Infos on Chiang Mai

[128me]

Originally Posted by ppoon

Lai-thai is just a guest house and centara is a 3 star hotel... all depends on your budget mate....

only one place that I would suggest... sayuri

oops centara is fully booked during the period i am going.. is tapae place hotel good?

[jetset]

Just came back from my maiden trip to CM.

Here's a list of clubs i went to :

Niman

1. Warm up cafe - The most SYT among all the clubs i went to. Be there before 2130 pm on weekends to secure a table. Corkage at 200 baht, mixer (35 baht), Ice (around 80-100 Baht)

2. Monkey - Located at Soi 9, just a short walk from warm-up. Over there not as many hots gals as warm up, but still good enough. Corkage is 250 baht here, with ice and mixer of similar pricing as Warm up.

3. Infinity (after hrs) - This looks like the newest club in Niman, with the cool lightingand nice ambience. The club is big with mixture of guys and gals. Corkage is at 100 Baht. Soda (40 Baht), water (35 Baht), Ice (80 Baht)


Other clubs:

Fabrique (after hrs) - Not exactly my cup of tea. I still like Niman clubs more than anywhere else. (pricing somewhat similar or cheaper than Niman)

Overall, its much cheaper to club in CM than BKK. But do note that CM is not a whore city unlike in BKK where u can find numerous makeshift beer bars along Sukhumvit Rds with streetwalkers lining the infamous streets.

CM is a good place to relax and chill without the annoying traffic and scam artiste u see in BKK.

Some advice for people who plans to travel there.

- Rent a motor bike. Riding a bike is much more convenient way to bring u from one point to another. Rates per day begins from 150-200 baht.
Although i do not have a bike licence and this is my 1st time riding one, i realised it wasn't difficult to ride one. Even when i go warm-up, i ride a bike there. Its just part and parcel of life in CM and i simply followthe thai way.

- Do not take tuk tuk. More often than not, they will quote u from 100 baht onwards. If you're not comfortable renting a bike, the next better option is taking a Sonteaw (red pickup). This is a cheap mode of transport, beginning from 20 Baht, dependent on distance.
However, they do not bring u to your specific destination as they only travel along the busier main roads without entering the smaller Sois. Hence, I would suggest u guys to rely on your mobile's google maps to assist u with the navigation while on the Songteaw. As soon as u see the songteaw approaching the radius of your destination, press the bell and the driver will stop along the road for u to alight and walk a couple of meters to your destination.

Sightseeing:

- Doi Suthep. You can ride a bike up or take a songteaw up from the base of the moutain at 40 Baht (one way)

- Doi Inthanon. The highest mountain in Thailand. The best time to set off from CM city is at 4am, in order to catch the sunrise while beating the traffic. It takes a 1.5 hr drive to the base of Doi Inthnon from the city, where u can either take a Songteaw up to the foot of the mountain at 200 baht per pax.
Alternatively, u can drive up too. But my Thai frens preferred not to as its quite taxing on the engine. And true enough, I saw a mini bus engulfed in flames due to overheating. Aside from that, its extremely cold up the mountain. Do bring more warm clothes and gloves should u decide to visit Doi Inthnon.

- Chiang Mai zoo. Nothing fantastic. Located at the base of Doi Suthep. Entrance fee at 100 Baht per pax.

- Day trips with travel agency. As the elephant camps and adventure camps are pretty far from the CM city. I would advice u guys to book it with a tour agency which will pick u up from your hotel and bring u back after the expedition. Each day trip cost between 1,000 - 1500 baht, dependent on the coverage of the travel itinerary.

- For people who crave for tranquility and peace, take a short ride to the lake at Chiang Mai university. Here u can have a cup of coffee and enjoy the greenery and majestic mountain views. i love this place a lot and would go there everyday.

- Other than the above, u guys can sign up for cooking classes, adventure trails or visit the different temples within the Old City.


As for leisure drinking apart from the clubs i mentioned above, a good place to chill is Santiham Plaza. This looks like a cow-boy street with many mini bars along the street. One bottle of Cheers beer cost 60 Baht. OMG.. I'm starting to miss CM while penning this. Waitress are cute here. I simply love the affordable price and people in CM.


