Community Services
01 Informal Northern Thai Group Tuesday, 15th November: ‘The 11th Panchen Lama (1969): a political recognition of a Tibetan spiritual master’ by Fabienne Jagou, Ecole française d’Extréme-Orient. For further information, please call 053 117 319 or email gabaudel@loxinfo.co.th. 02 Dog of the Month: Dumbo This medium-sized young man is 2 years old and has lots of energy. He likes to pla … Continued
Fetch The Ball
I always enjoy watching ‘The Dog Whisperer’. I find his ability to turn an unruly dog into an exemplary model of canine citizenship with just a few sounds and gestures to be fascinating. Mind you, I am not sure why I should as all Mrs. D has to do is give me a look and I am cowering in the corner along with our two dogs. There is no doubt who is head of the pack in the Daring household. It didn’t … Continued
Underdog
Underdog Citylife interviewed three people in Chiang Mai who have had to overcome great obstacles in life, only to achieve their dreams. We think you will find their stories as fascinating, and encouraging, as we did, and hopefully we can all learn something from their strength and confidence when up against the odds. The Fighter At 13 Pornchai ‘Pel’ Puttapoun was told by his parents that they had … Continued
Football’s Coming Home
For the briefest of spells, Thai Premier League action did finally descend on Chiang Mai. Only it was the orange and black of near neighbours Chiang Rai United that was flying from the TPL mast at the 700 Year Stadium, not the royal blue and white of Chiang Mai FC. The evolution of professional football in Thailand has been a slow one and in Chiang Mai, excessively so. While teams such as Buriram … Continued
Facing Up to Politics
The political landscape is radically terraforming around us with the new national government, cabinet reshuffles and abortive attempts at policy implementation. As this occurs, the need to step back and take stock of the pervading climate of political opinion and gain some perspective on this volatile and polarising force known as politics becomes all the more pronounced. In this, a series of six … Continued
Doi Pu Muen
I like to travel, and I have always enjoyed off-the-beaten-track destinations. So, when the Chiang Mai Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports held the Chiang Mai International Adventures 2011 conference, I was happy to be a member of press invited on one of their jaunts. Doi Pu Muen is a new eco style tourist attraction focused on local Lahu traditions and culture. A village located in the Pa Hom … Continued
This is Thailand
1. I went to a Thai restaurant the other day, one which I haven’t been to in about 2 years, and a dish that used to cost 40 baht was 70 baht. How come many things seem so expensive these days? James: I am by no means an expert, but I do know the price of many raw foods and petrol has gone up, so of course restaurateurs may hike their prices. One well known restaurateur wrote on ThaiVisa.com recent … Continued
City Women
At the moment, my life is a blur of work and babies. I have a chance to look up every now and then and in between a sprinkle of nights out and the occasional drink too many, I realise that a month or so can go past where I don’t see people I often saw two or three times every week for years. I’m not quite sure where the time goes, but I do know that a fair bit of my time (usually when working on s … Continued
Out in The City
It’s easy to get down. Open your newspaper, watch the TV news, log onto the interweb, it’s all depressing. Monetary mayhem, weird weather, chaos, conflict, gloom, doom and death all assault our senses every day. It is time to warm the cockles, lift the heart, spread a smile and restore a little faith in our fellow beings. Find a story that bucks the trend; but where to search? Look no further than … Continued
Editorial
I was fifteen years old when I left the Thai education system to join an international school. There were many incidents which were seminal for me; my first camping trip; finding out that moguls on the slope weren’t in fact homes of furry little animals; eating cheese for breakfast; the first time putting on a duvet cover and learning that great inside-out trick; being bullied; etc. There was one … Continued
Notes from Joe’s Kitchen
When people write about Thai cuisine, they usually include the “four pillars” that constitute the building blocks of Thai cooking. This taste foundation consists of sweet, salty, sour and hot flavours. I’ve watched my wife, and others, prepare Thai food for many years and all of these ingredients are present, in greater or lesser amounts, in almost every savoury Thai dish. Thai cooks frequently ad … Continued
Handsome Men ♦ Invisible Women
♦ Image If you ever felt a pang of shame at the cinema in Thailand when you heard such words as [i]’she’s as loose as a Bangkok whore'[/i], or a similar defamatory witticism in reference to Thailand’s bawdy image, you can put your conscience at ease. Thai subtitles are not usually so brash, while – and to some extent [i]therefore[/i] – many of the locals sitting near to you may not be aware that t … Continued
