Competitors Auchan were the first big western retailers to open in Chiang Mai, bringing a wide range of European “comfort foods” to northern Thailand. Although popular, their performance failed to reach internal targets and they sold the premises on Superhighway to the Thai-Belgian Big C group.

Other French retailers have recently moved out of Japan and Korea, some seeking a more profitable future in India. Several Thai and international groups are reported to be showing interest in our local Carrefour.

It all happens at the 700 Year Sports Stadium over Saturday and Sunday, July 10-11, and the only sad faces belong to Drag Racing enthusiasts, whose monthly meeting has had to be postponed at short notice. Car and motorcycle drags (straight line racing against the clock) will instead take place on Sunday July 18th.

As well as top Thai racers dashing round the short circuit, a tour of the stadium’s car parks, there will be a safe driving exhibition, celebrity appearances, family fun activities and a live rock concert on Saturday evening.

The BOI offer tax breaks and other incentives to certain types of business at the start-up stage. Bangkok-based Director Khun Gorbsiree Iemsuree, speaker at a recent Chiang Mai conference on the rights of foreigners here, invites business-seekers to a morning packed with information at the Shangri-La Hotel, starting at 9.00am.

Potential investors can discover more by calling 053 203397-400 (exts 102 or 107) and should register by July 9th.

Only the more up-market hotels and restaurants are quieter than normal for June.

Police report that only one foreigner was detained briefly for breaking the curfew, a young tourist who was “drunk and noisy in the street” at 3.00am one night.

Australian Honorary Consul Mike Walther showed great initiative to help northern-based Aussies catch up with affairs following the closure of the Bangkok Embassy for several days. The backlog of official business was cleared in one day, thanks to a flying visit by Second Secretary & Consul Naomi Vowels.

No fewer than 16 Australian nationals took advantage of the unique, one-off service, which was based at The Garden Guesthouse and Restaurant, Rachadamnoen Road.

Happily for all, the fight is confined only to dowsing your opponents with as much water as you can from pistols, buckets, hoses, canals and gushing blue pipes (free, courtesy of the town hall!).

The liquid free-for-all clogs city centre streets – especially around the moat and particularly Thapae Gate – and will be seen and felt on every road of northern Thailand until Sunday the 18th.

Yes, it’s a traffic hazard, yes, it’s wildly irresponsible and yes, it’s a great way for all ages to cool down at the hottest time of the year.

But most vitally right now: NO it’s not political and NO it has no signs of any violence.

Certainly, more than the usual number of young Thais have flown north to have fun and get away from the tensions of Bangkok, but the only weapons they packed were giant water pistols. You’ll see red flags on some pick-ups and tuk-tuks, and small scarlet ribbons dangling from the mirrors and aerials of cars, but that is as ‘political’ as this festival gets this year.

While Ministers, Embassies and other ‘Agony Aunts’ wring their hands over tragedy and turbulence in the capital, Chiang Mai continues to be a northern world apart. The only thing we are wringing out here is our hair and our shirts. Whatever the colours.

Article contributed by David Hardcastle, Copyright David Hardcastle 2010

The start to Round 1 was perhaps too early for Darjeeling from the UAE who, despite the first six of the tournament from Nick Harvey, succumbed to tight bowling and some good running in the final over from the Lanka Lions.

The Irish Pub from Chiang Mai provided a display of more fine bowling from Maki to overcome the Tokyo Dingbats.

The Gloucestershire Gipsies (2007 Cup Winners from England and clearly determined to lift it again) held the Zimbabwean Floggers & Robbers to 41 with some careful fielding and went to win without wicket loss, although the game saw the first retirement with 30 runs from Floggers’ Simon Grant.

A close finish saw the Shanghai Hot Dogs just beat the Yorkshire Puddings. The first game of the “Gentlemen’s” half of the tournament also saw the first ‘golden duck’ earned by Ray Matti of the Ios Malakas, who were unable to surpass the score set them by the Darwin Dilettantes.

The Lik Lik Wombats from Australia put up a strong challenge, but could not match the Surrey Vagrants (2008 Cup winners from England) whose fielding produced a good run out and two fine catches just inside the boundary. Ashwell Martlets from England just scraped past New Zealand’s Taranaki Taverners’ in a tense battle which was made much easier to win by a wide in the final over with a penalty of four runs.

The Australian Maythais, this year with the benefit of the legendary “TC”, Trevor Chapell, set a target that was too hard for the local team the Stuffed Beavers to reach.

The local young lads of the Thai Thevada team fielded most effectively and curtailed a battling Sa Pa from Vietnam, and followed to win the game with steady batting and lots of running. The Wombats from Oz (with almost single-handed outfielding from Dasher) just didn’t have enough spirit (or Irish Coffee) in them to beat the Gentlemen Englishmen of Blythswood.

