CITY INFO CHIANG Mai, THAILAND Phone code 053, $1US=38B, June 15, 2006

City Transport

Possible to walk to most places within the old city. Bicycle is good in the center area but avoid the main roads - very congested. Songthaews and tuk-tuks run everywhere. City Bus: New bus system: CM city bus system has been operating with 5 routes. 15 B. (6:00-19:00) They are running every 30-40 mins. Since there are many one way roads in CM, the bus routes are very confusing. But the routes and numbers of the buses have been changed since last year.The old system information are still posted throughout the town. Very confusing. #2: From the SE part of CM to N part of CM. Not so useful. #6: Running out skirt of CM. Arcade Bus station - Chang Puak Bus station - Cheung Doi Market(Chiang Mai University) - Maharaj Hospital - W side of Old CM- Airport - Arcade Bus station #11: Running from Aracade bus station to the airport through the center of CM. Arcade Bus station - Warorot Market - Near Thapae gate - Inside of Old CM - Chiang Mai Gate - Airport #12: Running from SE part of CM to CM Zoo through the center of CM. SE part of CM - Night market area - N part of Old CM - CM Zoo #13: Running from Aracade bus station to the Safari park through the center of CM. Arcade Bus station - Train station -Thapae gate - Inside of Old CM - Near the University - Safari park Songthaews/Minibus/pickups: Small red pick-ups, some seem to be operating on set routes, others are for charter. Within the center 20+B. further out, negotiate beforehand. They try to charge more from tourists. If you ask them to go where they don't normally go, they will ask more. So the key to use this transport is to find a songthiaw where you want to do. It is hard. There are also green, blue, White, yellow songthaews that seem to be operating along set routes, usually to outside from C.M.. Rarely used by non-locals. No information at this time.

Rental Bicycle Many places in city.30-60B/day, deposit passport or 500B Rental Motorbike: Many on Moon Muang Road, N from Tha Pae Gate. 120B/day, 190B/day insurance incl. Make sure what their insurance covers.
rb1	Green Pedal Tour: Moonmuang Rd, near Somphet Market. Organizes mountain bike treks 1-7 days. e-1-mail: GP@mailexcite.com
rb2	Mr Order: at the entrance of Midtown GH.. bike 50B, motor bike 120B with insurance.
rb3	Jaguar: Moon Muang Rd. N from Tha Pae Gate. bike 50B, motor bike 120B+
rb4	Mr. Beer: in the old town. Ratvithi Rd.one street N from Tha Pae Rd.. mountain bike 60B

Travel Agents: Many places in city, Guesthouses also reserve transport. Visa Service: Many travel agents and GHs offer this service. Laos: 15 days visa 1000B need 3-5 days. 2-day-service 300B extra. Laos one month visa: the cost varies. (visa cost plus 400B com) Myanmar: 1-month visa: need 3-5 days 1400B

Airline Office: General Opening hours: M-F8/9-17:00, Sa 9-13:00 See transport page for more details.
ta1	Chiang Mai Supachai Tour: 378 Thapae Rd. T053-874234 Cheapest Laos Visa 900B. Vietnam 2100, Cambodia 1400, Myanmar 1400B
ta2	O.PTravel: 422 Thapae Rd, Very friendly and kind travel agent which sells air tickets. optravel@usa.net
ta3	Mighty Tour: 34 Soi 1 Loikroa Rd, competitive prices. chiangmai_mighty@hotmail.com http://www.info_chiangmai.com/mighty
ta4	The best Travel: 255 Ta Pae Rd. T053-206940 Air Myanmar RT6930B, Trekking 2D1N 1200B, 3D2N 1400B

Shopping
Shopping is a major activity for visitors to Chiang Mai known as the Northern Handicraft capitol. which calls itself . Hill Tribe Handicrafts and textiles are the main souvenirs.
m1	Night Market: Around Chang Klan Rd, 18:00-23:00 Main tourist shopping area. Handicrafts, clothing, jewelry.
m3	Warorot Market: E end of Chiang Moi Rd, next to the river, huge local market for clothing, fruit, flowers Handicrafts, clothing. 7:00-16:00
m2	Sanpet Market: Moon Muang Rd soi 5, N from Tha Pae gate. nice local market.
m4	Sunday Market: Every Sunday evening, a street market is held on the road stretching out to W from Tha Pae Road, selling art craft, local food and more. Much more interesting than the night market. Highly Rec
m5	Galaxy: Newly renovated shopping center with a small food court.

