Bob

What is known is: (1) The British have indeed stated that they won't issue income affidavits beginning January 1, 2019, and are recommending that Brits maintain the 800k bank accounts to support retirement visas/extensions. Unless this new declared policy is changed, the new policy will obviously affect the Brits who have relied on the income affidavits to stay here long term. (2) The British authorities for some reason made a comment that they know that the same change is coming for US citizens too. While the Brits had no real business talking about what the US policy will be, I'm also doubtful that the Brits would have said that without knowing something about it (i.e., one typically can rely on what British officials say). (3) Everyone has known for years that the US embassy/consulate has been issuing the income affidavits to its citizens without any requirement that the applicant show any proof of income. But, on the other hand, I've always wondered why other countries have required the proof of income before notarizing the affidavits because the form the embassy/consulate officials sign is simply verifying the identity (and not the income amount) of the signer of the form. (4) In Chiangmai, there have been some credible reports for the last two months or so that CM Immigration officers are occasionally asking a US citizen with an income affidavit to provide some proof of that income. So far, it's been hit and miss for that activity (but there were no prior reports of this occurring so something different is afoot). What's unknown is why this is happening now. Some have suggested (and it's inferred in some of the British statements) that the changes are occurring because of demands by Thai immigration (i.e., Thai Immigration has told the Brits that they must verify the income before issuing the affidavits and the Brits have determined that they have neither the ability or desire to spend the time/effort to verify income from various sources around the world). While I disagree with Scooby's blanket comment that it's all "completely useless information", he's right that only god/buddha knows what the immigration rules (or application of those rules) will be next month let alone the in the coming years. [OP - you plainly assert that the Thai Immigration Chief - Big Joke or whoever - made some declaration that Thai Immigration would no longer accept the British Income affidavits. Where exactly did you find that the Thai Immigration chief said any such thing? The only statements I've seen so far are by British officials]

Kind of a blanket condemnation of the transport system in CM because you had to wait 10 minutes once? I will grant it's become difficult to cross over the outer moat roads (we call farther-out roads the ring roads) excepting at the corners, near Thaphae Gate, at the southwest pedestrian overpass, or at the push-button light across from the market by Chang Phuak Gate. I cross the outer moat roads at least a few times a week at the corners and have no difficulty at all (sometimes I do have to wait 3-4 minutes especially on the north end). You're lucky to have crossed Rama 4 in Bangkok and lived to tell the story. I wouldn't have the nerve to try that.

I do agree the tuk tuks (if that's what you're talking about here) are a bit of a pain in the ass and surely too expensive for what service they are offering (in a usually hot, stinky, and noisy glorified tricycle). If you can get a tuk tuk at night for 100 baht, that's actually a bargain (most of them will ask for 150 baht+ and you have to haggle aggressively to get them down to maybe 120 baht).

Come on, Christian, a bit over the top. I go lots of places via the Songteaws for 30 baht (regardless of distance). And Grab, although a bit more expensive than when Uber ruled the streets prior to March of this year, is still relatively cheap. Plus now we have the various inter-city bus lines that are cheap as hell and air-conditioned (although not exactly screaming fast to get where you want to go). You spend $100 (?) to fly up here, another 700-1000 baht for a hotel, and then decide not to come because somebody wants ninety cents to a couple of dollars to haul you around? I know we both walk a lot....but to suggest that the situation for pedestrians is worse in CM than Bangkok is simply nuts.

Mae Rim is essentially a suburb of Chiangmai and not at all very far....like 6-8 miles north/northwest of the city. There are baht busses (songteaws) that go there all the time....like every 30-60 minutes? You can catch the songteaws to Mae Rim at Worarot Market (called Kad Luang by most Thais) and the fee is like 20 baht. Once in you're in Mae Rim, simply grab a local baht bus or tuk tuk for your trip out to the orphanage. Oh, would note that the songteaws to Mae Rim are yellow in color (and you'll see Mae Rim written in Thai -แม่ริม- on the songteaw sign). I would think the people at the orphanage could easily get you transportation back to wherever you're staying in Chiangmai...or either tell you where to grab the yellow songteaw back to town or actually haul you to a pickup spot. But you likely can use Grab to get there too or simply hire a taxi or general songteaw to take you there...but taking a yellow songteaw from Worarot Market would definitely be the cheapest option. Wherever you're staying in Chiangmai very likely could arrange for a driver for you too (but, of course, more expensive). But, if you don't mind paying the money (I'm guessing it would cost 1000 baht or so for a half day with a driver?), a private driver would certainly be the most convenient. Would strongly advise that you have in Thai writing the name, address, and telephone number of the orphanage. It may come in very handy. You mention that the place you're going is an hour's drive from the Chiangmai city center but I'm not sure how far that means in distance from what we would call "downtown" Mae Rim. Just getting there during the bad traffic times would take 30-40+ minutes. Anyway, good luck.

