Hello, everybody in this blog I will be talking about the media faces. Which I will give you an example of Media face of DIY news.
Veteran journalist Laurie Oakes is predicting the rise of DIY journalism as political parties, interest groups and corporations set up newsrooms to try to sidestep scrutiny by the media.
''It's not hard - all you need is a laptop, 50 bucks for a video camera and you're away,'' he said on Thursday.He sees a gloomy economic future for mainstream media outlets but believes Australians will still want authoritative, fact-based news.
Oakes delivered an in-depth analysis of the future of the media in Canberra in the Walkley centenary lecture.
The annual Walkley media conference is being held in Canberra on Thursday and Friday to celebrate Canberra's centenary next year, and to recognise the national capital's important role in Australian life and the critical role that journalism plays in federal politics.
The prestigious Walkley awards honouring high achieving journalists will be presented at a black-tie dinner on Friday at Parliament House.
Oakes, himself a multi-award winner, said he wanted to be optimistic about the future of political journalism and the Parliament House-based press gallery.The symbiotic relationship between politicians and journalists is now changing.
The head of China's securities regulator said the country should do more to improve its capital markets, including its system for approving initial public offerings, the Shanghai Securities News reported Thursday. China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Guo Shuqing told a financial summit in Beijing that reform would help simplify administrative processes, including the procedure for delisting companies from the country's stock exchanges, according to the report. He also said the cabinet plans to approve the trading of bond and crude oil futures and listed companies should be encouraged to distribute dividends. Mr. Guo has been a vocal advocate of efforts to open China's capital markets since he became chairman of the CSRC in October. He recently gave local markets a boost when he said foreign investment in the country's stock and bond markets could be sharply increased
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited is the national carrier of the Kingdom of Thailand. It operates domestic, regional and intercontinental flights radiating from its home base in Bangkok to key destinations around the world and within Thailand. The company's fully paid up share capital amounts to 16,988,765,500 Baht (9 May 2005) and is 53.77% owned by the Ministry of Finance, the Thai Government. At the end of September 2004, consolidated total assets of the company amounted to 193,211 million Baht. In its operations, THAI has achieved profitability every year for the last 40 consecutive years.
The cost of legal proceeding for the protection of the antitrust is the potential damages, which the Company had reserved the costs of damages and fine arisen from the antitrust infringement in the fiscal year 2008 amounting to THB 4,290.17 Million. In the fiscal year 2010, the Company has nevertheless deducted such reserved cost for potential damages in the amount of THB 1,783.19 Million. In addition, it must be noted that the Company has already recorded the cost of the professional lawyer for the case that the Company was sued, alleged and administrative costs, in the total of THB 186.28 Million. Consequently, the cost of legal proceeding for the protection of the antitrust can be decreased in the total of THB 1,596.91 Million.
Tax credit arising from net losses which incurred in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 in accordance with P.N.D. 50 amounted to THB 15,722.63 million. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the Company exercised its tax benefit amount of THB 6,301.78 million, leaving the balance of unexercised tax credit amount of THB 9,420.85 million which, the Company exercised such the whole amount of tax benefit in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
Ayutthaya was aSiamesekingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including theChinese,Vietnamese,Indians,JapaneseandPersians, and later thePortuguese,Spanish,DutchandFrench, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the capital, also calledAyutthaya. In the sixteenth century, it was described by foreign traders as one of the biggest and wealthiest cites in the East. The court of KingNarai(1656–88) had strong links with that of KingLouis XIV of France, whose ambassadors compared the city in size and wealth to Paris.By 1550, the kingdom's vassals included some city-states in theMalay Peninsula, Sukhothai, and parts of Cambodia.
Moreover, Ayutthaya Kingdom as an advantage of geography. River area is located at 3 lines converge. The Chao Phraya River and River Forest art Lopburi River. Ayutthaya is an island made of a river surrounded. Ekaayaw approximately 12 kms road around the plains suitable for rice cultivation and to remain close to the sea rather. Enabling them to make foreign trade easily.
Finally, the population of Ayutthaya Province now a day have three religious diversity. There are 80 percentage is Buddhism ,15 percentage is Muslim and 5 percentage is christian.
Cyber bullying is using of the Internet and relate technologies to harm other people, in a deliberate, repeated, and hostile manner. As it has become more common in society, particularly among young people, legislation and awareness campaigns have arisen to combat it. In other word, Cyber bullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites. However, Bullying victims tend to be polar opposites of bullies. They are often shy and quiet, with few friends and little social support at school. They may be physically weak or lack confidence in their strength. Hence, they rarely stand up to bullies.the cyber bullying will threat you if you are youngster, children, woman, actress and some reputation person. Kids who are being cyber bullied are often bullied in person as well. Additionally, kids who are cyber bullied have a harder time getting away from the behavior. The effect of cyber bullying is to use cell phones and computers themselves are not to blame for cyber bullying. Social media sites can be used for positive activities, like connecting kids with friends and family, helping students with school, and for entertainment. But these tools can also be used to hurt other people. Whether done in person or through technology, the effects of bullying are similar. Kids who are cyber bullied are more likely to use alcohol and drugs, skip school, experience in-person bullying, be unwilling to attend school, receive poor grades, have lower self-esteem, and have more health problems. Finally, there are many ways to prevent you from victim of cyber bullying. Such as, Learn to recognize cyber bullying, Figure out when the cyber bullying began and the cause, Ignore the bully, Block the bully, Tell a trusted adult, parent, or teacher, as this will give you an outside perspective to support you, Don't delete the messages, Deactivate social networking accounts and change your email address and/or cell phone numbers if the bullying persists, Report the person , and Don't retaliate (get even with them), you may find yourself in an even worse position.
