Chiang Mai
I like Chiang Mai. It’s hard to believe, when you are strolling along it’s leafy streets and sleepy sois that this is, in fact, the second largest city in Thailand.
The best time to visit is November through to January when the days are bright and sunny and the air cool and crisp but without ever getting really cold. But it’s quite possible to go any time of the year, it all depends on what you want to get up to during your stay
If your main reason for visiting Chiang Mai is for the nightlife you might want to think twice. There are bars, and there are willing bargirls but the Chiang Mai scene is much smaller and much less in your face than in the other major centres in the south.
However if you are there for more intellectual pleasures, or to satisfy your spirit of adventure, it is nice to know you can still get your leg over in between.
The bulk of the action takes place at the western end of Loi Kroh Road where it meets Kotchasarn Road and the Moat. There are several bars on both sides of Loi Kroh and a few just around the corner along the moat. Bars to look out for are Easy Corner Bar, Ba Ba Bo Bo (which means crazy) and Linda’s bar. There are others.
Around the corner, and heading north towards Thapae gate is Spotlight. The only gogo bar I have found so far.
Directly opposite, on the other side of the moat is another string of bars. Cozy Corner has a kind of Thai classical gogo. The dancers perform rudimentary classical moves to Thai pop music. Despite having none of the poise and grace of true classical dance the girls do exude a gentle eroticism.
Next to Cozy Corner is Johns Place and then Nice Friend Bar.
Right behind Thapae Gate next to the Top North Hotel is a neon sign announcing Beer Bars. There is also a Thai kick-boxing ring. Most of the bars seemed to be open but there were very few customers. Apparently the area only gets going when there is a fight on.
There is a similar place called CM Entertainment Complex on Loi Kroh Road just to the west of the Kampaeng Din Road intersection. This area is considerably livelier than the previous area but again there were no fights scheduled.
A good many of the bars have pool tables and a good many bar girls are deceptively good pool players. In fact bar girls generally seem to be very good at games. Some of them see it as a way to supplement their income. Remember, they can’t afford to loose. Keep the amounts small and the atmosphere fun.
It is not always obvious which bars allow their girls to go with customers and which don’t. If you are not sure no one will mind if you ask discretely. But don’t leave it too late in the evening because most bars don’t retain a large staff. In one instance I was told to come back the following evening because there were only two girls left to run the bar.
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