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6th-31st March COUNT 1 FROM 61 @ 9 Art Gallery / Architect Studio, Chiang Rai, artgallery9@yahoo.com , www.9artgallery.com Come see an art exhibition by Amnouy Baongam entitled ‘Count 1 from 61’. Open from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (closed on Mondays). Now – 24th April A DISTANT MIRROR: A RECORD OF OLD CHIANG MAI @ Lanna Architecture Centre (Intersection of Ratchadamnoen and Prapoklao road), 053 107772 The … Continued

Culturl Insight

Portuguese catholic missionaries first came to Siam in the 16th century. They were followed by a flood of French Jesuits and members of the Paris Foreign Missions Society who were welcomed by King Narai at the end of the 17th century. During the next hundred or so years they were harried and persecuted – none are known to have ventured to Chiang Mai. It was not until the time of King Mongut (1851 … Continued

City Sport

The Chiang Mai expat football team joined the ranks of the city’s best football teams in February, playing in a 16 team knockout competition. The Farangutans were drawn with Suthep FC, PRC FC and Praew FC. In a hard fought first match the farang’s lost 1-0 to Suthep, the goal coming in the second half after injuries were sustained and players were tired, all in all though, the older men made a goo … Continued

A Retiring Attitude

Lately, discussions with my expat friends here as well as my correspondences with the folks back home have been centered around the economy and, more often, what fraction of their retirement savings is left after the latest economic downturn. Here is an exact quote from an email I got today, “Even if I wait until normal retirement age, Social Security and whatever remains of my 401(k) will not be … Continued

Community Services

The Mission House is a Christian organisation offering a genuine service in both English and Thai to Chiang Mai. Their focus is on helping foreigners settle into Chiang Mai and offer many wonderful homes to rent. The Mission House supports and works in partnership with a number of Christian organisations and churches within Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai. Contact; Janta, The Mission House: jantawint … Continued

University Students: sex, drugs & uniforms

Every afternoon Chiang Mai’s centres of education open their doors and out spill hordes of students onto the city’s streets. At times, it seems, there are more uniforms in the city than casual dress. With 63,391 university students enrolled and living in Chiang Mai, they certainly make up a large, and significant, proportion of the population. No doubt if university students in western cities wore … Continued

Winner of 5th Junior IMPAC Dublin Literary Awards: letters never sent

March, 2009 Our favorite questions begin with ‘why’. ‘How’ mystifies us sometimes – it does for me a little, in this case – but the why is always the sought after prize. Why is so subjective, varied; the answer lies only in another mind. Knowing why is like finally catching triumph and seeing her true form. There are so many things I wish I could know about you, but I don’t have the courage to ask … Continued

The Price of Being Farang

Perhaps alienation is what we seek, hanging out here in bizarreland where your girlfriend of five years still refers to you as ‘farang’ when talking to her friends and family. Word on Wise Street is, you’re never gonna fit in, ask any old codger who’s been here long enough to wax wistful about the good old days on the Kampaengdin Road. But who cares really, we didn’t come here for church and chips … Continued

Tii Naa

Surfin’ Lessons

The new, thoroughly clueless, ICT Minister seems to believe we’re all using the internet for cyber sex and she’s determined to censor the entire worldwide web for our virtuous benefit. Actually, there’s so much more to the net than games, Facebook, YouTube and ‘showing your lower half on Skype’. Originally the internet was developed as a shared reference of information, and there is hardly a publi … Continued

City Vibes

Artist: Animal Collective Album: Merriweather Post Pavillion Rating: The ninth release from this Brooklyn/Baltimore behemoth plunges deeper into the feverish eclecticism that has been the nucleaus of Animal Collective since their inception. On Merriweather… vocalists Dave Portner and Noah Lennox let their lyrics drift softly, guided by orchestral and ghostly harmonies, both dream-like and rigidly … Continued

City Events

   

Chiang Mai on the www

[right]This column is to keep you abreast of the latest websites which Citylife has produced, introducing you to the ever-increasing presence of Chiang Mai online.[/right] In the past people went to Pai to rough it out, either camping or sleeping in little bamboo guesthouses as Pai was always a more laid back, mellow and simple place than our hectic Chiang Mai. However, times have certainly change … Continued