According to my trip video at Hua Hin Beach. I traveled there with Sammy . We found a lot of problems. There are many local people will rough you. I will tell you in this clip.
The duration of event is 3 days (19, 20 ,21 Jan 2013) It is assemble with night market in the school. I visited there at the last day of event. the product and food had been classified. The cost is affordable. There are a lot of food that you never eaten at Klong 6 before
The highlight of event is Thai dancing state and concert. Unfortunately, I missed those things because it was too crowed ad I couldn't get through i
In this event, I bought some Japanese food which is my favorite meal. It is egg fish with seafood sauce. I ate Kuay-jub Noodle there also. This event was amazing.
According to Bangkok post 17 Jan 2013. It was said that Thailand is a pleasant place for retirees. Do you agree with that ? as I noticed when I went to particular are such as Huahin, Pattaya, Phuket, Surat Thani, and Bangkok. Many foregin retriees buy real estate such as condominuim, apartment , and house. This is also a trend of tourism of Thailand.
However, Thailand has been ranked No 9 on the World's Top 10
Retirement Havens for 2013. The low cost of living and value entertainment
spending has lead to this achievement, although it has scored low in special
benefits for retirees.
According to the Thai Tourism Department of the Tourism and Sports Ministry,
about 2,000 tourists applied for a long-stay visa (valid for a year) last year,
up from 1,775 the year before. Most of them were European and Japanese tourists.
Another trends which review the Thailand is tourism is no visa entry, low cost of living , and thai is friendly
Are you looking a present or product for your house? I recommend you to puechase trek furniture OTOP from North of Thailand. There are a lot of teak in jungle and national park. eventhough teak furniture is in under control by GOV of Thaialnd but you can buy it at the local place because teak tree has been possess by local people.
It's also become a unique product of some particular rural area. treak furniture is not expensive as other countries do. Because of low cost of living of Thailand. That why products from Thailand are still remaining merchantable.
If you would like to purchase the goods but you are worrying about carrying the big product like a teak product. there is a shipping service for you which provides you reasonable fare.
If you are looking for the best accomodation to take a rest in Phuket. I recommend you to stay on the Patong Beach. There are several resorts along the beach but if you would prefer to swiming on the private beach. I suggest you to stay at Le meridian Phuket resort.
On a secluded cove against a canvas of sand and sea, we offer bold new discoveries with our top-rate facilities for land and water adventures, world-class spa, inspired cuisine, and forward-thinking services that exceed our guests' desires.
Merely a few minutes' drive from the island's vibrant shopping and entertainment centre of Patong, our pristine beach bordered by lush greenery invites calm exploration—and a plethora of exciting water sports, pampering, and recreational options awaits.
You may find yourself inspired to try a round of fun mini-golf, practice your swing in out outdoor driving range, enjoy a dip in two oversized pools overlooking the azure sea, or work up a sweat in our contemporary fitness centre. Guests are ensured a transformative experience at Le Spa, which offers traditional Thai therapies as well as signature pampering programmes.
For more information on the many activities offered for adults and kids alike, our "7-Day Discovery" brochure offers a detailed list of nightly themed buffet dinners, sports and recreational activities, kid's centre activities, and our latest spa promotions.
Hotel Features
Thai Culinary Classes
Whet your curiosity about a rich and ancient culinary tradition. Learn tips on selecting the ingredients used in the Thai kitchen, then experience a hands-on Thai cooking session before enjoying the food you've prepared.
Family Activities + Excursions
Enjoy a fun-filled day with the whole family! The possibilities are limitless on our secluded beach, where free sports activities are held regularly. Picnics are a breeze with our two adjacent food outlets.
Secluded Beach
Enjoy our 500-metre pristine beach with private sun loungers and huts perfect for san bathing or relaxing. Guests can use non-motorised sports equipment free of charge. Beach volleyball and beach football games are arranged regularly by the resort.
Penguin Club
Our on-site info-tainment centre offers a unique destination for your curious, energetic young ones. Kids wanting a little break from the parents can drop them off at the beach or pool and flee to the Penguin Club for hours of fun-filled activities.
Le Fitness
Imagine a place that satisfies your need for maximum movement—a centre equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to challenge and push your limits. Le Fitness offers a new perspective on the way you work out.
Le Spa
Sumptuous spa treatments and massage services are performed by our highly trained staff in private, stylish teakwood rooms surrounded by natural foliage. After a full day of rigourous work or play, it’s time to pamper yourself. Tranquility awaits.
Tennis + Squash Courts
The resort offers four championship-standard tennis courts in addition to our indoor, air-conditioned squash courts. Use of the courts and equipment is complimentary for in-house guests.