For clean foot massage, u can get an hr of massage at 130 baht at Kad suan Keaw mall (Level 3). The cheapest i found in CM.

Looks like CM is a good place to retire. My adventure in CM has been a fulfilling one. Looking forward to be there again. Till then, take care.

[jetset]

For shopping:

The newest mall got to be Central festival along superhighway and Promenada, which is just probably 1-2 km from Central festival. Ride a bike there if u can or take a Songteaw.

Other malls include Central airport, Kad Suan Keaw.

Maya shopping mall should be opening soon in a couple of months.

As for Night market,

It has got to be the SUnday night market which begins from Tapae gate all the way to the west of the old city at Wat Phra Singh. Do note that the Sunday market is only open once a week.

I haven't visited the Saturday night market. U guys might wanna give it a try too.

There's also the tourist infested nite market at Chang Klan near DUSIt D2 hotel. It opens daily from evening to late night.

If u want to experience a trendier night market with little tourist but mostly thai people, do visit the Nar Mor night market located at the end of Huay Keaw rd, next to the Chiang mai university. Over here, there are lots of university students shopping for cheap clothes and accessories. I also spotted many Japanese restaurants near the nite market offering sumptuous food at affordable price.

ok. Thats all for now. Till my next posting.

[Happyman007]

Originally Posted by jetset

Just came back from my maiden trip to CM.



Looks like CM is a good place to retire. My adventure in CM has been a fulfilling one. Looking forward to be there again. Till then, take care.

Good FR Jetset, cover almost everything about CM.....there're a lot more cozy cafe and nice bar/restaurants around some corner here and there, too many nice places to cover all actually. At nimman soi 1 and Promenada have a restaurant name "Mix", you should try it next time....price very reasonable and food aroi mak.

https://www.facebook.com/mixpromenada

[paulpaul]

Originally Posted by Happyman007

Good FR Jetset, cover almost everything about CM.....there're a lot more cozy cafe and nice bar/restaurants around some corner here and there, too many nice places to cover all actually. At nimman soi 1 and Promenada have a restaurant name "Mix", you should try it next time....price very reasonable and food aroi mak.

https://www.facebook.com/mixpromenada

I agree. Mix Restaurant won several Thai restaurant awards. Wide variety of food - traditional as well as modern mix. Aroi mak and reasonable price in ambient surrounds.

[paulpaul]

Originally Posted by jetset

Just came back from my maiden trip to CM.
Overall, its much cheaper to club in CM than BKK. But do note that CM is not a whore city unlike in BKK where u can find numerous makeshift beer bars along Sukhumvit Rds with streetwalkers lining the infamous streets.

Good report Jetset.

Some strikingly beautiful CM chicks (tall and fair-skin). Good picks-ups in the clubs you mentioned so long as you are handsome and young i.e. less than 35 yo.

But CM is not a pick-up city like Bangkok or Pattaya where there are many free-lancers (FL) in many pick-up joints where one can tar-pao easily.

[Nonteerak2553]

Good FR Jetset,


But I'm wondering why you got charge for cockage at Monkey and Warm up?

So far in my year at here, I never charge cockage at these both clubs, only infinity and Fabquire at both 100฿.

[yinyang]

Originally Posted by 128me

oops centara is fully booked during the period i am going.. is tapae place hotel good?

Can try Amora, just a 5 min walk to Tapae gate, and not far from night bazaar. Going for 1300-1700bht depending on room type. Better than Ramin Lodge, old place. Unless you got deep pockets for Meridien.

http://www.amorahotelchiangmai.com/s...FUyu4godXiIAMw

Jetset, good round up of CM. Yes, CM has plenty to offer (chionging not same as Bkk or Patts), laid back and charming. Nice quaint coffee bars (as HM says), and riverside restaurants. Not just popular Riverside or Goodview. Especially I like MOC MOL, good food and ambience with live acoustic music (HM can testify). Central Festival is new spanking mall, way ahead of Robinsons Airport and old Kad Suan Kaew. If got time, suggest day tripper to Mae Rim and nearby MonCham -can square up to Doi Ithanon (minus the long commute)

PS: Also had the honour to meet TS MuddiePie. He's got a wealth of know how of CM chiong places. Especially avoid Mandalay club with LBs and toms

[Nonteerak2553]

Pii YY, you should come around songkran to witness the meja mall called MAYA. I think it's going to hip as it situated right in front of soi 1 niman.

