Home Citylife CityNews CityNow!
CityLife Logo
Spoon and Fork Logo

From Rags to Riches: The B2 Hotels Success Story

Pichai Chawla, 46, is the owner of the B2 hotel group, a successful chain of budget hotels, soon to number 23 branches throughout Thailand and beyond.

Chiang Mai Sign City ภาษาไทย

คูเมืองของเราตอนนี้ดูสวยงาม ล้อมรอบไปด้วยต้นไม้ที่แผ่กิ่งก้านสาขาในทุกช่วงฤดูร้อน เจ้าหน้าที่ตกแต่งสวนต่างปฏิบัติหน้าที่จัดแต่งและแต่งเติมแปลงดอกไม้รอบๆ คูเมือง เขตเมืองเก่ากำลังจะถูกบูรณะให้กลับมาดูดีขึ้นในไม่ช้า สิ่งเหล่านี้เป็นผลมากจากการบังคับใช้กฎระเบียบต่างๆ นั่นเอง ไม่ว่าจะการจัดระเบียบการควบคุมความสูง การออกแบบและแนวทางการใช้สีของอาคาร สิ่งเหล่านี้กำลังจะถูกปรับปรุงให้ดีขึ้น และเงินภาษีของประชาชนกำลังถูกใช้ไปกับการพัฒนาเชียงใหม่ในหลายๆ ด้าน

Waewdao Sirisook: Lanna and the Mirror

“No matter where I go, or what I do, I always want to come back here,” explains Waewdao Sirisook fondly, gesturing to the sunny, bustling streets of Chiang Mai that surround the coffee shop where we meet. Waewdao has been dancing for over 20 years, a passion that has jettisoned her around the globe, a skill that can be seen in the slightest of her movements, a connection to her body evident in the nonchalant but elegant wave of her hand. “The people here, no matter how I perform, no matter what kind of dance it is, come out and support me. I will always come back to show them what I’ve learned, no matter what.”

The Adventures of Tom: July 2015

I begin this month with an apology. Once again, an eagle-eyed reader has spotted a glaring error in my scribblings. I thank that reader for taking time out of what I can only assume is a very busy life for pointing out that witches do not have claws, as I suggested in last month’s article, but hands – because they need opposable thumbs for gripping their broomsticks, apparently. I would like therefore to publicly apologise to that reader – and of course all witches. Am I an idiot or what?

Chiang Mai Sign City

Our moat is looking pretty, lined with beautiful trees which explode into vibrant hues every summer. The city’s gardener is doing a fine job setting up and maintaining flower beds in little pockets every where. The old city is being polished and shined, thanks to the many new rules and regulations being enforced such as height restrictions, design controls as well as colour palette guidelines. Good things are being done and in many cases the public money is being used wisely. But what is the point of planting beautiful trees, setting up flower beds, renovating architecture and cleaning up the city if all of it is overshadowed, literally, by billboards?

Zudrangma Records & Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band: 21st Century Molam

In my relatively short time here in the Kingdom, Thai music is one thing that interests me greatly, yet it seems to be, for me at least, a very difficult genre to really sink my teeth into. The few stores at Kad Suan Gao that I’ve found that have LP’s have a limited selection and the records aren’t exactly cheap. But every now and then I’ll hear a dusty radio in a som tam restaurant with some catchy music and I can appreciate the musical heritage of this place. But these are deep waters.

24 Hours in Mae Sot

Chocks away! We shook tentatively on the breeze in a small 12 seater Cessna 208B Grand Caravan as its tyres kissed the tarmac goodbye and we slowly climbed into the candy floss cloud filled sky. The flight was to be one of two in just 24-hours, after Citylife was invited to experience Mae Sot; a hidden gem on the border of Burma, with beautiful secrets, often missed by your local and international traveller alike.

Design Ideas: Nipan Chawcharernpon

Nipan Chawcharernpon, 26, Video Producer and Video Post-Production shows us some of his move favourite items.

