Chiang Mai

Chikan -- two main areas for you to consider, either in the Night Market area, where there are a fair number of beer bars and a variety of clubs, or in the Tha Phrae Gate area, which is where the two main go-go places and lots of bars are along Loi Kroh near the old city. [url]http://www.chiangmai-online.com/[/url] will give you a good list, and you can use their hotel discounter to search by area, rate, quality, etc.

This map is also pretty useful to help figure stuff out: [url]http://www.xtremetravel.net/members/Shasta/cm/cm_map.html[/url]

Freeler/joe_zop,
You guys are quick! Thanks alot for the info. I think I've nailed down a hotel in Chiangmai -Diamond Riverside? You think ok? Seems nice at 700B night...we'll see upon arrival if I pick it. In Chiangrai, I'm not sure where I'm staying.....hotel listings on the web are few(time to look some up in LP?)...and I can't find too much on Mae Sai either...but your advice is duly noted! I think I'm ditching my plans for Phuket/Phi Phi... the north seems more inticing for some reason....I'm going to take a bus from Chiangmai (7 days)to Chiangrai...stay a day or 2 then venture to Mae Sai by bus......I think that's do-able...I'll let you guys know when I'm on the ground. Should I take a bus from BKK to Chiangmai or train it? Should be an interesting trip...any other info that you think of, feel free to let me know. Drop me an e-mail if you don't want to take up space on the board.
canada_031@hotmail.com
Thanks again guys! Great support!

Yeah, definitely avoid the BKK-CM bus, if you can. The overnight train is really pretty nice, though if you're tall like me you might have a hard time with the sleeper beds. I didn't really sleep at all but still enjoyed the trip. Flying's not too bad, in terms of price, either, of course -- 2200baht or so, if I remember correctly. I found far less backpackers (and thereby, as Freeler notes, ripoff artists) in first class, but up to you. Not a huge amount of difference, really.

Diamond Riverside looked like a nice place when I walked past it -- never went inside, so please let me know what you think of it, as it's one of the ones I've been considering for the first night or so of my next trip there. It's nice to have the river there; you're close to the night market (and not too far from the Sayuri massage complex, if you're so inclined.)

Sounds like a nice little trip -- be sure to let us all know how it goes!

joe_zop/Freeler,
I hate to keep repeating myself, but I really do appreciate the advice/maps etc...that you're providing me with.
Freeler: Sorry about the LP mention.....that's why you guys are here! haha....will not buy it or mention it again! :) 2nd class train it is, should be a nice trip and a way to see Thailand a bit more than flying would.
joe_zop: just out of curiousity how much is the train ticket (approx) from Bkk to CM? I can look it up..just wondering...I'll definately let you guys know how everything goes (D.Riverside) when I get there.
I'm really looking forward to it...play some golf (even though I suck), visit the MP's....(yes Sayuri sounds great!)..etc...Originally I was planning on visiting Phuket/Phi Phi...but I think CM and beyond would be nice to see and easier to do. Thanks again!

If I remember correctly, 2nd class tickets are in the 800baht range, and first class half again as much. There's also an Express train, which I've never taken, that is faster and somewhat cheaper, but that doesn't have sleeper conmpartments or beds, just seats. (I never really saw the advantage of arriving at 7am as opposed to 9am.)

Just so you know -- while you'll see a bit more of Thailand this way, mostly you'll see it near the two cities, as the major portion of the countryside passes by in the dark. I think you actually get more scenery [i]inside[/i] the train than outside ;)

Nothing wrong with Phuket/Phi Phi -- it's gorgeous there, and the ocean/beach scene is great, but the north has its own unique character as well. Can't really go wrong either way.

Thanks for the correction, Freeler. My brain was telling me that those prices had to be wrong, because flights were only a small bit more, but those numbers were somehow stuck in my head. (Should've just checked some of my bookmarks.)

Have you done the day train? If you really want to look at scenery that would seem the way to go.

Freeler/joe_zop,
3rd class it is. It's cheap, and Lampang doesn't seem "too" far from CM. Do you suggest I buy the ticket right away in BKK or just check out of the hotel early (6am)and head to the train station and wing it? Could I take a bus there(in Lampang) right away upon arrival to CM or do I have to wait the next day? Yes, I want to get there "laew laew" hahaha...I'm learning Thai now. :) Gotta hit the golf course!
I'm still waiting for the D. Riverside to e-mail me back regarding if it's "g. friendly" or not and a weekly rate....Cheers all!

Freeler -- regarding your comment on track work, do you know how long that's going to be going on? Any idea what kind of delays you're talking about on slow trains? (Just thinking about my trip over this fall, though I may just choose to fly up in any event.) And I'd presume that even though they only give you a cookie and juice there are still the usual vendors wandering up and down the aisles, too, in case you want something else.

