tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90650359003557478102024-03-13T10:47:21.080-07:00Chiangmai Thailandverjeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801695386613135697noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-13967113503031606182013-06-16T10:05:00.001-07:002013-06-16T10:05:34.291-07:00That foreigners seeking cheap products in Thailand market town most fun.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="TH" style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">ในช่วงหนึ่งอาทิตย์ที่ผ่านมานี้ ผมสนุกกับกิจกรรมการช็อปในกรุงเทพฯเป็นอันมาก ผมซื้อของมาเยอะมากเลยครับ และเชื่อหรือไม่ว่าเงินที่ผมควักออกจากกระเป๋าสตางค์ไปเนี่ย ประมาณ </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">10% <span lang="TH">ของราคาสินค้าชิ้นเดียวกันที่ผมจะหาซื้อได้ในอังกฤษ หรือแม้แต่ในห้างหรูอย่างพารากอนและเอ็มโพเรียมเลยล่ะครับ</span>!<span lang="TH"> ให้ผมซื้อของเพิ่มอีก </span>10 <span lang="TH">เท่า อารมณ์อยากช็อปของผมก็คงยังไม่สิ้นสุด ก็เพราะผมง่วนอยู่กับการเดินซอกแซก สอดส่องมองหาสินค้าที่น่าสนใจในตลาดนัดจตุจักรนะสิครับ ถามได้ คุณก็น่าจะรู้ดีนี่นาว่าจตุจักรคือสวรรค์ของนักช็อปงานฝีมืออย่างผมเลย </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Over the past week I have enjoyed a mini-spending spree in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Bangkok</place></city>. I bought so many things and you know what? It cost me 10% of what I would have paid in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">England</place></country-region> or indeed, the Emporium or Paragon. And I could have bought ten times as much stuff and still been in the mood to buy more. Why? Well because I spent my time mooching around Chatuchak. And it really is heaven for the handicraft shopper like me.</span></div>
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<span lang="TH" style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">ไม่ใช่เพียงราคาหรอกนะครับที่ทำให้ผมน้ำลายไหลและอยากได้อีก แต่สินค้าที่ได้มาในราคาดีๆแบบนี้นะสิ ซึ่งก็คือสินค้าหัตถกรรมประเภทต่างๆ ที่ทำให้ผมตกแต่งบ้านอังกฤษในสไตล์ไทยๆได้นั่นไง ที่ทำให้ผมอยากซื้ออยากได้ไปหมด ฝรั่งจำนวนมากที่ได้มาเที่ยวเมืองไทย ทั้งเอ็กซ์แพทและนักท่องเที่ยวทั่วไป ล้วนชื่นชอบความสวยงามแบบเรียบง่ายและคุณภาพของสินค้าไทยกันทั้งนั้น เช่น หลังคามุงกระเบื้องอย่างได้สัดส่วนของวัดวาอาราม ผ้าห่มเนื้อไหมสีสันสดใส พระพุทธรูปองค์สูงดูเป็นสง่า หรือจะเป็นหมอนอิงทรงสามเหลี่ยมก็ตาม ทั้งหมดล้วนเปี่ยมไปด้วยเอกลักษณ์ของความเป็นไทยทั้งสิ้น เป็นสไตล์ที่ออกแนวสงบเสงี่ยมเจียมตัว แต่ก็มีสีสันสดใส และแลดูมีสง่าราศี เป็นความงามที่มีคุณค่าทางวัฒนธรรมและมีความเป็นไทยอย่างแท้จริง </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">You see, it isn’t just the prices that get my mouth watering. It’s the products themselves. All manner of handicrafts to furnish an English house in Thai style. So many farang visitors to <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Thailand</place></country-region>, ex-pat or tourist come to love the simple beauty and quality of Thai goods. Like the symmetrically terraced terracotta roof of a temple, a colourful silken throw, an elegant tall image of the Lord Buddha or a triangular bolster cushion express a style that is uniquely Thai. It is understated but colourful, modest yet elegant. Cultured beauty. Khwam pen <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Thai.</place></country-region></span></div>
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<span lang="TH" style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">ประเทศไทยนับว่าเป็นแหล่งที่มาของหัตถศิลป์ฝีมือเยี่ยมแห่งหนึ่ง กับความรักที่มีต่องานหัตถกรรม ความชำนาญในการใช้มือสร้างสรรค์งานศิลปะ รวมไปถึงวัสดุทางธรรมชาติที่นำมาใช้ ตั้งแต่ไม้สักไปจนถึงโลหะ ก้อนหิน และผ้าไหม ล้วนเป็นส่วนประกอบที่ทำให้ผลงานมีความเป็นไทยอย่างเปี่ยมล้น จตุจักรเป็นแหล่งที่นำความคิดสร้างสรรค์ของช่างฝีมือชาวไทยมาเจอกันกับผู้ซื้อที่ชื่นชมและเห็นคุณค่าของศิลปะนั้นๆ ผมว่าคุ้มค่ามากเลยทีเดียว กับการที่ต้องทนร้อนและเหนียวเหนอะหนะเพียงไม่กี่ชั่วโมงในตลาดนัดจตุจักร (และทุกตลาดนัดในเมืองไทย</span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">!<span lang="TH">) จริงๆนะครับ ผมว่าฝรั่งคนไหนก็ไม่ควรพลาด เพราะที่นี่นับว่าเป็นแหล่งเด็ดดังของทั้งรูปและกลิ่น ท่ามกลางความกระตือรือร้นของทั้งผู้ขาย และนักช็อปตัวยงที่กำลังมองหาข้าวของสวยๆงามๆในราคาแสนถูก บอกได้เลยว่ามันให้ความรู้สึกที่แตกต่าง ตื่นเต้น ท้าทาย และมันคือ </span>‘<span lang="TH">อย่างอื่น</span>’<span lang="TH"> ในสายตาฝรั่งจริงๆ </span></span></div>
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<country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Thailand</span></place></country-region><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> has some of the best craftsmen and <a href="http://www.oknation.net/blog/print.php?id=277935#" id="_GPLITA_1" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VEg6MjU2NTU6NTcyOndvbWVuOmU5ZGJhM2Y1YjQ5MzdjYzAzNDc0NjQ2MGMyMzhiZGFmOnotMTAzMi02Mjg2Mjp3d3cub2tuYXRpb24ubmV0OjE1MjUwOmY3MjA1ODQ3NWU2NGIwOGNmNDU5YTJjYWI0MDY0Njc2" style="color: black;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance">women</a> you will ever meet. Through love of their craft, the artful skill of their hands and a host of natural materials from teak to tin and stone to silk, they bring to life this concept of Thainess. From the creative minds eye of the Thai to the admiring eyes of the buyer. And so a few hot and sticky hours in Chatuchak (or indeed any market in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Thailand</country-region></place>) are an absolute must for farang visitors. It is the most wonderful cornucopia of sights and smells, amidst a sea of keen sellers and shopaholics in search of sales and sing khong yang suay suay. It feels different, exciting, adventurous, ‘other’.</span></div>
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<span lang="TH" style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">นอกเหนือจากความตื่นตาตื่นใจกับข้าวของสารพัดสารพัน</span><span lang="TH" style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span lang="TH" style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">คุณยังจะได้มีโอกาสพูดคุยกับชาวไทยพื้นบ้านซื่อๆ อัธยาศัยดี ที่ภูมิใจนำเสนอผลงานและความมีพรสวรรค์ของเขา และยินยอมที่จะให้คุณเจรจาต่อรองราคาโดยดี ถ้าคุณคุยกับเขาดีๆ คุณอาจจะได้ส่วนลดมากกว่าที่คุณคาดเอาไว้ และถ้าคุณพูดไทยกับเขาด้วยละก็ คุณอาจจะได้รับส่วนลดเพิ่มมากขึ้นพร้อมกับรอยยิ้มที่กว้างขึ้นด้วยนะครับ ในราคาซึ่งคนไทยกันเองยังต้องทึ่งในความสามารถในการต่อรองของคุณ</span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">!<span lang="TH"> แต่คุณรู้มั้ยว่าราคาที่คุณได้รับที่นี่เป็นเพียงเสี้ยวหนึ่งของราคาที่คุณจะซื้อของชิ้นเดียวกันได้ในอีกฟากโลก แถมที่นั่นคงไม่ยอมให้คุณต่อราคาเสียด้วย </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">As well as providing a feast for the eyes, it is also a great opportunity to talk to friendly, honest, common and garden Thai people who are proud to display their talents and negotiate a good price with you. Talk nicely and you may be able to negotiate a decent discount. Speak in Thai and you might get a better deal and a broader smile. You probably won’t be able to get the same rate as a Thai person. But these goods cost a fraction of what they would be worth in the west that you would struggle to find a better bargain.</span></div>
