Hotels eye Japanese long-stay : TTR Weekly

Hotels eye Japanese long-stay : TTR Weekly:

 "CHAING MAI, 19 April 2012: Chiang Mai’s hoteliers are joining the Chamber of Commerce to pressure the government to extend the non-immigrant visa from one year to three years for Japanese visitors to boost the long-stay market.
Thai Hotels Association Upper Northern Chapter president, Punat Thanalaopanit, told TTR Weekly that the association was backing the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce in its efforts to improve long-stay.
The main push is to convince the Ministry of Interior that the non-immigrant visa should extend for three years for Japanese travellers, who are mainly retirees over the age of 50."

TTG Asia - Leader in Hotel, Airlines, Tourism and Travel Trade News - Chiang Mai gets new flight connections to Macau, Hong Kong

TTG Asia - Leader in Hotel, Airlines, Tourism and Travel Trade News - Chiang Mai gets new flight connections to Macau, Hong Kong:

 "Thai AirAsia will launch the inaugural Chiang Mai-Macau flight on May 22 using an Airbus A320. The daily flight will depart Chiang Mai at 16.15 and depart Macau at 20.45. The new route will also allow travellers from Chiang Mai to connect easily to Hong Kong via a one-hour ferry ride.

Meanwhile, Dragonair will introduce a Hong Kong-Chiang Mai route using an Airbus A320 from July 1."

Suu Kyi set for first trip abroad in 24 years - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English

Suu Kyi set for first trip abroad in 24 years - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English:

"Myanmar's Nobel Peace Prize laureate and pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is set to travel outside the country for the first time in 24 years.

The party of the newly elected member of parliament said on Wednesday that Suu Kyi had accepted invitations to visit Norway and Britain in June.

Suu Kyi was invited to visit Britain during a meeting with David Cameron, the British prime minister, in Yangon

The city of Oxford, where she attended university in the 1970s, will be on the agenda for the Britain visit, Nyan Win, spokesman for her National League for Democracy (NLD) party told the Reuters news agency."

Deals We Like - Visiting Northern Thailand – First Stop Chiang Mai - USATODAY.com

Deals We Like - Visiting Northern Thailand – First Stop Chiang Mai - USATODAY.com:

"We got to Chiang Mai around noon and took one of the airport taxis to the Le Meridien hotel. We were shocked about the incredibly cheap cost of a taxi – 120 baht per car ($4)! We quickly checked into the Le Meridien, dropped off our bags, and were off to meet our friends. The next six days of the trip we coordinated with our close friends from the US. They were there on their honeymoon in Thailand and we thought Chiang Mai would be the best place to overlap."\

ED: Whilst the authors follow the hackneyed path of using TripAdvisor vs a source that takes information from people who actually live here, it is all good for our town to receive this level of exposure. Enjoy with a fair helping of salt.. :)

It's time to wash away your worries | Bangkok Post: news

It's time to wash away your worries | Bangkok Post: news:

 "In Bangkok, governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra marked the start of the Thai New Year festivities by presiding over a merit making ceremony in the morning, giving alms to 185 monks .
Revellers _ Thais and foreign tourists _ joined the water splashing free-for-all in several areas, including Silom Road, Khao San Road, and outside CentralWorld shopping centre.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra went to the North to open the Songkran festival in her hometown, Chiang Mai."

Promenada Mall Opens in December

Promenada Mall Opens in December: "According to the construction manager, construction had started in June 2011 and is due to finish by the 21st of December, 2012. Although an exact official opening date of this resort style shopping mall has not yet been set, Tjeert Kwant told CityNews, “in July or August, we can tell you the exact opening date. We are still on schedule to open in December, and we will choose the exact opening date I think four to five months from now.”"

 

From City Life

This Thai spot has a hidden menu - The Boston Globe

This Thai spot has a hidden menu - The Boston Globe:

"Order one of these dishes (a Canadian customer has chalked in translations) and the waitress’s reserve turns to smiling enthusiasm. She and the owner are from Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of Northern Thailand. They pride themselves on their Northern Thai food, which is justified.

