a one-stop service on Thai export promotion with our worldwide network of more than 100 permanent and advisory offices, together with vast and comprehensive range of overseas market development activities namely International Trade Fa … Continued
Community Services
• 01 Informal Northern Thai Group Tuesday, July 17: “Record Production: problems in combining Thai and western instrumentation” A talk by Michael Zager, Visiting Professor, School of Music, Payap University. Tuesday, July 24: A Talk by Ian Baird, Professor of Geography of Southeast Asia, University of Wisconsin at Madison. For further information, please call 053 117 319 or gabaudel@loxinfo.co.th. … Continued
Chiang Mai on WWW
www.north-thailand.org www.north-thailand.org This new web site, though already online, is still in its first phase of development. It is a joint initiative between the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, The Office of Tourism and Sports, the Chiang Mai Tour Guide Association, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Chiang Mai Thai Hotels Association (upper northern chapter), which aims to … Continued
Your Say
• The Collector Dr. Hans Banziger’s interview shows only one of hundreds, even thousands, of really unique and brilliant people both Thai and expats who live in and around Chiang Mai, but whose low profile means that we often only read about them after they are gone. it was a great pleasure to read of Dr. Banzinger’s research and while I have tried to Google him, I haven’t found that much else on … Continued
The Life of Wine
I’m very excited because this month I’m responding to a request from someone who actually admits to reading my column. Admittedly the request has come from my editor and she has to read what I write, but a request none the less! I think she may be a bit bored of me banging on about wines I’m a fan of, so, unbeknownst to her, she chose a type of plonk of which I am less of a fan: sparkling wines. I … Continued
This is Thailand
1. There’s a mouse in my house! We have a semi-open kitchen and the mouse must scamper over plates etc., is this dangerous to our health? Grace: Rodents can be a real nuisance, and could create some health risks to your family, as well as causing physical damage to your property. Mice and rats can spread disease around food and kitchen equipment, such as the very dangerous salmonella bacteria. The … Continued
The Secret Stash of Trash
I am always surprised…actually, I could stop the sentence there because it sums up how I feel most of the time. But no, in the spirit of artistic integrity, I will continue. I am always baffled why, in such a beautiful country, people just throw their rubbish anywhere. Walking around the canal at night can be an unnerving experience as rats scamper back and forth to the piles of detritus, collec … Continued
Your Say
+ Mom Rage You don’t have an unbiased bone in your body. I will say it again. You are corrupt, self-serving, and weak. You use your magazine to promote friends and hurt people who are not as ‘beautiful’ as you and your pals. Only the kiss-ass suck-up people who flatter you seem to make it into your magazine. And now I see you work with Lonely Planet. Disgusting. As one poster noted about the Arche … Continued
Chiang Mai on WWW
www.chiangmaicitynews.com www.chiangmaicitynews.com Oh yeah, Chiang Mai has been waiting for this. The brightest, funniest, best-est news site Chiang Mai has ever seen. Daily news is updated, from crimes to politics, environment to where to shop for dresses, CityNews has it all. Look out for the op-eds where writers from our staff, as well as established critics and writers fr … Continued
This is Thailand
1. I am trying to learn Thai in my spare time, but can’t afford classes; do you know of any good free resources? Grace: Yes, there are plenty of language resources online available for free, you could also supplement them with a few simple books which are easy to come across and fairly cheap. I recommend www.womenlearnthai.com, the full name of the site is ‘Women Learning Thai…and some men too’, s … Continued
Community Services
01 Informal Northern Thai Group Tuesday, 19th June: Creating a Temple Museum” by Supachai Sittilert For further information, please call 053 117 319 or gabaudel@loxinfo.co.th. 02 Nicotine Anonymous Want to stop smoking? It works! Meetings on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1 p.m. at the 7 Fountains, Huay Kaew Road. For more information please call Earl 086 194 6300, Peter 087 145 9655. 03 Alcholics An … Continued
The Life of Wine
Although Malbec originates from France, let’s hop in a boat, fit the oars to the rowlocks, pull out a sextant, read a book explaining longitude and head off for South America. We are doing this because in wine terms, Malbec and Argentina have become virtually synonymous and nowhere on the planet does it better. Although Malbec has been grown in South America for well over a century, the astonishin … Continued
Protection Racket
I tried to get out of the way, I really did. Alas, not fast enough and the little green sphere hit my back with a ‘thwack’. The initial sting was quickly followed by a burning sensation, radiating outwards from the point of impact. I stood in the middle of the court, sweating profusely and gasping for air. I looked at Mrs. D who was dry, lithe and ready to go. “Ha! Another one off the wall. My poi … Continued
Chiang Mai Adventure Land
Laughter is a great tonic. Doing something out of your comfort zone can also give you an exhilarating thrill. Chiang Mai has an abundance of nature adventures from zip lining above canopies to abseiling down cliff faces, but if you want a bit of man-made mayhem, then Chiang Mai Adventure Land is here to blow away those cobwebs and revitalise your mind and body. After extensive planning, designing, … Continued
Vampire Moths, Dastardly Orchids and Tear Sipping Bees: Dr. Hans Bänziger’s fascinating finds
Upon first sighting, Dr. Hans Bänziger appears frail, with his svelte and slightly gaunt build. But all that first impression nonsense is dispensed with at the crushing moment of the firm grip of his handshake. This wiry 71 year old Swiss entomologist is no wilting scientist. In fact, he has spent the better part of the past fifty years trekking the north of Thailand’s mountains and climbing its t … Continued
Roll Up Roll Up for the Greatest Show on Earth…
Chiang Mai’s expat community is one that never fails to surprise in its depth and diversity. Jim Rose is one of the latest editions to this vibrant pocket of global nomads. When we were first told that Jim Rose lived here, a quick Google search offered up dozens of links to pages with Jim Rose hanging out, doing gigs, walking the carpet and being profiled with rock stars, talk show hosts and Holly … Continued
Delinquent and Derailed: how the juvenile detention centre is working to build a brighter future for youths
Set on 80 rai of land dotted with large rain and banyan trees in the back lanes of Mae Rim is the Chiang Mai Juvenile Detention Centre which houses 107 juvenile delinquents. Most of these youths – 98 boys and 9 girls – are in their late teens, though there are a couple as young as 13, and the great majority of them are there because of drugs. Citylife was invited by Sangla Intajak, a Royal appoint … Continued
Off the Wall
Off The Wall Citylife’s photo editor, Boontawee Russameenin, meets up with some Off the Wall characters here in Chiang Mai. Absolute freaks or simply fabulous? Phawat C. (male name) Natty Love Garden (female name) Phawat works as a gardener by day, and as a dancing show girl by night, under the name of Natty Love Garden. His motivation to dress as a female came from the fact that he can pull it of … Continued
Swiss in the City
Swiss Lanna Society Nestled in the north of Thailand’s many valleys, and perched atop its numerous mountains, reside an astonishing number of Swiss people. By general reckoning, the numbers of expatriates registered in any embassy or consulate is about half of the actual number of those in residence, or seasonal residence. There are, incredibly, 600 registered Swiss expatriates in the north of Tha … Continued