Welcome: A Gathering Place for Expats

[Danny-boy]

Originally Posted by Serendipity2

Just wanted to offer a suggestion that I think would be beneficial to some/most expats. Simply, have a cafe where expats could meet during the day over a cup of coffee or tea and share experiences, information and just get together.

I would think that many would probably enjoy having a place to meet if even a few met. Some might join the group every so ofter, others would probably like the camaraderie of a place to go, have a yarn and kick back. Most expats face the same trials and tribulations and having others' ideas could help. It need not be a "meeting" with rules, officers or a set protocol - just a bunch of expats - guys and gals to meet, enjoy one another's company and share ideas. Good idea? Not such a good ideda? Any and all thoughts on this are appreciated. I'm sure it wouldn't be for everyone but I think, at least on an infrequent basis, it could have merit. But it needs to be a venue that is located reasonably convenient to most = say the Ta Phae Gate area or Night Bazaar area and it should be during the morning where some could have breakfast and others a coffee, tea or nothing. Suggestions?

Serendipity2

I am a member of such a place, I live in Pattaya and daily enjoy breakfast at Canterbury Tales Cafe in Pattaya, & Bookshop

There are a great bunch of guys there every day although during sonkran the numbers are depleted, there are a lot of Charactors around and a great laugh can be had.

The best part is the jokes and laughs, there are a few including Dave the owner who just about know most things/places/people that are in the know, the breakfasts all day are good too, they have coffee/Tea or course, Tetley and nescafe, also fresh coffee's, ice coffee etc etc.

This place is also a huge bookshop with a great exchange scheme, you buy a book and when you finish with it you return it for 50% of the purchase price off the next book/s, they also buy/exchange any unwanted books.

Pop in and mention you read it here and Dave may even give you a free welcome Tea/coffee.
See you there Danny

[JustChris]

There are quite a few places here in Chiang Mai however I find most of them a tad bit hostile and they are all pubs. There are some small groups in the area that meet for coffee on a regular basis but I only know of one "the witters club" they meet at the paparazzi on Thursday night at 8:00 PM on the second floor. Just a word of caution they are serious writers and get annoyed if you poke fun at their work.

Hi Chris, welcome to the forum and a fellow ChangMaier.

Haven't come across much hostility myself, just the opposite in fact. Vaguely heard of a writers' group... sometimes the clubs do take themselves seriously it's true - I belong to a mainly expat photography club, and it has a few of the same problems.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by frogblogger

Hi Chris, welcome to the forum and a fellow ChangMaier.

Haven't come across much hostility myself, just the opposite in fact. Vaguely heard of a writers' group... sometimes the clubs do take themselves seriously it's true - I belong to a mainly expat photography club, and it has a few of the same problems.

Well, I am happy to hear you have had good experiences. I know of the photography club but no details. I have met a lot of nice expats but they are all at least 30 to 40 years my senior so we just chat from time to time. My best friend is 40 years my senior and we have coffee at my work place once a week but I would really like to meet some people closer to my age with children for activities but in the 5 years I have lived here that hasn't happened.

Another great Saturday night at the Guitarman in Chiang Mai, definitely the "gathering place" for a night out in town with great music and good food...

[KhwaamLap]

Chiang Mai Expats Form regular is (in the absense of any objections) the GuitarMan on any Saturday from 8pm.
Its here: MySpace.com - GUITARMAN LIVE MUSIC VENUE . CHIANGMAI.THAILAND - 43 - Male - CHIANG MAI, TH - myspace.com/guitarmanchiangmai

• 68/5-6 Loi Kroh Road
• Chiang Mai 50100

Buy yourself a pizza and a beer and mellow out. Even if your just visiting, come and find us - you'll recognise me from my avatar - I haven't changed much
Not affiliated in anyway other than its where we go

YouTube - A WALK ROUND GUITARMAN CHIANG MAI THAILAND

YouTube - A WALK ROUND GUITARMAN CHIANG MAI THAILAND

Yes, we're there most Saturday nights. It's a pretty quiet place, not in the Loi Kroh you're thinking of - on the other side of the Night Bazaar Chang Klan road, heading towards the Ping.

Riverside/Goodview restaurants? They've been packed out when I've been there recently, and the music isn't exactly quiet if you end of with a table to close to the stage for comfort. That said the Riverside seems to have been divided into two, with a new restaurant/different name ... ate there one lunchtime recently, seemed ok.

Then there's the Brasserie of course, but by the sound of it, Took's Jimi Hendrix imitations might not be up your street! Were you thinking of anywhere else?

