Between cricket matches, or if you can manage to spend some extra days in northern Thailand, you'll find the makings of a memorable holiday even if the Sixes Cup eludes your team . The city and province of Chiang Mai, or further afield Chiang Rai, The Golden Triangle and Mae Hong Son are all easily accessible and offer a marvellous mix of things to do or see. Unless you're a very jaded old Asia hand, there's an experience here for everyone...

‘When in Rome’….. Remembering  Thai Ways Can Save Embarrassment, or Worse...

• For Thais it's almost a matter of honour to extend hospitality to visitors, but they put great importance on good manners and can be offended by the lack of them.
• Enjoy the gentle warmth of this "land of smiles", but remember the smile may also be used to cover negative feelings (if you say or do something rude and the lady smiles it doesn't mean she shared the joke!)
• English is not widely spoken, and certainly not fluently. So patience and good humour helps.
• Body language is quickly noted, and showing anger should be avoided. If you're truly annoyed, play it cool, even smile if you can, it’s probably a misunderstanding anyway.
• Never touch the head of an adult or pass things over someone's head. And don't use your feet to point at things.
• The Thai Royal Family is very highly respected. Even likenesses of the King of Thailand including money, should be treated with respect. So too of course the Lord Buddha and Buddha images.
• Remove your shoes when entering temples, people's houses and even some offices. You'll usually get a warning from the pile of shoes already outside the door.
• Dress is almost always informal. However you'll notice that Thai people tend to dress fairly neatly. Brief clothing is frowned upon. Shorts, sleeveless vests, bikini tops and such are a no-no for palace or temple visits, and not very good for anywhere else except open countryside, swimming pool, beach or Cricket Sixes.

Between cricket matches, or if you can manage to spend some extra days in northern Thailand, you'll find the makings of a memorable holiday even if the Sixes Cup eludes your team . The city and province of Chiang Mai, or further afield Chiang Rai, The Golden Triangle and Mae Hong Son are all easily accessible and offer a marvellous mix of things to do or see. Unless you're a very jaded old Asia hand, there's an experience here for everyone...

Between cricket matches, or if you can manage to spend some extra days in northern Thailand, you'll find the makings of a memorable holiday even if the Sixes Cup eludes your team.

Some of the best known tourism activities include: riding an elephant, going trekking or river rafting, and visiting some of the many historically-important temples located around Chiang Mai.

The city and province of Chiang Mai, or further afield Chiang Rai, the Golden Triangle and Mae Hong Son are all easily accessible and offer a marvellous mix of things to do or see. Unless you're a very jaded old Asia hand, there's an experience here for everyone...

Chiang Mai Is Great For Shopping

You might enjoy a wander around one of the city's airconditioned shopping malls. The one on Huay Kaew Road called Kad Suan Kaew is probably closest. Central Airport Plaza (near the airport) is now the biggest and trendiest. Looking for clothes? There's a good 'Export Shop' at Airport Plaza that has factory rejects of well known label clothes (Gap, Eddie Bauer, Colombia etc) - the sizes are for western export markets and prices are low for clothing that would cost a lot more at home.

• Everyone goes to the Night Bazaar on Changklan Road at least once, and it's certainly worth a visit for crafts, souvenirs, clothing, and much more (it gets going around 6.00 p.m.).
• But why not also try one of the real local markets. The biggest is Warorot Market, a short walk from Thapae Road on Wicha Yanon Road (it's also side on to the River on Charoen Prathet Road). It is interesting to go very early in the morning and see the fresh goods, fruit and vegetables, herbs & spices, meat and fish, etc.
• Chiang Mai is an excellent place to buy silk, cotton, silverware, wood carvings, ceramics, lacquerware, and other handicrafts. The list of shops is too long to mention but runs from colourful, fairly low priced souvenirs up to expensive fine quality art. A trip along the Chiang Mai- San Kampaeng Road (Route 1006) will bring you to many factories and shops selling all the main handicrafts, they line the road on both sides much of the way down. Also, if you head out towards Hang Dong (past the Airport) the wood crafts 'village' of Baan Tawai has a huge variety of wooden products and all sorts of eating and drinking alternatives for lunch, dinner and after hours.

Our Major Sponsor

Everyone at the bar will already know that this year San Miguel Marketing (Thailand) has again become our official sponsor. Part of their fantastic support is their kind donation of beer. (See the San Miguel ad on the back cover). For their generosity, we are now known as the "San Miguel Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes"

Support the Other Sixes Sponsors

Our sponsors are the group that provides the Sixes the highest level of support. You can find their logos on the cover of the magazine, but we would like to give them another heartfelt THANK YOU. Our sponsors are (in alphabetical order):

• Coca Cola for providing our soft drinks

Support the Sixes Hotel Advertisers

The Sixes is pleased to have the support of these local hotels and resorts, and we commend them to our teams and supporters:

• Pornping Tower Hotel's Nimanoradee Restaurant is a great place for a good steak after the match. You can enjoy their other establishments - Bubbles Disco, Hot Shot, and the Blue Bat Bar. Everyone knows the Pornping but see ad on Inside Back Cover if you need details. Our opening cocktail party is hosted at the Pornping Hotel. See the ad on the inside Back Cover.
• The Galare Guest House is a great place to stay also - a favourite over many years with those great judges, our Umpires (See ad P.21).
• This is the third year of advertising for the Empress Hotel and they are very welcome. The hotel convention center will be the site of the Farewell Dinner on April 3rd. (See ad P.16).