The RAM (on east end of Soi 6 which runs from Chang Klan to Charoen Prahtet) show starts at 10:00 PM and is worth a look see. They have a whole new cast of performers who started this past Wednesday. Also, there's a new place in town (just south of and across the street from the Pantip building......northwest corner of Chang Klan and Sri Don Chai) called 6ixcret which just opened two nights ago. Same dance troupe (plus a newbe or two) that used to be at RAM and is also definitely worth a look see. The 6ixcret show starts at 9:30 PM. If you're into ladyboys with glitzy costumes, you'll like the show (both shows have some very fine looking boys dancers too).

It's across the street from the Wangcome Hotel (north side)....and very difficult to miss (a large sign above and very big lettering on the window). OP....there should be no rationale reason you simply can't go to the bar.....nobody is going to see you go there (well, except for co-workers who might be tailing you). They supposedly open at 7:30 PM but probably best to wait until at least 9PM.

Poy Sang Long is a Shan buddhist ceremony with a long tradition and which many of the Shan boys do to make merit for their parents and elders. Typically it's a 3 or 4 day ceremony and, until the boys are ordained, they're not allowed to touch the ground. After their heads are shaved, they're dressed up in all kinds of silks and finery as well as facial makeup, all to have them mimic the Buddha himself (before Buddha was an ascetic, he was the son of a king and had all the riches and finery one could imagine). The most colorful and public portion of the ceremony occurs early in the morning for two days when the boys are paraded around the temple grounds (and sometimes outside the temple) on the shoulders of their male relatives (or, occasionally, on a pony or even a palaquin). The last day is the "ordination" day and the boys are stripped of all their finery, don the saffron robes, and enter the temple as novices. Most of the boys stay at the temple for 1-3 weeks although a very small minority might actually become formal monks for life. Mae Hong Song supposedly has the largest concentration of Shan here in Thailand and their Poy Sang Long ceremonies are purported to be fairly grandiose; however, here in Chiangmai, there is a sizable Shan population and similar ceremonies are held each year (between the middle of March and April, the precise dates either set by the phase of the moon or by the discretionary choice of the temple elders) at the two local Shan temples, Wat Guu Tao and Wat Pa Pao. The Poy Sang Long ceremonies at Wat Guu Tao were held this year during the last week of March and about 70 boys were invested as novices. I'll attempt to attach a few photos of that event.

A dozen or so years ago, I was visiting Luang Prabang and sitting in a fancy resort lobby waiting for a ride. There also was a group of about 30 older people (70+?) in the lobby who began to take a group photo. As they were struggling to get everyone in the photo without excluding the photo taker, I offered to help them out and take the photos. They were nice enough about it and subsequently began to talk about why they were there. Turned out they were Morman missionaries based in Phnom Penh but were just in Luang Prabang for a weekend vacation. While I didn't react to them, I began a slow burn....wondering why the hell the Mormans couldn't find 144,000 "souls" to save in Utah and then leave the Buddhists of Cambodia (or anywhere else) the hell alone. I recognize the concept of freedom of religion (from my point of view, everyone has to right to believe whatever fairy tale they wish), but it simply grates the hell out of me when church groups from the west go seeking to instruct the "natives" anywhere that their fairy tale is the one and only true one. To me, it smacks of cultural colonialism and why nations allow it ("it" not referring to the right to practice any religion you want but referring to allowing foreign missionary groups to actively proselytize in their country) is beyond me. So, bottom line, interesting architecture or not, I wish they'd stay in Utah.

Glad that you enjoyed our fair city.......... you're welcome back any time. As a side note, the only mild concern I had reading your report was that you even spent a nanosecond being concerned with what anybody else would think about what you paid the guy. You paid what you voluntarily wanted to pay and that's the only standard you ever need to meet. Anybody out there who would even think in the "geez, you're ruining it for the rest of us mode" gets zero respect from me.

