Impressions from Chiang Mai
I'm probably not being fair to the city since so far I've basically only seen my guest house, some internet cafes and a restaurant. But even so - after Myanmar Chiang Mai is a bit of a culture shock.
Everything here seems so...gaudy ... and ... pushy. The whores who scream "500 Bath", the people trying to sell you massages or tuk tuks, the fat, white tourists who seem to have conquered the city with bright t-shirts and shorts - I don't know. After comparatively quite Myanmar I find it all pretty disgusting. Maybe a bit what "Ballermann" on Mallorca is like. I'm telling you: I saw more tourists in Chiang Mai in an afternoon then I've seen in all of Myanmar during a whole month! But as I said: I really haven't seen much of Chiang Mai except for the area I'm staying in, so maybe there is a breathtaking, relaxing and beautiful city outside the moat. But somehow I doubt it.
Today I was pretty busy updating the weblog with photos I took in Myanmar. Ahh - the pleasures of an internet-connection that is fast than 0.2 KB/s and the joy of being able to access the spam-filled mailbox.
In two days I'll get my Visa for Laos. I decided not to get it on the border since you can only get a 14 day visa there. And even though I don't think I'll need the full 30 days, it doesn't hurt to have them.
Now I'm gonna look at one or two more guesthouses, since I'm not too happy with the "Rama Guesthouse" I'm staying in. At 250 TBH I think it's a bit overpriced.
Current comments:
Hey Timo
Just thought I'd let you know Chang Mai does have hidden beauty's..
we did a fantastic jewellery workshop there at "Nova" and stayed in a great guesthouse called Julies. Very cheap and chilled out. Hope all is well, catch you in Australia,
George
Previous comment submitted on 04-Feb-2004 by George
Hey to everyone haveing been in the land of smile :-)
I have been to Chang Mai & there I sayed at Julie's && I loved the roof top, the food, the billard-table, the atmosphere, Stefan, Eul (hope her name is written this way) ...
We have done a trip by motorbikes in the montains behind Doi Sutep && I` drecommend everone to that as well - you`ll find the best view points to see Chang Mai, you`ll see a coffee-plantage where you'll be served real good coffee ...
;-) time's over
Love to all travelers
Previous comment submitted on 22-Oct-2004 by Micki
ANYBODY EXPOUTING THE WONDERS OF BURMA IS A SICK PUUPY.
WOULD YOU EXPOUND OF HITLERS GERMANY?
BURMA IS A SHITHOLE IT IS OBVIOUS YOU ARE A MORON TALKING ABOUT CHIANG MAI FROM THE TYOURSIT CENTER OF TOWN,
YOU ARE THE SAME AS THE FAT AASS IN T-SHIRST LOOK IN THE MIRRO YOU POMPOUS IDIOT.
LOAS AND BURMA ARE BOTH TERRIBLE.
THE NERVE OF YOU TO TALK ABOUT CHINAG MAI YOU ARE TRULEY AN UNLEARNED FOOL.
WHY DON'T YOU GO HANG OUT IN AFRICA DEEP IN JUMGLE IF YOU WANT TO BE ALONE WITH NATURE... NATURE BOY.
YOU MAKE ALL OF US HERE IN CHIANG MAI SICK READING SUCH DRIBBLE .
Previous comment submitted on 20-Nov-2004 by THE EGG
You obviously have never been to Myanmar which is why I do not deem your remarks worthy any further commenting. Besides, you are being rude which seldom is a sign of high intelligence.
Previous comment submitted on 22-Nov-2004 by Timo
YOU'VE GOT SOME (sic.) VALID POINTS. CHIANG MAI DOES ATTRACT IT'S FAIR SHARE OF FAT, WHITE MEN -INTENT ON HAVING FUN IN THE NIGHT. EVEN TODAY, WHEN I WENT TO SEE A FILM AT "AIRPORT PLAZA" ( TO THE SOUTH OF THE CITY CENTRE ) I NOTICED THE IMPROBABLE PAIRING OF A WRINKLED 70/80 YEAR OLD WESTERN MAN WITH A WOMAN/GIRL WHO COULDN'T BE MORE THAN 20.