Community Services
01 Informal Northern Thai Group Tuesday, 13th September: ‘Pu Sae – Ya Sae Spirit Worship: Highlighting the two sacred mountains of Chiang Mai’ by Reinhard Hohler. For further information, please call 053 117 319 or email gabaudel@loxinfo.co.th. 02 Dog of the Month: GYPSY This is a beautiful medium-sized girl aged around 2-3 years old, with a lovely long cream coat. She was abandoned, so she can be … Continued
City Women
I’m not renowned for my cool, calm and collective nature so last week when I received a phone call from my vet telling me that my cat had suspected Leptospirosis and that it can be passed on to humans, it was no surprise that I almost lost the last bit of rationality I actually possess and erupted. I was ready to pack up my bags and ship us and our animals back to the UK – all before the sun went … Continued
Chiang Mai on the WWW
www.dreamhousechiangmai.com www.dreamhousechiangmai.com Virtually visit one of the most remarkable houses in Chiang Mai. The large property, that is situated just off the Irrigation Canal Road, is archtiecturally something to behold, whether on screen using this website, or when walking around the house. There are incredible living rooms, and minor living rooms, master bedrooms, and guest rooms, E … Continued
The Life of Wine
The Force is strong in winemaking Wine making’s a funny old gig. It involves tireless graft and a fair amount of prayer that the summers will be warm, but not too hot; that winter will be cool, but not too cold, and that just the right amount of rain will fall on the vines throughout. All so the grapes will have good levels of sugar and acidity when it comes to squishing the juice out. I remember … Continued
Your Say
+ London’s Burning, Thailand’s Getting Hot I can’t tell you how I felt seeing London on fire not so long back, because I had so many mixed feelings. The Guardian, the BBC, and Aljazeera all had a different account of what happened, and why it happened. The word ‘mindless’ was bandied about, as were the terms ‘political ideology’,and ‘disenfranchisement of the poor’. The scenes were not pleasant to … Continued
Out in The City
Every now and then, every expatriate gets a little pang. An occasional reminder that impinges on their contentment. Something once familiar but now, faraway. A tune on the radio, perhaps, that provokes a memory. An online picture of the test match being played at Lord’s prompts a hankering for the sound of leather on willow and some warm, cask conditioned ale, sipped in an uncomfortable deck-chair … Continued
This is Thailand
1. I know that it’s not safe to drink tap water here, but are there any places that can install filters into our taps so that we can use the water straight from there instead of using bottled water all the time. Pim (intern): HomePro is a great big DIY centre that sells just about anything house-related. Don’t let the DIY part scare you away, because when it comes to installing things they’ll come … Continued
Editorial
Apasara Hongsakul, Thailand’s first and most beloved Miss Universe, is my role model. And before you start sniggering at images of me prancing around my living room in a ball gown, binging you blind with my tiara and swishing my satin sash, hear me out. Though Apasara became Miss Universe in 1965, long before I was even a twinkle in my daddy’s eye, she had been a lifelong friend of my mother; both … Continued
No Fixed Adobe
The Acid Test “I don’t collect fashion, or toys. I’m anything but a mass consumerist…I like music, so I have a stereo, but I don’t need new things. I need travel.” Catherine ‘Cat’ Nesbitt tells me this as we discuss her rationale for having lived most of her life on the road. The loquacious 70 year old moves around animatedly in her chair, always gesticulating in rhythm to the drama and cadence of … Continued
Faces
“Make sure you hold that thing still!” yelled Mrs. D, straining to be heard above the sound of the rain pounding on the car roof. “I don’t want my face to run.” I repositioned the umbrella over the half open door and watched as she tried to get out of the seventeen year old Hyundai as elegantly as possible whilst wearing a short, black dress and remain under the cylinder of dryness I had created. … Continued
Kashgar and The Karakorums
The loud braying of an irritated donkey startles me; I whirl about, trip on loose stones and land straight into a charcoal grill loaded with skewers of roasting mutton flesh. From the grill, smoke is fanning out into an orange twilight haze. Surrounded by a cacophony of bleating animals, loud bartering, heady smells of spices and baking bagels, I feel I’m a time traveller transported back to Marco … Continued
Urban Light
