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City Buzz: May 2013

Chiang Rai is abuzz with creativity, and with that comes a variety of exciting new places to eat and drink. Here are a few new hotspots to get you started.

Music Box: May 2013

Starting with The Polyphonic Spree, there was an early 2000s trend of American indie rock bands with more members than could fit on a stage. These so-called ‘collectives’ of often 20-plus musicians and singers seemed to use their size as more of a gimmick than an actual benefit to the group’s sound.

This is Thailand: May 2013

For those of you with questions regarding Thailand, Thai culture, history, tourism, laws, rules, food, nightlife, subcultures, dating; generally anything as long as it is relevant, we have a panel of experts ready to respond to all your enquiries.

The Life of Wine

You, like me, have probably had cause to mutter recently: ‘Christ it’s filthy hot in Chiang Mai’, while coughing up a lung or two and wondering if a trip to the optometrist might be in order because you can’t see quite as well as you used to. Because most of us feel like we have a permanent hangover in this dirty heat, I have decided that this month we should take a brief look at wines with slightly less alcohol in them.

Your Say: May 2013

 • Conflicting Criticisms  I have to say I agree with some of the remarks made by Terry Reardon in February’s Citylife, although not his solutions. Your content seems to have lost its way, the articles headlined having little to do with Chiang Mai; they have become the sort of anodyne pieces that can be found in any magazine Please focus on Chiang Mai, there are enough local problems and contentio … Continued

The Curiosities of Cambodiana

How many journalists have been assaulted by North Korean bodyguards while conducting a video interview with a king in a country far from Pyongyang?

City Talk: May 2013

01 Anan, 49, Writer, Thai The temporary street art performed at Three Kings Monument last year. There were 3D paintings and it surprised me because I’d never seen something like that before. I didn’t even know it was possible! 02 Zhang Yan, 23, Student, Chinese Lost in Thailand, because the film shows the different sides of Thailand in a funny way, such as the traditional customs, foods and landsc … Continued

Design Ideas

Love or Something Like It

God doesn’t exist. The air whooshed from my lungs as I allowed the thought to rise to the surface of my consciousness, giving in to the struggle I had worked months to keep at bay. I broke into a cold sweat, momentarily paralysed by both fear and exhilaration.

Keeping the Faith

In spite of being named after a Buddhist temple, Chiang Mai’s Wat Gate area is, surprisingly, home to a thriving Muslim community. Walking around, you pass by men in white caps and women in flowing headscarves. There is the green and white mosque audible by its haunting daily calls to prayer and visible by the high dome topped by a minaret.

Rebecca Weldon on the Cultural Evolution of Chiang Rai

“When I first moved to Chiang Rai in the early 80s, the city’s cultural events consisted of parades blaring international and Thai pop tunes carrying along beauty queens in white tulle western style dresses on foam and plastic floats,” recalls Rebecca Weldon of her early years in the northern city.

Dancing with Your Imagination

“TCDC is an incubator for ideas,” said Apisit Laistrooglai, national director of the Thailand Creative and Design Centre (TCDC), at the centre’s official opening last month. “It encourages dancing with your imagination.”

Bridge Over Coloured Water

Chiang Mai’s little sister, Chiang Rai, long known as little more than a backwater base for trekking, is ready to show the world its true colours – a whole artful mix of them, in fact.

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 7: Live Music

Chiang Mai is full of live music, from jazz to pop to Thai country. Here are just a few of the city’s top rockin’ venues. It was hard for us to pick just seven, so we cheated a little…

Forget the Furby, Pass the Prints!

Amidst the ancient temples and modern souvenir stalls, Chiang Mai is a city on the rise, growing ripe with youthful culture and a broad mix of people coming here to travel and live. Walking down any given street you’ll see a hodgepodge of fashion choices, from backpackers wearing the ubiquitous printed harem pants and Chang singlets (come on guys, it’s not a uniform!) to local teens sporting the latest version of anime character Arale’s winged trucker hat, to chic young co-eds in gauzy tops and patterned leggings (regardless of temperature). While diverse and interesting, the city’s fashion palette does show a preponderance of trends, with various pockets of culture looking as though they all called each other the night before to coordinate their outfits.

Milk Bag Magic

Every afternoon for six months, I heard the same thing from twenty four tiny faces punctuated with shiny black eyes, whining in unison: “Teachuuuuur.” It was like a mantra, delivered in a way that only Prathom Four  students can really get away with – dorable and, as a result, terribly, terribly manipulative. “Teacher…gin nom?” Milk. They wanted to drink milk during class, just like they did eve … Continued

Shoot Cameras, Not Guns

Diana Sabreen originally came to Thailand to rock climb. A professional photographer living in Colorado, USA, she was invited by some friends to join in a kind of working holiday to take some photos, enjoy a good workout and relax amidst the country’s famous mountain vistas. The trip was ultimately cancelled, but Diana decided she still wanted to take the journey to Thailand by herself. This was about seven years ago.

