Limbo
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Posts that could violate defamation laws have been removed along with some replies.
Thanks cdnvic! As SBK would say: It took a while, but ...
Alan Bate is one of those foreigners living in Thailand that have widely gained respect among
Thai people for sharing their tremendous respect and love for His Majesty the King of Thailand.
On Thai television, radio, in Thai newspapers and magazines the Thai people have been informed,
without any doubt to their great happiness and satisfaction, that foreigners living in Thailand can
share their spiritual orientation and therefore the deepest of their inner feelings.
Mr. Allan Bates, a Briton living in Thailand, more precisely in our beautiful Chiang Rai Province,
was given the opportunity to open his heart. Millions of Thai people know mr. Bates now and respect
him greatly.
During his world tour mr. Bates has been an ambassador for Thailands finest gifts to the world;
Everywhere he came he brought the message of the power of love and humbleness, the pillars of the
Thai Mind and Nation. Inspired by his love for the Greatest of Kings he endured any hardships.
Alan has, in word and deed, shown that foreigners living in Thailand can embrace the values
of the Highest Institutions of this Nation, of the Thai Culture in general and more specific of its inner
spirit, unique in this world and beloved also by an overwhelming majority of those, coming from elsewhere,
who in great gratitude enjoy the unsurpassable hospitality of the people of this great nation.
Mr. Bates was riding for us all!
Long live His Majesty!
Limbo
The birthplace of His Majesty, Cambridge Massachusetts, was one of the places Alan visited during
his tour.
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For the 'merchants of conflict': The worldrecord of Alan is approved by GuinnessWorldRecords.
The discussion in the world of bicyclists was about the fact that Singha Beer, the main sponsor of
this event, had provided a car to transport his luggage while riding the SE-Asian part of the traject.
The discussion is now if there should be two categories, one for those who transport their own
equipment and those who are supported in doing so.
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I love a good comedy, I don’t think it would be unrealistic for MR Bean to play the leading role after what’s been written.
Brilliant! With Mr. Bean it could become a real blockbuster!I feel sorry about the lady though. The Birmingham tabloid showed
her picture without giving her the opportunity to tell her side of the story.
Is this because she is just a Thai woman?
This innocent Briton in the hands of an objectionable Thai woman and
aren't they all prostitutes after all?
That is the less funny part of this story.
She must have gone through difficult times ...
She deserves respect!
Limbo
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..............................................A View on 21st Century Thai Art
At the Institute of Contemporary Arts of Singapore Loredana Pazzini-Paracciani curated an exhibition of nine Thai leading
contemporary artists. Their work will be on show until February 7 at LASALLE College of the Arts, 1 McNally Street.
The exhibition includes mixed media installations, paintings, videos and photography works by the following participating a
rtists: Angkrit Ajchariyasophon, Chulayarnnon Siriphol, Chusak Srikwan, Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Piyatat Hemmatat,
Preeyachanok Ketsuwan, Ruangsak Anuwatwimon, Tawan Wattuya and Vichaya Mukdamanee.
"In a time when the Thai cultural zeitgeist is being redefined by a wave of younger artists, this exhibition offers multiple
reflections of contemporary Thailand by spotlighting iconic elements of daily life, vernacular culture and religion" (L P-P)
For those among us that are familiar with the art scene of Chiang Rai it will not be a surprise to see the name of Angkrit
on this list, as he is one of the few Chiang Rai artists with an international orientation. His work was exhibited in several
European countries, Hongkong, Japan and Malaysia.
Angkrit Ajcharyasophon the gallerist
For Thailand he became not only a sign board for its modern art but also an internal link to general, thus international, developments
in art. As gallerist his programming was a statement and it became a forum for artistic exchange.
The first twelve exhibitions, together a co-ordinated project, showed us the work of twelve northern artists, mainly living and working in
Chiang Mai. The result was that he not only was invited to participate as an artist in the first great art exhibition of the Bangkok Art and
Culture Centre in 2008 but that he not much later was invited to curate an exhibit of the works of northern artists in the same, most
prestigious art institute of Thailand. This happened shortly after he had been invited by one of the most famous avant garde galleries
of Bangkok to do exactly the same.
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Art has to be learned
For Chiang Rai his Angkritgallery has become an obligatory dependance of the art courses of the Mae Fah Luang and Chiang Rai
Rajabhat universities. Whenever he has the possibility to do so he will work with the students himself. For him the relation with his
public has a reciprocal nature. In most of the work he did (for instance in Paris and Oslo two years ago) the public gets an active role.