Oversized Swimming Pools + Pool Deck
Guests are in for a pleasurable experience at our two oversized swimming pools, built alongside one another and adjacent to the beach for the ultimate clear-water oases under the brilliant Thai sun. The pool deck includes a Jacuzzi and kids' pool.
A Site with Rich Natural and Cultural History
Phuket, a mining centre during the 16th century, employed many Hakka Chinese miners who left their cultural imprint along with Portuguese explorers. Today, our transformative resort can be your base for exploring ancient caverns or temples.
Unlock Art™
PBGIW is among Thailand’s most fascinating ecological venues, with hundreds of butterfly species, some unique to the Kingdom, along with wondrous flora and fauna. A different kind of ecological centre for a distinct kind of audience.
Internet Access
Internet access throughout the hotel keeps you connected. More >
SPG® Kids Pass
The SPG® Kids Pass program is an all-inclusive dining program. For a flat daily rate, children ages 12 and younger of Starwood Preferred Guest® members can enjoy all-inclusive access to a variety of dining options.
New Signature Breakfast
Awaken your creative curiosity with Le Méridien’s New Signature Breakfast.
Some of the services and facilities above may not be available on a 24-hour basis or without advance request. Fees on certain facilities/services may apply.
Hua Hin is Thailand's oldest beach town resort. Situated on the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand and only 200 kilometers from the capital, Bangkok, it offers the ultimate getaway destination for the city's elite. Hua Hin became popular with the Royal Family following the construction of the southern railway in the 1920's, travel became more accessible and a demand for luxury resorts and hotels grew. The first of these was the Railway Hotel which is now the Sofitel Central, still one of Hua Hin's most popular hotels.
This is the other choice to enjoy beaches here because there is a Cha am beach near Hua hin . it is not expensive and lots of foreign tourist there like Pattaya beach
Today Hua Hin is undergoing rapid expansion as Bangkokians and Westerners look this way for a second home, be it a quaint house nestled in the hills or an upmarket condominum with ocean views. Over the past few years, the town has seen countless housing developments spring up, new golf courses constructed, a brand new shopping complex and movie theatre and a boom in local businesses. The charm of Hua Hin is that it still retains its fishing village serenity which is now side by side with the bustling center of a modern luxury beach resort.
For example, Dusit Thani hotel, Shereton resort , Holiday Inn and so on
First of all , I need to tell you about the term of VNR. A video news
release (VNR) is a video segment made to look like a news report, but is
instead created by a PR firm, advertising agency, marketing firm, corporation,
or government agency. They are provided to television newsrooms to shape public
opinion, promote commercial products and services, publicize individuals, or
support other interests. News producers may air VNRs, in whole or in part, at
their discretion or incorporate them into news reports if they contain
information appropriate to a story or of interest to viewers.
However , some of goverments of some country attemtped to make a fake video to protect thier honour because they want to protect thier reputation and other outgrowth. Even thought, the VNR has already disclose the face of video but eventually the government try to make a fake video instead. there are many channel sources which attemtp to profect some nationals such as CNN , Skynews and so on.
Finally, we should watch and believe the source that we veracious. Perhaps CNN, Skynews and other sources maybe they are all dependable. Anyway, viewers should use discretion inwatching the media carefully.
In this post, I will be talking about
the negative publicity of companies assume different strategy to deal with crisis
management so, there are many in the business world who believes that publicity
including negative publicity is good for company.
Therefore , the publicity is generally acknowledged to be more credible and
more influential than company-controlled communications. Negative publicity, in
particular, has the potential to damage corporate image. This is due to its
high credibility as well as the negativity effect, a tendency for negative
information to be weighted more than positive information in the evaluation of
people, objects, and ideas.
According to , the corporate crises often result in negative publicity, threatening
the image of the company. The present study investigated the effects of company
reputation for social responsibility prior to a crisis event, response to a
crisis event, and responsibility for the event on overall consumer regard for
the firm. The study is an experimental test of image restoration strategies
conceptualized in the literature. Each of the factors was found to exhibit a
significant main effect. For the crisis scenario used in the responsibility
explained the largest proportion of variance and response explained the least.
An unexpected finding was that an inappropriate response by a "bad"
company resulted in an increase in regard toward the firm, whereas the same
response by a "good" company resulted in a decrease in regard for the
firm.
Finally , the publicity make without to the marketing and the role of the
pubilcity so, it make the publicity has the idea and improve for the create of
advertising and promote of the producte for the companies as well.
To make customers happy and creating a loyal customer doesn't have to be costly. Simply avoiding some common customer service mistakes can make a big impact on business.
This is the top 10 of common mistake that we often encounter it. 1.Taking the customer for granted. I've noticed it is common for the employee to forget the expected niceties: "Good morning," "How can I help you?" "Let me check for you," "Thank you," "We appreciate your business." Customers have come to expect these phrases, delivered sincerely, when they are purchasing something. A quick way to make customers go away is to take them for granted and stop showing you appreciate them. 2.Make sure it is clear to your staff that you expect them to show politeness and appreciation toward customers. Give them some leeway on how to express that, so they don't sound like robots. If they go a bit too far--"Hiya, dude!"-reel them in by telling them what you'd rather they say. 3.Using jargon; expecting the customer to understand your lingo. Even when the customers are highly trained professionals, they may not be familiar with your company's acronyms or buzz words. If your company deals with consumers, don't assume they understand industry talk. For example, when an insurance professional says "binder" she means something entirely different than the image the consumer conjures up, which is usually a vision of a three-ring binder! 4.Listen closely to what your people are saying. Or ask someone who doesn't know your business to call and talk to your people. Get them to tell you how they were treated and what words your people used that were confusing. 5. Speaking so fast that the customer has to ask the employee to repeat. When you hear a customer repeatedly asking your staff member to repeat himself, this is a sign he's speaking too quickly. When he slows down, he needs to make sure his tone won't be interpreted as condescending. The reason the customer is asking for the information again is not because she's dumb, she just may be unfamiliar with what your employee is saying, so may need it slowed down a bit.
