July 28th, 2010 — Events — posted by admin
August events in Chiang Mai include;
Save the Turtles Event – Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium (01-04/08, all day);
Amazing Thailand Grand Sale – all over Chiang Mai (01-16/08);
Queen of Thailand’s Birthday – all over Chiang Mai (12/08, all day);
Talent Competition – talent show at JJ Mart for budding stars (13/08, from 18:00);
HUG Elephant Concert – Sankham Terrace (Baan Nai Fun 2) (14 & 21/08, from 20:00);
Mini Light and Sound Nopburi Sri Nakorn Ping – Chiang Mai City Arts Centre (21/08); Continue reading →
July 26th, 2010 — Health & safety — posted by Jimmy Kransic
Checks of air-conditioners in Chiang Mai disclosed many contained Legionella bacteria.
A report in the Nation newspaper, this week, alleged that of 100 air-conditioning units investigated, around 40 per cent were breeding grounds for the germs that cause Legionnaires’ Disease.
Checks were made on units in both hotels and commercial premises. An official at the city’s health department said that these high levels of contamination posed the risk of an outbreak of the potentially fatal disease.
To eliminate the danger of infection, hotels and businesses are advised to perform regular maintenance on their air-conditioners. Part of the preventative measures should involve strict cleaning of the unit’s filters, and also of the building’s water supplies.
The initial symptoms of Legionnaires’ Disease are similar to influenza. If ignored, or undiagnosed, the symptoms can lead to bad lung infections and pneumonia. People particularly susceptible to the disease are smokers and the elderly.
There have been several cases of Legionnaires’ Disease in the kingdom. In 1995 a British national contracted it in Pattaya. Among additional reported incidences were the six visitors discovered to have caught the disease in Phuket, in 2006.
In 1999, three more Britons were found to be carrying the disease, while holidaying in Chiang Mai.
People entering areas that are suspected to be contaminated by Legionella bacteria, are advised to wear a reasonable quality face mask.
Masks that are required are similar to the ones worn by Chiang Mai residents, when the city occasionally becomes shrouded by smog. The smog is caused by forests burning, and is especially bad just before the onset of the rainy season.
July 19th, 2010 — Transportation — posted by Michael Harrigan
Myanmese authorities closed their border with northern Thailand this week, for the second time in less than a month.
The Mae Sai border closure has affected the flow of goods between the two countries and could affect the many Chiang Mai ex-pats, who use the border to renew their permits to stay in Thailand.
No official reason has been given for the closure, but according to Boontham Thipprasong, of the Mae Sai Chamber of Commerce, customs and immigration officials at Tachilek, on the Myanmese side of the border, were being replaced.
Continue reading →
July 12th, 2010 — Tourist services — posted by Kirsty Turner
The expected completion date of Chiang Mai’s long waited convention and exhibition centre has been put back again.
The centre, first planned in 1996, is not expected to be ready in September. Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa, speaking to the Nation, cited construction hold-ups caused by a 43-day late start.
Mr Silpa-archa added that he did not think the centre would be ready, but if the builders got a move on it could conceivably open before next year. He also said that for each month the centre was late, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would be fined six million Baht.
At the moment, only 10 per cent of the building is complete, with 25 per cent of the total project done. The centre is being built in Chiang Mai’s Muang (City) District.
When the complex is complete it will offer an 8,000m expo area, conference rooms, offices, permanent exhibit space and a banquet hall capable of seating 1,400 diners.
This time, the multi-million Baht project was delayed by differences between the blueprints and overall design. The government has allocated 1.8 million Baht for the project, although Mr Silpa-archa said that an extra 1.1 million would be needed for interior fixtures and fittings, and insect and rodent protection.
TAT will own the completed building, and hopes that it will draw visitors and conventions to Chiang Mai. There are plans for a similar centre on Thailand’s southern island of Phuket.
July 5th, 2010 — Expats, Health & safety — posted by Cat Morot
Following a complaint from the parents of four young girls, a 90-year old male has been detained and accused of abusing the sisters. It is also alleged that he raped one of them.
The man, Karl Joseph Kraus, holds an Australian passport, but was supposedly born in Berlin. A search of the man’s home turned up 100 photographs of nude children and a collection of video footage. Police say that Mr Kraus is posing with some of the children in the pictures.
Mr Kraus enticed the sisters to his home with chocolates and English tuition. The girls told their parents what was wrong, when asked why they had stopped playing outside. The parents made the allegations to police, after their daughters told them Mr Kraus had abused them.
Mr Kraus was detained at his home, in the Doi Saket area of Chiang Mai, last Wednesday. At the time of his detention he was walking with the aid of two sticks. Neighbours say that he is fit and can still drive.
Mr Kraus was taken to a hospital in Chiang Mai, where he complained about diabetes and high blood pressure. A court appearance date has still to be arranged.