Interpretation and participation are key concepts. The line between learning and teaching is very thin within this framework of thinking
about art.
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In the mean time it is ten years ago that I had the pleasure and privelige to be the curator of one of his first and greater happenings
of conceptual art. It all took place in the old Paw Wattana Hotel at the Tannalai Road under the title and denominator Nostalgia,
Chiang Rai My Town.
The public played an important role and a social context was created in which local government officers, the fine fleur of the Chiang Rai
art scene, but also the Vespa Club and the old light motorbike club each played a role. Classic cars and motorcycles filled the street in front
of the old wooden hotel and gave the happening, together with a French lady singer, an acoustic embedment. Several years later I worked
with him at the to a certain extend controversial Cultural Waste exhibition at Rai Mae Fah Luang.
'This artist will go far' I thought at the time. Now I know that Angkrit Ajcharyasophon will go much further! Chiang Rai can be proud of him!
Limbo
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To those wondering when the next and last game of the season 2011 will be:
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Players and staff of Chiangrai United thought at the beginning of the season that the team could end in eight
position at the end of the ride. At that moment nobody knew yet about all the difficulties that Chiangrai United
would have to encounter during last year. Especially the forced deportation to Chiang Mai for the home games
was a real setback and cost us indirectly many points.
The reason was that officials serving in the Royal Thai Police had seen fans drinking beer on the stands of the
Mae Fah Luang University Stadium and drinking beer is forbidden on Thai university campuses.
This was probably the argument that was used to force Chiangrai United to go and play their home games in
the 700 Year Anniversary Stadium of Chiang Mai. The team was simply not allowed in the stadium anymore.
Also the risc that opponents would smuggle in beer cans and have themselves photographed with them was
present. Chiangrai United had to move, even if the disastrous accident where seven of our fans lost their lives
on the way to the away game in Buriram showed the danger of long bus trips for the fans.
Some students of Mae Fah Luang University, who were supporters of Chiangrai United at the same time,
argued that also at parties of the highest echelon of the university sometimes alcoholic beverages were
served. The people concerned got very angry about this and the students had to apologize.
At the beginning of the second leg of last year's league the situation had changed and Chiangrai United could,
after some face-saving rituals, play it's home games in Chiang Rai again at the same stadium as before.
And the fans came back: Every game the stadium is completely full.
All the disasters of last year aside: If Chiangrai United wins against Buriram the team ends in that 8th position!
The game will gave a special load: At home PEA Buriram beat Chiangrai United 5 - 0. The morning of that
same day seven of our fans died in the bus accident.
Buriram won in the second half, after the referee had sent the Chiangrai goaly away with a red card for
reasons not everybody understood.
It will be an exiting game!
Limbo
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By coincidence I just found these videos about the tour around the world of
Allan Bate, our champion from Chiang Saen.
Limbo
Part 1:
Part 2:
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It took a while to get a reply due to the holidays, but the response I got from 2 Akha friends is that they don't have such a phrase as they don't celebrate birthdays.
They never say happy birthday in Akha, they would say it in Thai.
One said the closest thing in Akha would be:
Have a good health = " Yaw mui jaw sa do de, G'hoe m de."
Is there in the mean time a normal registration of the birth of Akha people
or are they still registered once a year on New Years Day?
What is the reason behind this 'birthday sharing'?
Is it the old style Thai governmental attitude towards ethnic minorities or is
there a connection with the Akha Zang?
Were or are births in all ethnic minorities registered on the same day?
Limbo
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Sorry to say this but can someone change the topic, as they are not visas but extensions to visas. Some people looking at the topic might also think they can go into Central or The Mall and buy a visa/extension.
Your posting might be a little bit confusing mr. Beano as you first mention the possibility to
extend visa and deny this subsequently in the second sentence.
For reasons only known to him Gino has decided to open a new topic on a matter that is discussed
elsewhere already, namely in the pinned section: http://www.thaivisa....o/page__st__450
There you can find all details about the services at Central (first Saturday of each month).
Because he is living in Payao and clearly wants to be sure that the service still exists he
might have opted for asking the question here.
If people reading this topic are thinking that they can apply for an extension of their non-immigrant visa
(retired or married) they are actually right: You can! This ought to be a nice surprise for mr. Beano!