6.Giving short, clipped answers.
When staff say "Yes" instead of "Yes, let me look that up for you," or "Yes, we do have that in stock" it can come across as unfriendly and curt. Adding a few additional words to amplify the point conveys a friendly demeanor.
7.When you hear your employees giving short answers, pull them aside afterwards and help them understand how clipped answers can be interpreted negatively by customers. Suggest she add a few more words to her answers to show she's friendly and interested in making the customer feel appreciated.
8.Not being proactive when a problem arises.
When a customer initiates a call about a problem, he's even more angry when he finds out your company knew about the problem, but didn't notify him immediately. Train your people to call customers as soon as they're aware of a problem. It is not always a pleasant call to make, but it is more pleasant than when the customer calls first.
9. Not appearing like they care about the customer's complaint.
Often customer contact staff don't show that they care about a customer's concern, or may even get defensive when a customer complains. Perhaps it's a common complaint, so they've become callused because they've heard it so often. Or perhaps there's nothing they can do about this issue. If they would even act like they cared many problems would be resolved quicker, and the customer would feel that your business was concerned about their issue.
10. Being pre-occupied with other tasks (talking with co-workers, paperwork, stocking shelves).
Train your staff to notice what's going on around them. Teach them to look up from what their doing often, and approach customers who may look puzzled or lost. This not only increases the customer's impression of your service, it cuts down on any shop lifting.
Finally ,Thinking they know what the customer is asking, so either interrupts or stop listening before the customer is done asking. After working in a customer contact position for a while, you can begin to predict what customers are going to ask or complain about. It makes matters much worse when the customer is cut off mid-sentence while trying to ask or explain something.
Thank you for the information from Rebecca L. Morgan, CSP, CMC
First of all ,Jackson and Timberlake performed a medley of Jackson's songs "All for You" and "Rhythm Nation" and Timberlake's song "Rock Your Body"during the halftime show. Second, The performance featured many suggestive dance moves by both singers, and as Timberlake reached his final line of Rock Your Body, "I'm gonna have you naked by the end of this song," Timberlake pulled off a part of Jackson's costume, revealing her right breast, partially covered by a piece of nipple jewelry, for less than a second. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the CBS broadcast cut to an aerial view of Reliant Stadium, but was unable to do so before the picture was sent to millions of viewers' televisions. However, GoDaddy.com was almost unheard of six years ago. Then it ran the most talked-about ad of Super Bowl XXXIX is a spoof of Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" in which a busty woman appears before a censorship board and a strap breaks on her skimpy top.The spot was so racy that Fox yanked a second airing scheduled for later in the game. The other fallout? The Super Bowl ad rolled out each year by GoDaddy, which registers Internet domain names, is now almost as eagerly awaited as the halftime show.Fox is charging about $3 million for 30 seconds of ad time this Sunday during Super Bowl XLV. So is the gamble worth it for companies?
"It's not a bet," GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons says, "if you know the outcome."
Online businesses in particular reap big benefits from pitching during the big game. Viewers see the ads, then rush to the Web to see uncut versions of the commercial or snag freebies — and they end up becoming paying customers.
Finally, the ad, the site's first during a Super Bowl, resulted in a huge increase in traffic, which lets vacationers book rental properties. The new business from the Super Bowl ad allowed the site to recoup 60 percent to 70 percent of the cost.
First of all, we need to know about the Mountain Dew band. it is a carbonated soft drink brand produced and owned by PepsiCo. The original formula was invented in the 1940s by Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman and was first marketed in Marion, Virginia; Knoxville, Tennessee and Johnson City, Tennessee with the slogan "Ya-Hoo! Mountain Dew. It'll tickle yore innards. A revised formula was created by Bill Bridgforth in 1958. The Mountain Dew brand and production rights were acquired by the Pepsi-Cola company in 1964, at which point distribution expanded more widely across the United States and Canada.
However, many companies are stressed out about marketing to Generation-Y, those born between 1982 and 1993. I'm sure you've heard about how sizable the Gen-Y demographic is: 80 million consumers and $200 billion in spending power. The consumers of Gen-Y clearly have and will continue to have an impact on every market, from online retail to the automotive industry.
Moreover, the pressing question you are probably asking yourself is, How in the world do we market to them? Marketing to Gen-Y is actually not as difficult as you might think. Gen-Y consumers, like any demographic, are creatures of habit. They will show loyalty to brands they've grown up with or have proudly discovered on their own. They like to share with their friends, and they like to feel that your ads are unique and targeted to them.
