So, with Monday declared a special holiday to facilitate voting on the new constitution, I decided to escape to Chiang Mai for the weekend to check on some things.

I'm staying at the Buri Gallery House (http://www.burigalleryhouse.com/) a sort of guesthouse oriented towards flashpackers, I think. The location is great for the purpose of my visit. It's in an old wooden house, all very rustic, except for the 26" TV with DVD player and internet PC in the room. It definitely wouldn't be to everyone's taste.

Just down the road I came across another place just opened, called Villa Duang Champa. The "villa" is an old wooden house at the back of the property, with just two rooms (no PC, but there is wi-fi if you bring your notebook). The villa rooms are just 2,300 Baht. In the modern main building are 10 more rooms of various sizes. The rooms at either end of the narrow building are quite nice. Third and fourth floor rooms have fantastic views of the mountains.

I re-visited the Art & Culture Center in the old provincial hall this morning. The shop here (still) has some fantasic original art (mostly watercolors) of temples and buildings around Chiang Mai.

Now I'm off to the Saturday market in the silver village. More later.

Michael

Thanks for the information on the new places to check out in CM. How close are they to the night market?

Any predictions on what will happen with the constitution and new gov't?

Carol

thanks michael....good info as always...any a/c in either of those places?

bob

Thanks for update...anyone else know of good places to buy original art in Thailand or Vietnam (watercolors, oils, pen/ink, etc)...please and sorry but not interested in "usual" tourist art. Thanks.

There are many, many places to buy art in VN and Thailand. In Hanoi, you can buy art (original) at the Museum of Fine Arts shop. We also purchased some lovely pen and ink paintings at a small shop in Old Town (about a block toward the lake from the real Little Hanoi restaruant - not the sandwich shop near teh lake).

On a different note but because you are already in Thailand can I but a prepaid sim card for my mobile(cell) phone after I arrive

Last things first:

Skittle - yes. Look for 1-2-Call counters. You can buy 'refills' at any 7-11.

Both the places I described above have AC - thank god - it's bloody hot and hasn't really rained since I got here. Both are inside the old city. Buri Gallery is just outside Wat Pra Singh, Villa Duang Champa is a couple blocks down, and about a block up from Tamarind Village. So, they're not close to the night bazaar, but the Sunday market, which is just setting up, is right outside my door.

Speaking of the night bazaar, was down there Friday night and noticed that the Le Meridien is getting close to finished. I think it will open before the end of the year. The Shangri-La probably won't open until early next year.

This morning, I went to Wat Umong, which turned out to be a really good idea. It was already sizzling at 9:00 so the blast of cool air that hit me as the tuk-tuk drove through the gate of the forest temple felt really good. There have been some improvements, but it's still my favorite temple in Chiang Mai.

Ended the morning around Wat Gate. Looked in at Baan Orapin, which is being remodeled - again. They tore down the shack that served as the coffee shop and are building a new narrow building on the street, which should help screen out the street noise. Had lunch and a big pot of organic red tea at a new tea shop just down the road on the river. Check out Vieng Joom On next time you're in Chiang Mai.

Lunch made up for last night's dinner - bangers & mash with a pint of cider at Victoria Pub, near the Thai Air office.

Politics - Most people in Bangkok at least seem to hope that the referendum will pass and we can get on with things. It's hard to say if it will pass, since a big chunk of the population still lives in rural areas, and tend to vote how they're 'told' to.

I've lived here since the last coup, but things feel a lot different now. Before, it seemed like most people were willing to 'let it go' and get on with things, but society - especially in Bangkok - seem a lot more polarized now. Not unlike the USA I guess (same sh*t, different country?)

Bangers and mash - you're not a Pommy are you?

We are told that if we don't vote today then we don't have the right to vote in the next election. How's that for an encouragement!

Latest exit poll 67.94% of the voters accepted the new draft charter!

Looks like it's going to be 60% for the new amended constitution and 40% against.

Yeah!!!!

Nope, not a pomme, just like a change from Thai food once in a while, and you can't get a bigger change that what passes for 'cuisine' in the UK.

Just back from the Sunday walking street(s). This has really gotten huge. It just goes on and on.

Speaking of art, there was a huge selection along the streets. A lot of fairly standard stuff, but a few talented people here and there.

Hi Michael-
You said the Buri Gallery House is oriented toward "flashpackers", sort of upscale backpackers, right?

Can you elaborate on this? On the website it looks lovely and I don't get any "backpacker" vibe at all. My mom (age 60) will be in CM by herself and is interested in staying there. Do you think she'll feel out of place?

Either that or he's referring to the backpackers who like to expose themselves!

Flashpackers are people who used to backpack in younger days, but are now old and established enough to still want the experience, but along with a few more amenities, like en suite bathrooms and Internet access.

Buri Gallery is an old wooden house, carved up into a rabbit warren of rooms. The walls are thin, so you can hear the TV - or whatever else is going on - in the next room. To get to the second floor rooms (which seem to be the bigger ones) you have to climb a typical Thai house stair that's more of a ladder. It's the kind of thing that might give a granny a hard time.

Although I got a good low season deal on the room, for the price I could have gotten a nicer room in the Suriwong or Pornping hotels down by the night bazaar.

For a 60-year old woman who will be alone and doesn't want a commercial hotel I strongly recommend Baan Orapin. The owners are lovely; the rooms terrific; great location and very reasonable.

Gloria-
Yes, I've read many recommendations for them. On their map, they look a ways outside the center of town. How is the location?

It kind of depends on what you consider the center of town. Baan Oripin is down on the river, which puts it a little ways (5 minute tuk-tuk or 15 minute walk) from the old walled city, but it's a 5 minute walk from the night bazaar, and several nice shops and riverside restaurants are right outside the door.

The old city is a nice place to walk around in, but it isn't necessarily the best place to stay, especially for a first time visitor. If Baan Orapin doesn't appeal, then consider Yaan Come Village or Manathai Village.

We recently went to the opening of the Sira Hotel which is just inside the moat, near the Chang Puek gate. Their web site is http://www.sirahotel.com/index.php the web site is still under construction but is 90% there.

The room rates are currently 1200 and 1600 Baht per room per night including breakfast. We have friends who stayed there and loved it.

My one reservation is that there are only stairs, so older people may want to specify a room on a lower floor.

Sirahotel looks nice, but what's with the 'hospital beds' in the photo gallery on the home page.

Stairs would be an issue with Villa Duang Champa as well. The best views are on the 3rd and 4th floors, and there's no lift.