News from Chiang Mai

[musgrave]

Been here 3 months now and visited a few more places.

 

House of Male - the gay sauna - went there on a mid afternoon Sunday - the front of the place looked like a water drilling site - about 6 customers whilst I was there - one other westerner, a Chinese guy and the rest were middle aged Thai.  Lockers was relatively secure with key plus additional padlock and key - didn't appear to be that dirty or grubby as some other reviews had commented -  2 staff on duty.  Stayed about an hour which was 40 minutes too long.  Maybe it was just the day but it was place that I won't be rushing back to.

 

Classic House Massage  - good location not far from Thapae Gate -  always friendly and a range of guys mainly of the well built type.  I had an acceptable massage from a beefy guy but the ending was only ordinary,  Massage done on a floor mat with shower in a separate room.  One plus is that you get to see the wonderful Non and Woody if you visit there.

 

Marnmai Massage - located in small shop in the Chang Phuak area - a tuk tuk ride from Thapae Gate - nicely appointed place - massage table and shower in the room - mirror at the head of the bed.  A total fee including the tip is paid prior to the massage.  You pay for an hour and a half but there seems to be a rush to have things over and done within an hour.  Guess if you are firm about it you will get your full time.  Went 2 times the second guy was an absolute dream ( forgot his name!!!) Khun Noom is also there - haven't had the pleasure yet but spoke to him and he is very personable  -  he is a very well built man who has received good reviews about his massage skills - next time!!!

 

Common Massage -  in the Santitham area near Chang Phuak - small shop front - about 5 boys offered from IPAD photos - selected one and paid upfront including the tip - then passed through   another room where there must have been 15 + guys sitting around - so not sure how the 5 were selected.  Nice room, massage table - separate shower room.  Massage was acceptable but the ending had to have been the most sensual and exhilarating experience I have had in a long time.  Will be returning.

 

Orion Bar - always a few customers at Orion especially with its new location - friendly place for a game of pool and plenty of drinks - lots of people watching from this location - lots of fun and laughs

 

Secrets Bar - have made a couple more visits to this bar but only ever one or 2 customers in the times I visited.

 

Station One - In the building on the opposite side of the road to the Kalare Night Market - walk through to the back.  Nice open bar space - well appointed tables and chairs - friendly -  always plenty of boys to sit with or play pool

 

Ram Bar - yet to get there

 

Adams Apple - yet to make it there

 

Favourite water hole - El Patio in Nimman - Spanish food, wine by the glass or bottle, Blues music on a Friday night - great version of Nadine -  and 2 of the nicest wait staff ever

[a447a]

Looking forward to your opinion on Adams Apple.

[eurasian]

I like Chiang Mai a lot , happy to hear more

[Londoner]

My boyfriend and I will e  there in three months.... any recommendations for restaurants? 

[Guest whall]

I'm debating if I should go there or back to pattaya again when I visit. Where you staying?

[sglad]

I'm debating if I should go there or back to pattaya again when I visit. Where you staying?

 

It doesn't have to be either or.  Air Asia flies between Chiang Mai and Pattaya.  Five days in CM should be enough to cover most of the major sights comfortably.  As you've been to CM previously, you can zero in on the places you'd like to visit.

[ChristianPFC]

There is one more gay sauna Club One Seven a bit out of town. And if you haven't been to Adam's Apple, you should!

[Guest whall]

Well it would have to be either or based on vacation time. But I have already been to pattaya so I should probably try Chiang. I just had a wonderful time in pattaya last time that I want to go again. Lol. But if Chiang Mai has the sex places, I should just try that city out.

[sglad]

Well it would have to be either or based on vacation time. But I have already been to pattaya so I should probably try Chiang. I just had a wonderful time in pattaya last time that I want to go again. Lol. But if Chiang Mai has the sex places, I should just try that city out.