Next, Gen-Y has shown a tendency to support heritage brands and engage with companies via social media. Gen-Y has also shown a tendency to shut out brands that bombard them with advertising or "market down" to them.
Consequently, that is pretty similar to the behavior of other demographics as well. Anyone, regardless of age, would be turned off if constantly spammed with advertisements. When advertising to Gen-Y, or, again, just about any demographic nowadays, you can use any medium: television, radio, or a social media site, such as Facebook.
My Life in Ruins (UK title: Driving Aphrodite) is a 2009romantic comedy film set among the ruins of ancient Greece. The film is about a tour guide whose life takes a personal detour, while her group gets entangled in comic situations among the ruins, with a series of unexpected stops along the way.
Throughout My Life in Ruins, a couple of characters are frequently reminded that they are not as funny as they think they are. Unfortunately, this also applies to the movie itself. It wants to be a bubbly and occasionally zany comedy with a touch of romance surrounded by gorgeous Greek scenery ... but it often feels flat and forced, and even the landscapes seemed blah. It's being touted as a follow-up to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, with the same lead actress (Nia Vardalos), but it doesn't have the pleasing blend of comedy and family sentiment that made its predecessor a success.
The movie is about a five-day tour of legendary ruins in Greece (thus the title). Georgia (Vardalos), a former history instructor whose stopgap job as a tour guide has extended for years. She hates her job, fusses because she's being assigned "second-class" tourists, and finds fault with everything in Greece that isn't at least 2,000 years old. Various Greeks -- her boss, her bus driver -- tell her that she has lost her kefi, a Greek word meaning joie de vivre or mojo or the ability to not annoy the audience. She just needs to relax and get laid and stop worrying her pretty head about things.
The Greek chorus of "you're too uptight" is joined by widower tourist Irv (Richard Dreyfuss), one of the many cliched tourist stereotypes traveling through Greece with Georgia as guide. She also has to deal with incomprehensible Australians, dorky Americans, sexy Spanish divorcees, a dysfunctional British family, and a cute little old lady who steals stuff -- not to mention the sleazy competing tour guide who has decided to torture her into quitting.
I waited for Georgia to stop putting up with these pests and start taking charge, preferably with charges of dynamite, but instead I had listen to her whine about how everyone wants to go to the beach and eat ice cream instead of listening to her lecturing about ancient Greek history. The character's continual plastered-on smile makes you wonder if she's running for Vice President. On the other hand, it's refreshing to see a female character go after men who are younger than she is with no comment, much less repercussion.
Irv comes across as one of those magical wise characters that dispenses homespun wisdom, the white Midwestern version of Morgan Freeman, I suppose. Still, Dreyfuss has enough charm to pull it off most of the time. I was dissatisfied by the way Irv's storyline resolved, and wondered if it hadn't originally been scripted or filmed one way and then changed due to criticism. Other supporting characters are fitfully funny, but more often grating.
Bear in mind that Vardalos, who scripted My Big Fat Greek Wedding, didn't write My Life in Ruins. The screenwriter this time is sitcom writer Mike Reiss, who resorts to cringeworthy gags about Greek names like Poupy and Kakas. The movie was directed by Donald Petrie, who has directed a number of forgettable romantic comedies, the most memorable of which was Miss Congeniality.
My Life in Ruins is obviously meant to appeal to women in a summer stuffed with blockbusters aimed at a younger male audience. But women deserve better escapist fare than this feeble attempt at romantic comedy.Variety reported this week that the audiences for Drag Me to Hell have been skewing "surprisingly" female. But Alison Lohman's character in that film, although she might seem blandly Everywoman-ish at times, is far more fun and fierce than the plastic fantastic Tour Guide Georgia. If you want Greek scenery, rent Mamma Mia; if you want a kickass heroine, try the Raimi film; if you like Vardalos, hopefully she'll be more lively in next month's I Hate Valentine's Day, which she wrote and directed.
Hi, everyone. I will guide you to travel to Chiangmai City. It's also a popular city for leisure tourist. The peak season in Chiangmai City is 10 to 18 april because the best place to enjoy Songkran's festival is right here.
Understand Chingmai
Chaingmai city founded in 1296 CE, Chiang Mai is a culturally and historically interesting city, at one time the capital of the ancient Lanna kingdom. Located among the rolling foothills of the Himalayan Mountains 700 km north of Bangkok, it could only be reached by an arduous river journey or an elephant trek until the 1920s. This isolation helped keep Chiang Mai's distinctive charm intact.
Chiang Mai's historical centre is the walled city (city is chiang in the northern Thai dialect while mai is new, hence Chiang Mai or New City. Sections of the wall dating to their restoration a few decades ago remain at the gates and corners, but of the rest only the moat remains. Inside Chiang Mai's remaining city walls are more than 30 temples dating back to the founding of the principality, in a combination of Burmese, Sri Lankan and Lanna Thai styles, decorated with beautiful wood carvings, Naga staircases, leonine and angelic guardians, gilded umbrellas and pagodas laced with gold filigree. The most famous is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, which overlooks the city from a mountainside 13 km away. Modern-day Chiang Mai has expanded in all directions, but particularly to the east towards the Ping River (Mae Nam Ping), where Chang Klan Rd, the famous Night Bazaar and the bulk of Chiang Mai's hotels and guest houses are located. Loi Kroh Rd is the centre of the city's night life. The locals say you've not experienced Chiang Mai until you've seen the view from Doi Suthep, eaten a bowl of kao soi, and purchased an umbrella from Bo Sang. Of course this is touristic nonsense, but the Kao Soi, Bo Sang umbrellas, and Doi Suthep are important cultural icons for Chiang Mai residents. Ratchadamneon Rd hosts the main Sunday night walking street market from Tha Phae Gate to the popular Wat Phra Singh.
