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FOUR FESTIVALS IN FIVE WEEKS!
Trade and tourism worries have been lightened in Chiangmai by a series
of recent events which, if they didn't start out as street parties, rapidly
developed that way.
First came the inaugural One Village One Product Fair at Thapae Gate,
showcasing northern produce with a focus on handicrafts for export.
Looking back, this was obviously a rehearsal for the biggest ever single
sale of produce from Thai prisons at the same site, which over-lapped with
Mardi Gras, the ground-breaking official opener to this year's tourist
"high season".
A huge stage was erected across Loi Kroh (above) at the junction with
Changklan Road and, after the televised opening and contest presentations,
crowds thronged and danced to a variety of bands.
Rows of booths selling food, drink and all manner of goods lined Changklan
Road to such an extent it was unbelievable that the varied and colourful
processions made it throungh the masses.
Fire-crackers and hot air lanterns towards the close of the festival
announced the start of Loi Kratong, continuing an unprecedented series
of special events still in full flow at time of going to press!.
PALMED
OFF?
If you see 3 Nissan pick-ups arrive here from Bangkok in a blaze of
publicity, you'll know they are on the first leg of a 200,000km, 6 month
journey to test the efficiency of diesel-with-palm-oil fuel against other
new alternatives. Palm oil is seen as a useful future price cushion, even
though as the vehicles set out last month the price of diesel was falling
and palm oil was rising!
HER MAJESTY HELPS HILLTRIBES
Her Majesty the Queen has asked the Commander of the Third Region Army
to protect mountain people, especially the Lua, whose numbers have dwindled
to only 200.
The Lt-General responded by promising new villages in Chiangmai and
Mae Hong Son provinces. The people would be granted Thai citizenship and
provided with schooling, he added. A privy councillor added that a long
term goal was to help the tribes assimilate into Thai culture.
Featured in the August issue of 'Good Morning Chiangmai News', the Lua
are among the very earliest settlers in northern Thailand and are amongst
the most conservation-minded farmers.
Abbot aids Shan refugees
The Abbot of a Chiangmai temple says that over 300,000 Shan people are
living "harsh lives" along the border and in Chiangmai province
after being evicted from their villages over the past 5 years. "Armed
troops who claimed to be Burmese soldiers seized their assets, houses and
farmland" said Phra Khru Inta Inthawaro of Wat Pa Pao, Maneenopparat
Road. "Many who resisted were killed and several hunded others died
while escaping. In most cases, the soldiers set fire to their homes."
Requests are being sent to PM Thaksin Shinawatra for official refugee
status for thousands of Shan currently working as labourers and in the
sex trade.
TIME ON THEIR HANDS
Every type of furniture and ornament you could imagine were on sale
at Thapae Gate late last month - all made by prisoners in jails all over
Thailand.
From huge wooden outdoor salas-on-stilts at 170,000b to clocks and children's
toys, the area was overflowing with produce and business was brisk. Moving
the annual show from a remote, little-known market near the Irrigation
Canal to Thapae Gate was a big hit for all involved - except drivers trying
to navigate the resulting traffic jams.
JUST LIKE THE REAL THING?
Almost! This metal bas relief of a Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero-Sen actually
represents an aircraft of the 64th Sentai, wich was stationed here at Chiangmai.
Framed in dark Thai timber, each piece is numbered and only 1000 pieces
will ever be produced. Made by Thai craftsmen with care.
Measurement: 24 x 15 x 3.5 cm
email: gmorning@chiangmai-online.com
PRICE: 1000 BAHT
PAYMENT CAN BE MADE ONLINE
VISA & MASTER CARD WELCOME
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UK
POLICE STEP IN TO KIRSTY CASE
British detectives last month collected phorensic evidence in the Kirsty
Jones rape-murder case and returned to her native Wales accompanied by
2 top Thai policemen.
Twenty-three year old back-packer Kirsty was found murdered on August
10th last year at Aree Guest House, Chiangmai, and DNA evidence was taken
from 14 suspects. Co-owner of the guest house Andy Gill, a 32 year old
Englishman, was initially charged and held for 10 weeks. After protesting
his innocence throughout, Gill was released due to lack of evidence but
deported as his visa had expired.
Almost 1,000 people attended Kirsty's UK funeral and a memorial to her
has been placed at her former school.
HITTING
HIGH NOTES
The superb acoustic qualities of Gong Dee Studio, soi 1, Nimmanhemin
Road, made it the perfect venue for Joanna Cole's operatic evening in aid
of Thai cancer research on October 13th.
Sponsored by the Regent Resort & Spa, Mae Rim, the evening was filled
with favourite arias in Italian, French and English from the Australian
soprano who, with her accompanist and manager, was ending her Asian tour.