I think it was Harsu who went into detail on this in the link mentioned above.
If you really think that people could get confused it might be good to add the following information:
Visa are normally not given within the country, not at the offices of the Immigration Police nor at temporary
offices in shopping malls. You have to apply for a visa at a Thai Embassy or a Thai Consulate in another
country. You need the visa namely to enter the country.
If you enter the country by airplane you will get, even without a visa, a visa waiver valid for thirty days
and if you enter by road for not more than fourteen days. You have to check if your nationality entitles you
to such a waiver. Please check the visa section of Thaivisa.
If you are not from a country that entitles you to a visa waiver, you will not be granted permission to enter
Thailand without a visa. Some airlines won't even permit you to check in for a flight to Thailand if you can not
present a valid visa for Thailand as they can be held responsible for flying you back to where you came from.
It seems as if mr. Beano is referring to people who entered Thailand on a visa waiver and want to extend their
stay in the Kingdom: a waiver is not a visa and you can not apply for an extension of a visa that you don't have!
Also if you want to use a multiple entry visa you can not do this at a mall or at an office of the Immigration Police
as they are not border stations. You can not enter Thailand in the middle of a shopping mall.
Thank you for pointing out a possible reason for misunderstanding!
Limbo
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Aside from activities at the airport or the military base also the private initiative should
not be forgotten:
Among others Taweeyont, the big shop for electrical appliances at Salee Gate (next to First
Church) organizes a drawing contest for children on childrens day. A lot of other activities will
take place on the parking place behing the building. Thirty thousand Baht in prizes!
Also Sinthanee, close to Big C, usually organizes a lot of festivities.
Limbo
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What makes life here so tenuous for most foreigners (not just Farangs) is the inconsistrency
and the sometimes mis-application of the seemingly ever-changing rules - never able to feel
confident that one is in compliance no matter how hard he tries, and knowing the government
doesn't want foreigners except to come and spend money on vacation.
You are certainly not the only foreigner who has that feeling!
I recognize it very well! If it is justified or not is another question.
What gives me confidence is that ultimately everything is done by the rules and that these
offer certain more or less creative possibilities in cases that require a wider interpretation.
I remember an 82 year old foreigner, who had endured two strokes that had caused
several problems, among which a partly erased memory.
He arrived with a prove of income to an amount of 798,000 Baht (800,000 required).
The day he presented it the exchange rate had improved and the equivalent of his
pension would be well over the required amount.
The rules were not bent, his income was simply 2,000 Baht short!
He also presented two bankbooks with a total amount of more than 1,200,000 Baht
of which more than the required 800,000 had been on it for a period of more than three
months. As he shared these accounts with his Thai wife they could not be accepted.
The rules were not bent, it was not a personal account!
But a solution was found and some months later things were in order again.
The only problem were the extra trips to Mae Sai he had to make, a problem that
at present day wouldn't exist anymore: a trip to the Central would do!
Good to hear that everything was allright Petruchio!
Limbo
PS: Entering Burma on the 'VIP-pass' would also cost you 500 Baht.
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So given that I have to report by the 27th Feb, it would be too early the first sat of Feb and too late the first Sat. of March?
As mentioned in the pinned thread about visa questions and the Immigration Office of Mae Sai:
"Foreigners who are applying for a visa extension can now make their application one month in
advance of the vsa expiration date. Those who are providing their 90 notification of address
can do so up to 15 days before or up to 7 days after to the appointed date".
(official Info Immigration Office Mae Sai)
The first Saturday of February falls on the fifth, indeed more than fifteen days too early.
The first Saturday of March, the third, is only five days after the appointed date, so within the limits.
Limbo
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I have bought 3 New Mazdas from Sintanee in Chiangrai over the past 6 years and at present have another on order(New BT50)
I have NEVER had a problem with any of my Mazdas and never a problem with the Dealership. Mazda for me.
Same same here with Ford. Drove six years Ford without the slightest problem and the
service was almost perfect. Their sales department is very professional (hurry if you want
the Focus diesel Ghia, it's down 170,000 Baht).
The sales department of Honda Chiang Rai (at Rajabhat) was of a lesser standard.
The complaint I have heard about more places, also about Toyota before: They completely
neglected the foreigner's presence, avoiding any contact and concentrated fully on the Thai partner.