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<span lang="TH" style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">ความเพลิดเพลินอีกหนึ่งประการของการเดินเล่นที่จตุจักรก็คือ มีสารพัดสารพันข้าวของเครื่องใช้ให้เลือกซื้อ เรียกได้ว่าสากกระเบือยันเรือรบเลยล่ะครับ และยังเปรียบเสมือนศูนย์กลางการแสดงความสามารถในงานฝีมือและสินค้าจากทั่วทุกภาค ทุกจังหวัด ทุกอำเภอและตำบลเล็กๆทั่วไทยเลยก็ว่าได้ ผมถึงชอบคอนเซ็ปต์ของ </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">OTOP <span lang="TH">หรือ โครงการหนึ่งตำบลหนึ่งผลิตภัณฑ์เป็นอันมาก (ถึงผมจะคิดว่าโอกาสในการส่งออกสินค้าไปต่างประเทศยังมีมากกว่านี้ก็ตาม) คุณจะเห็นได้ถึงความรักและความภูมิใจในงานฝีมือที่สร้างสรรค์ขึ้นโดยคนไทยจากแต่ละตำบล ไม่ว่าจะเป็นเพียงชามไม้ธรรมดาหรือผ้าทอเนื้อละเอียด สินค้าล่าสุดที่ผมซื้อมามีโถเบญจรงค์จากสมุทรสาคร ปลอกหมอนผ้าไหมจากกาฬสินธุ์ แจกันไม้จากลำปาง และเตาน้ำมันหอมศิลาดลจากเชียงใหม่ เป็นสินค้าที่ต้องตาต้องใจในแบบฉบับของตัวเองเป็นอย่างมากเลยทีเดียว</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Another delight for me is the sheer breadth of different types of products, which showcase skills from every far flung corner of the country. It’s one of the reasons I have always liked the OTOP concept (even though I think there is more scope to market it overseas). You can feel the love and pride which goes into the production, whether they are simple teak bowls or intricately woven fabrics. My recent purchases have included Benjarong pots from Samut Sakhon, silken pillow cases from Kalasin, wooden vases from Lampang and Celadon aromatherapy burners from <a href="http://www.oknation.net/blog/print.php?id=277935#" id="_GPLITA_0" in_rurl="http://i.trkjmp.com/click?v=VEg6MTMwNzI6NjY4OmNoaWFuZyBtYWk6MDY2ZDE1NzBhYjVmNjUwNWUwNmJjNTgzOWE3NmQyMGQ6ei0xMDMyLTYyODYyOnd3dy5va25hdGlvbi5uZXQ6MDow" style="color: black;" title="Click to Continue > by Text-Enhance">Chiang Mai</a>. All delightful, in their own unique way.</span></div>
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<span lang="TH" style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">สิ่งหนึ่งและสิ่งเดียวที่ทำให้ผมหงุดหงิดใจในการมาเที่ยวเมืองไทยครั้งล่าสุดของผมนี้ก็คือ ผมไม่ได้เอากระเป๋าเดินทางที่ใหญ่กว่านี้มา และผมก็ไม่ได้มีเงินมากขนาดที่ใช้เท่าไรก็ไม่หมด</span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">! <span lang="TH">แต่ไม่เป็นไรหรอกครับ อีกไม่นานผมก็คงได้กลับมาเที่ยวเมืองไทยอีก ความสวยงามของงานหัตถกรรมพื้นบ้านของไทยเป็นเพียงหนึ่งในเหตุผลอันยาวเหยียด ที่ทำให้นักท่องเที่ยวชาวต่างชาติอยากกลับมาเมืองไทยอีกครั้งแล้วครั้งเล่า เพื่อที่จะมาช็อปกันจนหมดเรี่ยวหมดแรง</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">My only frustrations are that on this recent visit I didn’t have a bigger luggage allowance and that my budget is not unlimited! But no doubt I will be visiting <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Thailand</place></country-region> again before too long. The beauty of <country-region w:st="on">Thailand</country-region>’s natural handicrafts is but one of a long list of reasons that foreigners love to return to <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Thailand</place></country-region> and shop until they drop, time and time again.</span></div>
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verjeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801695386613135697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-64723189479274130082011-06-13T14:03:00.001-07:002011-06-14T10:24:56.248-07:00Chiang Mai Gallery<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wDhxouAub4/TfeX45VOInI/AAAAAAAAABQ/BM0bPzEMnK8/s1600/Chiangmai_inthakhin2_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Gallery</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wDhxouAub4/TfeX45VOInI/AAAAAAAAABQ/BM0bPzEMnK8/s400/Chiangmai_inthakhin2_04.jpg" width="400" /></a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqaZlPxQexU/TfeYPlg6reI/AAAAAAAAABs/8yzfDEKZZa4/s1600/Chiang_Mai_sunday_evening_walking_street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Inthakhin—city pillar building, Wat Chedi Luang.</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wDhxouAub4/TfeX45VOInI/AAAAAAAAABQ/BM0bPzEMnK8/s1600/Chiangmai_inthakhin2_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNGjZSKiJ-E/TfeX5lPi6ZI/AAAAAAAAABU/bhUICx3E5kY/s1600/Chiangmai-market2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNGjZSKiJ-E/TfeX5lPi6ZI/AAAAAAAAABU/bhUICx3E5kY/s400/Chiangmai-market2.jpg" width="262" /></a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqaZlPxQexU/TfeYPlg6reI/AAAAAAAAABs/8yzfDEKZZa4/s1600/Chiang_Mai_sunday_evening_walking_street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Street food at the Sunday Evening Market.</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VR8bsWYAII/TfeX698Z4_I/AAAAAAAAABY/PXasCk9pUR0/s1600/Chiangmai-market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VR8bsWYAII/TfeX698Z4_I/AAAAAAAAABY/PXasCk9pUR0/s400/Chiangmai-market.jpg" width="266" /></a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqaZlPxQexU/TfeYPlg6reI/AAAAAAAAABs/8yzfDEKZZa4/s1600/Chiang_Mai_sunday_evening_walking_street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Selling umbrellas at the Sunday Evening Market.</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rcl_P02GDtc/TfeX-j82B4I/AAAAAAAAABc/856Lj7W62BY/s1600/Thailand_chiangmai_tuk_tuk_police.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rcl_P02GDtc/TfeX-j82B4I/AAAAAAAAABc/856Lj7W62BY/s400/Thailand_chiangmai_tuk_tuk_police.jpg" width="400" /></a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqaZlPxQexU/TfeYPlg6reI/AAAAAAAAABs/8yzfDEKZZa4/s1600/Chiang_Mai_sunday_evening_walking_street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">A police tuktuk at Tapae Gate.</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rcl_P02GDtc/TfeX-j82B4I/AAAAAAAAABc/856Lj7W62BY/s1600/Thailand_chiangmai_tuk_tuk_police.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJPWPjr8FKE/TfeX_eoiv_I/AAAAAAAAABg/q1yhhnerxGU/s1600/Ac.chiangmai1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJPWPjr8FKE/TfeX_eoiv_I/AAAAAAAAABg/q1yhhnerxGU/s400/Ac.chiangmai1.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqaZlPxQexU/TfeYPlg6reI/AAAAAAAAABs/8yzfDEKZZa4/s1600/Chiang_Mai_sunday_evening_walking_street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
A street scene in Chiang Mai, showing (center right), a gate of the old city wall.</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3fnnkqhwxg/TfeYLebG2AI/AAAAAAAAABk/FDeDGCemGPU/s1600/ChiangMaiMoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3fnnkqhwxg/TfeYLebG2AI/AAAAAAAAABk/FDeDGCemGPU/s400/ChiangMaiMoat.jpg" width="400" /></a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqaZlPxQexU/TfeYPlg6reI/AAAAAAAAABs/8yzfDEKZZa4/s1600/Chiang_Mai_sunday_evening_walking_street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Looking south along the eastern moat of the historical city center of Chiang Mai. <br />
The road on the right is Moon Muang, on the left, Chaiya Poom.</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3fnnkqhwxg/TfeYLebG2AI/AAAAAAAAABk/FDeDGCemGPU/s1600/ChiangMaiMoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cD9WCStFAco/TfeYNm_Am5I/AAAAAAAAABo/DR7kuPo3glU/s1600/Chmwphrasingh0506b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cD9WCStFAco/TfeYNm_Am5I/AAAAAAAAABo/DR7kuPo3glU/s400/Chmwphrasingh0506b.jpg" width="287" /></a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqaZlPxQexU/TfeYPlg6reI/AAAAAAAAABs/8yzfDEKZZa4/s1600/Chiang_Mai_sunday_evening_walking_street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">The Ho Trai (library) of Wat Phra Singh</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cD9WCStFAco/TfeYNm_Am5I/AAAAAAAAABo/DR7kuPo3glU/s1600/Chmwphrasingh0506b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqaZlPxQexU/TfeYPlg6reI/AAAAAAAAABs/8yzfDEKZZa4/s1600/Chiang_Mai_sunday_evening_walking_street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqaZlPxQexU/TfeYPlg6reI/AAAAAAAAABs/8yzfDEKZZa4/s400/Chiang_Mai_sunday_evening_walking_street.jpg" width="400" /></a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqaZlPxQexU/TfeYPlg6reI/AAAAAAAAABs/8yzfDEKZZa4/s1600/Chiang_Mai_sunday_evening_walking_street.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">The Sunday Evening Market is one of the main attractions of Chiang Mai</a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqaZlPxQexU/TfeYPlg6reI/AAAAAAAAABs/8yzfDEKZZa4/s1600/Chiang_Mai_sunday_evening_walking_street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-88085872531644052122011-06-13T14:02:00.000-07:002011-06-14T10:14:15.681-07:00Chiang Mai Air pollution<b>A continuing environmental problem facing Chiang Mai</b> is the incidence of air pollution which primarily occurs for a period of several weeks up to the beginning of April. This issue has been acknowledged for some time.<br />