Climate in Chaingmai city
Chiang Mai's northern location and moderate elevation results in the city having a more temperate climate than that of the south. As with the rest of Thailand there are three seasons.
A cool season from November to February.
A hot season from March to June
A wet season from July to October
By plane
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) handles both domestic and regional international flights. The route from Bangkok is one of the busiest in the country (Thai Airways flies daily almost every hour, with additional flights in the peak tourist season). Other airlines operating direct services from/to Chiang Mai include: Bangkok airway, Thai airway,Kan air, Nok air, Nok mini, and so on
Rattling government buses make frequent stops at every minor township. The journey takes around 12 hrs and costs 200 baht.
Non-stop 24/32-seaters and 1st class buses such as Nokhonchai Air provide larger seats and snacks; making the long trip more comfortable. They manage the trip around 9 hours and cost around 550 baht. Be cautious about the so-called "VIP" buses touted on Khao San Rd. They may be cheaper, but you may end up crammed into a 2nd class bus or worse.
By train Services from Bangkok's Hualamphong Train Station leave on a regular daily schedule and take 12-15 hours to reach Chiang Mai. Daytime services leave at 08:30, and 14:30 with second-class (281 baht) and third-class (121 baht) carriages. The seats in each class differ in softness and width and can become uncomfortable after 10+ hours.
How to get around there ?
By Songthaew
In lieu of a local bus service, locals get around the city on songthaew (สองแถว). These covered pick-up trucks have two long bench seats in the back (songthaew means "two rows" in Thai), ply fixed routes or to any destination, picking up passengers en route who are going the same way.
By tuk-tuk or samlor Tuk-tuks are a quick, though noisy way to get around. Fares are usually 30-40 baht for a short hop (as of July 2012 it seems that the minimum has gone up to 40 baht for pre-arranged locations) and 50-100 baht for longer distances, depending on the proficiency of your bargaining. As a guide, expect to pay 40 baht from the old city to the riverside and Night Bazaar, 40-50 baht to the railway station, and 80-100 baht to the bus station or airport. Tuk-tuks parked near .
See
The quintessential image of Chiang Mai with its large gold-plated chedi, visible from the city on a clear day, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep (วัดพระธาตุดอยสุเทพ, Huai Kaeo Rd, 30 baht, is 18 km from town, sitting at a 1,073 m elevation on the slopes of Doi (Mount) Suthep. Built in 1383 during the Lanna Thai period, legend has it that the temples site was selected by an elephant sent to roam the mountain side, where upon reaching a suitable spot, it trumpeted, circled three times, knelt down and promptly died, which was interpreted as a sign indicating an auspicious site. The temple offers grand views over the city, but no reward is without effort as you must accent the 300-plus steps of the Naga-lined stairs. The climb may be a strain in the high altitude's thin air for the less fit, so you may opt to take the cable car for 20 baht. For the Visaka Bucha holiday in June or July each year, it is traditional for people to walk from the zoo to the temple and vast numbers make the pilgrimage to the top, which takes around 4-5 hours.
Inside the old city walls
Wat Phra Singh, Corner of Singharaj Rd and Rajdamnern Rd. Probably Chiang Mai's best-known temple, housing the Phra Singh image, completed between 1385 and 1400. Of most historical interest is the Wihan Lai Kham in the back, featuring Lanna-style temple murals and intricate gold patterns on red lacquer behind the altar. The large chedi was built in 1345 by King Pha Yu to house the remains of his father King Kam Fu. A typical scripture repository is located at this temple as well. These repositories were designed to keep and protect the delicate sa or mulberry paper sheets used by monks and scribes to keep records and write down folklore. The high stucco-covered stone base of the repository protected the delicate scriptures from the rain, floods and pests. The walls of the chapel are covered with murals illustrating Lanna customs, dress, and scenes from daily life. The lovely Lai Kam chapel houses the revered Phra Singh Buddha image. Sadly, the head was stolen in 1922, and a reproduction is now seen. To enter the temple is free for Thais, and 20 baht for foreigners. The ticket is in a leaflet form containing useful information and map of Wat Phra Singh complex.
Wat Chiang Man, Rajpakinai Rd. The oldest royal temple in the city. Presumed to date from the year Chiang Mai was founded (1296), it is famed for two Buddha images, which according to legend are 1,800 and 2,500 years old. King Mengrai allegedly lived here while the city of Chiang Mai was being constructed. Enshrined in Wat Chiang Man is a tiny crystal Buddha called Pra Seh-Taang Kamaneeee, which is thought to have the power to bring rain. Another image, called Phra Sila Khoa, reflects the fine workmanship of Indian craftsmen from thousands of years ago.