[TonyCheong]

Originally Posted by Nonteerak2553

Pii YY, you should come around songkran to witness the meja mall called MAYA. I think it's going to hip as it situated right in front of soi 1 niman.

Wow Chiang Mai getting more and more Hi-So liao.

[yinyang]

Originally Posted by Nonteerak2553

come around songkran to witness the meja mall called MAYA. I think it's going to hip as it situated right in front of soi 1 niman.

Think Maya's opening was delayed from Nov. But kns, the gigantic brightly lit screen on facade is eyesore 24/7 (was staying at Furama across). Talking of Niman, is the darned ex Amari Rincome site ever to be developed? Find memories few years back, and prime site too.

Songkran? My water pistol weak laew. TC, been too long since your last visit

[jetset]

Originally Posted by Nonteerak2553

Good FR Jetset,


But I'm wondering why you got charge for cockage at Monkey and Warm up?

So far in my year at here, I never charge cockage at these both clubs, only infinity and Fabquire at both 100฿.

Speaking of which, there's actually a way to circumvent the corkage change at Warm up and Monkey. Simply get help from the table next to u to buy the 1st round of mixers on your behalf. I believe the Thais do that anyway.
Unlike in Infinity, stronger controls are in place such that the club ambassadors will standby at the entrance, politely requesting for corkage charge of 100 Baht to be paid before a sticker is pasted on your bottle as endorsement.

Maybe u can try patronising warm up or monkey again to verify this again.
Or maybe the idiot waiter is adamant on charging me becos i look like an obvious tourist to him. Nonetheless, I was with a Thai fren during my 1st visit to warm-up and she was the one who made the order. Despite that, the waiter still imposed a corkage of 200 Baht.

Can any regular CM clubber verify the current operating practices on corkage fee at Niman clubs, just so we can avoid paying more?

Even so, my suggestion above would likely work to circumvent the corkage charge. I simply didn't do it to avoid embarrassment should I be caught.

[jetset]

Originally Posted by paulpaul

Good report Jetset.

Some strikingly beautiful CM chicks (tall and fair-skin). Good picks-ups in the clubs you mentioned so long as you are handsome and young i.e. less than 35 yo.

But CM is not a pick-up city like Bangkok or Pattaya where there are many free-lancers (FL) in many pick-up joints where one can tar-pao easily.

My sentiments exactly. CM is not for whoring. You hardly see the agogo bars or freelance bars at CM unlike in bkk. Most are secluded at remote areas. Even if u can find them, they look dead and selections are limited.

So bros who like agogos and MP should stick to conventional BKK or Pattaya.

CM is a balance of tranquility and clean fun.

[jetset]

Originally Posted by Happyman007

Good FR Jetset, cover almost everything about CM.....there're a lot more cozy cafe and nice bar/restaurants around some corner here and there, too many nice places to cover all actually. At nimman soi 1 and Promenada have a restaurant name "Mix", you should try it next time....price very reasonable and food aroi mak.

https://www.facebook.com/mixpromenada

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try it in my following trip. The food here is so affordable. I've been indulging in Japanese food near my guesthouse at Santiham almost everyday at incredibly low price. So much so that I've neglected the traditional Thai cuisine.

You guys might wanna try the Jap restaurant at Charoensuk Rd at Santiham. They serve authentic Jap food at prices way below Fuji.

[jetset]

By the way, "Discovery club" opposite Kad Suan Keaw is no longer in operation. For prospective chiongsters who have bookmarked that club as part of your travel itinerary, do take note that of it.