Founded by Alezandra Russell just over a year ago, Urban Light is a non-profit organisation in Thailand that provides care for boys who are part of the sex tourism industry in the boy bars of Chiang Mai “I sold my wedding ring to start Urban Light,” Russell tells me. “It was the first of many items from my past that I gave up to start up my organisation.” The youth centre began with just three boy … Continued
Faces of Expats
1. Sabine Zimpfer Age: As old as I feel Nationality: German Occupation: Executive, Bluechips “Clarity is the foundation of all changes.” 2. Dominique Bugnand Age: 46 Nationality: French Occupation: Executive chef /F &B Director, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi “Food of course, my foodlosophy, my passion.” 3. Koji Yoshida Age: 40 Nationality: Japanese Occupation: Bar owner “The more you have, th … Continued
Your Say
Downtown…down…down…down So then Citylife, seems you’ve been a bit quiet lately concerning what happened at the Downtown Inn. You might say you are just a city mag, but as the best English mag in a town where real journalism definitely has never existed you do have a bit of a responsibility to keep us expats informed. It seems these local rags will always follow the police line on everything … Continued
The Life of Wine
A disturbing number of people I have asked about sherry have replied something along the lines of it reminds them of kissing granny at Christmas. In fact, most articles about this most misunderstood of wines have some mention of a granny in them. So this month: Sherry – it’s not all about grandmothers. Sherry, a bit like grannies, I suppose, comes in a number of styles and varieties. It can be swe … Continued
Chiang Mai on the WWW
www.vandaseeds.com www.vandaseeds.com This seeds researching and developing company based in Hang Dong, Chiang Mai, both develops seeds for use within Thailand and for use abroad. Their many experts, working with the most modern technology, develop seeds that are perfect to plant, and perfect to harvest. The seeds developed at Vanda Seeds are “immune to diseases, and grow well in every atmosphere, … Continued
This is Thailand
1. I see that fish spas are getting more common these days but I’m too scared to try. What are the benefits of fish spas? And what does it feel like? Pim (intern): The toothless garra rufa fish (doctor fish) you see in the foot tanks suck away at dead skin cells, ultimately cleansing your feet of dead flesh. The incredible doctor fish can survive in water as warm as 43°C. It’s not only your fe … Continued
Editorial
What an election it has been! A fugitive self-exiled ex premier leading the election campaign as the ‘thinker’ for the winning party. A ‘clone’ with no political experience becoming first female prime minister. A ‘murderer’ ex prime minister being voted back in as opposition party leader. A ‘clean’ ex governor embroiled in a corruption scandal. An accused ‘terrorist’…or two…approved as members … Continued
Community Services
01 Informal Northern Thai Group Tuesday, 13th September: ‘Pu Sae – Ya Sae Spirit Worship: Highlighting the two sacred mountains of Chiang Mai’ by Reinhard Hohler. For further information please call 053 117 319 or email gabaudel@loxinfo.co.th. 02 Dog of the Month: Khai Jiew This little rascal is between 1 and 2 years old. He is friendly and loyal and would do well in a house with a secure yard as … Continued
Out in The City
The Bangkok Post recently published the thoughts of Phusit Phensiri, of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University’s Management Science Faculty: “2.4 million males in Thailand are gay, with 1 million in Bangkok and 1.4 million in the provinces. They are not afraid to spend, have strong networking skills and are good at using social networks,” he said, urging businesses to rethink their marketing strategies … Continued
City Women
I was born in London and I grew up in London. Big cities don’t scare me, I’m used to them – I thrive in them. Well at least I did… I was back in the UK last month for three weeks and a large part of this time was visiting friends and family who are dotted around the capital. It was only two years since I last visited, but wow, so much had changed. I felt like a stranger – a provincial yokel in t … Continued
Something Afoot
In many ways, they were like an old lover, providing comfort and support in a way that only long-term, intimate, familiarity can bring. The frayed waistband and unplanned holes just added character and additional ventilation in these warmer climes. But oh no, they weren’t good enough and had to go. My favourite pair of boxer shorts mysteriously disappeared from the laundry basket and were next see … Continued
Chez Marco Restaurant: Good Food. Good Company. Good Times.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a restaurateur in possession of talent, must find the right location in which to open his restaurant. “I break the rule,” 31 year Marco Ariga, of Chez Marco told me with a cheeky grin and an accompanying French shrug. Arguably one of the city’s most popular and successful non-Thai restaurants, Chez Marco sits snugly alongside a number of prettily lit pi … Continued