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Entertainment
Chiang Mai is an
easygoing yet active city. On the one hand, it appears very sophisticated and,
to some degree, very Westernized; on the other hand, influences from the
surrounding farming communities and hill tribes infuse everyday life. This
division between Western and traditional Thai lifestyles characterizes almost
everything in Chiang Mai, including entertainment. Visitors can opt for
Western-style entertainment or join the local crowd rowdily cheering a muay Thai
match, savor a khantoke dinner with Thai dancing, or explore Chiang Mai on a
river cruise.
The ancient martial art of muay Thai, or Thai kickboxing, is as popular in
Chiang Mai as anywhere else in Thailand. Nowadays, most muay Thai matches are
held in Western-style boxing arenas, watched by people from all walks of life
rooting for (and betting on) their favorite fighters. A dance-like ritual
initiates each fight, with musical accompaniment from a small orchestra. This
symbolizes the fighters’ gratitude to the spirits and their prayer for strength
and courage. The fighting itself looks codified but brutal, involving
free-for-all kicks and elbow blows to the body and face (do not be surprised if
one boxer knocks another one out--stretchers are a common sight at Thai boxing
matches). You can watch muay Thai at Gawila Boxing Stadium, where boxers from
all over Thailand compete, usually at 7.30pm on weekend nights. You can also see
less compelling exhibitions of Muay Thai at a small stadium on Loi Kroh, near
the Night Bazaar.
A traditional khantoke dinner is a sumptuous occasion. Diners sit on cushions
while elegantly attired attendants serve them a variety of appetizers, salads,
curries and rice dishes. During the meal, traditional Thai dancers entertain the
guests with fluid, graceful performances using enormous fans and other props.
You can experience this age-old tradition at The Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center,
Nakorn Lanna 1296 or Kantoke Palace.
While you can enjoy traditional Thai dance at a khantoke restaurant such as The
Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center, you can also check out dancing in the evenings
over a simple meal at the Kalare Food and Shopping Center. This is a good place
to get your first taste of Thai dancing. At Kalare, diners select their own food
from a host of stalls serving northern Thai, Indian, Middle Eastern and Western
dishes.
 Live
guitar is especially popular in Thailand. Dinner with live music is available at
La Brasserie, The Good View, Riverside and Huan Suntaree. Other popular venues
include Phar Lap, The Gallery, and Antique House 2 River Terrace. The Riverside
Bar and Restaurant is probably the most popular dinner-with-live-music spot in
Chiang Mai, among both Thais and farangs (foreigners), with several different
bands exuberantly and skillfully playing Western popular music from Metallica to
Eric Clapton and the Cranberries. Scene Song Say Pub provides an ultra-hip
option for live music on weekends, and Drunken Flower is a popular hang-out for
local university students. Just about any bar in Chiang Mai has karaoke. Croon
your own favorites at Romantic Restaurant and Pub or check out the numerous
karaoke clubs across the street from Kad Suan Kaew. Visitors to any part of
Thailand will quickly learn that “lady boys, young men who dress as women, are
as much a part of the culture as khantoke and Muay Thai. For an over-the-top
lady-boy performance, stop by Blue Moon Cabaret near Tha Pae Gate (you can’t
miss the “ladies beckoning you to the show!).
No visit to Chiang Mai is complete without a leisurely cruise up the Mae Ping
River. The Mae Ping River Cruise allows you to sit back and gaze at the passing
countryside for a couple of hours, or you may call The Riverside Bar and
Restaurant for information on its nightly dinner cruises.
Even the most seasoned traveler needs an occasional dip into familiar
Western-style entertainment. For first-release movies, Vista Cinema, which has
two locations at Kad Suan Kaew (one on the top floor of the mall and the other
across the street), screens about three films a week, each one shown four or
five times a day. Call +66 53 262 661 for English language listings and show
times. Kad Suan Kaew also offers other forms of entertainment. Bully Sky Ice, an
ice-skating rink on the top of the building, commands a panoramic view of the
city. Here you can learn to skate, brush up on your triple-toe loops, or just
watch the skaters. The well-maintained rink stays open until 1am. Bowling offers
yet another entertainment option. Bully Bowl also in Kad Suan Kaew, feels like a
cross between a bowling alley and a disco, with dance music throbbing while
customers toss back Singha beers between rounds. Bowling is a popular late-night
and weekend activity for local teenagers, so it is no wonder Bully Bowl stays
open until 2am. The Irish Pub is an extremely popular expatriate hangout,
especially on Thursday nights when an occasionally raucous Trivial Pursuit
tournament rages on from about 8.30pm.
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