Good to hear that Toyota, after Ford and Nissan, now also has an English speaking staff member
that isn't shy to address the person that will pay for the car.
In a one way communication the conditions for buying a car at Honda were dictated. Waiting time
for the car my wife wanted would be at least four months. This was before the floods, so that excuse
didn't exist yet. We phoned to Honda Chiang Mai and picked one up nine days later, including a three
day delay for cosmological reasons. Service so far good.
The sales department of the six Mitsubishi dealerships in the north (same company) phoned after
more than a month that the car we ordered finally had arrived. Next morning they phoned again
and told us that somebody else had ordered before us. Same story: we phoned to Chiang Mai one
week ago and will pick upp the car tomorrow (even including four days this time for awaiting the right
spiritual moment). On top of that they show themselves to me more generous concerning freebees.
I hope the service department of Mitsu Chiang Rai is more efficient than their sales department.
Limbo
PS: I can recommend the Motor Forum of Thaivisa. A lot of expertise and good information.
A nice group of regulars, offering good entertainment inbetween the lines.
So, and now the adventure with my first automatic transmission is awaiting me. I have a lot
of mixed feelings on that, but trust the experienced drivers that recommended it to me,
including Big Gary Himself, who was a racing driver before in Australia.
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I noticed several times that the staff of the Immigration Office in Mae Sai is very helpfull in
finding solutions for problems that foreigners have because of special circumstances, even
in those cases when foreigners more or less have to blame themselves..
You left the Kingdom too early and you were back too late.
They have, as they promised, been so kind to find a solution for your problem within existing
regulations.
Don't worry too much and if you read this before you leave: Good luck and have a nice trip!
Looking forward to your feedback.
Limbo
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The quartier you are referring to is called Goh Sai. Every time I step foot in this area my little princess turns up, as if by magic! I think there must be a spy in the camp. Not that I frequent so often these days, what with the demise of my best drinking partner and, the next best being gay as a lord.
I might run the gauntlet and try a bicycle ride out to cr. There's a back road that goes south to Mae Chan. Is there a back road beyond that to cr?
AA not needed these days. I've managed to get consumption down to a reasonable level. It's a question of will power and dedication to preserve compos mentis.
As far as I understand you could compare Goh Sai in Mae Sai with the area behind
Talad Pa Korn in Chiang Rai as far as the ethnicity of its inhabitants concerns: Shan.
Give 'the lord' my regards! Without him Mae Sai wouldn't be the same ;-)
Concerning the back road between Mae Chan and Chiang Rai: There isn't one!
Otherwise Flupke would have mentioned it already (he is training for the classical
Doi Inthanon 'conquering' in February).
There are other routes, yes, but considerably longer.
Talking about the backroad between Mae Sai and Mae Chan, do you mean the
one that roughly spoken would start somewhere behind the hospital and bring
you back to the 'super' at the level of the last village before Ban Pa Sang?
It's perfect bicycle weather now. Went into the mountains yesterday with your
former colleague in Bo's and we had the 'bad' luck to pass a Lahu village.
Two hundred meters further we decided to turn back and join the New Years
ceremonies and party. The odometer stopped finally at a meager 45 thus, but
it was a good start. Have to mobilize more 'compos mentis' though.
Limbo
1) The ride up Doi Inthanon is one of the toughest bicycle rides in this part of the world.
Known locally as “The roof of Thailand” this mountain is 2565 meter high. The name of this
arduous race in Thai is aptly “Conquer Inthanon”. It's a climb of 2300 meter over 48 km with
gradients of 15% to 18% in certain places. It takes place in February.
2) Also in February, more precisely the weekend of 4 and 5, the (in the mean time 13th version)
of the International MTB Challenge of Chiang Rai takes place. Everyday three stages, total
distance about 160 km, through the surroundings of Chiang Rai.
For information about bicycle events you can contact Khun Chompu of Fatfree.
3) Concerning the Lahu ('hunters', often also called Muser by Thai) NewYear celebrations:
They last about ten days, roughly five days oriented towards the male part of the population
and the rest of the time towards the female part (or vice versa...). The rituals are animistic,
performed in ancient ways and often under the guidance of a Shaman.
As far as I'm informed the Lahu is supposed to be the ethnic minority that has preserved its
traditions more than any other group here in the north.