In a thrilling last-ball cliffhanger finish the Gymkhana Cavaliers from Chiang Mai beat the Awali Taverners from Bahrain. Perhaps the best performance of the day was by the Drifters from England who, with great bowling, a rare (for them) catch and lightening fielding, followed by fine opening batting from Rob Hall and Lantra Fernando, defeated the South Africans of Almar by the beginning of the fourth over. The worry will now be that the Drifters may have difficulty arriving intact for their 8.45am start today.

An entertaining first day’s play was completed by Players’ section matches between teams who were making their second appearance of the day; the Gloucestershire Gipsies soundly beat the Shanghai Hot Dogs and Yorkshire Puddings battered the Floggers & Robbers.

All proceeds from the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes go towards promoting the game at the junior level in Thailand. The action continues daily this week from 9.00am until dusk with the finals on Saturday 3rd April.

Entry to the delightful 112-year-old Chiengmai Gymkhana Club in the northern capital is free and a large variety of excellent food and drinks are available.

If you cannot come then you can listen and watch online – for more information, check out http://www.chiangmaisixes.com

Copyright Acknowledged

Thailand has received the International Association of Horticultural Producers’ permission to revive the flora festival in Chiang Mai later next year, where over 2 million visitors are expected throughout the 99-day event.

Somchai Charnnarongkul, director general of the Agriculture Department which is in charge of the project, said the “International Horticultural Exposition for His Majesty the King: Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011″ will take place during November 9, 2011 and February 15, 2012 on a 470-rai area in Mae Hia district.

The event is to mark the 84th birthday of His Majesty in 2011 and the 80th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen in 2012 as well as the 60th birthday of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn in 2012.

He said that the event, featuring over 2.5 million trees and plants, should boost the export and tourism sectors. Initially, at leat 10 countries will join the exhibition.

Some 6,500 protestors, in trademark red shirts, staged early demonstrations in the capital on Friday, while thousands more are gathered in the rural north before starting the journey to Bangkok on Sunday.

Police says 14,000 protestors had left Thaksin’s home city of Chiang Mai for Bangkok although his supporters put the figure higher at 20,000.

A 50,000 strong security force will be deployed in the capital despite assurances from the protest organisers that the rally will be non-violent. The government has also enacted a tough security law that allows authorities to impose curfews and limit movements.

Rumours are circulating that the military may take advantage of possible chaos surrounding the rally to stage a military coup, says.Chiramuch Premchaiporn, editor of the website, Prachatai.com.

This weekend’s protest come two weeks after Thailand’s top court confiscated 1.4 billion dollars of Thaksin’s assets. They are the latest in a series of demonstrations that have taken place in Thailand since the Thaksin was toppled in a 2006 coup.

The charity show will be held with the aim of celebrating HM the King’s 83rd birthday and the royal diamond wedding anniversary of Their Majesties this year.

Directed by ML Preeyapun Sridhavat, the musical dance play will boast a cast of principal dancers who have won first prizes from many dance competitions in New York, Australia and Singapore.

Performing along with 300 students from the Chiang Mai Ballet Academy will be dignitaries including Shannon K Morrow, Madam of the US Consulate General Michael K Morrow; Toby Allen; and Dr Howard C Graves Jr.

The production will feature various styles of dance, including classical ballet, modern, jazz, Latin dance, hip-hop and flamenco with classical music of Tchaikovsky to be rendered by a professional singer.

Tickets cost 200, 300, 500, 800 and 1,000 baht (special group rate for students are also available) and can be purchased from Rimping Superstore, Kad Suan Kaew and Chiang Mai Ballet Academy. Proceeds will go to the Friends in Need (of “PA”) Volunteers Foundation. For more information, call 053-260-373, 089-6352586 and 089-788-5307.

Copyright Acknowleged

The Chiang Mai Arts and Culture Festival is centred around the Tom Payom Market near the city’s university and is an annual highlight of the social calendar in the region.

This year’s festival runs from April 9th to 13th and is likely

to be on the itinerary of many people using Thailand hotels.

Features of the celebration include musical performances, dance exhibitions and art installations, as well as children’s puppet shows, traditional street food and handicraft displays.

The festival exists to maintain the customs of Lanna, the former Thai state that is now northern Thailand.

First held in 1996, it has been growing in popularity every year and is viewed by many people as a perfect introduction to this area of the country.

Located about 700 kilometres north of Bangkok, Chiang Mai stands on the Ping River and is one the country’s most culturally significant cities.

People staying in Chiang Mai hotels during the festival may also like to enroll on a course at one of the city’s many Thai massage schools.