Their stupidity and disrespect hardly merits either any significant punitive measures or two threads on this message board. The dolts ought to be simply told that they are not the kind of tourists Thailand (or any other country) wants, they have 3 days to leave the country, and they'll be banned from returning for a year. Maybe they'll learn something....although, given their age, I doubt it.

Many proposals have been made over the years but the rise to 30 baht (and painting of that information on the sides of the red baht buses) occurred this past summer. And apparently, for the most part, this is mainly a "falang" price as (when I'm paying attention) I've noticed quite a few Thais paying the old rate of 20 baht without comment or objection by the driver.

Sorry about being candid, Morph, but you sure picked an out-of-the-way place to stay here. You are going to find it difficult to find songteaws or tuk tuks around that area and you're really not anywhere near where you can walk to any sights; however, I'm hopeful the Uber drivers can find you and get you around. I suspect that you'll be looking at 100 baht plus going by Uber to anywhere in the center of the city and that price will go up by 50-100% during peak times. For a new tourist to CM, probably best to stay somewhere in the city center (as one poster suggested, somewhere near the moat and/or Thaphae Gate area). I haven't gone to saunas or massage places for years but, based on friends' comments, Club 17 would be your best option (closest to you and supposedly a lot better and cleaner than House of Male). I have friends who go there several times every week. For temples, the first one I'd recommend is Wat Phratat Doi Suthep on the mountain west of town….probably the number one tourist attraction here in Chiangmai. The other two main temples in the old city - Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang - are also worth a visit presuming you're interested in seeing those types of things. Also (random comments): (1) Based on your comments about restaurants….and not knowing your food preferences….you might want to try River Market (on Charoen Phratet Road next to the Iron Bridge) as it's a nice location and setting. Mostly Thai food that's fairly decent. If you like rice porridge, the Jok Restaurant on the north side of the old city (inside the moat about half way from the northeast corner of the old city and the Chang Phuak Gate) is the place to go. For kao man gai, there are tons of places but two of the more notable ones are about 250 yards due west of the Three Kings monument. There are a million restaurants up here and it's really difficult to take a wild guess as what you would prefer. (2) Speaking of River Market, you can easily walk (200 yards?) from there to Soi 6, Charoen Prathet, which is the main (just about only) location of the so-called "gay" bars here in town. On the corner is RAM bar (my favorite due to the great but, I'd note, non-offable staff) and they have a rather professional show every night at 10PM (lately it's been overcrowded and you won't find a seat unless you're there by 9:15-9:30 and you might want to consider going there on a Sunday night when allegedly it's the least crowded). Secrets Bar is immediately next to RAM bar and there are a couple of other places (Pandee and Orion…and I'm probably forgetting one) further down Soi 6. (3) I have no recommendation about elephant joints (it's been 15-17 years since I did that) but would note that on my bucket list (based on what I've heard) is a visit to the elephant sanctuary down near Lampang (about 45 minutes south of where you're staying). But I can't really say if it's good or bad as I haven't been there. (4) If you like ruins, Wiang Kum Kam (the original city Lanna King Mengrai founded about 1290 but abandoned years later due to flooding) is not very far from where you're staying….I'd guess about a mile southwest of your hotel location. (5) For "gogo" bars, I suppose the only place to recommend is Adam's Apple. I haven't been there in a couple of years but by reputation is the busiest place for that type of thing. If you have other specific questions, post them here or send me a PM and I'll try to answer them. You asked about nationality….I'm from the US….and I'd only note that you and I already have one thing in common (our two countries both currently suffer horrible and embarrassing leadership).

Fully agree. Uber is typically 50% cheaper than what the tuk tuk dudes/dudettes are charging and you ride in a clean, quiet, and air-conditioned vehicle. Baht busses (songteaws) here raised their prices to 30 baht a few months ago and, while I do use them regularly, they don't fit the bill for going to specific addresses or out of the way places most of the time. One can, of course, often hire a songteaw to go just about anywhere but they'll then charge more than Uber and the ride obviously isn't as pleasant (plus many drivers simply won't agree to deviate from their usual routes to the various gates, markets, malls, etc.). When using a songteaw, simply ask the driver if he'll be going to where you want to go (actually, you're better off saying you want to go to a well-known landmark near where you want to go) and, if he says "yes" (or nods his head), just get in and you pay 30 baht when you get out. Do not ask "how much" (or, if you can help it, point to a spot on a map) as you'll suddenly see a sly smile on the driver's face (thinking you're a newbe tourist) and the price will rapidly escalate from there. Tuk tuks generally won't take you anywhere during the day for less than about 80-100 baht. In the evening, 120 baht is about the cheapest you can pay (although they'll ask for 140-200 baht). Poster Morph: If you want some recommendations, you need to tell us a bit more as requested above.

