City Buzz
Golden Triangle is an antique shop selling house decorations, situated in a pleasant area shaded by trees. The name ‘Golden Triangle’ is pretty self explanatory as products come from this region: antique furniture from Burma, wickerwork from Laos, fabric dolls from Hang Dong, etc. You’ll find both contemporary and modern house d?cor items: cupboards, beds, tables, doors, musical instruments, lamps … Continued
What’s Happening?
ARTS & EXHIBITIONS Now – 18th September LANNA LANDSCAPE AND STORIES OF DOGS & CATS @ 116 Art Gallery 053 302 111 You are welcome to an art exhibition titled ‘Lanna Landscape and Stories of Dogs & Cats. 26th – 30th September MADIFEST – FALL @ CMU Art Centre 053 218 280 or www.cmuartcenter.org Display by Media Arts and Design, Chiang Mai University. The opening will be on 26th Septemb … 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
City Vibes
Artist: Araab Musik’ Album: Electronic Dream Rating: Araab Muzik’ is an accomplished hip hop producer, having worked with various luminaries with the genre, but rather than seek to build on that notoriety and deliver the obvious, we are instead treated to the unexpected. On Electronic Dream, Araab Muzik’ hijacks dance-floor classics and injects a healthy dose of dystopia, turning over-produced che … 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
Citylife In-house
Next month’s Citylife: The expat issue…all about the interesting, intriguing, odd and wonderful things that some expatriates are doing here in Chiang Mai. If you think there is someone special we should feature, please feel free to get in touch at pim@chiangmaicitylife.com. Citylife Chiang Mai Real Estate Guide: We are constantly receiving emails from our readers and online visitors about where … 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
Clients’ Spot
[left][/left] Doi Kham shop, selling health products and various nontoxic foods, is part of the Royal Project. They provide a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits, dried fruit, fruity jams and much more. Their first branch was opened in Fang District, and the newest shop just opened at Kantary Terrace on Nimmanhaemin Road. After a bit of shopping at their store, you can sit back and watch the tr … 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
Luxurious Dining on a Shoestring: A Primer
“You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food.” Paul Prudhomme “Happy cooking.” Jacques Pepin There’s a lot of good, luxurious, satisfying food that you can enjoy in Thailand, without breaking the (your) bank. Recently, I was strolling through my local market and saw a bucket of frogs. It reminded me of a restaurant in my home town that specialised in alligator tails and frog legs _ expensive, bu … Continued
A Switzerland on our Doorstep
Nestled in the midst and mist of the mountains of northern Thailand is a remarkable Royal Project – so remarkable in fact, that it was opened to the public as a tourist destination in 1992 just four years after it was started. The Doi Tung Development Project is just one of the many projects which fall under the Mae Fah Luang Foundation’s efforts to provide the people of Thailand and neighbouring … Continued
Staying On the Couch
I’ve travelled in style, 5++stars, infinity personal pool and butler to boot, but that was travel on the gratis plan, a room on a promise of delivering a pretty two page spread on whichever luxury hotel or resort I was writing about. The real me stays in what might better be described as bunkers, rather than rooms with ‘spectacular’ views, boasting rates that could save the third world. And most o … Continued
Chiang Mai on a Shoestring
Brownie Steak Buffet If you are ravenous and want plenty of all-you-can-eat meat and veg, then this might be the cheapest place to go. 88 baht includes steak (pork, chicken, fish and beef), 3 flavours of sauce, chips, salad bar, soup and bread. Open: Lunch time 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Dinner time 5 – 9 p.m. Close 16th of every month Located Charoenrat Road, Faham (close to the Tourist Police Office) … Continued
The Daily Shoestring: living under 5,000 baht a month
Here’s a recap of my first few days in Chiang Mai. Early morning Mocha Frappe from Starbucks – because really, who can start their day without that delicious cup of motivation? 150 baht. Songtaew to work: 30 baht. Lunch at an Italian trattoria on Nimmanhaemin, because Thai food seven days a week is just a little too much spice for my life: 180 baht. Quick run into the 7/11 on the corner for a choc … Continued
The missing disability sign: A look into disability rights in Thailand
There are too many disabled people in this neighbourhood and they’re bringing down the housing prices. They need to leave. This was the message conveyed to Don Willcox, his wife Piranan Singjai, and the members of his wheelchair workshop, by his neighbour, an elderly woman who was trying to sell the house opposite their property. According to Don and Piranan, the request was far from politely-word … Continued