Fog in Chiang Mai

Woke up this morning and was very surprised how tick the fog was!!!

Also the temperature was really cold i had to put on some extra clothes.

Welcome the cold winter but also got a little worried about the unfortunate people who don't have much to wear.

Think i'll possibly donate some excess cloths this year.


ตื่นมาแล้วดีใจมากที่เห็นหมอกหนามากในเช้าวันนี้ คิดว่าคงเป็นปีใหม่ที่สนุกและได้บรรยากาศแน่ๆ แต่แอบเป็นห่วง ว่าคนที่ด้อยโอกาสจะมีปัญหาเรื่องหนาวหรือเปล่า? คิดว่าปีนี้คงบริจาคเสื้อผ้าสู้ภัยหนาวดีกว่า

Festival & Belief

Wow!!! A very busy year's end.

Don't have much time for myself but everyone is happy.
Just took a picture why on the way to pick up my wife who works at a hospital.

A building entrance was decorated with the beautiful Christmas tree standing along the usual cross.

Very good feeling between Festival and Belief.

Doi Chaang Coffee, good coffee great story.

A couple of weeks ago while my car had problems and regular visited the garage. (see more about Thai Style garage in this entry http://nunnchiangmai.blogspot.com/2010/12/thai-style-garage.html)

I had some time to kill off so i went to coffee shops near by. One of them was a coffee shop that was around for some time, well known but wasn't as popular or had many shops compare to Wawee coffee.

I am referring to Doi Chaang Coffee.

I visited Doi Chaang Coffee shop at Chiang Mai Airport plaza. Located in the Northern Village area.


For me Doi Chaang Coffee image has always been aimed for the Export market or Western customer rather than domestic Thai Customers. The Shop's commercial logo, store location and interior designed gave that impression.

They had very good coffee but the story behind it is even greater.
Doi Chaang Coffee was originally founded by a group of hill tribe coffee growers on Doi Chang Mountain. They were tried of selling their coffee at minimal price to inferior coffee buyers. Finally they decided to establish a company, build their own facility, process plants and warehouse.
Believing in their quality and uniqueness.

Now they have a Canadian partner who distributes their coffee worldwide and own many coffee shops in major cities of Thailand. They have expanded their farmer group to at least 8,000 people!!!

For more information about Doi Chaang Coffee visit their website http://www.doichaangcoffee.com/ or follow them on their blog http://www.doichaangcoffeeblog.com/

Oh! the coffee was great, the shop was good. If you visit Chiang Mai please take some time to enjoy a cup. You will really like it. :)

Berger King stores in Chiang Mai

I'm a big fan of Berger King, sadly they have only 2 Berger King branches in Chiang Mai.

The first is in the Chiang Mai, international airport. Which is quite small and only serves core menus.

The second is located at the Night Bazaar. This one is very nice to go even tough a parking place is hard to find. (more info about the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/shopping/night_market/)

The Night Bazaar branch is built in a 3 storage building. There are 2 extra nice points about this it.

1. It serve Vanilla soft ice cream cones!!! (The airport branch doesn't) Berger King really scores with their soft ice cream. It the softest, smoothest, most delicious, plain but right to the point and most of all it comes with a very good price. Only 19 Baht per cone!!!! 

Fon with her cone of Berger King's soft ice cream

2. The 3rd floor give you amazing view at night especially when they have a full walking street on weekends.
Enjoy your berger and the lovely sight below.

The beautiful view on the 3rd floor.

Farming in Chiang mai

Today was a out door day for me. I had to present our chili plantation to a potential customers.

Chiang mai has become an agriculture area this might surprise you, it did for me!! 

Because when you visit Chiang mai you mostly see temples, shops, handicrafts, jungles tours but there are more that meets the eye of land is in use for agriculture.

Our farm is in Hangdong area just haft an hour from the main road.

Many long stay foreigners are making a living with agriculture. I have a Hungarian who is trying to grow Hungarian paprika, and a Dutch planting strawberry.  Are you interest????

A full view of the plantation.

Our potential customer is inspecting

Blackberry is good everywhere.

Punchinello the musical @ The 1st church of Chiang Mai

Yesterday I had the opportunity to see "Punchinello The Musical: You Are Special" at the 1st church of Chiang mai. (The 1st Church of Chiang mai website http://www.firstchurchcm.com/)

There were cocktail booths on both of the church wings. The show ticket had some parts to tear off as coupons. It was a lively atmosphere with many people both child and old. Very happy and warm.

Fon getting some traditional desserts. 

The friendly atmosphere.

An elder couple enjoy the cocktail.

The stage before the show.

Punchinello is a children picture book by Max Lucado a american minister.
(official website http://www.maxlucado.net)

Telling a story of a wooden doll town call Wemmick. A town were the dolls compete to gain a golden star for being victorious and in contrast receiving an ugly black circle for losing. Punchinello own only those ugly circles because he is bad in everything, a natural born loser?  At the peak of his disgrace he meet Lucia who lead him to Eli his creator to learn the true meaning and value of life.
Honestly a particle spiritual story but always does the trick.