[Oneman]

Originally Posted by frogblogger

It's a pretty quiet place, not in the Loi Kroh you're thinking of - on the other side of the Night Bazaar Chang Klan road

Thanks, Frogblogger, I didn't know the exact location.
The entire night Bazaar/Loi Kroh area I avoid, especially on Saturday nights.

Originally Posted by frogblogger

Riverside/Goodview restaurants? They've been packed out when I've been there recently, and the music isn't exactly quiet if you end of with a table to close to the stage for comfort.

Again, thank you, because I didn't know that either.
A year in Chiangmai, and I've never been any of the famous restaurants along the river -- just seemed like it would be pleasant.

Originally Posted by frogblogger

Were you thinking of anywhere else?

Not in particular, just that there seem to be two types of venues for two types of people:
One is bars.
The other is not bars.
One is loud.
The other is quiet and suitable for conversation.

I was suggesting not bar, not Loi-Kroh, and quiet.
If there are a few people interested in that, a location will be easy to find.
The first question is, are any interested in a quiet, non-bar, location?

There's no need to conflict or compete -- which is why I suggested Sunday night.

-- Oneman
Chiangai
.

Originally Posted by davidwayne

Hi serendipity
We booked a week at grandview hotel,I was looking at the Loft residence apartment $240 aud a month .We are off to the UK for my daughters wedding
1st Feb.
back in chiangmai 21st march any suggestions welcomed.yes it would be great to catch up once a week for a chat over a beer ..The reason im so over working
5-6 days tax bills etc just burning days .I want " to LIVE" not exist.
regards

Only problem with the Grandview is that you are not in walking distance of any of the popular parts of Chiang Mai. Way out on the SuperHighway, it's a tuk-tuk drive costing you 100-140 baht to get wherever you want to go in town. Anything from a 10 to 20 minute ride. You are on the exact opposite of town to the likes of the Night Bazaar, for example.

As for the Loft, that's not quite so bad, but their "in the heart of the city" website blurb is a bit of an exaggeration. It's not far above the north part of the moat, but you're a long way away from the tourist areas that are grouped mostly around the central eastern arm of said waterway. The Loft isn't really within walking distance to these, especially on a hot day. The map on their site is daft - their east is actually north, north is really west, etc. It needs turning anticlockwise 90 degrees.

The main areas of tourist interest in Chiang Mai are a few parts of the old city within the moat (mostly in the eastern Sunday market part), and the area between the eastern moat (as you look at a proper map) and the River Ping. Here you find the main markets (Warorot, Anusarn, Night Bazaar, Sunday Market), much of the night life, a concentration of restaurants. The Saturday market and silver trading area is due south.

Still, that seems a pretty good rate - not sure about the AUD, what's that, about 8000 baht a month? For a modern, clean studio apartment in the more touristy area I mentioned you would be looking at around 25% - 50% more. But then you wouldn't be spending 200 - 400 baht a day on tuk-tuks to get about, if you pick the right place.

Yes there are cheaper condo buildings bang in the central area (as I defined above) - one being the Night Bazaar condos, around 5,000 baht a month for a studio room with en suite shower. But it's aging, and a bit shabby. Ideal for a bachelor looking for immediate access to the main Chang Klan area of town, but perhaps not so good for a couple.

[KhwaamLap]

Originally Posted by davidwayne

Hi all The wife & I are moving from Aussie to Chiangmai and being able to catch up over a beer
and a feed,would be great.visiting 6jan to 26 jan to organise some accom

the social now and then is essential to keeping sane..
advice on accom or anything welcome

cheers

David, are you and the Mrs ovcer here then? If so, drop by the Guitarman and I'll introduce you around to some of the locals. After 9pm any day but Sunday - I'm usually there on a Friday and the odd evenings during the week if I'm working larte and in the area (which has been every tue-thu for the past 2 montrhs, but ended last night). Drop me a PM to arrange somethinbg if you like (same goes for anyone visiting CM)

The Guitarman is good because its, as FB said, the best of both worlds. Outside is now covered, so even in tjhe rain we can sit outside. This is where most of the regulars go, so we can chat. Still hear the music, but without drowning the conversation out. Its close to everything, but at the quiet end of Loi Kroh so not packed with bargirls and tourists. Nicky, the owner, is a life-long musician and keeps the music on an even keel (not too loud etc) - he has a sound booth to exercise control as needs be! Also music isn't all hardrock covers like many places here in CM, there's even finger picking Tom who finger picks an accoustic late in the evenings.