WHAT'S ON THAILAND

joel · #1 05-05-2009, 02:26 PM

Today I visited a nice sports complex in Chiangmai, built in the mid-1990's for the South East Asian Games and named to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the founding of Chiang Mai. This complex is at the base of Doi Suthep/Doi Pui mountains, on the west side of the irrigation canal road about 4.2 kilometers north of Huay Kaew Road, east of City Hall.

This is an under utilized multiple stadium sports event complex and community sports and exercise facility, operated by the Sports Authority of Thailand, Region 5, Boonthan Muangchuen, director.

I really like the swimming pool, a 50 meter olympic pool with adjacent diving pool with Olympic standard platforms. The spring boards are not in use however, on only the concrete platforums. Kids were having a blast jumping off the highest ones. The water was clean and clear but the chlorine level is a bit high, which is OK, considering the kids in the pool.

The pool is open 8am to 8:30 pm, Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday and sometimes unexpectedly for holidays and events. Entrance fee is now 60 baht for adult non-members, 30 baht for members.

There are also 8 to 10 a tennis courts with pro shop and racket rentals for 20 baht per day. I will play tomorrow with two farangs I met there. Court fees are 60 baht per hour per court, for non-members, 1/2 price for members. There is also a shooting range, a main stadium, three indoor stadiums and a velodrome (bicycle racing stadium), an outdoor football field and running track, and outdoor courts for basketball, volleyball, indoor badminton (80 baht per hour, outdoor free), takraw and aerobic dance.

I met my new friends in the weight room, called fitness center in the pool area. There is one spacious, well ventilated room with lots of windows opening to allow a natural airflow off the base of the mountain and one big closed room, as I recall. There is no ttowel service, trainer but there are folks selling food and drinks just outside, including sports drinks. We ate nice Thai dishes for 25 baht each.

There is an OKl range of basic weight resistance exercise equipment, very basic, not top of the line, but OK. You won't find high-end machines at this complex, but there is enough selection of resistance for basic muscle groups. I could not find any free weights on the chest press machine, but I assume they would make them available if I asked.

The Chiang Mai Sports Complex has membership available for Thais and expats. I forgot the check on the price, but it used to be 500 baht per year individual or 1000 for family membership (up to 5 persons).

I really like this place. It is different, a vast complex of swimming, diving, tennis, badminton where you can spend the day in a facility which is not ultra modern, but more than OK for the price. The rental tennis rackets were fine for 20 baht! Tomorrow we will go diving off the high Olympic standard platforms! Fun!