will i get a free guide book? :P

Dear Lonely Planet,

I'm Heng Kai Le, a 24-year-old Singaporean male. I just returned from Chiangmai and had such a blast over there! Thanks to Lonely Planet for pointing me in all the correct directions. Hee. Now, I will love to share some tips and unique experiences that aren't quite covered in your guidebook so that other travellers may benefit:

1) The Monk Chat at Wat Suan Dok is a must-try. Initially, things started off lukewarm for me as I was paired up with monks who aren't quite adept at speaking English yet. Hence, I spent a lot of time smiling encouragingly at them and thinking of simple conversational phrases so that they could understand me and practice their English. Fortunately, the system in place was implemented pretty well as they would ensure that at least one senior monk (typically a year 4 English major student at the nearby Buddhist university) would be around to moderate the discussion. It was rather heartwarming to watch the display of camaraderie as the senior monk would patiently act as the go-between and encourage his juniors to speak up.
There was a flurry of exchange of people at my table as some monks had to return to their wats. Things started to pick up when two fresh participants sat down and our conversation somehow digressed to their extra-curricular activity as DJs. Apparently, the Buddhist University had set up their very own radio station to improve their students' speaking skills and exchange ideas about Buddhism. This radio station was established in early 2005 and its programmes can be broadcast to listeners who live within 15km from Wat Suan Dok!
Intrigued and excited, I asked them if I could have a look around their radio station. They readily obliged and brought me to the building across the room where Monk Chat was held.
The DJs on that day welcomed me sincerely and before I knew it, I was declared as their "special guest" for their Easy Talk programme, which was scheduled between 6 to 7pm. What I found most impressive was that the group of monks assembled before me came from various countries such as Laos, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh and of course, Thailand. Talk about a myriad of nationalities! It was then that I really appreciated how Chiangmai was a centre for aspiring Buddhists from Southeast Asia and beyond.
Because I am currently serving my national service [all singaporean males have to be conscripted into the military forces for two years], the programme started with a lively discussion on whether conscription exists in one's country. Later on, I was asked to share my thoughts on how to increase the number of believers in Buddhism and about Singapore culture, among other things.
It was initially nerve-wracking for me, for i was afraid of sounding silly on air. But the friendly monks were so enthusiastic about finding out about Singapore that my inhibitions disappeared. I felt proud to be an unofficial ambassador for my nation and have this engaging exhange of ideas. All in all, one of the highlights of my trip.
So, to LP readers, ask whether you can drop by the radio station when you are doing the Monk Chat. It will be an experience that you won't forget.

2) I visited Wat Doi Suthep on the morning of 18th June, which was a Saturday. On my ascend up the mountains, I was pleasantly surprised to see thongs of Chiangmai University students trekking upwards by walking on the drain beside the road. Apparently, I was fortunate enough to witness a time-honoured tradition in which incoming freshmen trek to Wat Doi Suthep as part of their orientation to varsity life!
The students were boisterous and in high spirits. It was awesome seeing them trudge up the mountains, holding hands or placing arms around one another and shouting cheers. Their energy and excitement was infectious. I would have alighted from my taxi and joined in their rousing parade if I weren't afraid of being perceived as a weirdo. Haha.
LP readers who are visiting Chiangmai in June [that's when a new school term starts, i reckon], must ask around for the day of CMU students' trek to Wat Doi Suthep so that they can bear witness to this joyous and monumental occasion.

3) I also visited Pung Tao Gong Ancestral Temple, which is a Chinese temple situated between the philatelic museum and Lam Yai market. Personally, i didn't find it all that visually arresting but I enjoyed it, if not for the fact that it was a refreshing diversion from the numerous wats around Chiangmai. If you speak Mandarin or Teochew, chat with a kindly old gentleman who's manning the temple and he will warmly encourage you to seek spiritual guidance from Pung Tao Gong and painstakingly explain your lot for you.

4) I decided to go pubbing at Heaven Beach, which was located opposite Rasta Cafe as I found its atomsphere to be more lively and happening. There was a good mix of Thais and foreigners, there was a pool table for one to show off his/her skills and there was great accompaniment of music from a 3-man live band who obviously loved what they were doing. At one point, I saw a farang nearly moon her breasts to a waitress and the latter then pouring some suspect powder down her assets. Definitely a great place to chill out, get high and watch people.

5) Visited the Chiangmai Zoo for 30B. However, there's a Panda Exhibit which will set foreigners back one hundred baht. It was upon entering the exhibit that I realised that I had spent good money just to see one panda bear lying around and doing nothing. I couldn't help feeling a bit shortchanged. Actually, there's another female panda bear which I didn't get to see because she was sleeping somewhere inside. I heard from my guesthouse staff that she's pregnant now. Perhaps that's why she was sleeping to conserve her energies.
These two panda bears were a gift from China and it was evident how the Thais appreciated and cherished these animals. Besides being instructed to leave all food and drinks outside the exhibit hall, I also had to step on sterilization mats and was explicitly cautioned not to use flash cameras. An honour to see something that is a source of pride to the Thais.
According to the zoo guide, animal lovers may want to visit the Panda Exhibit at 2pm because that's the lunch hour of the female panda bear and so they are assured of watching 2 bears for 100B. :P

6) There's a night bazaar on the streets outside Warorot Market. It doesn't offer as diverse a range of goods as its counterpart at the Night Bazaar but it's where the Thais shop for their clothes, do their nail polish, get a reading from a fortune teller and eat from the tantalizing roadside stalls. So, it redeems itself as an authentic cultural haunt.

7) Buy a "Speak Thai quick 191" phrase book for just 60B at a bookstore just further down UN Irish Pub. The bookstore occupies two storeys and mostly sells Thai books.

8) Check currency conversion rates at the various bank tellers before changing your money as their rates differ. I learnt this the hard way--I changed my money for S$1=24.26B before realising to my chargin that other bank tellers offered rates like S$1=24.33B.

9) Changes of prices:i) Nancy Chandler's map now costs 160B instead of 150Bii) Admission fee of 50B to Bhuping (or Phuping?) Palace

Hope this information helps future readers.

thanks for your time and kind attention,Kaile:P