Support the Sixes Food and Drink Advertisers

Chiang Mai has a large selection of drinking establishments and restaurants that provide most types of local and international food and drink. There is a wide range of choice among the Sixes' supporting advertisers (they support us,so please try to support them!) and below there is a list of our advertisers in some order:

• Chez Marco, a new advertiser this year, is a restaurant operated by French-trained chef Marco. Excellent Mediterrrainean food and wine tapas are found here on Loi Kroh Road next door to the Ramaing Lodge hotel. Steaks and lamb chops fit the hearty appetities, and the great appetizers, spaghetti, many specialities, thoroughly depraved desserts and a full wine and drink list make Chez Marco a one stop location for fine dining. See ad P.19,
• Foxy Lady an exciting night spot on Thapae Rd Soi 1 (behind night bazaar), now in its fourth year and very popular with cricketers. Dan Foxman, the non-cricketing American owner, gets better and better at videotaping Sixes games & screening them at Foxy Lady in the evenings. Friendly bar staff too... see Dan and Bryan's ad P.xx.
• Kebab House run by Shammi is again providing the kebab sandwiches you enjoy so much at the cricket grounds. If you are out and about in town, you can also get the same great kebabs at his restaurant on Rajwitree Road, just down from the Irish Pub. See the Kebab House ad P.xx.
• Owner Kevin at the Red Lion has the best of British pub fare food-wise, just off the Night Bazaar (top end Loi Kroh Rd). Dragon, Weissbier, and cold & creamy draft KILKENNY are the featured brews. (See banner ads at cricket ground).
• After a brief hiatus, long-time advertiser Spotlight A-Go-Go has returned this year. Perhaps the best known night spot in Chiang Mai, the Spotlight is located on the outer moat between Thapae and Loi Kroh Roads. Drop in for a drink or to watch sports in the back. Cricket Sixers are always welcome. See ad P.xx.
• Sugar Shack run by Khun Oy is open-air and open late for drinks, food and entertainment close by the Pornping Hotel. A popular Sixes hangout on Charoen Prathet Road. See ad P. xx.
• The Duke's is a well-known Chiang Mai establishment and a returning Sixes advertiser owned and operated by Dave. Near the TAT office, opposite side of the river fromthePornping, and also in the Night Bazaar area on Chang Klan Road near McDonalds. A great place to eat. You will sample some of his cooking at the Pig Picking - be sure to try the beef stew. See Dave's ad on P.12.
• The Olde Bell is a returning advertiser this year. Owner Pedr is excited about the Sixes and has some good activites throughout the week. They are also located on Loi Kroa Road about 200 meters in from the moat. They have a large variety of everything: food, beers, wine, and they feature many British favourites. You will also see The Olde Bell at the grounds where they will be serving traditional Fish & Chips with all the usual accompaniments. See ad P.32.
• Close by the Pornping Hotel and as they say "two blocks from the night bazaar", is Khun Awn's The Lotus Pub and Restaurant. Khun Awn who is a long-time committee member and supporter of junior cricket in Chiang Mai. You have seen her at the Boundary Bar every year. You can get breakfast at the Lotus Pub all day, and an it has an excellent selection of Western and Thai favourites. See Awn's ad on P.xx
• Zoom Bar is a returning advertiser located in the Bar Beer Center off Loi Kroh Road near the Centara Duangtawan Hotel. New management has done a (literal) clean sweep to create a pleasant drinking spot with 2 newly-refurbished pool tables and friendly female staff Open late for drinks, good music, and great fun. See the ad on P.6xx

Support the Sixes Other Advertisers ...

• The Black Swan is a returning advertiser this year. Located in Bangkok on Sukhumvit Road and Asoke, it is known as "a great little English pub in Bangkok". Easy to reach by either BTS or MRT and a great place to stop in when you are in Bangkok. Ad on P.31.
• This is the fourth year for the Chiang Mai Cricket Foundation. Yes, they are legally and formally chartered as a Thai foundation, which means that donations to the foundation are now TAX DEDUCTIBLE. If your tax bill is too high, reduce your tax bill with a donation to the cricket foundation. See their ad on the inside Front Cover for more information.
• Frank at the Fashion King has been supporting the Sixes since he first came to Chiangmai 4 years ago. The Fashion King is the tailor of choice for getting yourself outfitted with suits, pants, and the like. See them at the Kalae Food Center (room 113-114) on Chang Klan Road. Ad on P.xx
• MBMG is another repeat supporter. They provide a substancial set of financial and legal services to meet the personal and corporate needs of expats. Simon Philbrook is the man to contact. See the MBMG ad on P14.
• NFP (Northern Farm Products) is well known around Chiangmai for their long presence in the retail food business. They are especially known for their many meat products and imported items. NFP is our longtime official caterer. They have a shop on Huay Kaew Road and an ad on P.13 and banner ads at the cricket ground.
• Pas OP has once again sponsored their banner ads at the cricket ground. We appreciate the continued support. Thank you!
• Qiosq is a eturning advertiser this year with banner ads at the cricket grounds. Qiosq is a Dutch company which provides "Out Of Home Entertainment" products. Thank you for your support and we wish you great success.
• For tour information around Chiang Mai you can talk with your team minibus guide. OR, contact Khun Somboon at Somboon Tours, located across from the Pornping and who are in fact the Sixes minibus supplier. Please take note Somboon is a Sixes supporter and offers tours to many different areas outside the city at very reasonable rates. There's a price list for tour services available - ask your guide. See ad on P.15.
• Trafco is a long-time supporter of the Sixes and once again this year we thank for their banner ads.

Some Useful Numbers For Visitors