Editorial: May 2013

She was wailing, sobbing uncontrollably, her face twisted in despair. My heart went out to her. I didn’t know her from Eve, but this well dressed woman in her mid twenties, very pretty under the streaked mascara and smeared lipstick, was blubbering inconsolably about her loss. We passersby were looking on with great concern. She had obviously just lost someone. “But what am I going to do without mun? (Mun in Thai is anything from a very close ‘she’ or a ‘he’ to a mere ‘it’.) Mun has been with me for years. I don’t know where to start,” she moaned to the increasing distress of a gathering crowd.

More From Citylife

Doctor warns of easy spread of RSV

Mon 15th Sep

Dr. Jiraruj Chomchai, a pediatrician specializing in respiratory and critical care at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, shared an update on the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) outbreak via his Facebook page. “This week, the children with RSV requiring intubation are incredibly young. The youngest is just 24 days old, followed by another at 30 days. Some infants under two months old need High F … Continued

Provincial Police Region 5 seize a large haul of drug

Mon 15th Sep

On September 15, Chiang Mai Governor Thotsapol Phueanudom, together with the Commander of Provincial Police Region 5 and representatives from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board Region 5, announced the arrest of a major drug trafficker. Authorities seized 3,730,000 methamphetamine pills and a large shipment of crystal methamphetamine weighing 100 kilograms. Anusorn Masuk, a 24-year-old man f … Continued

Officials and soldiers assist villagers after truck crash

Mon 15th Sep

Soldiers from the 7th Infantry Division, along with officials from the Chang Phueak Subdistrict Administrative Organization, went to the area to help villagers clean up the ruins of houses and shops damaged by the pickup truck accident on September 9th. The villagers had not yet received any compensation. The mayor of the Chang Phueak Subdistrict Administrative Organization admitted he was concern … Continued

Army Commander speaks in Chiang Mai on border situation and national security

Mon 15th Sep

Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang, Commander of the Second Army Area, visited Chiang Mai to give a special lecture titled “True Stories from the Border” at the Dipangkorn Rasmijoti Convention Hall, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University. The event was attended by more than 2,000 people, including students, people in general, and military cadets. During his speech, Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang pra … Continued

Geese excitement wanes

Sat 13th Sep

The goose fever seems to have died down, following weeks of excitement and l daily crowds to watch the ten geese swan about the moat. The geese appear to have settled into their new home and are now part and parcel of the Chiang Mai cityscape.

Maxim Launches Thailand’s First Horse Carriage Service with Huge Historical Parade for Locals

Fri 12th Sep

Maxim Thailand, a leading ride-hailing application, has officially launched the country’s first “Horse Carriage Service” in Lampang Province. The service provides a one-of-a-kind travel experience that blends the charm of traditional Lanna culture with modern technology. It allows tourists to enjoy safe, convenient, and comfortable journeys while creating income opportunities for local carriage dr … Continued

Get Ready for a New Adventure: World’s First “XVENTURE” Active Park Opens Oct 16 at Central Chiang Mai

Fri 12th Sep

Get Ready for a New Adventure: World’s First “XVENTURE” Active Park Opens Oct 16 at Central Chiang Mai Chiang Mai is about to level up its play scene as Central Pattana plc, in collaboration with Singapore’s Kiztopia Group Family Edutainment Center, unveils the world’s first “XVENTURE” Active Park on October 16 at Central Chiang Mai. Spanning more than 2,200 sq.m., the groundbreaking indoor attrac … Continued

Insurance limit sparks concern as residents call for repair aid

Thu 11th Sep

Provincial Electricity Authority officials continue to restore the power system on Nong Ho Road. They are preparing to replace electric poles along the 595-meter route, and the project is expected to take three days to complete. Power has already been restored to all affected households. Residents remain concerned about the damage to more than 22 homes and businesses, as the car insurance related … Continued

Authorities investigate pickup truck accident as insurance coverage assessed

Wed 10th Sep

Following the recent pickup truck accident, officials from LMG Insurance Company assessed the damage and confirmed that the vehicle involved carried third-party insurance with coverage of 600,000 baht for damage to third-party property. Under the Motor Vehicle Victims Act, compensation includes 500,000 baht for the lives of passengers and 35,000 baht for the life of the driver. The company will pr … Continued

Flash flood hit Mae Rim

Wed 10th Sep

Heavy rainfall in Mae Rim caused flash floods from the highlands of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park to overflow onto Chotana Road in front of the Pack Squadron. The poor drainage systems led to traffic congestion, and several vehicles had engine damage while driving through floodwaters. As of 11 am, water levels have dropped. However, further rainfall could lead to flash flooding. In response, Don Ka … Continued

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