Chiang Mai Plan Blog

Heading to the zoo? Well now you can visit it in style as the new monorail is open and running. No more walking across the massive grounds, now you can see it all from the air.

Yes, at last its election time in Thailand, and this Sunday the country will go to the polls to finally return to “democracy” - well some kind of democracy anyway. Around the villages most of the political parties are paying 200B for votes, and concerningly it seems that who ever has the fattest wallet will win the election.

But anyway - for foreigners in Chiang Mai, obviously there is no voting, but also there is no beer! The bars and restaurants are banned from serving alcohol for 2 days, in case it somehow affects the result of the election…!!! Cheers!

Yesterday was a hot, hot, hot day for golf, but it didn’t stop us heading out to Chiang Mai Lamphun for a round of golf. The course has hosted a variety of high quality events in the past, including the SEA Games, so you know its going to be a good. The course also has a very mature character, with fully grown trees lining almost all fairways. Some might comment that ‘maturity’ could be substituted for ‘old’, and sure enough, next year the course will close down for 6-8 months for a complete refurbishment! (I understand that the new management have ambitions to host further world class tournaments there, and with growing competition from courses like ‘Highlands’ its time for a update.

But, anyway, back to the action… It’s been a tricky time for me lately at golf, but there is sign of my game improving again. Starting on the 10th hole with a 3 putt bogey wasn’t too bad especially given the surprisingly lightening fast greens. The round started coming together on the 13th, where a near perfect tee shot left me with a nice approach - sadly, I still missed out on the overdue par. Fortunately there wasn’t too much longer to wait, as a beautiful (ok a little fortuitous) approach shot on the 14th left me an easy 2 putt for par. The rest of the 9 was fairly uneventful - mostly bogey golf, with an amazing rescue on the 16th.

After a quick break, the front nine started nicely with a par on the 1st. It could so easily have been a birdie too! The 2nd has always been a nightmare hole for me, but this time it wasn’t as bad as it sometimes is. An unplayable lie allowed me a drop in position to get on the green in 3.

The right club choice left me a nice par on the attractive 5th hole, and then the round turned. I was in contention for a good score (for me), and then shots just kept slipping away from me. On the 7th, a delicious approach shot from about 180 yards put me on the green in 2, but a ridiculous 4 putt proved costly. The round left me feeling oh so close to playing well, but not close enough to be trully satisfying. The highlight of the round - the fact that now the beer shacks sell ‘Singha’, as previously they only stocked Chang!

With temperatures as low as 7 degrees, all of Chiang Mai’s provinces have been declared ‘disaster zones’ because of the cold temperatures. Blankets have been distributed to residents, but will it be enough? Crazy Farangs are still seen wandering around in shorts and t-shirts, while Thai’s are seen wrapping up. For all this winter is presenting some unusual conditions…

The National Resource and Environment Ministry has announced that in order to protect the beauty of the Thai National Parks, visitor numbers will be limited from July 2008. While this might affect some of our visitors, is aims to keep the national parks for future visitors. The Doi Suthep National Park is one that will affect Chiang Mai visitors, as is the Doi Inthanon National Park.

The country has gone crazy for pink shirts! Our beloved King emerged from hospital wearing a pink blazer, and this set the fashion trend moving. With the King’s birthday celebrations fast approaching the shirts have become an instant hit. Throngs of people gathered around Worowat market in the hope of finding one. The pink shirt craze comes on the back of the yellow shirt craze, as still every Monday, and regularly other days, the entire population robes themselves in yellow in his honour! A trully moving experience for any visitor.

This year, the Mandarin Oriental Group has been lauded as ‘Outstanding Spa Brand’ by the respected Luxury Spa Finder, and ‘Best Wellness and Spa Group’ by SpaAsia magazine, with many of the individual hotel spas receiving accolades for excellence. Chiang Mai has its own Mandarin Oriental offering in the form of the Dhara Dhevi, which was named ‘Best Destination Spa’ by readers of SpaAsia and has also received an award for the ‘Best Therapist in Asia’.

You can book your stay at the Dhara Dhevi here.

On Wednesday there was a 1 day strike by rail workers who were alleging incompetence by their management executives and board. After some swift promises the workers returned to work and trains started chugging along again.

An awareness concert for the local Hill Tribes will be held on November 3rd at Kard Cherng Doi from 6:30pm. The free concert will feature songs in the native tongues of the Karen, Hmong, Mien, Akha, Lisu, Tai Yai and Lahu tribes to increase awareness about their problems, such as sex trade human trafficking, HIV prevalence and lack of citizenship. If you are interested in attending you should get a ticket in advance from Radio Thailand Chiang Mai, on Prachasamphan Street in Chiang Mai.

The “five best hotels by waterfalls” might seem like a strange category, but in the Belfast Telegraph it’s covered. The featured hotels are;

Hotel das Cataratas in Brazil
Huka Lodge in New Zealand
Sheen Falls Lodge in Ireland
Stanley Safari Lodge in Zambia

and of course for local interest a hotel near Chiang Mai;

Sukantara Cascade Resort. This boutique resort is exclusive with only 7 rooms, but location is stunning - stunning enough to attract Angelina Jolie to be a guest there. You too could stay there - book your room here;

Sukantara Cascade Resort.