 

I think I might have misread your earlier post.  I think you should go to Chiang Mai if you've never been. You just might get bitten by the Chiang Mai charm.   I don't know much about the "sex places" as they don't really interest me.  I've been to a few of the venues on musgrave's list and although I didn't dislike them, I can't say I liked them enough to want to go back anytime soon.  My friends and I hit mainly Thai-speaking and mixed venues.  I've been to Adam's Apple and didn't find it anything special although it's the closest to the large Bangkok showbars in terms of facilities.  One or two goodlooking boys but the rest look like they just stepped out from a dark alley or construction site.  Not to my taste but others find them attractive.  The best looking guys I have seen in Chiang Mai are at uni, the clubs and on the streets.

[Guest whall]

Excellent! Thanks for your input!

[reader]

Glad, you can't even remember what you posted in the same thread.

 

In post #6, you advise:

 

"Five days in CM should be enough to cover most of the major sights comfortably.  As you've been to CM previously, you can zero in on the places you'd like to visit."

 

In post #9 you advise:

 

"I think I might have misread your earlier post.  I think you should go to Chiang Mai if you've never been."

 

WTF?

 

Across the three boards, you have more personas than you can keep track of and in most you present yourself as a sexy young guy when you're anything but.  But we still luv ya' even if your meds are screwing with your mind.

[sglad]

Glad, you can't even remember what you posted in the same thread.

 

In post #6, you advise:

 

"Five days in CM should be enough to cover most of the major sights comfortably.  As you've been to CM previously, you can zero in on the places you'd like to visit."

 

In post #9 you advise:

 

"I think I might have misread your earlier post.  I think you should go to Chiang Mai if you've never been."

 

WTF?

 

You don't read very well for a 'reader'.  Post no. 6 and post no. 9 are not contradictory.  I misunderstood post no. 6 to mean that whall had been to both Chiang Mai and Pattaya previously but after reading post no. 8 and re-reading post no. 6, I realised that I had made a mistake and that he had only been to Pattaya before and had never been to Chiang Mai.  I acknowledged this in post no. 9 and strongly suggested that he visit Chiang Mai for it's unique charm.

 

Across the three boards, you have more personas than you can keep track of and in most you present yourself as a sexy young guy when you're anything but.  But we still luv ya' even if your meds are screwing with your mind.

 

I'm only a member here and of SN.  I'm not a member of Gaybuttonthai although I read it often.  So that's two boards, not three.  But if imagining me in multiples of three suits your fantasies, there's nothing I can do about it (but can you cope, with only two hands and my combined 27 inches?  Can that ubiquitous echo bobsagging help?) And as for seeing me as a "young, sexy guy" (x3), that's clearly something that is preoccupying your imagination these days. Perhaps you can fill it with something more realistic and achievable, like contributing to the subject matter of this thread, rather than wasting it on something that's clearly out of your league and will only ever remain in your imagination.

[reader]

I'm only a member here and of SN.  I'm not a member of Gaybuttonthai although I read it often. 

 

Yes you are, TW, yes you are indeed.

[sglad]

Excellent! Thanks for your input!

 

You're welcome.  As for hotels, you might want to stay somewhere in the Old City, on the east side of the moat (Thapae Gate) as it will give you the easiest access to the venues mentioned above, which are mostly to the east (Night Bazaar), west (HOM) and north (go go bars) of the Old City.  I've never stayed there but Hotel M seems to be quite popular and close to many breakfast-type places in the vicinity.  A great area for people watching.  I sometimes sit and read at the Black Canyon just across from the hotel.  This is also where the Chiang Mai Sunday Market starts.  A little overrated in my opinion but no harm going for a stroll if you happen to be there on a Sunday evening.

[billyhouston]

My boyfriend and I will e  there in three months.... any recommendations for restaurants? 

If you like tasty Thai food in unpretentious surroundings, try Lemon Tree. It's on Huaykaew Road opposite the Shell petrol station, which also provides parking for the restaurant.