Golden Years in a Flawed Paradise

On the surface Chiang Mai appears to be a wonderful place to retire. But as Sawang Kaewkantha, Executive Director of the Foundation for Older Person Development pointed out, there is another side to the coin. Beneath the sabai life, the tropical weather, and all the pleasantries that make Chiang Mai attractive to retirees are a number of issues that make the city a challenging place to live out the autumn of life.

Editorial July 2015

We are inundated by advertising; and no, the irony is not lost on me. Whether by emails, in text messages, on Facebook, online, on television and radio, or in print, everywhere we look, we are told that we need to whiten our skin, blacken our hair, de-yellow our teeth. We’re urged to detox, retox and get botox. We’re seduced by images of luxury cars, penthouses, trips to Europe, if only we’re willing to put ourselves just that little further into debt. Temptations, temptations…

Dazzling Jewellery Displays

Dazzle and sparkle with some new jewellery or add some ornate decorations to your home from one of these three exquisite jewellers in the city.

Stores That Have Everything

Check out these three stores that are bound to serve you whatever you are looking for, no matter how wacky and weird it may be. Party accessories, fancy dress hire and a sea of second hand ‘stuff’ means nothing, however amazing, is beyond reality here in Chiang Mai.

New City Menus

Sink your teeth into some exciting new menus our city’s chefs are producing inspired by world cuisines ranging from Spanish tapas, Japanese curries to all American burgers.

City7: Workspaces

Brainstorming? Conceptualising? Banging heads together? You need a place to work! This month we’ve found the seven best work spaces to buckle down and get serious with your team, or pull up your boot straps and hit the books. With plenty of brain food to go around and the focused, productive atmosphere you need, it’s time to get stuff done!

Feeling Board?

There I was, stuck in a gas station, zombies banging at the door and only a pile of garbage and a small knife to determine my fate. The atmosphere is tense and tentative. One false move and I’ll lose the last bag of medical supplies that I desperately need to get back to camp. I roll…I get bitten and I die. The medical supplies are lost; a harsh blow to our remaining zombie apocalypse survivors. I pass the dice to the right, bringing my disastrous turn to an end. I order a coffee, take a breather, and begin to hatch a new plan for my only surviving character, vowing to make up for my poor choices that left me dying in a pool of zombie blood.

A Fundamental Good: All Saints Inclusive Church

Matters concerning gender and sexual orientation have not been easy for the Christian Church. The church is still divided on what’s fundamentally the right way to be, just as sections of the hoi polloi – after all this so-called cultural modernisation we’ve ostensibly embraced – still denounce or renounce the way some people just are. It’s a sin, say some denominations such as the Evangelical Covenant Church, concerning homosexuality; while the Roman Catholic Church has merely called being gay a ‘moral disorder’ that is part of the devil’s wicked scheme. And while some progressive measures have been taken in the name of LGBT rights and the church, such as an actual ‘Inclusive Church’ being formed; the acceptance of gay marriage (notably, recently in Ireland), or denominations forming their own branches of the church that are more in tune with human rights, it looks like in many good church-goers’ eyes you are destined for an afterlife in the eternal fire simply for loving or lusting after someone whom they say you shouldn’t.

More From Citylife

Seasonal mushrooms going for 700 baht per kg

Mon 29th May

Vendors at Muang Market have been selling hed tob mushrooms, which have just come into season, at very high prices, due to demand. These mushrooms, often the cause of fires in the forests as they are hard to find to harvest, are now in season. Used to make delicious Northern soups, stir fries and curries, these mushrooms have been commanding very high prices this year at the market.  One vendor sa … Continued

ยกครกส้มตำ นำมาเล่าใหม่ ผ่านสารพัดเมนูตำหลากรูปแบบ

ส้มตำเฮ้าส์ ต้นตำรับความอร่อยมาจากบางแสนจังหวัดชลบุรี สู่ความอบอุ่นในแบบฉบับของบ้านส้มตำ ฉีกกรอบให้ส้มตำเป็นเมนูที่อร่อยได้หลายรูปแบบ ที่สำคัญคือรักษามาตรฐานของอาหารและการให้บริการที่ใส่ใจ คำนึงถึงสุขภาพของผู้ทาน ทุกจานจึงปราศจากผงชูรส