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<b>Back in 1996, speaking at the Fourth International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement conference</b>, which was held in Chiang Mai in that year, the then governor of Chiang Mai, Virachai Naewboonien invited guest speaker Dr. Jakapan Wongburanawatt, the Dean of the Social Science Faculty of Chiang Mai University at that time, to discuss the state of Chiang Mai air pollution efforts. Dr. Wongburanawatt stated that back in 1994, there were already increasing numbers of city residents coming to hospitals suffering from respiratory problems associated with city air pollution. <br />
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<b>The Thailand Pollution Control Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is actively engaged in finding solutions with public awareness campaigns and other initiatives</b>. During this period, unlike the majority of the year, air quality in Chiang Mai often remains below recommended standards with fine-particle dust levels reaching twice the standard. The northern centre of the Meteorological Department has reported that low-pressure areas from China trap forest-fire smoke in the mountains along the Thai-Myanmar border. Chiang Mai’s air quality has been perceptibly deteriorating over the past ten years. This is being addressed by a number of initiatives, and in part, is often seen in cities with increasing economic growth at the expense of a strong corresponding programme to counteract the negative effects of environmental impact. <br />
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<b>The city is often shrouded in smog during this period leading up to the rainy season. Fine particulate dust levels have sometimes been tested between 190 micrograms and 243 micrograms per cubic meter</b>. (The standard acceptable level is 120 milligrams per cubic meter.) Amongst the minor sources of particulate matter pollution in Chiang Mai is the prevalence of burning in the city, with cremations, burning garbage, or vehicular emissions from poorly maintaineddiesel vehicles contributing. Added to these minor causes is dust raised during building and excavations.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lIfMDLAuzEs/TfeWoX3LDuI/AAAAAAAAABM/nuInwL-5yiY/s1600/Forest_fire_mae_hong_son_province_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lIfMDLAuzEs/TfeWoX3LDuI/AAAAAAAAABM/nuInwL-5yiY/s400/Forest_fire_mae_hong_son_province_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A forest fire in the mountains west of Chiang Mai <br />
in Mae Hong Son Province</span></div><br />
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<b>Main cause</b><br />
<b>A forest fire in the mountains west of Chiang Mai in Mae Hong Son Province <br />
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The majority cause of air pollution however as proven by recorded satellite imagery</b>, is the age-old practice of burning-off undergrowth in forests in the mountainous regions, especially along the Thai-Myanmar border.<br />
Chiang Mai’s problems are exacerbated by the fact that the city, like other areas such as Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, is located in a natural geographic bowl surrounded by mountains.<br />
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<b>The result is a slowing of air movement</b>, picking up more particulates as they are released by cars and burning trash. Also as a result of this inversion effect, as air rises in the bowl, it effectively turns over and settles back down over the city until a welcome wind shift or rainstorm cleans the air. The Thailand Pollution Control Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is actively engaged in finding solutions to this hazardous problem and has been for several years as Chiang Mai's air quality index numbers are ever decreasing. Exacerbating this problem, one the most popular modes of convenient low-cost public transportation in Chiang Mai—as in the rest of Thailand—is provided by differently coloured pick-up trucks called 'Songtheouw'. Red Songtheouws (Red Cars or Rod Daeng) provide passenger requested journeys whilst other colours operate on fixed routes. People ride in the back of these trucks which are equipped with diesel engines. <br />
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<b>The exhaust systems on all of these trucks are bored out in order to increase horse power which then increases the amount of carbon emissions and heavy metals which get ejected out of the back of the vehicles</b>. As a result, the streets of Chiang Mai are increasingly difficult to ride on when using a motorcycle. It is a very common sight to see motorcyclists protecting their breathing passages as they follow these trucks. The same can be said from the famous Tuk tuks which are ubiquitous in Thailand. The city authorities are well aware of this issue and have enacted a campaign to replace all of the older, poorly tuned offending vehicles with modern yellow and blue metered passenger taxis. As these older, air quality offenders are slowly retired, it remains to be seen if the regulating bodies will be able to effect change in Chiang Mai in the face of resistance the drivers of these vehicles who have traditionally made their living in this way for many years. It should be said that Chiang Mai is not the only Thai city with this problem as Songtheow and Tuk Tuk is the major mode of low cost transportation in Thailand. <br />
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<b>Unfortunately</b>, because of Chiang Mai's inversion effect as the result of it being situated in a geographic bowl, the carbon emissions emitted from vehicles is made an even more troubling problem.<br />
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<b>For several years, as Chiang Mai's air quality index has become more and more troublesome</b>, in relation to the rest of the region, the recognition of the problem has been growing locally. Doctors in Chiang Mai have been noticing an increase in people coming to see them with upper respiratory difficulties. Chiang Mai has now enacted stringent regulation of emissions standards for all vehicles. Since 2008, police sometimes set up roadblocks to test exhaust emissions on the spot and officers will enact the law to ban offending vehicles as Chiang Mai continues to work actively towards a cleaner environment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-42172027023146731992011-06-13T14:00:00.001-07:002011-06-14T08:49:32.811-07:00Chiang Mai Transportation<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1TbDhQQqwmY/TfeCXR51HTI/AAAAAAAAABA/MFW6sweK05Y/s1600/SongthaewChiangMai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1TbDhQQqwmY/TfeCXR51HTI/AAAAAAAAABA/MFW6sweK05Y/s400/SongthaewChiangMai.jpg" width="400" /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> Songthaew on Wualai Road in Chiang Mai</b></span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><br />
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</a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bus, train and air connections serve Chiang Mai well</b>. A number of bus stations link the city to central and northern Thailand. The Central Chang Pheuak terminal (north of Chiang Puak Gate) provides local services within Chiang Mai province and the Chiang Mai Arcade bus terminal north-east of the city (requires Songthaew or tuk-tuk ride, see below) provides services to over 20 other destinations in Thailand including Bangkok, Ayutthaya, and Phitsanulok. There are several services a day from Chiang Mai Arcade terminal to Bangkok (a 10–12 hour journey).<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The state railway operates 14 trains a day to Chiang Mai Station</b> from Bangkok. Most journeys run overnight and take approximately 12–15 hours. Most trains offer first-class (private cabins) and a second-class (seats fold out to make sleeping berths) service. A third-class offered is the most economical service, its lack of comfort makes it unsuitable for many tourists.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">To get to cities such as Mae Hong Son or Chiang Rai a plane or bus must be used. No trains are available to cities north of Chiang Mai.