In 2008, Mr Kraus started teaching the children. One of the children was only five years old when he supposedly started abusing them. The girls are now aged between 7 and 15.
The Bangkok Post reported, that a maid said she saw Mr Kraus sending videos abroad. Police are now checking whether the man was a part of a larger paedophile network.
June 29th, 2010 — Events — posted by admin
July events in Chiang Mai include;
Technology Fare – CMU Convention Centre (01-04/07, all day)
Elvis Presley Festival – Suriwongse Hotel, Chiang Mai, (01-31/07, from 21:00)
US Independence Day Celebration – Chang Puak Stadium (04/07, all day)
Talent Competition – talent show at JJ Mart for budding stars (15/07, from 18:00)
Save the Turtles Competition – Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium (deadline July 22)
Khao Phansa – Buddhist candles festival (26/07, all day)
July 01-04: Computer & Digital Mart Chiang Mai 2010
Where: CMU Convention Centre
When: all day
Computers, cameras, appliances, and many other IT-related products will be on sale here at discount prices. Come and take advantage of many special promotions from leading retailers.
July 01-31: Elvis Presley Festival
Where: Suriwongse Hotel, Chiang Mai, tel: 053 2700517
When: Every day from 21:00
The king of rock n’ roll returns to the Fueng Fah Restaurant at Suriwongse Hotel with Elvis Presley back to sing live every night from 21:00. The four-piece band will run the three ages of Elvis Presley songs.
July 04: US Independence Day
Where: Municipal Park Chang Puak Stadium, Chiang Mai
When: all day
The US Consulate is putting on a grand 4th of July “Independence Day” celebration including all-you-can-eat Dukes BBQ, live entertainment, fireworks and theme park for kids.
July 15: Talent Competition
Where: JJ Mart Gate, Chiang Mai Gate
When: starts 18:00
JJ Market is hosting a talent contest for all those talented Chiang Mai residents or tourists who fancy showing off their skills to the crowd. Live bands, singing and lots of dancing ensure a fun time for all.
July 22: Save the Turtles
Where: Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium, Huay Kaew Road,
When: deadline July 22
Help save the turtles by entering into Chiang Mai Zoo’s drawing competition. The contest is split into two groups with a deadline set for entries to be submitted before 22 July.
July 26: Khao Phansa
Where: all over Chiang Mai
When: all day
This festival marks the start of Buddhist Lent and is also known as the Candle Festival. Lay people visit the city’s ancient temples and present ornate candles to monks.
June 28th, 2010 — Events, Sightseeing & tours — posted by Julia Murphy
One of Thailand’s most colourful festivals, Khao Phansa, falls on July 26 this year. This festival marks the start of the Buddhist period of Lent.
Khao Phansa is also known as the Candle Festival. Lay people visit Chiang Mai’s ancient temples, and present ornate candles to resident monks.
Temples in Chiang Mai’s old city quarter, contained within the moat, are the final destination for parades. People, wearing traditional clothing, give the sculptured candles to monks, as well as other necessities of life to sustain them through Lent.
Continue reading →
June 21st, 2010 — Expats — posted by Tom Steele
An Australian who killed a man in a Chiang Mai bar is to be released early from prison.
William (Bill) Thomas Douglas, 61, is to be freed from jail after serving slightly more than two years for the slaying of Gary Bruce Poretsky.
Douglas was originally sentenced to two years for the March 2008 murder of Mr Poretsky, a 46-year-old American citizen. An extra 18 months was added on to his sentecne for weapons offences.
The Australian was eligible for parole in December this year, but has been given an early release under a general amnesty. Mr Poretsky’s family were dismayed at Douglas’s light sentence, and want to know why he is being released even earlier.
Continue reading →
June 14th, 2010 — Events, Sightseeing & tours — posted by Jimmy Kransic
Staff at Chiang Mai Zoo’s Aquarium are holding a festival dedicated to the turtle. Visitors to the aquarium will have the chance of seeing both saltwater and freshwater turtles at close quarters.
The festival opened on June 5 and will run until August 4. The Governor of Chiang Mai, Mr Amonphan Nimanan, presided over the opening ceremony, attended by senior zoo officials and special guests.
Chiang Mai Zoo is holding the turtle festival in the hope of alerting people to the dangers faced by turtles in the wild and to help them appreciate these wonderful creatures.
Continue reading →
June 7th, 2010 — Expats, Sightseeing & tours — posted by admin
A CUDDLY new addition to Chiang Mai Zoo has been named ‘Reconciliation’ in a bid to move away from the conflict of recent months.
The name for the baby koala was proposed by a four-year-old girl and picked out of nearly 500 entries.
Lapassarada Mung-opas’s entry of ‘Prong-Dong’ was thought to be the most appropriate name considering the bloodshed and violence all over Thailand recently. Continue reading →