Souvenir shops: There are handicraft shops along Loi Kroa Rd., near the Night Bazaar area. Hill-tribe jewelry can be found in shops along Wualai Rd.
s	Hill tribe Products Found: Suthep Rd
s	Thai Tribal Crafts: 209 Bumrungrat Rd. M-Sa 9-17:00 Tribe owned, self-help agency organization.
s	Hill-tribe: Handicraft Project 1 Moon Muang Rd, T274877, M-Sa 8:30-16:30
s	Hill-tribe Promotion: Ctr 21/17 Suthep Rd, next to Suan Dok Temple ?, 9:00-17:00 Gov. run.

Bookshops
s	DK-Chiang Mai: 79/1 Kotchasarn, 9:30-21:00. Large selection of new English books.
s	Book Zone: 318 Thapae Rd, 9:00-22:00. Large selection of New English books and magazines.
s	Book Exchange: 21/1 Ratchamanka Soi 2, M-Sa 9:00-18:00
r	Suchada Watanabe(Nancy): 36-8 Kamphangdin Soi 1, Changklan T274275, 8:30-20:00, English, German, Japanese used books. Also a small Japanese restaurant.
la	Coin Laundry: Suphan Court apartment on Rachadamneon Rd. soi 1 from n from Nice apartment. Washing machine 20B. The gate is closed at night.
la	Laundry: Many places near Guest Houses, 5B/piece, or from 20-35B/kg, overnight service. Inside of the moats looks cheaper than outside. Cheapest ones can be found Rachadamnern Rd.soi 5 15B/kg
la	Coin Laundry: Jearranai 178 Chiang Moi Rd, 80B, wash & dry. Very expensive.

Thai massage
Many schools in town, specially around Tha Pae Gate, offering 1 week course. some says Chiang Mai is better than BKK to learn.
ma	The Foundation of Moh Shivagakomarapaj, Old Chiang Mai Traditional Hospital: 78/1 Wuolai Rd.opp from Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center T275-085 3180B for 10 day course
ma	Traditional Thai Massage Salon Loi Lroh & School: #63/3 Loi Kroh Rd. T274-681, http://sabaideal.com/massageloikroh 20 hour course 4000B 2 hour massage 300B
ma	Herbal Steam Sauna and massage: Moo Muang soi 5, W from Sunpet market. 16-22:00 sauna 120B/hr massage 180B/hr

Thai cooking
sc1	Cooking Baar Thai: T357339, 700B/day, 1-3 day courses
sc2	Thai language course: 3500B/60 hrs. 2hrs/day. Ask for the location at TAT.

Festivals 2007
Many free magazines future current festival, available at TAT.
12/31-1/1		New Year's Festival: held at Tha Pae Gate
2/18-19*		Chinese New Year: Chinese shops are closed for 3 days. Many events are held in Chinese section
2/1st weekend		Flower Festival: the parade on 3rd day
4/1-9		Art & Culture Festival
4/11-15	PH	Songkran: Thai New Year's Day last 3 days. 'Water throwing festival' Prepare for getting very wet. Make sure that cameras, etc, are protected.
5/		Walking Up Doi Suthep:
10/28		Lantern Festival:
11/15-17*		Loi Krathong To celebrate the water goddess, people make beautifully decorated little boats made from bamboo and other plants, put lighted candles in them and float them down the river. The river is full of lights. A very romantic & dreamlike festival.
11/10-16		Food Fair: at Choeng Doi Market in Chiang Mai

Festivals held near Chaing Mai (mm/dd)
12/31-1/2		Baan Tawai Wood Carving Fair
1/3rd weekend		Borsang Umbrella & Sankampaeng Handcraft Fair: in Chiang Mai and Sankampaeng
2/13-15		Samueng strawberry Fair:
4/2-4		4 th Lampang Giant Drums Festival: the parade on 3rd day
4/12-15	PH	Lamphun Songkran: .Parade is held on 15th
5/5		Lampang: Ancient City Pillar Ceremony
6/		Lampang Inthakin:Ancient city Pillar Celebration
11/15-17*		Lampang Loi Krathong:

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