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chiang Mai International Airport receives up to 28 flights a day</b> from Bangkok (flight time about 1 hour 10 minutes) and also serves as a local hub for services to other northern cities such as Chiang Rai, Phrae and Mae Hong Son. International services also connect Chiang Mai with other regional centres, including Hong Kong (China), Jinghong (China), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Kunming (China), Luang Phrabang (Laos), Mandalay (Myanmar), Manila (Philippines), Seoul (Korea), Siem Reap (Cambodia), Singapore (Singapore), and Taipei (Taiwan).<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The local preferred form of transport is personal motorbike and, increasingly, private car.</b> In recent years, the number of private vehicles on the road has begun to result in traffic congestion in major arteries during peak travel times. Motorbikes are available for hire from many places in the city, and tourists take advantage of this service.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZO6iY_QiCAc/TfeClb6NFqI/AAAAAAAAABE/pY3SGQRYkt8/s1600/Chiangmai_Tuktuk.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZO6iY_QiCAc/TfeClb6NFqI/AAAAAAAAABE/pY3SGQRYkt8/s400/Chiangmai_Tuktuk.JPG" width="400" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Tuk-tuks waiting for passengers near Tapae Gate in Chiang Mai</span></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Local public transport is provided in four forms: tuktuks, songthaews, less frequently rickshaws and the recently re-launched</b>, though infrequent, Chiang Mai Bus service. Local Songthaew fare is usually 20–50 Thai baht per person for trips in and around the city. If the group of people is larger, the fare per person will be less. <b>Tuktuk</b> fare is usually at least 20 baht per trip (comfortable for two, but some can squeeze in four passengers); fare increases with distance. The fare is negotiable with the driver before boarding. Songthaews and tuktuks normally operate until about 11pm or midnight, and then become scarce and more expensive to ride. Metered taxis are available from the airport with a 50 baht airport fee paid at a counter, plus the metered charge paid to the driver (60 baht on the meter gets you into the moated area). <br />
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<b>Tipping is not expected. Chiang Mai's fledgling local bus service was relaunched in 2006</b>. It serves routes in and around the city, although the service itself lacks the frequency and route mass as is available in other major cities. Unlike Bangkok, which has the Bangkok Metro and Bangkok Skytrain, Chiang Mai does not have rapid transit public transport infrastructure.</span><br />
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</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-44337537270643462122011-06-13T13:59:00.002-07:002011-06-14T08:42:40.880-07:00Chiang Mai Shopping, massage and cookery<b>Shopping: Chiang Mai has a large and famous night bazaar for arts, handicrafts</b>, and imported products of all descriptions, and a number of large, well-appointed modern shopping centres. The night bazaar alone sprawls along several city blocks along footpaths, inside buildings and temple grounds, and in open squares. A handicraft and food market opens every Sunday afternoon till late on Rachadamnoen Road, the main street in the historical centre, which is closed to motorised traffic. Every Saturday evening a handicraft market is held along Wua Lai road, Chiang Mai's silver street on the south-side of the city beyond Chiang Mai gate, and which is then also closed to motorized traffic. Both Saturday and Sunday events attract many local residents and tourists.<br />
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Visitors seeking bargains can also find a thriving second hand "Thieves" market with lots of interesting stalls under shady trees across the river to the east of the city beginning at the intersection of Kaeo Nawarat and Ratanakosin Roads.<br />
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<b>Thai massage: </b>The back streets and main thoroughfares of Chiang Mai have an abundance and variety of massage parlours which offer anything from quick, simple, face and foot massages, to month-long courses in the art of Thai massage.<br />
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<b>Thai cookery:</b> A number of Thai cooking schools have their home in Chiang Mai (see also Thai food).<br />
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<b>Central Plaza Chiang Mai Airport:</b> An ultra-modern air-conditioned shopping mall located 10 minutes from the city centre near the international airport of Chiang Mai has the full array of western and Thai fashion, electronics, food franchises, coffee shops, a large Cineplex with optional luxury seating and 3D screens showing the latest release western movies in English plus fine examples from the burgeoning Thai movie industry with an adjacent thriving low cost food hall and restaurants.<br />
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<b>A focal point of the Plaza </b>is the unique Lanna style Northern Village shopping section featuring high quality local clothing handicrafts and furnishings over three floors. On the lower floor is a mouth watering array of typical Northern Thai Cuisine.<br />
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<b>Kad Suan Kaew Central mall</b>, located on Huay Kaew road just 100–200 m from the old city moat, being even bigger than Central Airport Plaza, offers similar range of services and shopping/entertainment options.<br />
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<b>For IT shopping, there's Pantip Plaza (much smaller than the one in Bangkok)</b> just south of Night Bazaar, as well as Computer Plaza near the northern moat and IT City department store in Kad Suan Kaew mall.<br />
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<b>As a major Thai city, Chiang Mai has hypermarkets </b>of all major networks represented in Thailand, including two Tesco Lotus Supercenters (as well as three much smaller Tesco Lotus Express supermarkets), two Big C's, one Carrefour, and one Makro. Those are located on highways in the peripheral areas of the city and are highly popular among locals and expats.<br />
[edit]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-51368373099839754772011-06-13T13:59:00.000-07:002011-06-14T08:40:55.069-07:00Chiang Mai Night-life<b>The Chiang Mai night-life is not as concentrated</b> or outrageous as Bangkok's infamous Nana Plaza area or Pattaya. There are many relaxing bars, several discotheques, live music venues and one street with hostess bars which cater to tourists, located along Loi Kroh Road. It includes a walk-in arcade with a Muay Thai boxing ring near the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel. <br />
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The city maintains its liberal, laid back attitude with several areas and venues that accommodate the gay and lesbian scene. The Chiang Mai night-life is lively and goes well into the small hours. Bars and late-night restaurants are located all over the city, but many can be found on either side of the moat's eastern flank (in the Thapae Gate area), with some excellent live music venues along the Ping River near Nawarat Bridge, along Immanent road in the western part of the city or in the vicinity of the night bazaar. At the Galare Centre, there is a free display of Thai cultural dancing and music. <br />
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There is also a cluster of bars, American franchise fast food and coffee outlets together with more eclectic restaurants near the intersection of Chang Klan and Loi Kroh Road. Karaoke lounges (which are undoubtedly a national and indeed Asian obsession) can be found all over the city. Many are found at Chiang Mai Land Road, and some very large establishments along the length of Chang Klan Road, extending south from the famed night bazaar. There are only a couple of go-go bars in Chiang Mai.<br />
