Sometimes a map and LP just aren't enough!!
March 13, 2009
The "legendary" farang tuk tuk driver/tour guide Paul Collins
His name is Paul Collins and he is Chiang Mai's #1 Farang Tuk Tuk Driver!!!! No, not because he only drives farang around town.....but because he IS a farang. (He is actually the ONLY farang tuk tuk driver in all of Thailand) Paul was born in Chiang Mai and both of his parents are American. (His parents have lived here for a combined 70+ years!) Consequently, Paul holds dual citizenship...both American and Thai. This is the reason he is able to be licensed as a tuk tuk driver. (Jobs for farang are hard to come by, since you will not be hired to a position that could be done by a Thai person) Paul speaks fluent English, Thai and Northern Thai. He also attended university here in Chiang Mai last year and is a fully licensed TAT tour guide, so he can take you to all of the wats, ruins and historical sites, as well as the elephant camp, snake farm....on and on. Whatever you want to see....or shop for....Paul knows where to find it!
He is always on time for pick up (a real novelty in Thailand where most things run on Thai time. (That means it may or may not happen today...and if it does, it's going to happen an hour or more late!). Paul is very professional, courteous, articulate, neat and clean and he keeps his tuk tuk immaculate and in good service. He also has a wicked sense of humor and a killer smile!
I have used Pauls tuk tuk, tour guide and translation service for just about anything and everything I need. Grocery shopping, getting to the consulate, setting up a bank account, helping with my visa, helping negotiate a good deal with the shop owners for furniture, lamps, finding an English speaking lawyer, etc.....Anything and everything needed for my home, my comfort or just having fun here in Chiang Mai. Paul even found the house that I currently live in and negotiated with my landlady on the price. He coordinated my move, and through a friend of his who does interior decoration I now have a wonderful, cozy, serene home on a small side soi near the River Ping. Paul did all of the translation for me with the local phone company, Internet and cable company after my move and was at my home when things were delivered and installed. If you're in Chiang Mai or planning to be here I would strongly suggest getting in touch with Paul. His mobile number is 0849483315 (or 0850484606) or you can email him before you arrive in Chiang Mai for airport pick up, help finding a good guest house or hotel in your price range or to schedule a tour at besttuktuktours@yahoo.com His rates are very reasonable and if you book in advance Paul will give you a discount.
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The "legendary" farang tuk tuk d…
Where safety and comfort come first
When I first moved to Chiang Mai...a single, farang...WOMAN this is where I lived until I could find a house. The rooms are decorated in Lanna Thai style and wonderful, the staff is so helpful (they speak English and Thai) access to the lift and rooms is with a key card. There is a coffee shop and restaurant in the lobby area and a wonderful front porch where you can enjoy a glass of wine, or an ice coffee and chill out while meeting some of the other guests. Room service is also available. You can use the laundry service they provide, or use one of several washers located in the back off of the lobby area. Viangbua also has a small, well equipped gym and can provide you with a personal trainer, wireless Internet connection is also available for guests. For nights when you just want to "veg out" all rooms also have cable TV. (CNN, BBC, Discovery, AXN, Star Movies for English)
Viangbua Mansion is within walking distance to a local fresh market where you can pick up superb Thai food to take back home with you...or buy some of the exotic fruit available here in Thailand. The rooms have a frig...so, no problem storing munchies. You can also walk to a supermarket (Tops) which carries many farang foods. There is a beautiful Shan wat four blocks away where you can walk, sit, read...or have a conversation with some of the monks. It's about a 15 - 20 minute walk to the moat too! If you're in Chiang Mai for a couple of days, a week or a month or longer, I strongly suggest you check this place out..I liked it so much I wound up living there for two years!!! (they do offer LT stay plans)
Viangbua Mansion is within walking distance to a local fresh market where you can pick up superb Thai food to take back home with you...or buy some of the exotic fruit available here in Thailand. The rooms have a frig...so, no problem storing munchies. You can also walk to a supermarket (Tops) which carries many farang foods. There is a beautiful Shan wat four blocks away where you can walk, sit, read...or have a conversation with some of the monks. It's about a 15 - 20 minute walk to the moat too! If you're in Chiang Mai for a couple of days, a week or a month or longer, I strongly suggest you check this place out..I liked it so much I wound up living there for two years!!! (they do offer LT stay plans)
A little "out of the way" gem of a restaurant in Chiang Mai
The name of this restaurant is The Spirit House, but to those of us who know and love it it's simply "Steve's". Located on Viangbua Road, diagonally across from Viangbua Mansion it's a GEM of a place to eat, relax and enjoy wonderful (non-Thai) music. The restaurant is decorated with hundreds of antiques from Burma and Thailand (all for sale) and has a wonderful little garden area for outside dining or just drinks and munchies. The focal point of the garden is a 700 year old chedi (great photo op!) The owner (of course, Steve) is a wonderful chef, and you just never know what the "daily specials" are going to be. I usually leave what I'm going to eat up to Steve and have never had a bad meal there! ...and I've eaten a lot of his meals. You can get a GREAT eggs Benedict and fresh fruit for a late breakfast...or Steve will even make it for your dinner if your in the mood for "breakfast as dinner" that day. I've enjoyed many a glass of white wine with friends in the garden area and we all go gagaa over his pate! The soups are out of this world, and so is his shirmp with avacado (available when he can get the good fresh ingredients) Or try his deep fried chicken breast with mushroom....Out of this world! The only drawback to Steve's is that on rare moments food service can be a bit slow...but the music and good fellowship make up for it!