City Talk

City Buzz

On the 24th floor of Centara Duang Tawan Hotel, you can take in a spectacular birds eye panorama of Doi Suthep and Chiang Mai city while dining on fine Chinese cuisine in an elegant atmosphere. Sunflower Chinese Restaurant recommends their smorgasbord of dim sum buffet at 310++ baht per person. So grab friends, reserve a big table and experience Chinese Dim Sum the proper way. [i]Open daily 6 p.m. … Continued

Home Ideas

Ten Years Ago

  Citylife (which changed its name from the Chiang Mai Newsletter in 2002) has been in publication for over seventeen years. Let’s look back at what we wrote 10 years ago. 1999: After two years of renovations, and costs running into many millions of baht, the Chiang Mai Museum reopened this month expanding its exhibition space, making them more interactive and adding a stronger Lanna heritage … Continued

Your Say

[right]Your say is an open forum for you the reader to express your opinions. Write to: editor@chiangmaicitylife.com, subject: Your say. Letters can be on any subject and priority will be given to letters under 200 words. Letters may be edited for clarity or conciseness. Name and contact details must be supplied.[/right] Tips in Suburbia I live in the San Sai District near Meechok Plaza in one of … Continued

This is Thailand

For those of you with any questions regarding Thailand, Thai culture, history, tourism, laws, rules, food, nightlife, sub-cultures, dating; generally anything as long as it is relevant, we have a panel of three experts who will respond to your enquiries. Email: james@chiangmaicitylife.com. 1. If a farang should purchase a winning Thai lottery ticket number, can he/she actually claim the prize? Jam … Continued

Citylife In House

Citylife was the northern partner to The Nation again this year in organising the 5th Junior IMPAC Dublin Literary Awards for students between the ages of 14 and 18. This year’s submissions came from throughout northern Thailand and were held under the title ‘Once Upon a Time’. Some incredibly mature and creative essays were submitted and finally the judges, Robert Tilley, owner of the Writers Clu … Continued

Editorial

Common sense is a marvellous thing, even though it is terribly tricky to define. What is common sense to one person is often bewilderingly nonsensical to the next. This underrated practicality could even be termed an oxymoron as so few of us share anything in common when it comes to our senses. Should we all stand on the same level playing field of sense, there would be far fewer misunderstandings … Continued

Citylife’s New Office

Citylife is looking forward towards the bright light at the end of the tumbling financial tunnel. While times are tough, we are gearing up and readying ourselves for the turnaround. Over the past year we have focused on building and strengthening our internal system, upskilling our staff, training management, systems placement and improvement, and generally using the tough and slow times to fortif … Continued

Elite Property Special Scoop

March, 2009 “It was when we moved to Chiang Mai, three years ago, and began house hunting, that the germination of the idea of Elite Property began,” explains Krongkwan ‘Kay’ Mulcahy, one half of Chiang Mai’s newest power couple and owner of Elite Property. “My husband Patrick and I were frustrated at the time we wasted while searching for our ideal house by being shown many properties which were … Continued

Mae Chaem

March, 2009 Mae Chaem, a two and a half hour drive from the city of Chiang Mai has recently become a well known destination for tourists for its preservation of old culture and maintenance of local lifestyles. It is home to artists, artisans and traditional Lanna ways. Nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains including the highest in the land, Doi Inthanon, the drive to Mae Chaem itself is wort … Continued

Soft Focused Lanna

March, 2009 Ever since early man first invited his neighbour round to check out his cave etchings he has argued about the definition of beauty in art. Wandering through Chiang Mai’s Night Bazaar, I found it. I was transfixed. I stood open-mouthed and wide-eyed gazing at a shop front covered with photographs of families, lovers and individuals all with flawless faces dressed in fabulous embroidered … Continued

Change at the American Consulate

The American consulate has made changes to its American Citizen Services section in an effort to make various consular services less time consuming. It’s now possible to make an appointment for all non-emergency services, including passport services, notarials, and reports of birth. Until March 31st 2009 the walk-in service will be available but after this date all non-emergency services will have … Continued