Difficult to make any recommendations with that undefined request. What do you like to do? What area of the city will you stay? What type of food do you like to eat (western, Thai, cheap, expensive, have any issue getting to places out of the city center, etc., etc.)?

While it often is difficult up here to get a songteaw or tuk tuk late at night, you shouldn't have any problems with hailing an Uber ride (although, admittedly, I have little experience doing that after 1AM or so). It seems that a lot of the Uber drivers are doing it after regular jobs to make some extra money so they're available just about anytime (especially at night).

Yes, it's a hotel immediately behind but attached to Kad Suan Kaew. Their brunch room is on the second floor (well, what I call the second floor but I think they call the ground floor or some such thing) and you can get there either by going up the stairs in the lobby of the hotel or by going to the back of the mall (past Siam Commercial Bank, Charoen Optical, etc.) and then turn left (the brunch room essentially overlooks the mall so I've always considered it part of the mall). Our group of regulars have gone to a Sunday brunch at the Grand View and Empress hotels over the years but have settled on the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew for the last year+ because we feel the food is fresher and better. Cost is 300 baht per person (although there is a discount to that for more than "x" number of persons). I asked the boss (bf) about the Just Kao Soi restaurant and he tells me it's now closed. Yes, it was a couple of blocks due south of RAM bar. He told me about another place he likes in the old city but hell if I know exactly where it is (Thais certainly know how to get to where they want to go but they sure are lousy about giving directions)....but maybe it's the one place you mentioned on Soi 8, Sriphoom. Not sure. Traveller will likely have no problem is finding a ton of acceptable restaurants in CM.

Heck if I know where it is but the owner of the Wichian Gai place I mentioned said it was in Isaan. Maybe he has a broad definition of that region. Regardless, if you haven't tried it before, you ought to try that place. There used to be another barbecued chicken joint a few hundred yards east of the famous Jok restaurant on the north side of the old city but they moved to the street immediately south of Wat Phra Singh. Think it's called S & P Chicken (yellow sign, if my memory is correct) and, while good, I still think the Wichian Gai place has the best barbecued chicken in town. Their somtam is very good too. You mentioned kao soi but I didn't recommend any particular place because I don't really like kao soi (or jok either); however, my bf enjoys kao soi and one place he has liked is the kao soi joint (Just Kao Soi?) that's on the west side of Charoen Pratet about 3 blocks south of the Porn Ping Hotel. But he'll eat it pretty much anywhere. I mainly eat the same 8-10 Thai dishes wherever I go to lunch or dinner and, frankly, it's a rare occurrence where I find bad food in any active Thai restaurant. I almost never eat any formal meal at any of the malls (well, other than the Sunday brunch with a group of friends at the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew....which is usually very good) as I don't particularly like the ambiance or what seems to me is somewhat commercialized food. I've only been to the new Central Festival Mall twice since it opened, once just to check it out and the second time to go to a movie (I'm not much of a shopper).