This is where I and a most of my farang ex-pat friends go when the urge strikes for "FARANG FOOD"...and a hamburger just won't do it. (you can also get great Thai food here....or a hamburger if you want it!) Next time you have the urge for some great farang food and want to hang with the local ex-pat Chiang Mai crowd please give The Spirit House Restaurant a try...you won't be sorry you did!
This is where I and a most of my farang ex-pat friends go when the urge strikes for "FARANG FOOD"...and a hamburger just won't do it. (you can also get great Thai food here....or a hamburger if you want it!) Next time you have the urge for some great farang food and want to hang with the local ex-pat Chiang Mai crowd please give The Spirit House Restaurant a try...you won't be sorry you did!
Chiang Mai's #1 Tuk Tuk Driver
His name is Paul Collins and he is Chiang Mai's #1 Farang Tuk Tuk Driver!!!! No, not because he only drives farang around town.....but because he IS a farang. (He is actually the ONLY farang tuk tuk driver in all of Thailand) Paul was born in Chiang Mai and both of his parents are American. (His parents have lived here for a combined 70+ years!) Consequently, Paul holds dual citizenship...both American and Thai. This is the reason he is able to be licensed as a tuk tuk driver. (Jobs for farang are hard to come by, since you will not be hired to a position that could be done by a Thai person) Paul speaks fluent English, Thai and Northern Thai. He also attended university here in Chiang Mai last year and is a fully licensed TAT tour guide, so he can take you to all of the wats, ruins and historical sites, as well as the elephant camp, snake farm....on and on. Whatever you want to see....or shop for....Paul knows where to find it!
He is always on time for pick up (a real novelty in Thailand where most things run on Thai time. (That means it may or may not happen today...and if it does, it's going to happen an hour or more late!). Paul is very professional, courteous, articulate, neat and clean and he keeps his tuk tuk immaculate and in good service. He also has a wicked sense of humor and a killer smile!
I have used Pauls tuk tuk, tour guide and translation service for just about anything and everything I need. Grocery shopping, getting to the consulate, setting up a bank account, helping with my visa, helping negotiate a good deal with the shop owners for furniture, lamps, finding an English speaking lawyer, etc.....Anything and everything needed for my home, my comfort or just having fun here in Chiang Mai. Paul even found the house that I currently live in and negotiated with my landlady on the price. He coordinated my move, and through a friend of his who does interior decoration I now have a wonderful, cozy, serene home on a small side soi near the River Ping. Paul did all of the translation for me with the local phone company, Internet and cable company after my move and was at my home when things were delivered and installed. If you're in Chiang Mai or planning to be here I would strongly suggest getting in touch with Paul. His mobile number is 0849483315 (or 0850484606) or you can email him before you arrive in Chiang Mai for airport pick up, help finding a good guest house or hotel in your price range or to schedule a tour at besttuktuktours@yahoo.com His rates are very reasonable and if you book in advance Paul will give you a discount
He is always on time for pick up (a real novelty in Thailand where most things run on Thai time. (That means it may or may not happen today...and if it does, it's going to happen an hour or more late!). Paul is very professional, courteous, articulate, neat and clean and he keeps his tuk tuk immaculate and in good service. He also has a wicked sense of humor and a killer smile!
I have used Pauls tuk tuk, tour guide and translation service for just about anything and everything I need. Grocery shopping, getting to the consulate, setting up a bank account, helping with my visa, helping negotiate a good deal with the shop owners for furniture, lamps, finding an English speaking lawyer, etc.....Anything and everything needed for my home, my comfort or just having fun here in Chiang Mai. Paul even found the house that I currently live in and negotiated with my landlady on the price. He coordinated my move, and through a friend of his who does interior decoration I now have a wonderful, cozy, serene home on a small side soi near the River Ping. Paul did all of the translation for me with the local phone company, Internet and cable company after my move and was at my home when things were delivered and installed. If you're in Chiang Mai or planning to be here I would strongly suggest getting in touch with Paul. His mobile number is 0849483315 (or 0850484606) or you can email him before you arrive in Chiang Mai for airport pick up, help finding a good guest house or hotel in your price range or to schedule a tour at besttuktuktours@yahoo.com His rates are very reasonable and if you book in advance Paul will give you a discount
Chiang Mai's #1 farang tuk tuk d…
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