REASONS TO RELAX

FUN MAPPED OUT!

That's the promo phrase from - and about - Groovy Map, who now have their updated and much improved Chiangmai version in the shops, writes Ric Klein.

Their unique recipe is to sell you a smart, comprehensive map with, on the flip side, brief and zippy guide book style advice on eating, pubbing, clubbing and doing things - mainly for the under 50's. But I liked it too! Like all guide books, there's the hazard that what is a cool and strong recommendation at press time has closed down or moved by the time the product is in the shops, but, like Edgar Allan, I mustn't be too poe-faced. Culture vultures will eye this and flap on, but the real predators of this style of up-beat trendy stuff, brought up on fast food, will have grown used to fast obsolescence. The 199 baht required to Groove is not going to gouge too deeply into their modest budgets.

'Newsweek' went as far as advising its readers to leave their 500 page travel guides at home and take only the Groovy Map, for indeed, Aaron Frankel's team have set out to map the world! Good luck to them. Here and now I challenge Aaron (who by the by I've never met - I'm brave like that) in front of millions of our onhammock and online readers to make my native Huddersfield look interesting! Over to you, Aaron…..

The road oft traveled

Over the years I must have worn a groove in a road far off the Groovy Map, the main 118 north to Chiangrai, and found 3 favourite stopping places. In order, going north, first comes Sunshine Coffee Shop at the Hot Springs south of Mekajaan, then there's Cabbages n Condoms restaurant and chalets further north on the right, then Charoen Garden Resort, also on the right, with it's western delights like chocolate cake and American apple pie!

More on those later, just let me say here that Sunshine Coffee Shop is spreading it's rays and now has much more than the best vegetarian curry pies in the land. Last set of premises on the right in the huge parking area - after all the look-alikes - here you get delicious locally grown coffee and tea, plus lovely wind chimes in the gift shop and a set of the very best hong nams on the journey!

Regular readers will know I always need a book in my hammock to while away the cooler exterior hours. Gecko Books have a sci-fi and fantasy section which, Carlsberg-style, they say is probably the biggest and best in the land so far as used books are concerned. Their children's section has also grown like Topsy, while a vast shipment from UK has swelled the fascinating Buddhist and New Age/Spiritual section.

Romance used to be a total non seller here many years back, but has obviously blossomed, otherwise George would not have so many - and such a high proportion of 'New York Times' best sellers too!

Most like it hot!

Thai's love of hot food has gone to extremes, says a local chairwoman of the Federation of Thai Industries. Culinary experts and food manufacturers are surprised that super-hot foods "hit the market just right and are extremely popular" said Khun Amporn Jitapunkul.

From hot and sour soups to noodles to sour curries the trend goes on and even McDonald's have added spicy new items to their traditional choices. Check them out in the Night Bazaar or in-house at the impressive Carrefour superstore on the amusingly-named Super-highway. By the way, Thai and Chinese medical experts all assert that there are no really harmful effects to eating it hot!

What a site!

I've been browsing around the internet more and more and commend the following sites to your attention, listed in alphabetical order and all, of course, preceded by www.

Spirulina! Nature's Superfood?

A unique Chiangmai farm is producing one of the world's healthiest foods.

PIP

Down on the Farm

A natural product which began development in a Bangkok test tube in 1987 is now grown in 15,000 square meters of ponds near Sanpatong and exported all over the world.

David Hardy

LET'S SPEAK THAI No1:
Problems with the waitress? Say it in Thai

Samantha Burman

Happy Valentine's Day

We say it with flowers.

David Hardy

Chiangmai and the North

Expat Express

My Chiangmai

David Hardy

Reasons to Relax

Ric Klein

Nong Khai Commentary

Riverbank Stone

Financial Affairs

MANAGED CURRENCY ACCOUNTS

The Drinks Page

Night Fowl

Pool League 2003

Letters

MILKING THE MEDIA

Chinese zoo officials will visit Chiangmai's proposed site for the expensive air-conditioned quarters being prepared for a mating pair of giant pandas. (...).

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