Happenings in Chiang Mai

[Oliver2]

You've opened an old wound for me! I stayed there twice, once alone and once with my boyfriend. Choosing the best rooms available, about 1300 a night, I was quite content with the 3* standards. The roof-top restaurant was good- well-priced and affording an interesting view. The on-site massage was at least as good as street-front ones in Pattaya and Bangkok, even if it was ruled over by a harridan.

And the go-go bar was excellent, at least for those of us who prefer twinks. Adam's Apple was closed at this time and so it was the only show in town.

The top half was gay, the lower serving many visitors to the next-door hospital This was easily discerned at breakfast; lots of families. I agree that the concept was over-ambitious but the non-gay lower floors were probably the money-spinners...or could have been. P and I were usually the only gay guests in the crowded restaurant. The others were Thais, rather than Chinese and so on.

Overall, I thought it good value but with teething problems. It was also conveniently placed for tuk tuks, unlike Lotus. I had no idea as to why it was disliked by so many, particularly if they hadn't stayed there.

I suspect- and the subsequent tragic events bear this out- that the owner upset some powerful people.

I stick by my view that it was CM's last chance as a gay tourist venue.