What’s on the hidden chalkboard is sublime. Chiang Mai noodle curry ($8.25), traditionally called khao soi, arrives as a large bowl of golden, aromatic broth brimming with egg noodles, a braised chicken leg, and a scoop of crunchy-fried noodles. The taste is partly driven by a massaman curry base, partly by the long-simmering lemongrass, tamarind, shallots, kaffir lime leaves, and a bit of coconut milk. Flavor-rich red droplets of curry oil infused with chili pepper coat the noodles as you pull them out of the bowl. Fresh red onion and cilantro add texture, color, and contrast. For a smoky, citrus heat, roasted pequin peppers in oil are in a ramekin on the side. In Chiang Mai, this dish is common street food, but it is rarely found here."

ED : care to pay 270 THB for Khao Soi Gai? Still, good to see Bostonians are getting acquainted with Lanna

Chan Dara, Known For its Hot Thai Girl Waitresses, Violated Labor Law, Feds Say - Los Angeles News - The Informer

Chan Dara, Known For its Hot Thai Girl Waitresses, Violated Labor Law, Feds Say - Los Angeles News - 

The Informer: "Investigators from the Wage and Hour Division's Los Angeles District Office identified a total of $104,807 in overtime back wages due, including $56,910 owed to 13 employees of the Chan Dara restaurant at 11940 Pico Blvd. and $47,897 owed to 15 employees of the Chan Dara restaurant at 310 N. Larchmont Blvd. The investigators found that between September 2009 and September 2011, the restaurants paid employees "straight time" for all hours worked and did not pay a premium rate for hours worked in excess of 40 per week as required by the FLSA. Employees often worked 10-16 hours a day in double shifts."

(1) Promenada Resort Mall Chiang Mai

(1) Promenada Resort Mall Chiang Mai:

 "Night Of Prom by Promenada, a beautiful concert by the finest singer from The Netherlands, GER VOS featuring Kai Phannipha and Book Kitavadhana on 5 of April 2012 at Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai"

Dish: Inspired by 'Like Water for Chocolate' in Chiang Mai - Scene Asia - WSJ

Dish: Inspired by 'Like Water for Chocolate' in Chiang Mai - Scene Asia - WSJ:

"Chiang Mai is so known for its flowers that it is sometimes called “the rose of the North.” Anya Potiwat is working to extend that influence into the area’s cuisine.

Ms. Potiwat owns Saimok Kab Dokmai (“mist and flowers” in Thai), a 50-seat restaurant specializing in floral cuisine. There she serves spicy rose petal salads, spring rolls stuffed with begonias and pansies, and crepe-fried platters of roses, hibiscus, banana flowers and frangipanis."

Asean to double funding under the Chiang Mai Initiative - Asean - Thailand Business News

Asean to double funding under the Chiang Mai Initiative - Asean - Thailand Business News:

"This is widely expected to culminate in a massive doubling of funds under the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) to $240 billion from $120 billion. The CMIM – a multilateral currency swap system – was established in 2002 in response to the 1997/98 financial crisis that close to bankrupted much of the region"

'

Chiangmai Mail Vol. XI No.4 -April 1 -April 30, 2012NEWS

Chiangmai Mail Vol. XI No.4 -April 1 -April 30, 2012NEWS:

"The 2nd annual Chiang Mai Fest opened on Friday, April 6, 2012 at 6 p.m. with Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul welcoming all visitors and residents of Chiang Mai to enjoy the second annual music festival. TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa joined the Governor and representatives from the hotels at the event and Indian Consul Dhirendra Singh Garbyal and his wife at the opening ceremony to ring the gong to start the evening."








Short description of schedule for April
1-3 Lanna performances water pouring ceremony over Phra Sae Tang Khamani at Wat Chaing Man
4-7 Poy Sang Long or Festival of the Crystal Sons by the Shan people at Wat Pa Pao
7-9 Water pouring blessing ceremony at Wat Chiang Yuen
10-15 Sand pagodas, pouring water over Buddha statues, performances at Wat Jetrin
11-15 Water pouring ceremony over the Wat Pa-on Buddhist relic, Lanna performances, local market, food stalls. From Tha Pae Gate to Klang Wiang.
12 Merit making to celebrate the 716th year of the founding of Chiang Mai at 3 Kings monument. Ceremonial offerings to King Kabilaprom at the Chiang Mai Municial building.
13 Grand opening of Songkran at Tha Pae Gate with offerings of food to monks. Miss Umbrella contest, Miss Songkran Contest at Tha Pae Gate. Blessings of the monks at Wat Phra Singh.
12-15 Wat Lok Molee will have traditional Lanna celebrations for the New Year.
13-15 Buddha Satan will have sand pagoda creations, water pouring ceremonies over the Sirimangkalajarn statue and Lanna performances.
13-15 water throwing around the moat and on Huay Kaew Road with live performances on Huay Kaew Road.
14 Sand will be carried along the Iron Bridge to Tha Pae Road in a Buddhist ceremony
15 Blessings will be offered to the Chiang Mai governor with participants starting from 3 Kings Monument to the Governor’s Residence on Nawarat Bridge.
click on button below to see a full list of festival events