The show was truly beyond my expectation, every professional!!! I couldn't take any pictures cause they strongly prohibit due any cellular device to be turn on. Due to the ultra sensitive wireless microphones. But 2 thumbs up anyway!! The local cast was awesome, the script and songs were beautifully written, the production deserved a theater scale show.

I noticed that almost 1 of 4 of the audience were foreigners who seems to be feeling very at home.
The church plays a major rule for the in ex-pads or long stays. It serve as a spiritual pillar also a community.

Chiang Mai is blessed with the freedom of belief a mix culture of Muslim, Christians, Buddhist and other religious all living peacefully. A great blessing badly needed for the world right now. 

A story of the lost and out of place is a classic for everyone. I believe all or us had contact that feeling more or less in our lives but you will hardly feel that way in the multi culture town of Chiang Mai

Finally Getting Cold in Chiangmai 2010

The long awaited chilly breeze has finally reached Chiang Mai. The city know for great cultures, artistics and cool weather during the winter.

It won't be that snowing cold but it sure feels great for a tropical country such as Thailand.

Also The Thailand Meteorological Department. Has forecast the this year will be the coldest in 30 years. (Source Bangkokbiznew 07 oct 2010 issue http://bit.ly/94Twuj)

Today the morning the temperature is around 15-18 Celsius enough for you to enjoy some lovely fog in the morning.

This is one great thing that I personally feel it makes Chiang Mai so attractive for both local and foreign tourist. Once a year you get a break from the normal heat and It is a perfect temperature. Not the kind of cold that sore you bones or force you to put on multilayer clothing until you look like some Michelin man.

Just a lovely scarf and you're ready to go and that the beauty of it.

Love it!!! Hope it stays with us until early February 2011.

Gift Fair 2010 @ The Industrial Promotion exhibition center

Last Friday I took my mom to the Gift Fair 2010 at the Industrial Promotion exhibition center, Chiang mai.
It was upon her request since it have became an annual event for her to come to this fair.

The fair main customers are like my mom, people in their middle age having a family. Trying to find good quality products tagged with a reasonable price.

Most of the exhibitors are members of the department of Industrial promotion, Ministry of Industry.
Local small and medium enterprise (SME) from all over the country.
http://www.dip.go.th

So like killing two birds with one stone.
You can enjoy shopping great quality products, all certified with good manufacture standard by the department and also feel filled as you contribute to help the economic by supporting local business.

There are various products such as shoe, bags, clothings, belts, gifts etc.

A very nice way to shop your new year goods.

Don't be discourage by the unattractive venue.

Thai Style side pillow.

Mom checking some rugs. 

Leather belts

Getting a pair?

Traditional Thai Skirts.

Hand Made necklaces.

Old fashion shirts.

In conclusion, don't expect and gorgeous, decorated venue not even air conditioned. Just a plain and crowed easy build and knock down booth. Thai standard toilets and a small food hall in case you get hungry while shopping.

No brand names, just local manufactures which if you lucky some supply for the big names.
The quality is good compare to the lovely price. Also the fair has a wide range of products running from garden decorations to spa aromas.

The only main difficulty is the parking, it get really crowed on week ends and the venue has such a small parking lot. So it really depends on your luck.

 

์NAP 11th 2010 Weekdays

The stage at the main entrance

Today I went to visited the NAP 11th. I arrived at the event almost lunch time.

This year the organizer extended both the period & area.
The period was extended to almost a week and the area also included the Think Park.

Haft the event passed, with mix reviews some said the event received good attention others were a bit disappointed for the few people on weekdays. I also went on weekdays so it might look quieter than it should have.

The main street

Any way i'll be there again on Saturday to catch up how the weekends looks like.

Here are some pictures from today's visit.

Shops in action

Great view to watch

"Shoot the Rabbit" a Thai Metaphor

A couple of weeks ago i had a meeting at the D2 hotel, Chiang Mai. A very nice hotel. Just in the central of Chiangmai City.

Here is the hotel's official link http://www.dusit.com/hotels/thailand/chiang_mai/dusitd2/index.html
I love the theme color, "orange" i have been quite into this color lately.

But what i really like was the toilet doors.

Umm.... surprise??? It wasn't the interior design or the smell or sanitary that really impressed me.

It was the door!!!

Even more lost to see the picture on the toilet door? A figure of a man holding a rabbit?!?

It is actually a Thai metaphor.

In the old days when people travel mostly by wagon or cars for a long distance. Some time nature calls along the way but in those old days there were no gas stations also being too straight was a little rude. So people created metaphors to makes thing more complicate.

For the boys they said they spot a rabbit and would like a little hunt, so they go and "shoot the rabbit"
A girl case is more romantic telling how beautiful the flowers on the roadside are and want to "Pick some flowers"

Ironically both activities are intend to take lives either an animal or plant.
This blog name "women learn Thai" Thai Language Thai Culture: Old Snake Heads and Butterflies of the Night
This entry is about the some Thai Metaphors. Also a great blog. Check it out.

The womens toilet door had a girl holding flowers figure similar to this but i didn't dare to try taking any pictures.