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Chiang Mai Night Safari was established as evening and night tourist attraction.<br />
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</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-53593204472003092222011-06-13T13:58:00.000-07:002011-06-14T07:23:22.701-07:00Chiang Mai Nature<b>The nearby national parks include Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand, Doi Pui Suthep and Obkhan.</b><br />
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<b>Doi Pui Suthep National Park is just outside town</b>. From all over Chiang Mai you can see the Wat Doi Suthep Buddhist temple looking down on the town from Doi Suthep mountain, it is a favorite place to visit for tourists and locals alike.Chiang Mai hiking group organizes free weekly hikes often in the Doi Pui Suthep National Park and has a map of hiking trails on their web site.<br />
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<b>Elephant Nature Park:</b> Approximately 60 km (37 mi) north of the city or about one hour drive, the Elephant Nature Park is home to approximately 30 rescued elephants. You can visit the park with options ranging from a day trip to volunteering.<br />
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<b>Hill-tribe tourism and trekking:</b> A large number of tour companies offer organized treks among the local hills and forests on foot and on elephant back. Most also involve visits to the various local hill tribes. These include representatives from the Akha, Hmong, Karen, and Lisu tribes.<br />
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Several venues located in the vicinity of Chiang Mai offer zip-line tours and canopy walks.<br />
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</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-39685225474459007442011-06-13T13:57:00.000-07:002011-06-14T07:22:14.211-07:00Chiang Mai Culture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4PBRvBklzHE/Tfdst7y2RBI/AAAAAAAAAA8/k2T1HGoNvoQ/s1600/A_street_in_Chiang_Mai_City.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Chiang Mai hosts many Thai festivals, including:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0KGTQ7S_98Y/Tfdr5oY3fXI/AAAAAAAAAA0/fwHtGHgoCuI/s1600/Yi_peng_sky_lantern_festival_San_Sai_Thailand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0KGTQ7S_98Y/Tfdr5oY3fXI/AAAAAAAAAA0/fwHtGHgoCuI/s400/Yi_peng_sky_lantern_festival_San_Sai_Thailand.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Thousands of Khom Fai in Mae Jo during Loi Kratong</span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Loi Kratong (known locally as Yi Peng)</b>: Held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, being the full moon of the 2nd month of the old Lanna calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November. Every year thousands of people assemble floating banana-leaf containers (krathong) decorated with flowers and candles onto the waterways of the city to worship the Goddess of Water. Lanna-style sky lanterns (khom fai or kom loi), which are hot-air balloons made of paper, are launched into the air. The sky lanterns are believed to help rid the locals of troubles and are also taken to decorate houses and streets.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a2fXgdb6TE0/Tfdr_Ycq0JI/AAAAAAAAAA4/_3DOSdayMng/s1600/Songkran_002aa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a2fXgdb6TE0/Tfdr_Ycq0JI/AAAAAAAAAA4/_3DOSdayMng/s400/Songkran_002aa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A truckload of people after getting hit by water </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">during Songkran in Chiang Mai</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Songkran:</b> Held in mid-April to celebrate the traditional Thai new year. Chiang Mai has become one of the most popular locations to visit for this festival. A variety of religious and fun-related activities (notably the good-natured city-wide water-fight) take place each year, along with parades and a Miss Songkran beauty competition.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chiang Mai Flower Festival:</b> A three-day festival held during the first weekend in February each year, this event occurs when Chiang Mai's temperate and tropical flowers are in full bloom. The festivities include floral floats, parades, traditional dancing shows, and a beauty contest.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tam Boon Khan Dok, the Inthakin (City Pillar) Festival</b>, starts on the day of the waning moon of the six lunar month and lasts 6–8 days. In 2009, this is May 20–27. Centered around Wat Chedi Luang where the city pillar is housed, this is a celebration of brahmic origin. Offerings are made to the city pillar as well as the many other Buddhist and Lanna-era icons. Dancing, musical performances, carnival games, and the ubiquitous Thai vendor food is present. This is a very large celebration in which the Chiang Mai citizenry participate.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Some of the museums in Chiang Mai:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Chiang Mai National Museum highlights the history of the region and the Kingdom of Lanna.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4PBRvBklzHE/Tfdst7y2RBI/AAAAAAAAAA8/k2T1HGoNvoQ/s1600/A_street_in_Chiang_Mai_City.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4PBRvBklzHE/Tfdst7y2RBI/AAAAAAAAAA8/k2T1HGoNvoQ/s1600/A_street_in_Chiang_Mai_City.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4PBRvBklzHE/Tfdst7y2RBI/AAAAAAAAAA8/k2T1HGoNvoQ/s400/A_street_in_Chiang_Mai_City.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A street in Chiang Mai</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tribal Museum showcases</b> the history of the local mountain tribes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Chiang Mai has several universities, including Chiang Mai University, Chiangmai Rajabhat University, Rajamangala University of Technology, Payap University, Far Eastern University, and Maejo University—as well as numerous technical and teacher colleges. Chiang Mai University was the first government university established outside of Bangkok. Payap University is the first private institution in Thailand that was granted university status.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Khantoke dinner is an old Lanna Thai tradition in Chiang Mai</b>. It is an elaborate dinner or lunch which is offered by a host to guests at various ceremonies or parties, e.g. at weddings, housewarmings, celebrations, novice ordinations, or funerals. It can also be held for temple celebrations such as celebrations for specific buildings in a Thai temple and at Buddhist festivals such as Khao Pansa, Og Pansa, Loy Krathong, and Thai New Year (Songkran).<br />
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</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-76398178636398319512011-06-13T13:56:00.000-07:002011-06-14T07:03:42.825-07:00Chiang Mai Religious sites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hH3aeo2ZQl0/TfdoG0MzjeI/AAAAAAAAAAs/_ej_hdi8iys/s1600/2010_1128_Wat_Phantao.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Chiang Mai has over 300 Buddhist temples (called "wat" in Thai). These include:</b></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hH3aeo2ZQl0/TfdoG0MzjeI/AAAAAAAAAAs/_ej_hdi8iys/s1600/2010_1128_Wat_Phantao.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hH3aeo2ZQl0/TfdoG0MzjeI/AAAAAAAAAAs/_ej_hdi8iys/s400/2010_1128_Wat_Phantao.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hH3aeo2ZQl0/TfdoG0MzjeI/AAAAAAAAAAs/_ej_hdi8iys/s1600/2010_1128_Wat_Phantao.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Fireworks during the extended Loi Krathong festivities </span></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hH3aeo2ZQl0/TfdoG0MzjeI/AAAAAAAAAAs/_ej_hdi8iys/s1600/2010_1128_Wat_Phantao.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">in Chiang Mai over Wat Phantao</span></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hH3aeo2ZQl0/TfdoG0MzjeI/AAAAAAAAAAs/_ej_hdi8iys/s1600/2010_1128_Wat_Phantao.