It is in the mean time about twenty years ago, but I met once a National Geographic fotographer
in the Lahu village behind the Nam Tok Huay Maesai (now moved and combined with the Akha
village in front of the waterfall). He had been looking elsewehere but mades the pictures finally
here as the rituals were performed in their most authentic form.
Yesterday the celebrations were in a village with electricity, so the sound of singing, string
instruments and kaen got lost a little bit in the equipment.
I had the luck to sit next to an old man and listen to his songs. Remembered me a little bit
about the typical singing technique of the Same (Lapps) in northern Europe.
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Good times over?
I heard that the regulations concerning the amount of liquids and
other goods that can be brought from Burma are taken very serious
nowadays by the gentlemen who's task it is to implement them.
Unsuspectingly our highly respected friend Mr. A. returned to the
Thai side of the border last week and this in the company of a tray
containing twelve Bavaria's (Dutch Premium beer).
He was informed that he was allowed to import only six of them
and was invited to give the other six to the uniformed gentleman
himself.
The good man clearly didn't know who he was talking to and therefore
didn't realize that he was on a mission impossible: beers fall for Mr. A.
in the same category as blue suede shoes did for Elvis Presley.
He started to drink them on the spot and it was not until he was going
to open can number four, that the industrious law servant gave up and
waved him trough.
It might of course have been a temporary thing related to the
New Year celebrations ...
Did anybody else notice something unusual lately?
Limbo
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How is the CR branch of AA going?
- Cycling does help to curb the urge but, I find, increases abuse subsequently.
- Try more sports massage.
- Use Sudocrem to reduce rashes.
May the wind be with you!
555! Pity that it isn't Monday, because this advice could undoubtedly determine a week!
I can't give an answer on your question concerning the AA.
I hope somebody else will do.
Anyhow: Good to see you back on stage!
I miss the occasional bicycle tour to Mae Sai.
My princess wants to pick me up there after the ride and drive
me back to Chiang Rai. It would save hotel costs, she says.
The argument of gasoline costs falls on deaf ears.
Any advice on this (put into verse if possible)?
Limbo
PS: I still regularly have a beer at the little square in the shop of, ....of, .... of ...
Yes, that's the problem: For some reason I always forget the name of this
noble fighting cock loving Tai Jaj. Give you a call next time.
Noticed after posting that Macdon at least partially already answered the AA part
of the question. The location is mentioned and it might still be running.
The question how the CR branch of AA is going remains open.
Just two guys having a beer together ...?
- Cycling does help to curb the urge but, I find, increases abuse subsequently.
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There is nothing romantic about poverty and the worst thing is when people
even don't have the possibility to improve their and their childrens life, other
than in a relative sense by being exploited.
A lot of postings in this forum concern the trip to Mae Sai. Aside of
visa-technical questions most of them are questions about how to
save money by taking the cheapest busses, staying in the cheapest
hotels and eating in the cheapest restaurants. Other, many of them
posed by 'fourwheeldriven' Charlies, ask for the best restaurants and
the best hotels.
Dingdong and Toybits certainly have made this trip as well and probably
even many more times than most of us.
They have seen the same steakhouses, coffee shops, gasoline stations
and beautiful mountains along the road as everybody did.
What not everybody shares, is the awareness about the disastrous
situation in which many people live in this beautiful mountains.
Often you don't even have to go as far as the mountains: sometimes
poverty starts less than a few hundred meters from the 'superhighway'.
Toybits, Dingdong and the rest of the 'club', my respect!
You are not the only ones that realize that a couple of thousand Baht
sometimes makes the difference.
The "Smiling Child Fund' of the Rotary of Mae Chan has calculated
that three thousand Baht makes the difference between going to school
or not going to school for too many children.
This is not about how many blankets a person needs to survive a winter;
Nature answers that question! It's just about blankets and this in an area
where the mortality among elder people is very high in the cold season.
Give my best wishes to ..ny and ..berto! Didn't see them for a long time ;-)
..hn
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Tomorrow January 2nd at Chiangrai Hills Stadium:
17.00: Cartoons on the lrge LED screen for the kids.
18.30: Prizes ceremony for the New Year Cup.
Then... BIG fireworks and launch of 200 komloys (and the biggest of the north, 10m high)
Entry is free... as usual (but not the beer
)Meet the winners !
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The winners of the Chiangrai Hills Stadium 2012 New Year Cup were the players of the team
of the Suksa Song Kroh boarding school in Mae Chan. They could take home a beautiful cup
and a first prize of not less than 10.000 Baht. Yes, they are happy and they deserve to be!
