[What's the closest country I can fly to without needing full page visa stamp/sticker?]

Hong Kong places two stamps in your passport. One an arrival stamp. The second explaining you may not seek work during the 180 days you are in the country. Hong Kong also requires a full blank page before entering the country. (I have an older passport full of Hong Kong stamps to show you if you like). You will find this is the case pretty much everywhere and you will then be stranded in no man's land having left Thailand but denied entry to almost all other countries. Be very careful here - most of the advice above is abysmal and doesn't consider immigration rules. (BTW if you're not a UK citizen you are required to have 2 blank pages which must be on two opposite pages of your passport to enter the UK - lots of people get deported at their own expense each year for ****ing that up too).

Well, since you mentioned abysmal advice........Yours is out of date. Since December Hong Kong no longer stamps your passport - in or out. They give you a small printed slip of paper with your name, date permitted to stay and passport no. Very simple. Dunno if you can still renew British passport there though.

[Random breath testing at Thapae Gate next to McDonalds]

This is nothing new at Thapae Gate, they have been doing it there quite regularly for several years.

My understanding based on some first and second hand experience , 10K Bt bail for Thai's 20K for others (including Burmese). Next day court, fine depends on the alcohol level. An acquaintance blew 94 and got about 5K. Stupid idiot got done twice in two weeks but they didn't seem to take previous offences into account. Allegedly, over 100 is a mandatory jail term, but TIT.

Not so easy to buy your way out. The stops are often by traffic police, who hand arrested people over to the local station for processing so there is a paperwork trail to circumvent.

I believe its got worse/tougher with the latest law enactements

[New Airport Plan and/or Limiting Flight Times]

About the idea of a boondoggle out in Sankhampaeng. Whose land would you seize to construct it?

I thought the main reason for building the airport out there was because the "right" people already owned all the land, and all the surrounding land which would rocket in value when the new airport was built.

No can't be true, TIT

[CM bars closing at midnight, What's your experience?]

I know of no difference venue licensing.. And for sure closing times are the same (legally).. They need of course an alcohol retail license and must stick to the laws (fire exits, noise, opening times, etc).. But I am unaware of any different license for a club, live music venue, bar, etc etc.. They ALL close at midnight not 3am.

Would like to know what different licensing is needed and how the rules are different legally.

My understanding (from people I know who even have them displayed on the wall in their premises ) there are certainly different entertainment licences with different restrictions.

Some of these classes of licence are no longer issued, but the existing ones are grandfathered in, and now quite valuable, though often tied to a specific premises.

[Police Crackdown on Prostitution in Chiang Mai!]

Most pieces I've ever read on prostitution or trafficking coming out of Thailand are hit and run jobs with partial information.

An interesting observation. If you have spent some years in Thailand, especially getting to know some of the less desirable characters here, you will likely get some, or maybe a lot of idea about the bad stuff that goes on. However, you will also quickly get to understand how it's organised, and that speaking out about it would not be wise unless you were planning to immediately leave the country.

[Fire ?]

This one perhaps - CM108

[Need opinion from folks proficient in electrical wiring in bldgs]

If the damage is as bad as the worst case scenario, and all the wiring has to be replaced it's probably a large job. A lot will depend on whether the cabling is all run in ducts and conduits and can be replaced more easily, or if it is surface mounted involving more work and aggravation. Depends on the management, but the bigger problem will likely be the condo management trying to get the job done cheaply, and waiting for a suitable quote, or having to wait for approval from insurers. If it really involves replacing ALL the wiring could take several weeks. Even if its a few rooms on a couple of floors it could be a week or two time they've got organised.

Seems unusual for an external fault to cause so much damage. I can only speculate the fault has resulted in a higher than normal voltage being applied to the system, e.g. across two phases of the three phase supply, or by a short/cross connection to the high voltage side of the transformer - this assumes the building has its own. There is also the issue of what damage has been done to appliances like fridges, TVs and Aircons

As to the qualification of the electricians/workers - TIT

[Income letters no longer available from British Consulate in Chiang Mai ?]

British friend just forwarded an email dated today with details from the horses mouth, so to speak: www.gov.uk: changes to our Services in Chiang Mai

To answer the question about what they will do at the consulate, seems like they are still recruiting

[my new neighbors started a cock fighting ring in their garden.]