Wat Chedi Luang, Prapokklao Rd. Almost in the centre of Chiang Mai are the remains of a massive chedi that toppled in in the great earthquake of 1545. The temple was originally constructed in 1401 on the orders of King Saeng Muang Ma. In 1454, reigning King Tilo-Garaj enlarged the chedi (pronounced jedee) to a height of 86 m. After the earthquake, the chedi lay in ruins until 1991-92, when it was reconstructed at a cost of several million baht. A magnificent testament to Lanna (northern Thai) architecture and art, restored sections hint at its former glory. Wat Chedi Luang is also home to the "Pillar of the City", a totem used in ancient Thai fertility rites.
Wat Phrachao Mengrai, Ratchamanka 6, Phra Sing (near Heuan Phen Restaurant), ☎ +66 53 278 788 . An atmospheric temple with two Wihan buildings, off the beaten track, quiet and gently crumbling. One of the Wihan buildings houses an important Buddha image: Phra Buddha Rupa Phra Chao Mengrai.
Gay bars Chiang Mai is a popular destination for gay tourists and many gay people have retired here. Highlights of the vibrant gay scene include:
Garden Bar & Restaurant, 2/25 Soi Viangbua, Chotana Rd (across the street from Adams Apple), ☎ +66 53 215376. Outdoor garden bar and restaurant serving Lebanese, Western and Thai food. Popular meeting place for gay expats and tourists.
Glass Onion, Room 1 project, 61, Nimmanhaemin Rd, ☎ +66 53 218 479. Sophisticated wine bar popular with the gay community.
Golden Ball (Bon Tong), corner of Tewan Rd and Santitham Rd, ☎ +66 53 406 043, . Northern Thai-style outdoor bar and restaurant. Packed with very friendly staff and fun atmosphere.Drinks start at 45 baht for a large Chang beer.
Soho Bar & Guesthouse, 20/3 Huay Kaew Rd (about 100 m from the Kad Suan Kaew shopping mall, opposite the Chiang Mai Orchid Hotel), ☎ +66 53 404 175, +66 85 029 8485, +66 82 695 9930 (sohocm@hotmail.com), . Expats, tourists, and Thai men.
Guesthouses and Boutique Hotels
Budget
7 Century Guest House, 270 Ratchaphakinai Rd, Sripoom, ☎ +66 53 287 541 and +66 81 43 88 175 (le7century.guesthouse@hotmail.com). checkout: 12:00. Newly renovated guest house, but somehow already a bit worn. 2 single (150 baht), 4 double (180-220 baht) and 1 triple rooms (250 baht). Singles can be a bit mouldy due to poor drainage and ventilation. Good hot shower (private for single rooms, shared for double and triple). Terrace. Free Wi-Fi. If they have a laptop free you can borrow it to take to your room. Fan in rooms. Kitchen free to use. Soft beds. Service also available in good German. Help with booking trips, treks, motorbikes and other things. Friendly staff.150-250 baht.
B.R. Hotel, Morakot Rd (northwest corner of the moat, from where Huay Kaew Rd turns to the left, drive straight (north) 700 m, turn left on Morakot Rd and you'll see the sign on the right side), ☎ +66 53 220 061. checkout: 12:00. Simple, but cozy Thai hotel. Fan rooms are often sold out, however 299 baht for an A/C room with TV and small balcony is an excellent value during hot or wet season. No Wi-Fi (but Truemove 850 MHz 3G works perfectly). While the hotel is not far from the centre, the closest place where you can catch a public songthaew (near Kad Suan Kaew Mall) is almost 1 km away, so the place is better suited for those who rent a motorbike. Free parking. On the nearby intersection with Hasadhisawee Rd, there are numerous and cheap food stalls in the evening. Hotel staff generally doesn't speak any English. If no vacancy, there's Inthanon Hotel next on the same road, priced ~50 baht more.199 baht fan, from 299 baht A/C. (18.8021,98.9804)
Bed and Terrace Chiang Mai Guesthouse, 10 Kotchasarn Rd, Soi 5, ☎ +66 53 449 708 and +66 83 828 5599 (service@bedandterrace.com), . Thai modern-style guest house with terrace, comfortable rooms with double windows to see the panoramic mountain view.500 baht.
FWD House Hostel (Box dorm with 10 single beds), 78 Ratmakka Rd, Pha Sing, Oly City, Chiang Mai (4.3 km from Chiang Mai International Airport, 4.5 km from the Chiang Mai train station, 5 km from the bus station), ☎ +66 82 623 3349 (forwardhouse.th@gmail.com). checkin: 12:00; checkout: 11:00. Located on Ratmanka Rd, just a 10-minute walk to the temples and the main strip of bars in Chiang Mai, and a minute walk to the Sunday night market. Owner and staff are welcoming, friendly, can cater to your personal needs, and also make you feel at home.180 baht.
Giant Guest House 1 & 2, Giant 1, 24/1 Moon Muang Rd, Sriphum. Giant 24 Rachamanka Rd, Prasingha., ☎ +66 87 182 1611 (giantguesthouse@gmail.com), . checkout: 12:00. Cheap basic rooms, hot showers, free Wi-Fi, free shared computer, free bicycles, free water, Reggae bar attached (Freedom Bar 16:00-24:00). Can book everything here and sightsee by bicycle. Kitchen with cooking lessons available and massage school 200 m away. Keep an eye out for only the 300 baht room left after they pick you up in the airport, they will give you this price in front of the guest house. 100 baht dorms, 180 baht single fan room (shared bath), 250 baht queen bed with fan (private bathroom). Monthly rates 3,500 baht, single room with fan and shared bathroom (1 person).