Making a splash | Bangkok Post: Arts & Culture

Making a splash | Bangkok Post: Arts & Culture:

 "For the first time, Bangkok Airways will join Chiang Mai's Songkran festival from April 13 to 15. The airline will transform the front of Hotel M on Tapae Gate into Bangkok Airways Splash Station.

The stage will feature Thailand's top deejay, a b-boy crew and games and activities. Flights, Bangkok Airways goodies, and 15,000 waterproof phone cases will be given away throughout the celebration"

Sanctuary for mistreated Thai elephants offers window to visitors

Sanctuary for mistreated Thai elephants offers window to visitors:

"Founded in 1995 by the diminutive Sangduen “Lek” Chailert, who has received numerous awards for her work, ENP’s mission is to rehabilitate and nurture rescued elephants and to educate Thais and the world about the plight of Thailand’s elephants. At the start of the 20th century, there were an estimated 100,000 elephants in Thailand; today the number of elephants is less than 4,000. There are currently 35 elephant residents at ENP --32 females and three males--who roam freely in their self-selected family groups, though their mahouts (handlers or caretakers) keep a watchful eye on them when visitors are around"

Doctor says Thailand should match WHO's pollution standard | Bangkok Post: news

Doctor says Thailand should match WHO's pollution standard | Bangkok Post: news:


"A doctor providing medical care to haze-affected patients in the North has called for an adjustment to the pollution safety standard.

Dr Chaicharn Pothirat, chief of pulmonary, critical care and allergies at Chiang Mai University's faculty of medicine, said the current maximum safety level of 120 microgrammes per cubic meter per day for particles less than 10 microns is far higher than that set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In 2005, the WHO set the maximum safety figure at 50 ug per cu/m per day, but it has not been adopted in Thailand."

Link to the current readings from 2 stations in Chiang Mai 

Read On >>

Bashundhara reclaim the Cup and Yarrambat can party again | Bangkok Post: news

Bashundhara reclaim the Cup and Yarrambat can party again | Bangkok Post: news:

"Bangladesh's Cricketeers batted first and hit several superb sixes against Darjeeling but excellent fielding, including two brilliant boundary catches by Dougie Griebenouw, held the Cricketeers to 78"

Read On >>

BoI offers new tax breaks to boost investors’ confidence - Investment - Thailand Business News

BoI offers new tax breaks to boost investors’ confidence - Investment - Thailand Business News:

"Tax exemption for those relocating plants to other provinces will be 100% of investment plus the effective value of the tax exemption."

New research indicates motorcycle commuting reduces traffic congestion and emissions

New research indicates motorcycle commuting reduces traffic congestion and emissions:

"The answer to the world's urban traffic congestion may be as simple as creating policies to promote motorcycle comm

uting. A detailed study by Belgian consultancy Transport & Mobility Leuven has found that a slight shift in traffic composition from cars to motorcycles significantly reduces traffic congestion and emissions"

Honda to resume production in Thailand in March - Corporate - Thailand Business News

Honda to resume production in Thailand in March - Corporate - Thailand Business News:

"Japanese automaker Honda will resume production at its Ayutthaya assembly plant, north of Bangkok, in March, a top company executive said Wednesday."

READ ON >>

Promenada Resort Mall Chiang Mai, The Only Province’s Ice Skating Rink

Promenada Resort Mall Chiang Mai, The Only Province’s Ice Skating Rink: "

. ECC can now confirm that a well-sized and well-equipped indoor real ice skating rink will form part of the Promenada Resort Mall Chiang Mai project, set to open late 2012. The ice rink will comprise 720-sqm area inside the mall and the visitors can enjoy the nice bird’s eye view on the ice rink from one of the coffee shops or rink side restaurants above. It is a tremendously exciting example of the type of leisure activities that will be on offer after the mall opens.”"

READ ON >>