OP, just out of curiosity, is one of your new neighbours a seriously fat Thai guy in his forties who likes to walk around topless? Our neighbourhood recently saw the departure of this guy who used to breed fighting cocks.

[my new neighbors started a cock fighting ring in their garden.]

Sorry, I don't have any advice. Another story that falls under the category of, 'I can't believe my neighbours would do this' but since most of us live here nothing surprises us anymore.

So true, my neighbor has opened a gay paradise resort in the house next door; serving 5 men per day with full 'service' This is an exclusive gated community..........so what? TIT

Full service in an exclusive place in paradise, sounds great. Where is it? Do you need an appointment?

[my new neighbors started a cock fighting ring in their garden.]

If there is gambling involved, it is illegal. Get someone to tip the old bill off, they like the publicity of an easy bust.

The raison d'etre for cock fighting is illegal gambling. You can already guarantee both mafias are already involved; one mafia can't do that stuff without contributing to their uniformed cousins. Follow your wife's advice, or start breeding foxes.

[Can this be for real?]

Hard to tell without the pictures but sounds like the bikers clothing and accessory shop with an imaginative name that used to be on Ratchapreuk (Behind Nakornping Condo and just south of Huen Muan Jai). The guy who owned it had some interesting stuff in there for wannabe hells angels. The shop now sells body builders supplements.

Apart from the profane name nothing to get too excited about, though surprising Google street view hasn't blurred it out. Perhaps they can't read gothic

Anyway, I would hardly say that Santitham is going downhill. Quite the opposite.

[Night Bazaar and Environs]

That'll teach me not to make provocative tongue in cheek posts!

But, at least there seems to be some consensus on Gay Marriage in this thread

I think Winnie has it right with MSM, it sums up many modern homosexual men much better than "gay". i.e. perfectly normal males who happen to have a sexual preference for men rather than women, and Grindr on their smart phones (or perhaps it should be S&M). Yet more for Beetlejuice to Google...

[Good places to take a girl on a date?]

As some others have stated, I'd definitely go somewhere Thai:

Thajene Chomchan - Seafood Restaurant behind LCC will impress, and if all goes well you can beat a hasty retreat to the Boat or Time Movement

Ruen Come in - Beautiful Thai style near Jet Yod. Will definitely impress, sadly for afters The Best closed down but Ruen Come in do have a bridal suite, and not too far from the aforementioned places above, just avoid BK unless she's a 2 Bit.

Huan Soontaree Vechanont - except if she's a Red Shirt. Bit out of town but great music (if you like Lanna)

Huenmuanjai - Santitham Off Huay Kaew behind Nakornping Condo. For a more budget concious evening.

Suan Luang - By the lake, Cheap and very Thai friendly, especially if she likes Karaoke.

[Night Bazaar and Environs]

I've always had a bit of a problem with the LGBT acronym. I understand the "united we stand" concepts espoused by politically correct LGBT rights activists, but it is not always appropriate. This thread shows clearly that the one size fits all description doesn't allow for the actually quite different interests of gay males and lesbians. As a gay man I have no interest in women (straight or lesbian) except as friends, I think the term Bi-sexual is often just a cop out when used as an identity, and I have ABSOLUTELY no intention of growing boobs and getting my bits cut off. So why label me LGBT?

But then I don't understand other parts of the gay activism thing either. Why do we want gay marriage? I'm quite happy to leave the wife and kids family values of marriage to the Christians if it makes 'em happy. A legal partnership formula that gives equal rights to homosexual partners under the law, as it does to hetros should be enough. And if we are going to have gay marriage let's at least live up to our stereotypes and make it polygamous.

Then there were the LGBT activist driven protests against Russia and the Olympics where everyone got their collective pink knickers in a twist in EXACTLY the way Putin wanted to divert attention from his real agenda. What an agenda that has turned out to be.

Guess I'd better get ready to duck the pink hand-grenades

[Lesbian friendly establishments in Chiang Mai?]

Well, I just answered your question in the Chiang Mai forum, but since you've given a little more info here, some more general comments.

