Originally Posted by gonzo

Does have quite a high backpacker contingent but they tend to stick to the cheapo guesthouses in the east of the old city and the shite bars there and along Loi Kroh so are easily avoided.

Always used to be on the flights to LOS, backpackers in their rags to Chiang Mai and sex pests in their 'Good boy' vests going to Pattaya. And always on the way home you could tell who had been to CM as they were dressing like hippies carrying a load of tat they had bought there.

Probably best as a change of pace destination to get off the piss for a few days then ?

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by ROLAND

Always used to be on the flights to LOS, backpackers in their rags to Chiang Mai and sex pests in their 'Good boy' vests going to Pattaya. And always on the way home you could tell who had been to CM as they were dressing like hippies carrying a load of tat they had bought there.

Probably best as a change of pace destination to get off the piss for a few days then ?

If you're looking for somewhere different to chill out for a bit I'd definitely recommend it. It's cheaper than BKK/Pattaya or any of the islands for food and drink - a very good 3 course western meal for 2 with a couple of large bottles of Heineken and a glass of wine for under 1,000thb, most bars sell large bottles of beer for around 100-130thb depending on brand although I was paying 80 for a large Heineken at a really good Thai place we ended up in quite a bit. Asahi is cheap there for some reason, cheaper than Heineken anyway, so I'm guessing they've a local brewery or distribution hub. Plenty to see and do there, certainly enough to keep you going for a week or so, although as most bars shut around midnight to 1am it's definitely not a party town.

P4P there is a real horror show though. 2 gogos, the best of which is still shite, Loi Kroh has all the beer bars with tarts looking to go but I didn't see anything that'd be worth doing even if you'd spent all day pissing it up, not more than 4 or 5 'girls' (most in the 30-40 bracket) in most bars anyway so very limited selection. Loads of overpriced karaoke joints but the better looking ones are strictly for the asian crowd and a lot won't even let farang in. Couple of soapies but out of the way on the other side of the river from the centre and hard to find unless you get good directions. Did some window shopping in one when I was out for a walk but nothing caught my eye at all, then again, I get the same with the Pattaya soapies half the time too.

Some stunning looking women around in CM but none working bar that I could see. Full of dykes too. Had to feel a bit sorry for the young Somchais as 90% of the young girls you see walking round as a couple were hand in hand with a tom boy.

[ruhorny]

Nice pics and gd info ,thanks.

[gonzo]

Wat Kan Thom, part of the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam a few km south of CM.

[agudbuk]

Makes a nice change from the South of Thailand

[gonzo]

Random ruins around Wiang Kum Kam....

[gonzo]

Wat Chedi Si Liam at Wiang Kum Kam....

[gonzo]

Some Loi Kratong decorations around town....