Also, the schedule I was looking at ([url]http://www.traveller2000.com/train/Northern_line.pdf[/url]) has Rap 101 going all the way to Chiang Mai, arriving at 2030. Has that changed?

Chikan, there are other options than ending up in Lampang and catching a bus. Unless, of course, you do this because you want to spend some time in Lampang, which is of course an option. As Freeler notes, RAP 9, which leaves at 0825, gets to to Chiang Mai at 1920, and then there are the overnights as well. And I'd get my tickets in advance as opposed to waiting -- some of the trains get quite crowded.

Freeler,
Damm rights! :) I was laughing my head off reading all these posts.....it seems like anarchy at the best! Ah man...what a life. Well, we'll see what happens when I grace Thailand with my presence....Screw it...maybe I'll take the plane! (I can hear you and joe_zop going.."not after all this advice..get on that train boy!" Talk to ya guys soon!

Looks like it's time for me to update my bookmarks -- thanks for the link. (Easier than a PDF file, as well.) Your story is a good example of the "This it Thailand" scenario; I had a similar experience with the Koh Samui ferries. For those of us in the west, this kind of thing can be maddening, but it's pretty normal there. Gotta get in the proper mood, Chikan :) and just let it happen how it's going to happen. That's one of the reasons I think the night trains are the way to go if you're not going to fly -- you've got the possibility of just sleeping through the delays as opposed to sitting there wondering if you're ever going to move.

Bring a good book!

joe_zop/freeler,
Yeah, I'm gonna go with the flow and just get an over-nighter or whatever is available I think....save on hotel for one night and just chill out and take it easy. In the past I've seen some pretty rude and arrogant "farangs" that swear and just plain loose it at the Thai's and it embarrases me. I'm on holiday for 1 month, so what's a few hours delay or something? I'll bring some reading material for sure and watch my stuff for the "cheapo" "farangs" (everytime I say that I think of "Farangies" on star trek)haha....hmmmmm that's about it. Talk to ya guys later!

Chiang Mai, Phuket, Bangkok and Phuket and over run by ladyboys and it gets worse each year. I guess there are so many woman getting paid that they decided to try and join the games. From my experience and lady that tries to pick you up on a motorbike in Chiang Mai is/was a man. Chiang Mai has a few outdoor bars, 2-3 indoor go go bars and 5 massage parlors that give you the type of massage you really want. You can also try picking up a chick at the disco. The last choice (god help you) is a Karoke bar.