If you're into Som Tam (Papaya Salad) you might try Udorn Som Tam on Soi Viangbua. It's about 100m beyond Viangbua Mansion or, for that matter, 150m beyond Adam's Apple.

[traveller123]

My boyfriend and I will e  there in three months.... any recommendations for restaurants? 

 My partner and I will be in Chiang Mai for a few days over Christmas, on previous visits we have eaten and been happy at La Fourchette, it is only a small restaurant so booking is advisable

 

We will be travelling with married straight friends of ours and based on Trip Advisor reviews have made a hotel booking at Phrasingh Hotel

[sglad]

 My partner and I will be in Chiang Mai for a few days over Christmas, on previous visits we have eaten and been happy at La Fourchette, it is only a small restaurant so booking is advisable

 

We will be travelling with married straight friends of ours and based on Trip Advisor reviews have made a hotel booking at Phrasingh Hotel

 

According to my friends, Wat Prasingh is one of the gayest temples in Thailand.  Lots of mincing novices in the mornings.   That location should be alright.  I've never been to La Fourchette but it is popular with the so-called expat community. If you're travelling in a group, it would be easier to hire a songtaew to get around.  December is a great time to go but it will be busy, especially at Christmas.

[Bob]

According to my friends, Wat Prasingh is one of the gayest temples in Thailand.  Lots of mincing novices in the mornings.

 

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. 

[sglad]

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. 

 

 

 

No, my friends are neither dead nor wrong and by that I don't mean they constitute the walking dead that we see in Pattaya or the night bazaar.   555 Sorry, a little re-incarnation humour there.  Two of my friends had their buat (Initiation in English?) ceremonies and underwent their novice-hoods through Phra Singh.  They were in their early teens then and to even think or suggest that people go to the temple to look for gay action or to ogle at the novices is a perversity in itself.  What they meant is that for some reason, perhaps due its central location, the temple seems to attract a higher number of fem and ladyboys-to-be.  The joke is it is not necessary to shave their eye brows and pubes because they are already shaved when they arrive!  A contact at MPlus says that more gay/fem boys are drawn to buat/become novices compared to their percentages in the general population.  Some of the reasons cited were because they were drawn to the pageantry; others wanted to break free from their families; some wanted to be among boys and yet others were compelled by their families in the hope that a life of discipline, meditation and prayer would void them of their deviant ways and desires. 

 

Various organisations like MPlus have tried to introduce (safer) sex education in monasteries just like they do in prisons, schools, etc but of course the notion was too outrageous to even contemplate - monks do not have sex!  This despite fairly common knowledge that sexually predatory behaviour occurs in these religious institutions.  I put on my mock shock-horror face when my friend told me this and said, "Of course not!  That would be like telling a Catholic priest to put on a condom before fucking an altar boy!"  He didn't get it.   As an aside, monks have been spotted at go go bars and bordellos.  They usually wear hats to cover their shaven heads but my (undead) friends say you can tell from their shaven eye brows and the fact that they tend to pay with 20B bills (from their alm collections!).

 

I agree that Wat Phra Singh is worth a visit for the things that Bob says.  Also worth a visit is Wat Chedi Luang which is in the area.  You can chat with the monks and ask them about Buddhism, local culture and history.  My favourite is Wat Umong, with its extensive grounds, caves and tunnels.  Perhaps due to its location, it is not as touristy as Phra Singh or Wat Doi Suthep - a serene sanctuary far from the madding crowds.  You might just see me cycling in the area in the evenings.   Best time to go is early in the morning just after dawn during the cool season.  Bring a light jumper or sweater as it can get nippy at that time.

[sglad]

Been here 3 months now and visited a few more places.

 

Have you been to the Soho Bar re-boot?  Somebody told me they have a kitchen and the food is not bad?

[traveller123]

I

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. 

Bob,

Do you have a recommendation for a mid price thai restaurant in Chiang Mai say 1000 baht per person for food?