Green Tulip Guest House, 18 Samlan Rd, ☎ +66 53 278 367, . Guest house with a roof-top garden, Internet café and large screen TV in the lobby. Beautifully decorated and designed with elegant wood floors throughout the building. Choice of fan and air-con rooms with shared or private bathrooms.250-650 baht.
Hollanda Montri Guest House, 365 Charoen Rat Rd, ☎ +66 53 242 450, Family style guest house fan or air-con rooms and with a tropical garden on the banks of the Mae Ping River.500 baht.
Julie Guest House, 7/1 Prapokklao Rd, Soi 5, ☎ +66 53 274 355, Popular guest house located in a quiet part of the old city near Tha Phae Gate. This guest house is notorious for filling quickly (quite often by 09:00) as it is listed in some guide books. The lounge area is often full of travellers. Food and drinks are served. The in-house travel agency can do all sorts of bookings for you. Free Wi-Fi, but it doesn't always work.from 100-180 baht (fan room without/with en suite).
Lek Guesthouse, 22 Chaiyaphum Rd, ☎ +66 53 252 686 (lek@chiangmai-online.com), . checkout: 12:00. All rooms have fan and private bathroom with hot water. Hidden in a quiet alley. Free Wi-Fi. single, 250 baht; double, 300 baht.
Linda Guesthouse, 456/67 Soi Banditpatana (close to the railway station, follow the sign at Charoen Muang Rd), ☎ +66 53 246 915 (lindaguesthouse@hotmail.com, fax: +66 53 246 915). East of Tha Phae Gate, easy accessible by songthaew routes. Very clean rooms. The guest house also offers many trekking tours. The staff speaks German, English, and Thai. Family-like atmosphere. Cheap and very good food around the clock, freshly made.100-300 baht, reduced cost for longer stays possible.
A Little Bird Guesthouse, 17 Soi 1 Ratvithi Rd, ☎ +66 53 289 577 (alittlebird_cm@hotmail.com), . checkout: 12:00. Cheap basic dorms with hot shower and free Wi-Fi. An easy place to meet other travellers in a good location.100 baht mixed dorm; 120 baht female dorm.
Mint House, 80-82 Prapokklao (Soi 5). Near Chiang Mai Gate., ☎ +66 86 253 1743. Really friendly and helpful staff. Centrally located, clean and good prices for dorms and rooms. Rooms have dedicated bathrooms that, strangely, are not en suite, but all across the hallway. Keep an eye out for room rates changing after you've already checked-in (e.g., +100 baht). Don't be a wimp when this happens.Single 200 baht, double 300 baht, dorm 120 baht.
Parami Guesthouse, ☎ +66 53 266 139, . A small cozy family-run guest house.300-550 baht.
Ping River Inn, ☎ +66 81 993 5187 (ping.river.inn@hotmail.com). checkin: 15:00; checkout: 12:00. A basic but clean inn along the Ping River near Nakorn Ping Bridge and the yellow songthaew route. Hot showers, two bottles of free drinking water, towels, roof access, cable, and free Wi-Fi. If the foot bridge over the river ever gets fixed, the Ping River Inn will be within five minutes walking distance of Warorot Market.390-540 baht. (N 18° 47.36',E 99° 0.4')
Riders Corner (Rider's Corner Bar & Restaurant), 357, Moon Muang Rd, ☎ +66 87 048 1787 (riders.corner.cnx@gmail.com), . Rooms are newly renovated, clean and comfortable. Hotel room rates are 350–600 baht. Full breakfast is available. Locked parking for motorcycles is provided.350-600 baht. (N 18° 47.692′,E 98° 59.606′)
Siri Guesthouse, 31/3 Moon Mueang, Soi 5, ☎ +66 53 326 550. A family-run guest house on a popular, but quiet lane. Fan and air-con rooms, all with bathrooms and hot water. Free Wi-Fi.700 baht.
Spicy House, (walk into the old city down Rachadamnern from Tha Phae Gate; turn left at Soi 4; walk almost all the way down to Ratchamanka), ☎ +66 84 613 4776 (Mim). (spicyhouse@hotmail.com). Perhaps the friendliest little guest house in Chiang Mai. Beloved by backpackers everywhere for its low cost and friendly atmosphere. Mim, the owner, gives a free meal for guests every night. She is also an expert chef, and Spicy House serves as a cooking school sometimes. Spicy House is in the dead centre of the Chiang Mai action, but down a quiet soi where you can withdraw from it when needed.
Tha Phae Inn, 164-166 Tha Phae Rd (about 400 m east of Tha Phae Gate on the north side), ☎ +66 53 234 640 (fax: +66 53 252 790). Family-run guest house. Friendly. Excellent value/location combination. Basic double rooms with bathrooms, hot water & small TV. Free Wi-Fi. Common area with tables so you can bring food and eat. Refreshments for sale on-premises.200-300 baht.