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep</b></u>, the city's most famous temple, stands on Doi Suthep, a hill to the north-west of the city. This temple dates from 1383. By tradition, its site was chosen by placing a relic of the Lord Buddha on an elephant's back and letting it roam until it trumpeted, then circled, and finally laid down and died. The temple's location provides superb views on a clear day.<br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Wat Chiang Man</b></u>, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, dates from the 13th century. King Mengrai lived here during the construction of the city. This temple houses two important and venerated Buddha figures, the marble Phra Sila and the crystal Phra Satang Man.<br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Wat Phra Singh </b></u>is located within the city walls, dates from 1345 and offers an example of classic northern Thai style architecture. It houses the Phra Singh Buddha, a highly venerated figure brought here many years ago from Chiang Rai. Visitors can also take part in meditation classes here.<br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lRf9UPGWXlQ/TfdoB2NGN-I/AAAAAAAAAAo/tnNJjhClrvs/s1600/Doi_Suthep_chedi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lRf9UPGWXlQ/TfdoB2NGN-I/AAAAAAAAAAo/tnNJjhClrvs/s640/Doi_Suthep_chedi.jpg" width="444" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The chedi at Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Wat Chedi Luang</b></u> was founded in 1401 and is dominated by a large Lanna style chedi which took many years to finish. An earthquake damaged the chedi in the 16th century and only two-thirds of it remains.<br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Wat Chet Yot </b></u>is located on the outskirts of the city. Built in 1455, the temple hosted the Eighth World Buddhist Council in 1977.<br />
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</b></u></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Wiang Kum Kam</b></u> is at the site of an old city on the southern outskirts of Chiang Mai. King Mengrai lived there for ten years before the founding of Chiang Mai. The site includes many ruined temples.<br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Wat Umong</b></u> is a forest and cave wat in the foothills in the west of the city, near Chiang Mai University. Wat U-Mong is known for itsfasting Buddha, representing the Buddha at the end of his long and fruitless fasting period before he gained enlightenment. It illustrates a canonical text in which Buddha admonished his monks not to fall into self-torture, since it is a <b>"fruitless"</b> as self-indulgence. Hundreds of Buddhist proverbs in both English and Thai posted on trees throughout the grounds. They were collected by a German monk who lived there in the 1980s. Ironically, only a few of the English language sayings are by the Buddha; the rest are by a Vedanta Hindu saint who inspired the earliest Theosophists!<br />
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</b></u></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Wat RamPoeng (Tapotaram)</b></u>, near Wat U-Mong, is known for its meditation center (Northern Insight Meditation Center). The temple teaches the traditional vipassana technique and students stay from 10 days to more than a month as they try to meditate at least 10 hours a day. Wat RamPoeng houses the largest collection of Tipitaka, the complete Theravada canon, in several Northern dialects.<br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Wat Suan Dok </b></u>is a 14th century temple located just west of the old city-wall. It was built by the king for a revered monk visiting from Sukhothai for the rains retreat. The temple's large sala kan prian (sermon hall) is unusual not only for its size, but also because it is open on the sides instead of enclosed. There are many chedis which contain the ashes of the old rulers of Chiang Mai. The temple is also the site of Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya Buddhist University, where monks pursue their studies.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azWamk0w2lQ/Tfdo2U_3BKI/AAAAAAAAAAw/azQLI_YT5Hk/s1600/Baan_Haw_Mosque_4-6-09.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azWamk0w2lQ/Tfdo2U_3BKI/AAAAAAAAAAw/azQLI_YT5Hk/s400/Baan_Haw_Mosque_4-6-09.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Baan Haw Mosque.</span></div><br />
</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-7108126064318911112011-06-13T13:53:00.001-07:002011-06-13T13:53:40.495-07:00Chiang Mai EmblemThe city emblem depicts the chedi at Wat Doi Suthep in its center. Below it are clouds, representing the moderate climate in the mountains of northern Thailand. There is a naga, the mythical snake said to be the source of the Ping River, and rice stalks, which refer to the fertility of the land.<br />
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</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-1244871488869517502011-06-13T13:52:00.000-07:002011-06-14T06:48:39.199-07:00Chiang Mai Climate<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chiang Mai has a tropical wet and dry climate</b></span> , tempered by the low latitude and moderate elevation, with warm to hot weather year-round, though nighttime conditions during the dry season can be cool and are much lower than daytime highs.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b2lMhjpaH8s/TfdlC3FgliI/AAAAAAAAAAk/ibuwhHaBu-g/s1600/1545px-Pano_CM_2010_0928a3-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b2lMhjpaH8s/TfdlC3FgliI/AAAAAAAAAAk/ibuwhHaBu-g/s400/1545px-Pano_CM_2010_0928a3-1.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">A panoramic view of the city of Chiang Mai <br />
during the rainy season, September 2010</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<table class="wikitable collapsible" id="collapsibleTable0" style="font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.1em; margin: auto; text-align: center; width: 90%;"><tbody>
<tr style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <th colspan="14"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><u>Climate data for <b class="selflink">Chiang Mai</b> (1961-1990</u>)</span></th> </tr>
<tr> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Month</span></th> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jan</span></th> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Feb</span></th> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mar</span></th> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Apr</span></th> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">May</span></th> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jun</span></th> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jul</span></th> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Aug</span></th> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sep</span></th> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Oct</span></th> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Nov</span></th> <th style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dec</span></th> <th style="border-left-width: medium; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Year</span></th> </tr>