A bit of background is that, apart from my partner, we are all in our 60s - ok I've just turned 70 and I only enjoy food that is mildly spiced (at home my partner cooks for me with one chilli and he has more on the side)

A place with a good atmosphere and is not part of a hotel would fit the bill.

[sglad]

 

 I only enjoy food that is mildly spiced (at home my partner cooks for me with one chilli and he has more on the side)

 

 

That's cute.

 

For Thai food, my favourite is WanLamun at the Central Festival.  I like everything that I've tried here.  Is your partner Thai?  He will like their miang (various condiments wrapped in betel leaf).  Traditionally, this is an anytime snack that is eaten by women on the verandah as they gossip but here it is a starter.  I like their deep-fried boiled egg in sweet and sour sauce and yum som oh (pomelo salad). The dishes are elegantly presented.  The only negative is that sometimes not all the items on the menu are available.  Take an early dinner and go for a long stroll in this large shopping small afterwards.  It is quite a trek on the eastern edge of town but all the songtaewss and tuk-tuk drivers know it.  Centran Fest as the locals call it.  As for the level of spiciness, just tell them that you want it mild.

 

Are you vegetarian or interested in vegetarian food?  I strongly recommend Anchan off Nimmanhemin even if you aren't.  They have a rotating menu and again, I like everything that I've tried here.  General helpings and they use fresh, colourful vegetables, tofu and mushrooms for most of their dishes, not those awful fake meats.  I like their matsaman curry and various salads.  No MSG.  I'm allergic to MSG and my lips would swell on contact with it.  My bf loves it but I don't think the guppy look suits me.  Anchan is gay-owned and named after the clitoria or blue pea.  We used to drive our secondary science teacher mad when we would pronounce it as clit-o-reyah. Oh yeah, try their Anchan juice, which is yummy and thirst-quenching.  One glass won't be enough.

 

For Cantonese and contemporary Chinese food, try the Fujian at the Dhara-Dhevi on the Chiang Mai-Sankhampaeng Road, about 20-25 minutes drive from town.  Yes, it is in a hotel but the hotel itself looks like a page off The Lost Horizon.  This is not a place that I would normally go to with friends (too rich and too far)  but we wanted something special for my mum's 50th.  Great food and ambience and totally worth the trek.  I promised myself that I would make enough money to stay at this hotel one day (well I could use my savings and stay for a day or two but that would be cheating!).

 

I like Indian food too but I rarely have Indian in Thailand (food, that is ).  Mostly overpriced and can't compare in quality to what we get at home or across the Causeway.

 

Sorry, I wish I could write more vivid and appetising restaurant reviews like my friend arsenal but I'm not talented like that.   Good luck on your epicurean excursions!

[traveller123]

Thanks Sglad for your detailed reply.

My partner is Thai, the problem is (well problem is not the right word) he is an excellent cook and I enjoy his food more than the food we eat in Thai restaurants in our Isaan Town.

[Bob]

Bob,

Do you have a recommendation for a mid price thai restaurant in Chiang Mai say 1000 baht per person for food?

A bit of background is that, apart from my partner, we are all in our 60s - ok I've just turned 70 and I only enjoy food that is mildly spiced (at home my partner cooks for me with one chilli and he has more on the side)

A place with a good atmosphere and is not part of a hotel would fit the bill.

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. 

[sglad]

No recommendations for khao soi?  I love it but I know some people who hate it because of the coconut milk.  To me that's what makes it soo goood.

 

The chicken rice recommendations are interesting.  From the way you described it (boiled chicken), it's probably cooked Hainanese style.  Not one of my favourites but useful info to pass along.  For some reason, a lot of foreigners seem to think that all Singaporeans love chicken rice just as they think that all Thais eat pad Thai.

 

By the way, it's panaeng (curry), not penang.  It's a common enough mistake.  The spelling in Thai is also weird.  Depending on how it's prepared it can be quite spicy.