Most of the students of Suksa Song Kroh come from villages high upp in the mountains and live
therefore at school. Football is a big thing for them and this prize is not only a great reward for
their efforts, but I am sure it will also encourage them for the future. SSK susu!
The party afterwards was spectacular, but that's another chapter
Limbo
PS: The Suksa Song Kroh boarding school offers education to children of nine different ethnic
minorities. About twenty percent of the more than thousand students are local Thai children.
The school population includes orphans, hiv-positive and disabled children, abused children,
children from extremely poor homes and children at risc concerning drugs and prostitution.
The Chao Phya Abhai Raja Foundation has facilitated many activities of this school, among
which sports and music. The young gentlemen that now manage the Chiangrai Hills Stadium
and the Weah Radio station (both initiatives of the foundation) are all former students of the
Suksa Song Kroh school.
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....Best wishes on behalf of Chiangrai United !
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... and greetings from the kids that participate in Chiangrai United's football academy:
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Yesterday the Chiang Rai Arena football complex next to Big celebrated not only New Years Day
but also its first anniversary. All the participants in Chiangrai United's Youth Academy project
got a nice present (also their younger brothers were not forgotten as the picture shows).
Strolling back in this thread you will find more information about the youth project.
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Limbo
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Some aquaintances were very satisfied with Nim See Seng's transport service.
Everything arrived in one piece and at a reasonable price. They did the packing
and bought the necessary boxes themselves (at the garbage recycle company
at the diagonal road behind the PTT station at Mae Korn crossing).
It's shared transport, so it goes by volume. Nin See Sung has distribution centers
so it delivers almost everywhere.
If you like a more adventurous approach you might have a chat with the chauffeurs
of the trucks lined up along the superhighway opposite of Central Plaza.
That's the place where they station themselves when not employed.
If you need a six-wheel of your own, you could find it there.
Nim See Seng is at the Paholyothin Road, opposite the big new building of Boh Koh Soh (sp?)
where we soon can await the Chiang Rai - Laos transport facilities.
Coming from the center of town driving towards the Mae Korn crossing (the road to Ban
Huay Sak and Thoeng) about hundred meters after the second traffic-light (a T-crossing
with the road that leads to the backside of the regional hospital) at your right.
Good luck! Isarn is a great country
Limbo
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I think Harry is probably on to something...you ever see those benches "donated" by the US DEA, up at the Golden Triangle Boat? I'll bet the DOD sold it to them and then the satellites got way better and they decided to scrape it. Hmmm....makes for an interesting....book? It sure does look like a radar foundation, though. PP
Harrry and PhayaoPete are right: It was a dumping ground for American taxpayers money, run within
the framework of a strategic alliance between the armed forces of Thailand and the Unted States.
I guess that it is not much more than fifteen years old. During the first years a lonely guard was spending
his days there and after he got promoted to another important function the ground was still regularly cleaned.
As those in charge must have decided that it has lost its strategic importance, it has been given back
to nature so to say. It's good to see that it nowadays is used for local community activities .
I suppose that it originally was meant to be a mock radar observation station, a skin and nothing inside
I'm sure that for many years it might have withheld the Chinese military counterparts of the Thai-American
Strategic Alliance from invading our lovely province.
Limbo
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The best to everybody!
Limbo
Just a happy pic of last night's countdown at the clock tower:
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reason for editing: wrong picture (last year's celebrations)
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...........[attachmenOf course it has to be seen as a tryout, but the first time an away game of Chiangrai United
was shown live on the big LED screen (5x8 meter) already more than hundred football fans
showed up, even more than usually go to the fan clubhouse at Den Ha.
It was an initiative of the Orange Power fanclub of Chiangrai United and it was supported
by the (hilltribe) manager group of the Chiangrai Hills Stadium. It was a fundraising event and
also as such you could call it succesfull: About 12.000 Baht found their way into the coffers
of the supporters, to be used for instance to bring down the costs of two bus trips to away
games to a level that would be affordable for the average local fan.
Most of the 100 Baht tickets (to be exchanged for two cans of Leo) were bought in Chiang
Rai town. At least thirty fans, including the Chiang Rai Mini's, couragously defying the
cold on their monkey bikes, travelled from Chiang Rai to Mae Chan for the event.