More From Citylife

Two random spot checks reveal safe arsenic levels in Mae Ai District 

Wed 9th Jul

Following media reports of arsenic levels exceeding safety standards in two children, aged 6 and 2, in Mae Ai District, due to regular consumption of fish from the Kok River, a source cited unusually high levels of arsenic in their bodies, raising public concern. On 8 July 2025, Dr. Kittiphan Chalom, Assistant Public Health Doctor of Chiang Mai Province, held a press conference addressing the issu … Continued

Rental bikes collecting dust waiting for tourists 

Wed 9th Jul

Chiang Mai’s tourism industry is currently facing a significant downturn. The decline in foreign visitors has affected various sectors, particularly car and motorcycle rental services. Reports indicate that vehicle rentals have dropped by more than 70%, forcing some operators to temporarily shut down due to unsustainable operating costs. One clear sign of the downturn is on Moon Muang Road near th … Continued

Eyesore blue streetlights promptly removed following public outcry 

Wed 9th Jul

The project to upgrade lighting poles along Highway No. 2025 (Atsadathon Road) has come under public criticism due to the design of the poles. Many have commented that the sculptures look outdated, with colors and patterns that are neither modern nor representative of the Lanna identity. Additionally, some of which are installed in the middle of pedestrian walkways. Following a wave of public conc … Continued

Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office warns of a handful of monkeypox cases

Mon 7th Jul

The Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office is closely monitoring a new situation where monkeypox had been found in the province. Officials are providing information to the public to help with self-monitoring and prevention. They empathise that monkeypox is only serious for those with weakened immune system and that the public should not be alarmed, merely informed.  Dr. Waranyu Jamnongprasartp … Continued

Akha Heritage museum by Akhas and for everyone in Chiang Rai

Sun 6th Jul

https://youtu.be/bP6ugEZxesE   Vorreiter founded the Akha Oral Tradition School, two years ago, as Cultural Crossroads Asia’s first outreach project in an ethnic village.  Every week six master Akha musicians share their knowledge of songs, stories, musical instruments, and instrumental craftsmanship with a class of twenty-two Akha students.   Akha Oral Tradition School https://culturalcrossr … Continued

Serow sighting signals healthy ecosystem on Doi Luang Chiang Dao

Fri 4th Jul

The Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary in Chiang Dao District, has released a video showing a young serow foraging near the cliff edge on the summit of Doi Luang Chiang Dao. The footage was captured by a patrol team during a routine quality patrol this morning. Such sightings are rare, as serows are extremely cautious and elusive animals. Pornnarin Khumthong, head of the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, … Continued

Four Rottweilers found shot and abandoned 

Thu 3rd Jul

On 28th June, a Buddhist monk, Phrakru Aod of Wat Chedi Luang, along with an animal welfare volunteer from the ARK Foundation rescued four abandoned Rottweilers found in the forest in the Mae Kam Pong village. The dogs were found in rain-soaked, starving condition and some of which suffered from deep wounds and severely maggot infections that required urgent medical treatment. The rescue team fed … Continued

Hylife Group launches two international innovation platforms

Thu 3rd Jul

Hylife Group launches two international innovation platforms “Hylife Hackathon 2025” and “Hylife Innovation Excellence Awards 2025” to drive Chiang Mai towards becoming a city of innovation, offering over seven million baht in prizes and investment opportunities. Hylife Group officially launches two major international innovation competitions of the year: “Hylife Hackathon 2025” and “Hylife Innova … Continued

Dangerous steroid-laden ‘herbal’ meds being sold across North

Wed 2nd Jul

The Public Health Office has issued a warning against a spread of so called herbal medicine which has been recently sold by vendors at funerals, temple fairs and across rural villagers across Chiang Mai and beyond.  Upon receiving a report of this, the Public Health Office tested the medicine and found them to be heavy with steroids and other harmful properties.  They warn that elderly people may … Continued

70 baht guesthouse hasn’t put up price in 14 years

Wed 2nd Jul

Jay Guesthouse and Restaurant has been around, housing and feeding backpackers on the cheap since it opened 14 years ago.  Its owner says that she charges 70 baht for a shared room with bunk beds, 130 baht for a small single room and 190 baht for a large single room. During the high season she ups the prices by 10-20 baht. “My clients come back again and again over the years, and I want them to ha … Continued

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