<tr> <th height="16" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Average high °C (°F)</span></th> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 86, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">28.9</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(84)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 64, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">32.2</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(90)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 45, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">34.9</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(94.8)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 37, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">36.1</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(97)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 50, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">34.1</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(93.4)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 63, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">32.3</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(90.1)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 67, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">31.7</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(89.1)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 71, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">31.1</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(88)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 70, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">31.3</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(88.3)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 71, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">31.1</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(88)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 80, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">29.8</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(85.6)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 90, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">28.3</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(82.9)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 66, 0); border-left-width: medium; color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">31.8</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(89.2)</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="16" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Average low °C (°F)</span></th> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 191, 128); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">13.7</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(56.7)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 183, 111); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">14.9</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(58.8)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 160, 66); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">18.2</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(64.8)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 135, 16); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">21.8</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(71.2)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 124, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">23.4</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(74.1)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 122, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">23.7</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(74.7)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 123, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">23.6</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(74.5)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 124, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">23.4</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(74.1)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 127, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">23.0</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(73.4)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 135, 16); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">21.8</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(71.2)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 155, 55); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">19.0</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(66.2)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 182, 110); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">15.0</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(59)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 147, 39); border-left-width: medium; color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">20.1</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(68.2)</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="16" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Rain">Rainfall</a> mm (inches)</span></th> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(244, 255, 244); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">6.9</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(0.272)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(247, 255, 247); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">4.6</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(0.181)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(235, 255, 235); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">13.0</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(0.512)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(177, 255, 177); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">50.1</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(1.972)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(18, 255, 18); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">158.4</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(6.236)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(52, 255, 52); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">131.6</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(5.181)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(15, 255, 15); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">160.8</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(6.331)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(0, 158, 0); color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">236.0</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(9.291)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(0, 159, 0); color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">227.6</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(8.961)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(73, 255, 73); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">121.9</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(4.799)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(173, 255, 173); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">52.8</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(2.079)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(225, 255, 225); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">19.8</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(0.78)</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(105, 255, 105); border-left-width: medium; color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1,183.5</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(46.594)</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="16" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Avg. rainy days</span></th> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(242, 242, 255); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(241, 241, 255); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(230, 230, 255); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(178, 178, 255); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">6</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(69, 69, 255); color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">15</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(38, 38, 255); color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">17</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(20, 20, 255); color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">19</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(0, 0, 250); color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">21</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(38, 38, 255); color: white; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">17</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(119, 119, 255); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">11</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(178, 178, 255); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">6</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(230, 230, 255); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(131, 131, 255); border-left-width: medium; color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">118</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <th height="16" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sunshine hours</span></th> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(234, 234, 1); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">282.1</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(239, 239, 13); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">276.9</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(233, 233, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">279.0</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(233, 233, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">270.0</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(230, 230, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">266.6</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(212, 212, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">180.0</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(198, 198, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">155.0</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(192, 192, 34); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">142.6</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(209, 209, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">174.0</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(220, 220, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">223.2</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(225, 225, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">234.0</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(228, 228, 0); color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">257.3</span></td> <td style="-moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(223, 223, 0); border-left-width: medium; color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2,740.7</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="14" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;"><i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=9065035900355747810#cite_note-6"><br />
<br />
</a></sup></i></td> </tr>
<tr> <td colspan="14" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;"><i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HKO_7-0"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=9065035900355747810#cite_note-HKO-7"><br />
<br />
</a></sup></i></td> </tr>
</tbody> </table>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-48843809764680212822011-06-13T13:45:00.001-07:002011-10-11T06:53:49.044-07:00Chiang Mai History<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Mengrai </strong></span>founded the city. (Meaning "new city") in 1296, and was successful.Beijing is the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. The city is surrounded by mountains, with Burma near the boundary wall, and a great threat to the Empire Lannathai city was occupied by either the Burmese or Thais from Ayutthaya. Because of the war against Burma culminated in the fall of Ayutthaya in April 1767, Chiang Mai, between 1776 and 1791.Lampang the capital from what had been up by Lannathai. <br />
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<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VY-MIUz9H_k/TfdfrNE9YcI/AAAAAAAAAAc/roibpL7RRDA/s400/Wat_Chiang_Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VY-MIUz9H_k/TfdfrNE9YcI/AAAAAAAAAAc/roibpL7RRDA/s320/Wat_Chiang_Man.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"> Wat Chiang Man, the oldest Buddhist temples in the city. </div><br />
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City official aid by 1774 as part of an agreement with them Siamin Kavila after the Thai King Taksin drove Burma. Mai slow growth in the importance of culture, trade and economy for the current status as the capital of the northern part of Thailand, second only to Bangkok. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Y6vAeCGwDA/Tfdfsg5WA5I/AAAAAAAAAAg/tne1CrENhvs/s400/800px-Chiang_mai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Y6vAeCGwDA/Tfdfsg5WA5I/AAAAAAAAAAg/tne1CrENhvs/s320/800px-Chiang_mai.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center">At the northwest corner of the wall. </div><br />
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People say Kham Muang (also known as Northern Thai or Lanna) amongst themselves. But Thai media used in class and understood by all. English in the hotel and tourism related companies and used with many educated people speaking English.The Kham Muang alphabet is now only studied by scholars and Northern Thai is commonly used. calligraphy Thai standards. <br />
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Community with the health district (sanitary), which was created in 1915 in the community (Saban) 29 มีนาคม 1935 when upgrading published in the Gazette, Paper No. 52 § 80 starting from 17.5 km2 (7 sqmi) in the right place. 40.216 km2 (16 sqmi) on April 5, 1983 extended.<br />
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By : http://chiangmai-cnx.blogspot.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065035900355747810.post-38934989583375748932011-06-13T13:44:00.000-07:002011-10-11T06:40:01.879-07:00Chiang Mai Thailand<b><span style="font-size: large;">Chiang Mai </span></b>sometimes written as "Chieng mai" or "Chiang mai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located 700 km north of Bangkok, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.<br />
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In recent years, Chiang Mai has become an increasingly modern city and has been attracting over 5 million visitors each year, of which between 1.4 million and 2 million are foreign tourists (depending on the year).Chiang Mai gained prominence in the political sphere in May 2006, when the Chiang Mai Initiative was concluded here between the ASEAN nations and the "+3" countries (China,Japan, and South Korea). Chiang Mai is one of three Thai cities contending to host the World Expo 2020.It has also recently positioned itself to become a Creative City and is considering to apply for Creative City Status with UNESCO<br />
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Chiang Mai's historic importance is derived from its strategic location on the Ping river and major trading routes. The city has long been a major center for handcrafted goods,umbrellas,jewelry(particularly silver) and woodcarving.[citation needed]<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Egl5YIztTDA/Tfde7sDioXI/AAAAAAAAAAY/gh8M5Ws87XY/s320/548px-Chiang_Mai_City.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Egl5YIztTDA/Tfde7sDioXI/AAAAAAAAAAY/gh8M5Ws87XY/s320/548px-Chiang_Mai_City.png" /></a>While officially the city (the saban nakhon) of Chiang Mai only covers most parts of the Mueang Chiang Mai district with a population of 160,000, the urban sprawl of the city now extends into several neighboring districts. This Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area has a population of nearly one million people, more than half the total of Chiang Mai Province.<br />
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The city is subdivided into four wards(khwaeng): Nakhon Ping, Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kawila. The first three are on the west bank of the Ping River, and Kawila is located on the east bank. Nakhon Ping district comprises the north side of the city. Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kawila consist of the west, south, and east respectively. The city center—within the city walls—is mostly with Srivijaya ward.<br />
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By :http://chiangmai-cnx.blogspot.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0