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING YOU'D SEE ANYWHERE IN LONDON - EXCEPT MAYBE IF A GRAND-DAUGHTER WAS HELPING HER DECREPIT GRAND-FATHER MAKE HIS WAY ACROSS A RATHER SAFE ROAD.
I'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE, AND THOUGH I HAVEN'T STAYED AT RAMA GUESTHOUSE, IT LOOKS PRETTY NAFF.
AS REGARDS WHAT TO DO HERE, THERE ARE LOTS OF GENUINE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES THAT CAN OCCUPY YOUR TIME : LANGUAGE TUITION, COOKING CLASSES, MASSAGE COURSES, AND IF YOU'RE INTO SWEATING PROFUSELY, HIKING UP TRAILS OUT OF TOWN - LED BY EXPERIENCED GUIDES.
I CAN'T AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT MYANMAR OF COURSE - ESPECIALLY AS I HAVE ANCESTRAL ROOTS THERE. IT MAY HAVE A SCENIC BEAUTY AWAY FROM YANGON (RANGOON) AT LEAST, BUT EACH TIME YOU VISIT MYANMAR PROPER YOU HAVE TO BRING INTO THE COUNTRY FOREIGN CURRENCY.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT GOES TO ORDINARY BURMESE,WHO MAY BE RUNNING ROAD-SIDE BUSINESSES. THESE FUNDS SOMEHOW HEAD INTO GOVERNMENT COFFERS - MILITARY HARDWARE FROM CHINA, AND EASTERN EUROPE BEING EXAMPLE PURCHASES.
THE REGIME MANAGES TO MAXIMIZE ANY REVENUES, EMPLOYING FORCED LABOUR IN CONSTRUCTING ROADS FOR INSTANCE, AND FORCIBLY EVICTING CITIZENS FROM LAND IT VALUES IN OTHER WAYS, eg. AS TOURIST DEVELOPMENT, OR AS A SOURCE OF OIL MONEY.
IF YOU REALLY HAVE TO GO TO THE COUNTRY TRY NOT TO STAY IN ANY GOVERNMENT BACKED PLACE, AND TRY TO BUY FROM LOCAL PEOPLE - SO THAT AS LITTLE OF YOUR CASH GOES TO WHAT THE REGIME IS ALL ABOUT : VIOLENCE.
I'M SURE THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO READ THIS ARE ALL FAIRLY YOUNG LIKE MYSELF. MYANMAR/BURMA DEFINITELY WANTS YOU AS TRAVELLERS, BUT NOT IN THESE TIMES. AND I'M SURE YOU CAN ALL WAIT.
WANT TO START A FAMILY IN THE FUTURE ? WELL, TAKE YOUR KIDS THERE AND EXPERIENCE IT WITH THEM THEN, NOT NOW. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'VE ONLY BEEN BACK TO RANGOON TWICE SINCE I LEFT WHEN I WAS THREE YEARS OF AGE. I DIDN'T EVEN GO BACK WHEN MY CLOSEST RELATIVE ( MY GRAND-MUM ) DIED A FEW YEARS AGO.
IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU WHETHER YOU GO OR NOT, BUT THERE'S NO SITTING ON THE FENCE ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. CHEERIO !
Previous comment submitted on 03-Mar-2005 by THE PROPHET.
Hi Prophet,
thanks for your thoughtful comments.
If the cash you are referring to are the FECs that you had to buy when you were entering the country (roundabout 200 USD) - that has been abandoned in 2003. I agree that this was money that was going pretty much directly in the pockets of the generals. The fact that the FEC is gone and that I now can control pretty well where my money is going (with small exceptions of course) was one of the reasons I chose to travel to Myanmar. But of course I respect it if you disagree.
Previous comment submitted on 03-Mar-2005 by timo
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