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For the local Mae Chan section of the Orange legion, where 'Acharn Damm' is in charge, it
was a nice opportunity to host their fellow supporters from Chiang Rai. The atmosphere on
the stand during the game was as enthousiastic as it was afterwards in the supporters bar
of the stadium.
For pictures of events at the Chiangrai Hills Stadium in Mae Chan, including the Rotary Cup
and its anniversary celebrations, the Chiangrai United Club Party with the football game with
the television soap stars, other actors and musicians, and those taken last night, please see:
http://www.chiangrai...vents_intro.htm
Limbo
The screen last night, Leandro in action in the seventh minute in the game against TOT:
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everybody who posted before me, will post after me, those that read this thread and move on without posting, and even those who don't even open the thread.
Great text Paul, please allow me to borrow it!
Limbo
On eves like last night a lot of things come together, among others the traditional
Catholic Christmas group and the good old fir tree of the Germanic Yule.
This one, at the Christmas party of a Swiss friend, is of course from Switserland
and has been unpacked on an annual base for almost forty years. It is a classical
one and I personally think that is a very beautiful one as well. Though I must admit
that the stable itself is a rather simple construction that leaves a lot of space for
improvement.
.But also spirituality and spirits found each other under the same denominator this
peaceful night.
We throw up the bottles in the air and those that were not catched by Invisible Hands
and thus fell back to earth were consumed in gratitude. It was a great party!
.Poor turkey, poor rabbits ...
PS: Suddenly Dirk (Dekkah) showed up. He is very much okay now and
hopes to have regained most of his strenght within a couple of weeks.
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In Europe weconsider it absolutely normal to see many centuries old buildings,
private houses, churches, government buildings, palaces, bridges or whatever.
People don't even realize the uniqueness of these monuments as they simply are
part of their 'natural' environment. Many don't even notice them anymore.
In Greece you walk through ruins of towns from for instance the Minoan epoque,
more than five thousand years old, better preserved and in much better shape
than the only about seven hundred years old 'poor' ruins in Chiang Saen.
In the smallest village on Crete you unexpectly can be standing next to a well that
was dug five thousand years ago and where uncountable generations all these f
ive thousand years got their water from.
I call the ruins of Chiang Saen 'poor' because they have been stripped from all s
culptures, stonecarvings etc. On top of that many ruins seem to be reconstructions
rather than excavated and preserved genuine remnants of buildings.
Chiang Saen was deliberately depopulated and destroyed in former times and
treasure hunters took care of the forgotten details.
Next year Chiang Rai celebrates it's 750 years anniversary.
I hope that the celebrations will contribute to a greater awareness about the
importance of preserving testimonies from the past (and present, for future
generations) and that they may contribute to the long awaited realization of
the museum plans for the Mae Kok River island.
Sadly enough Chiang Rai has very few historical buildings.
The big city fire in the fifties destroyed more than half of town as almost
all houses were made of wood. The few old wooden houses left mark the
extension of that fire.
The urge build new and in stone instead of restoring wooden buildings took a toll
as well. Several temples were sacrificed along the way. The sentiment that restoring
an old temple gives less value in sense of 'tam boon' than building a new one
contributed probably also.
A building of hundred years is therefore considered old in Chiang Rai!
This doesn't mean that these younger buildings would not be of historical
importance, certainly not!
A nice example of such a young monument is the one on the pictures.
It tells an interesting story as well.
Limbo
..
Brilliant! With Mr. Bean it could become a real blockbuster!
)
Cyclist Alan Bate From Chiang Khong
in Chiang Rai
Posted
Thanks twentybaht and dingdong!
Aside from Ernesto1, a banned member of this forum, who for reasons only known to himself started to
question Alan's enormous achievement on other forums and linked them to Thaivisa.com only people
who never showed any interest in bicycling feel themselves obliged to give a negative opinion.
It is too ridiculous for words!
One really wonders what their motivation is for this slander.
It can not be the bicycling itself, as they never showed any interest in bicycling.
Vinnie Cox and Alan Bates both delivered an enormous performance in the same
year. Contacts have been made with GuinnessWorldRecords and they have confirmed
Alan's record.
The 'method' of the merchants of conflict is to refer to websites that don't show the
final results of the communication with the Guinness organisation. Unbelievable!
I really don't dare to speculate about other reasons that could be behind this, but I can
imagine that it could be reasons for this thread to be closed.
L.