Thai Style Garage

My car had some problem, it makes this sharp noise every time i start then after it warms up the noises stops. Actually my car is getting pretty old now. I think almost 8 years at least. So it isn't at obvious right???

I went to a local garage, the ones you probably won't see in Europe, might be possible to find in small towns across the U.S.A. But funny that now a days even in Bangkok it's getting hard to find these old fashion entrepreneurial own.

See How Homey it looks like?

Now you see those big franchise like A.C.T and B-Quick to name a few on every big intersections. Those one with the clear and hi-tech quality machines, offering a great waiting room with sub-cool air condition and a T.V.

Yes! it feel much better it also helps lighten your pocket.

Old style reparing

The one i visited were hot, oil smelly and a terrifying toilet kind. But i had my friend pick up me for coffee any way.

On the day i had a nice feeling about this old garage. Funny that there were shops like this long down the road. They actually act as a cluster each shop having their own specialty.

Opposite their is a motorcycle shop, then there is a truck shop.

Well noted that i was a nice place to burn your time but it gave me the feeling that i'm supporting something local. Not big names, not commercial not just to be trenddy (if i had children they might think it's a stupid ideal).

But on that day i was happy, to be a little old fashion.
  

Chiangmai Coffee with a friend: The best thing of today.

Today was quite a challenging day for me.

First i slipped and fell in the bath room hurting my foot and hip. I was still able to drive my dad to the airport.

My car had some problems for a couple of days so i had to get it fixed, and it took 6 hours to get the job done.
Then after checking me e-mails i got complaints from my customers! Wow!!! what a challenging day!!

The best part of the day, was when my friend "Tum" picked me up to a coffee shop near the garage.
We went to the Chiangmai Coffee shop (Duangkamon book store branch), which is so nice.

The Chiangmai Coffee shop is in Regina garden group. They have coffee shops, bakeries, guest house and restaurants.

The shop was amazingly decorated in very retro style. With plenty of books for you to read. You can either sit out side to get some open air or sit inside to be cool down by the air conditioner.

Tum having a hard time on the menu.

The counter looks very retro and cool.

Relaxing and a dream coffee shop for antique lovers.

Under the table are filled with old photos.

With free wireless, books and magazines you are welcome to stay as long as you can.

The place is very quiet even a monk comes to spend his time.

And Again awesome decorations. 

Sorry! but my favorite spot was the toilet. Clean and filled with funny articles. 

In my opinion a long sitting coffee shop must have nice & clean toilet because after a
while you gonna find yourself in there.

The floor is also desolated.

If you have some free time in Chiangmai. This place is a must.

For more information about the shop please go to this link.
http://regina.charming-land.com/

The Sky was so nice @ Watchediluang

Yesterday the morning sky was so clear! As i parked my car in the WatChediluang Temple.

As I looked up into the sky i was delighted to see now azure clear the sky was. 

The sky looked like paintings to me. Making the enormous Chedi a mighty feeling.

The ChidiLuang is one of the oldest pagoda in Chiangmai. It is estimate to be build around 1385 or about 625 years ago. 

Located in the central of the old city. I has became a popular tourist attraction. 

Hopefully I could write in details someday soon.

But for now just wanted to share the beautiful sky. 

Being more specific

Well this blog is just for me to clear myself.

My blog is not specific enough. It is about my life but my life now seems to be in the middle of 3 topics.
My personal life, my working at my sister's lady garments shop and my new starting business in Food and Fresh produce.

This blog has no clear direction and its getting no where.
So i decided to separate my life blogging into 3 blogs.

1st my daily life in Chiangmai will remain on this blog.
2nd my work at my sister shop will only be on  http://chiangmaicotton.blogspot.com
3rd my little business will be on http://velvetjack.wordpress.com

Hopefully if I could organize my life starting with my blogging.
Things should get better soon.

Nunn

Bringing back old memories with Makruk (Thai Chess)

The Game opening of Thai Chess

Nothing happen much today. Just as normal I went to the shop to clear some work. Was on the phone about the Mangos. The only thing special today was i had some little time to sit and play Thai Chess or "Makruk" in Thai with my friends at Wawee Coffee shop.

Thai Style Chess or Makruk in action

Personally I haven't played it for almost 10 years. playing with my friend brought back those memories when i used to wear short pants everyday, Most traditional Thai boy student uniform are a white shirt with short pants, the color of the pants differentiated depending on the school.

My friends Meow and Year having a good time.

There were no online games like today and students only had a pagers not mobile phones.
Thai Chess was the time killer for lunch break and free hours.

So I have to say this little chess game really reminds me of good memories, ironically i got to remember how bad for the game I was.

For more information about Thai Chess (Makruk) see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makruk

A very nice mix and match for a world across twin.

Yesterday Fah our sales at the shop created a very nice mix & match putting together our “Cross back” Top and the “Samuro” pants. They go great together I had to take a photo.

To my surprise after I just updated Fah nice mix & match on face book a customer couldn’t resist to follow per combination.

ฺBoth girls look great in their outfit. So I had to take a photo of this haft a world across twins.

This simply prove that fashion and beauty has no boarders.