TRIP REPORT (Sept 02)
Ok....where was I? Oh yeah...I'm looking for my seat, and I pass the 2nd class w/sleeper car going, "ooohh, that looks nice..I wonder what mine looks like?" and then I see it (at the rear of the train). 3rd class.......HARD bench seat, squished in with 4 people - this was going to be a long, hard night. The whole trip was spent listening to hawkers trying to sell all kinds of stuff, at ALL hours of the morning. I think even the Thai's were getting pissed off because you couldn't get any sleep! Anyways, if anyone cares.......3rd class sucks the big one! So, splurge and go for 2nd class or higher. I wanted to see what 161 B would give me and now I know - a sore ass for 4 days (no shit). Anyways, near the end of the ride (the 13th hour), the scenery was quite nice and when we hit the train station in CM, I was quite relieved. I tried to phone "Lai Thai" guesthouse, but of course, I couldn't figure out the damm phones, and it wouldn't work (and no-one else could help either). Succumbed to a "Tuk-tuk" driver who seemed ok (had a bunch of referal's in his binder from people) "bob- I think his name was"? and he took me to Lai-Thai w/o any commission of any other of that bullshit. Checked out the room.....of course, the internet pic's look better (what else is new),..but for 590B, it was ok. Then I tried sleeping there. I was on the 2nd floor, 2 rooms from a maid station.....and every morning the phone would ring at the maid station, the maids would be talking and laughing so close, all around the rooms! Sleep.......forget it! The rate dropped to 490B from Sept 1st onwards which was nice....but sleep is important and I checked out of there after 5 days to the downtown inn which was 700B and was WAY BETTER.
Anyways, had a nap and woke up around 11:30pm. Found "nice illusion" disco which was a good walk away and had a beer, checking out the scene. I met a bunch of probation officers who were in CM for a training course, so they drank and danced with me and I had a good time until the mandatory closing of 2am(Didn't want to fool around with any of them!). At 2am, I started to walk the street back to the hotel (but not really wanting to yet) and a car pulled up just ahead of me. 2 good looking women got out and one of them said, "hey where you go, come have a drink with us!". Who was I to say no to that? I followed them to a late night drinking place close by called "Spicy" (forget directions...no idea) and we sat down and ate Thai food (nice and spicey) and had drinks. While there, we met another Thai girl (who was a die hard bar girl) and a guy from the middle east who was her friend(not fucky fucky..just friend). We all sat together and drank and ate and had a great time until 6:30am! Wow.....I stumbled back to the guesthouse and all the receptionist's were giggling and talking. Anyways, next day, met up with them all again and had some good times. The 2 girls I met were NOT bar girls, and just reg. girls out to have fun and to meet their friend. To make a long story short, my newly acquired friend (from the middle east) me and both girls hit it off and we saw them almost every night. We hit bubbles disco (which is quite the meat market)(Close to Porn Ping Hotel), the Thai disco next door (that was cool), and went to an area called "ChaingMai Land" and a disco there called "Bossy". Holy shit......you should've seen the girls at "bossy"!(Real Thai place...careful with the guys....) It was funny because all 3 of them went to the can at the same time, and I was guarding all the drinks, when a Thai chick came up to me and started talking with me (where you from, you come alone, you handsome man...blah blah blah) and then my little "partner" comes around the corner...... The Thai girl goes, "thai language - boyfriend?" and she just nods her little head and the other girl took off like a bat out of hell! These girls get INTENSELY jealous, even if you're just dancing with them! Be forewarned!!!!!!!! They can get quite jealous and possesive....
Anyways, long story short. I liked CM a lot. And yes, I'm going back. I made some good friends over there and we keep in touch now. Lots of memories of getting hammered, going to disco's, picking up chicks, and generally having a great time. It's cleaner, more friendly and s-l-o-w-e-r than BKK/Pattaya which is better for me. I don't like it when girls are always grabbing at you, screaming, "hello handsome man......blah blah blah" - kind of embarrassing/annoying for me anyways(and no I'm not an old man...only 32). Like adleZ said about Korat, if you want tons of girls, and sleaze forget CM. If you don't mind the laid back approach - then try CM. Oh yeah, I tried the Pandora massage place too and it was 1700B and the girl couldn't speak a word of English......but she was cute though. Those massage places are addicting! Didn't goto Sayuri though.....should've(cheaper at 900B) - I just didn't have time. Oh yeah, I took a day trip to ChiangRai - Golden Triangle - Mae Sai and that was good. Anyone going to CM should do it. It's about 750B for the day, and it's well worth it. The border was closed when I went, but that's ok, close enough.
That's it. 2 weeks flew by and the next time will be in June for about 1 month. On the return leg I flew from CM to BKK which was great! Very quick and comfy. Hope the report was ok. Take care everyone and cover your willy's!

Great report, Chikan, you've made me remember part of why I like Chiang Mai so much. I can hardly wait to get back there -- the time for which is fast approaching! Can you tell me a bit about the Downtown Inn? It's one of the places I've been considering for a couple of nights until I get settled in for a monthly rate at one of the places I'm considering.

Thanks for the warning on 3rd class, though I'll say that for me I found it pretty hard to get any rest in 2nd class either, as I'm too tall for the sleepers and it was still pretty noisy with vendors. I also got stuck in an upper which is decidedly not the way to go -- a bit cramped toward the ceiling and the air con blowers. Certainly not a literal pain in the behind like 3rd class, though. I think I'll just spring for 1st class and be done with it -- not worth losing a night's sleep for less than ten bucks.

Freeler, my friend in Chiang Mai says the border at Mai Sai's been closed off and on for a while because of the tension between the two countries, which is unfortunate because it's the place nearest Chiang Mai to do a visa run. It's been mostly closed the last six months, from what I understand. He expects it to open up again any time now, and assures me all will be back to normal by the time I come there in November, but TIT so who knows.

Freeler/joe_zop,
Thanks for the feedback. joe's right about the border at mae sai...political wrangling between the 2 countries made the border closed - not sure when it'll open again. I could go as far as the gate at the Burmese side of the bridge and that was it - didn't want to risk getting shot climbing the gate!
The train was an experience indeed. The sort that I'm glad I did, but wouldn't again I think.....flying is way better. Out of curiousity, how much is 1st class and is it really much faster? I remember Freeler mentioning a super express or something like that leaves early am in BKK and gets to CM like 8:50pm or something same day.
joe_zop, the Downtown Inn is quite good for the money. My friend from Kuwait was staying there, and when I saw his room I thought "what the hell am I doing at Lai-Thai"? It's got a nice big room, mini bar, etc....excellent location (on Loi Kroy Rd) which is where Starbucks/McDonalds is (you know, the new complex on the corner). Staff were good and the important thing is that it was nice and QUIET....gotta have quiet to sleeeeeeeeeep. Try it for 1 night and see. Don't book on the net, the prices I've seen are 800-900 B which is bullshit, I paid 700B. Let me know what you think.