Firstly, from my observations, Chiang Mai has lots of young Thai lesbian girls and tomboys so like minded company shouldn't be too hard to find. The problem with the so called gay scene is that it caters only for the older grey gale males, and prostitution is prevelant in many places. There are few Thai gay bars, most of the younger gay Thais I know happily go to straight bars (if there is such a thing in Chiang Mai). But, they don't go to places like the Night bazaar and around Thapae gate. The best areas to go are perhaps Nimmanhaemin road, Santitham and JJ Market but hard to recommend specific bars, just wander round and see where looks the most interesting places/customers.

You might enjoy Tawan Deang, the big country music club off Nimmanhaemin or Ta Chang Cafe at JJ Market. But these are both very Thai style so might not suit first time visitors. The new Think Park, or the roof top bars at Maya mall might be interesting too

[Night Bazaar and Environs]

There are a couple of gay owned bars at the Kalare Night Bazaar. Given the location they have quite a mixed group of customers and aren't specifically gay, or seedy, just friendly people. Orion Bar and Mango Bar. The easiest way to find them is from Charonephratet soi 6 off Changklan road (the main night bazaar road) - enter the Kalare complex from opposite "le Spice Indian restaurant and they are in the second row. Station 1, in the old Night Bazaar building (Thapae Soi 1) is also mixed and gay friendly.

[Red Cross and winter fair location, schedule]

Sadly elektrified is righ t. Easy to find, just watch out for the trails of blood, red flashing lights and Police paddy wagons. At least two stabbings last night but no fatalities yet AFAIK.,

[Hotels in Santitham]

Santitham guest house on Santitham Road. Has some beautiful rooms and a garden, western owned and moderately priced. They also have a great restaurant right next door - Sabaidee Santitham. QI68 guesthouse is another option that looks quite nice.

If you want budget value and clean there are now three B2 Hotels around Santitham, no garden though.

[Walking from Maya to Arcade]

Or, the Paagai route:

Actually, this was the Paagai route, but if you wanna add a detour to do a few laps of the stadium that's fine too

[Walking from Maya to Arcade]

Cross the superhighway to the Grand View Hotel, meander the back streets of Santitham to the Chang Puek Bus station, past the city stadium and follow Rattanakosin across the river. Keep going and turn right at the crematorium, then you're almost there.

Much more interesting than same old same around the moat. Through Santitham most direct route is Santisuk, Morakot and Chang Puek soi 4, but there are plenty of easy walking options in parallel streets and sois.

[Appartment Santhitam area]

Don't know, but why Santitham? It's a really dirty, seedy area.

Have you been here recently, most of the dirt comes from construction sites. There will soon be little left of the old Santitham, dirty or seedy

I love Santitham, it still has some quiet residential sois which are great places to live and the surrounding area has plenty of buzz. Much more real Thailand than some other areas of CM, though that too is changing. Years ago there weren't so many farangs in this part of town; now I see ever more Digital Nomad types around. Must be the 5000 Bt rooms....

[Not all smiles for some retirees in Chiang Mai]

Rather sad to stumble across this thread. I first met David quite a few years ago through some mutual friends. He was quite a character, and then some (details redacted)! Even back then he was in a bad state and soon won a place on my "best avoided" list. I've heard a few more recent updates where it seemed even the friends were distancing themselves from the inevitable train wreck.

The "stockbroker" comment in the OP is interesting, perhaps another one to add to the long list of interesting stories that came from a pickled brain.

I can't say I'm a member of the Nancy fan club, but in this case she definitely deserves praise. I can imagine it wasn't that easy to deal with this situation. At least she has the guts to stand up and make a difference, rather than spout poisonous rhetoric from the safety of a pseudonym and a keyboard.

[Fatal stabbing in Chiang Mai]

Santitham Plaza has recently come back to life with some new places open and getting busy again.  Sad to see the habits of the customers haven't changed though.  Still, at least this time they weren't spraying lead around the place 

 

It actually happened end of last week.  Plenty of gory pics on Thai news sites and social media.... They got the culprit though, even have pictures of him being stood on by a size 12.

 

Condolences to the victims family.  Sad waste of a life.

[Looking for used neon bar sign (any brand)]

The market is full of bars for sale, just by a used bar and get the sign for free. It is probably cheaper