Memorable moments of the past few weeks, she said, included impromptu opera
for a remote Burmese village after a wheel fell off their bus and the party
were stranded for several hours!
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A
NO GUN ZONE?
Chiangmai city is one of 5 areas of Thailand now designated as "gun
free".
One of the results of the Tourism Workshop here earlier this year is
a draft bill from the Cabinet specifying penalties of up to 10 years in
jail for carriers of firearms, even if they have licences. It is proposed
that guns be handed in to the local authority when owners first arrive
here.
The measure is aimed at ensuring safety for tourists, although the very
few tourist deaths here in recent years have been caused by road accidents,
illnesses, strangulation and drowning.
MOBILE
PHONE FACTS?
Use a mobile phone in Chiangmai? Happy with it? Contact 'Good Morning
Chiangmai News' and tell us about your deal. We'd like to promote the best
value available out of the hundreds of different deals on offer. Just e-mail
your deal to gmorning@chiangmai-online.com
and help us sort the whinge from the chat.
FOR
SALE: THAILAND'S FIRST RACER
Thailand's first and most famous racing car is on the market for the
first time in 42 years. The 1935 British-built ERA single seater in which
"Prince Bira of Siam" scored many of his pre-war victories will
be auctioned in England next month.
Described by experts as "probably the most raced car in the world",
the 6 cylinder supercharged car named 'Remus' has 108 victories to it's
credit over no fewer than 54 seasons. Prince Birabongse not only made his
name in it as a serious professional driver, but also became Thailand's
first sporting ambassador in Europe. A replica of the blue and yellow car
can be seen in Bangkok's new Sports Museum.
NO
EPH IN STARBUCKS
Specialist coffee retailers Starbucks, whose Chiangmai branch in the
Suriwong Hotel at the Night Bazaar has got off to a flying start, has announced
that their coffee and tea contains no ephedrine, a substance found in some
illegal stimulants. The results came from extensive analysis by the Thai
food and drug authority.
GAY
BAR?
In the same week that the Minister of the Interior promised to stop
advertisements for gay clubs in Chiangmai a British bar owner was detained
on 2 sex charges.
Toby Carrington, 53, was arrested on charges of procuring male sex and
distributing an obscene magazine. Police said that he would also be charged
with working while on a tourist visa. The charges carry a maximum penalty
of 3 years in jail and/or deportation.
ATTACKING
THE 30% TUK TUKS
A strongly worded open letter of complaint has been sent to the Governor
of Chiangmai about tuk tuk and seelor drivers diverting passengers towards
shops which pay the drivers up to 30% commission on sales.
"Some tuk-tuk and seelor drivers and staff of tour companies are
cheating tourists and honest businesses in Chiangmai by taking customers
only to shops and other establishments that give them big commissions -
30% is the norm" writes Henry
Quick, Managing Director of the HQ paper-making group.
"They are destroying the reputation of Chiangmai as a tourism and
shopping haven", he writes. "Two American tourists arrived at
our showroom looking hot and tired and somewhat angry. They had picked
up a tuk-tuk from central Chiangmai and asked to be taken to our premises.
They had a map with the location clearly marked and showed this to the
driver, who apparently understood. They were taken instead to another paper
factory on the Sankamphaeng Road - 30 minutes away in the opposite direction.
They protested that this was not the place they had wanted to visit, but
were encouraged by the driver to go in and shop anyway. They looked around
and then insisted that they be taken to our shop."
"The driver then told them that HQ PaperMaker had poor quality
products and were too expensive! When these folk arrived at our shop they
made a large purchase and praised us for having a far better range and
lower prices than the establishment they had been 'hijacked' to. They were
happy with their purchase, but infuriated by the dishonest behaviour they
had suffered from." Mr Quick ends his letter by urging visitors to
complain about such incidents to the Tourist Police.
NEWS
OF THE FUTURE
· A new support group for the Chiangmai Disabled Center, Rachapakinai
Road, meets at 9.30am on November 6th and then on the first Tuesday of
each month. Fund raising for a mini-bus is one objective, also a Thai language
book on wheelchair selection and maintenance. More from Don and Sunan Willcox
on 053 213941 or e-mail: assist@loxinfo.co.th
· A talk on Chiangmai's medicine and public health during World
War 11 will be given by Dr Ted Brown on November 12th at the Informal Northern
Thai Group. The evening starts at 7.30pm at the Alliance Francaise, Charoenprathet
Road.
· This year's Remembrance Day gathering takes place on Sunday,
November 11th from 10.45am at the Foreigners' Cemetery, Old Lamphun Road
and all denominations and nationalities are welcome. A short service will
be led by a member of Community Church, red poppies will be available and
a bugler from the Royal Thai Army Gawila Barracks will sound 'The Last
Post'.
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