Chiang Mai Pride Parade returns this Sunday 28th

Tue 23rd May

Chiang Mai pride parade for LGTBQ community in Chiang Mai

Concerns over cracks at Suan Dok Gate

Thu 18th May

Following the crumbling of sections of Chang Puak Gate in September of last year, there are now concerns about the structure of Suan Dok Gate, as large cracks have become visible.  According to the Fine Arts Department, the original walls and five gates which surround the old Chiang Mai city were built during the founding of the city 727 years ago.  Renovated during the reign of Chao Luang Tham La … Continued

Inthakin city blessing ceremony 2023

Thu 18th May

This year’s Inthakin city-blessing ceremony began on the 16th May and will run through to the 23rd May.  While there are festivities throughout the city, the main locations to visit are War Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang.  The Inthakin festival is held in honour and celebration of the Chiang Mai city pillar and the guardian spirits. According to an ancient Thai legend, Chiang Mai, back in its time … Continued

Maejo University, SEARCA co-organise forum on agriculture sustainability

Thu 18th May

Maejo University (MJU) and Philippines-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) are jointly organising the 8th UC Graduate Forum under the auspices of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC). To be held on 18-19 May 2023 in the Furama Chiang Mai Hotel, the 8th UC Graduate Forum i … Continued

Saruda Finest Pastry Espace ขยับขยายสาขาพร้อมกับความหอมหวานที่สนุกสนานกว่าที่เคย

จากร้านขนาดกะทัดรัดย่านนิมมานฯ ขยับขยายเพิ่มสาขาสู่บ้านเก่า ย่านข่วงสิงห์ ที่ขัดสีฉวีวรรณใหม่ออกมาเป็นคาเฟ่แสนอบอุ่น ภายใต้ชื่อ Saruda Finest Pastry Espace กับพื้นที่กว้างขวางและสนุกสนานมากกว่าที่เคย

‘บ้านอาจารย์’ ร้านขนมที่อยู่คู่เชียงใหม่มานาน 35 ปีและส่งต่อสูตรขนมเปี๊ยะเลื่องชื่อมารุ่นสู่รุ่น

หลายๆ คนที่เคยขับรถผ่านถนนเส้นเชียงใหม่ลำพูนอยู่บ่อยๆ จะเห็นบ้านหลังใหญ่สีชมพูซึ่งดูละม้ายคล้ายกับบ้านตุ๊กตาน่ารัก ความจริงแล้วที่นี่ไม่ใช่บ้านตุ๊กตาแต่อย่างใด แต่เป็น ‘บ้านอาจารย์’ ที่ตั้งของร้านขนมไทยเก่าแก่ของเชียงใหม่ 

Every vote matters as Chiang Mai turned out to vote

Mon 15th May

The Hmong community of Doi Pui turned up eager and early yesterday, with queues forming at 7am to vote at Muang district’s hugest tolling booth.  Nearly all of the 989 eligible voters turned out.  According to the local Chiang Mai Election Comission, there were 2,605 voting stations across the province with 176 mobile units in remote areas.  To date there have been no reports of wrongdoing.  

Cost of school uniforms lead to long tailoring queues

Fri 12th May

Two tailors talked to CityNews this week, saying that they have had long lines for weeks, mostly to fix old school uninforms, as the beginning of school term looms mid May.  “We normally have a busy schedule at this time of the year, but nothing like this,” said Daeng Dermlaoha, a tailor in Ruam Chok Market.  “What I’m also seeing now is that many uniforms are being returned to be fixed for the se … Continued

Citylife
Chiang Mai
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Mailing List
  • Contact Us

Copyright 2019 Citylife Group .Co . Ltd. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced using any storage medium without prior written permission of the publisher.
Opinions expressed in Citylife Chiang Mai are not necessarily those of the publisher.