Good Morning Chiangmai News Magazine

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BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS - OPEN!

Tourists - but more importantly trade worth millions of baht - began to flow again across the border bridge between Mae Sai and Tachilek, Burma, on June 24th. The closure of the nearest crossing point to Chiangmai in February has cost up to 4 billion baht in lost business in the region, but was re-opened withion 4 days of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's visit to Rangoon.

Previous Burmese restrictions on some Thai products were lifted, but it was essentials like vegetables and cooking oil which were snapped up in Mae Sai markets and moved northwards Burma first.

The closure was prompted by an exchange of mortar fire in February which cost civilian and military lives on both sides and prompted fears of an all out war. Since then, suspicions concerning the real agenda of the Burmese junta and the Red Wa faction were strengthened after reports of new villages being established opposite Chiangmai and Chiangrai provinces. Observers felt they could be used as military bases. A new road had been built in Burma, very close to the Thai Royal Project at Doi Angkang which was hit by mortars a few weeks ago.

However, the atmosphere seems to have relaxed quickly and relations between Rangoon and Bangkok, as well as locally across the river, were cordial at time of going to press.

Long haul - big haul

The image of Burmese attitudes to the drug trade also improved last month when their soldiers siezed 9 million metamphetamine pills from a Chinese cargo boat heading for the Mekong river port of Chiang Saen, north of Chiangrai. Sources say the pills would have been sold for 100B each in Bangkok.

AFTER JULY 5TH - ADD 053

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All local telephone callers must add the full national 053 code to Chiangmai 6-figure numbers, thanks to new arrangements by the Telephone Organisation of Thailand.

For the first month, callers getting it wrong will hear a recorded message, in Thai of course, after which their call will be connected

Rocketing demand in recent years means the TOT have chosen this method of creating 800 million new numbers nationwide, sufficient, they say, for the next 50 years. International calls in and out of the country are unaffected, but most residents will need to:

change name cards and stationery

re-programme auto phone, speed diallers and faxes

add 053 to fax heading sheets

re-programme personal computers and modems for internet use

update cellular phones and SIM cards

Cellphones users will now have to press 01 when calling other cellphones.

More information in Thai is available on the TOT's special 1100 advice number until August 5th.

SWISS NATIONAL DAY

Natives of Switzerland all over the world celebrate their national day on August 1st. Here in Chiangmai the party is at the Amari Rincome Hotel, where general manager Marc Dumur has laid on poolside cocktails, a buffet at La Gritta restaurant and dancing to the music of Dang Fantastic.

Tickets at 420B by calling 221123.

HOSPITALS LOSING MONEY

Hospitals taking part in the government's new "30 B per visit" health scheme for poor Thai people are already losing money, warned the Dean of Chiangmai University's Faculty of Medicine.

CMU's Maharat facility is the only local university hospital in the scheme so far, said Dr Piya Netvichien, and their internal budget for lower income patients was already less than a third of expenditure. The true average cost od treating each outpatient was 388B - excluding any medicine required.

ROUND AND ABOUT

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* A rare musical treat awaits Amari Rincome Hotel visitors on July 13th when the Whiffenpoof world tour calls in once more from Yale University, USA. The unaccompanied male chorus singing with subtle slices of humour can be enjoyed from 7.00pm and tickets including a cocktail cost 450B. The Amari mood goes classical on August 10th when the Ibycus Chamber Concert celebrate songs of Giuseppe Verdi with Sophie Tanapura (soprano) and Elvira Galioullina (piano). More on 053 221123.

* A talk on the HIV crisis as it affects Chiangmai will be given at the Informal Northern Thai Group on July 3rd by Prof Vincent del Casino. Alliance Francaise, Charoenprathet Road, 7.30pm.

* Chiangmai's truly 5-star rural resort keeps winning awards. The Regent Chiangmai's Lanna Spa has been voted "number one" by the prestigious American Zagat Survey, a guide which evaluated 1,735 venues worldwide. The third honour for this luxurious Spa in 18 months! Khun Kornchai Thitasuta has been appointed director of sales and marketing in place of Julian Crane, who has moved to The Four Seasons, Tokyo.

* His many friends here and in Chiangrai will be pleased to hear that Bill Watters, former contributor and illustrator for 'Good Morning Chiangmai News' is alive and well and returning here for Christmas. Bill returns from his native England after "serious but successful surgery" and will be researching in the silk industry.

* July 5th and 6th are Buddhist holidays in Thailand, so plan for the fact that banks and government offices will be closed.