I fully understand the "mild" request and I and friends often tell the waiter how many chilis to put into a certain dish or, in some cases, to skip the chilis (or dried shrimp or whatever) altogether. Then again, there are also a lot of dishes (sweet and sour pork/chicken, green curry with chicken/pork, penang curry with chicken/pork, etc., etc.) that really aren't spicy at all. Don't hesitate at all to ask for one chili only in dishes....it simply won't be a problem anywhere. Your 1000 baht per person is way too high for Thai food in Chiangmai. Even at the fanciest places (and Thai "fancy" isn't really all that fancy) one would normally pay less than 300 baht for almost any menu selection (Thai food). Anyway, out of lots of possible choices, I'd recommend The House on Moon Muang (that's the road on the inside of the moat that runs north and south next to Thaphae Gate). Most of the dishes there are 200-400 baht, the Thai food is good, and the place is nicely furnished (white table cloths and all) and quiet. I think you'll like it. You can check out their menu at: http://www.thehousethailand.com/thai-menu If you're into vegetarian, the Achan place mentioned above by Sglad is quite popular with Thais and foreigners. One of my favorite foods in Chiangmai is kao man gai (boiled chicken over rice along with a small bowl of chicken soup/broth) and, in my opinion, the absolute best places for that dish (typically a morning dish in Chiangmai and rarely served after 1 or 2PM) is a place in Santhitam near the fountain in the street or at one of the two more famous kao man gai restaurants near the Three Kings Monument (if you're interested in any of these places, pm me and I can give very specific directions). I'm also a big fan of barbecued chicken and somtam and the number one place for that (my opinion) is the Wichian Gai place on Soi 11, Nimman, next to the Grace Dental Clinic. At the Wichian place (Wichian refers to a district in Isaan and the "wichian" style of barbecued chicken is named after that area), I almost always also have somtam (and, yes, I often ask for one chili or less......even asking for no chilis means you'll get a little bit of heat as they mix the salad in the same wooden bowl)...and also ask that they omit the dried shrimp (not my cup of tea). While not always true, generally one will end up with very good Thai food by going to a restaurant (whether fancy or a dive) simply by following your eyes, i.e., go to where the Thais go as they simply won't suffer lousy Thai food. If a place is busy with a fair number of Thai customers, it's usually a winner. If there are few or no Thai customers there, move on.

I've been to Wat Phra Singh hundreds of times and your friends' description of the wat as either a "gay" place and/or that there are "lots of mincing novices in the mornings" are two descriptions that are simply dead wrong. It's the main and largest temple within the city, absolutely worth a visit by anyone interested in wats and some very nice Lanna architecture, but anybody going there looking for gay action or to ogle "mincing novices" might as well remain at the bar where their alcohol is conjuring up such silly notions. If the poster who was asking about Chiangmai restaurants might narrow his question a bit [what type of food are you looking for (Thai, Indian, Babylonian, Italian, French, etc.), whether you're looking for good spots for specific dishes (e.g., barbequed chicken, kao man gai, northern Thai sausage, or whatever), and whether you're looking for upscale joints, less fancy joints, or even street food], I'll likely offer some suggestions.

You should PM member KhorTose as he's gotten his bf to the US on a 10-year visa at one point in time and later got him there on a "fiancé" visa for marriage there. He certainly knows how to get it done and I'm sure he'd be happy to advise you.

An recent article in the New York Times indicates that almost none of the construction will be burned. The central tower, according to the May 5th article, will have a self-contained incinerator where the cremation will take place. After the 4-5 day event, the article indicates that the structures will be dismantled and sent to "temples and other destinations around the country." So, at least according to this article, there is not going to be a huge fire going on for the cremation itself. I've attended two cremation ceremonies in Chiangmai for top-ranked monks and both involved the burning of elaborate structures. But it appears that may not be the case in Bangkok for Rama IX.

Yes, the new (moved) Soho Bar is on Soi 3, Hassadithawee (also called Soi New My Way......Soho, now called "Soho Soi Saam" happens to be about 20 feet due east of the New My Way bar). Still run by Shauna & Rabbit and their grand opening is June 2nd (although they're open now). Nicer and more comfortable seating than the old Soho Bar and, best of all, air-conditioned! Worth a visit. I'm a big fan of RAM Bar and go see the cabaret at 10PM on many nights during the year. There's no show on Sunday night and now RAM is offering the food buffet as an enticement to attract more customers on Sunday night. Now, as much as I like RAM and all the guys that work there, I won't be doing the bar food there (hopefully it's fine but I've had too many bad experiences of bar food before to risk my intestines).....plus, I go there to ogle and not for dinner.

That's 30-70 baht more than I ever pay for the same distance when using a tuk tuk (but, then again, I bargain them down when they're asking for 150 baht). I've actually never had one quote 200 baht to me but, if they did, I'd just walk away and find another tuk tuk. But I've learned to use UBER which is up and thriving here in CM. Quick pickup times, about half (or less) of the cost of a tuk tuk, and you're riding in a clean air-conditioned car. Only way to fly these days.

Perhaps a day early as the event happened about 10PM on the 14th but the Captain didn't die until about 7AM in the morning of the 15th. Hopefully many know (especially at a time when we no longer have a captain but a dunderhead private...).