silverhawk_usa

It's time for the big one! This is our 5th annual main event. Please come join us for a day of fun and excitement.

Don't forget there are prizes for the "Best Decorated Motorcycle". That means decorated with toys, games or gifts for children or in a "toy ride theme".
(Just a tip; small or medium size toys go a lot further than oversize toys of stuffed animals which most the children can't fit in their home. )

TAKE A RIDE. GIVE A TOY. BRING A SMILE.

Chiang Mai ToyRide 2012: helping children in need with charity motorcycle parade, party, live music, games and toy giveaway!

Chiang Mai, Thailand – 19 February 2012: On this festive Sunday morning, hundreds of riders on motorcycles of all types and sizes, laden with toys, games and stuffed animals, will parade through Chiang Mai and then create a massive pile of toys to be given to boys, girls and babies in need. Following the ride to the X-Centre Zorb Ball field, the charity party kicks off at noon with music for kids, a rock 'n' blues band for adults, clowns, magicians, games and prizes for the kids, food for sale from local vendors, awards for best decorated bikes and, once again, the highlight of every year’s event: the toy giveaway to the children!

All motorcyclists are invited to join the event whether their bikes are large or small. And there’s no admission charge: just bring along a new toy to warm a needy child’s heart. No Motorcycle? We welcome you no matter how you get there.


• Annual Charity Motorcycle Ride and Party on Sunday, 19 February 2012
• Motorcycles of all sizes and riders of all ages are welcome!
• 9:45 am – meet at Tesco Khamtien for the ride/parade through Chiang Mai (51km total)
• Noon – party at X-Centre Zorb Ball near Mae Rim with music, games, and toy giveaway
• Admission/donation: one new toy and a great big smile!

It’s not just about the toys. With the generous donations from our sponsors and riders, we have given away hundreds of toys and blankets, athletic equipment, medical supplies and food to hundreds of children and their families. In 2009 we expanded our giving with our “Playgrounds Plus” program, which provides new playground equipment, educational and athletic supplies, or construction necessary for the well being of the students. These donations are individually tailored to each needy location, targeting kids who are “under the radar.” Besides our main fundraising event, donations from individuals and businesses fund our Playgrounds Plus events throughout the year, as well as our annual Christmas Eve Giveaway in the acute care wards at Chiang Mai’s Maharaj Hospital when ailing kids get a visit from Santa bearing bags of stuffed animals.

The Chiang Mai ToyRide committee (an international group of riders and non-riders from Thailand, Canada, England, Australia, Germany and America) has staged successful annual rides since 2008. Toys, goods and other charitable donations are gathered and distributed by the committee in the form of goods, not cash, after interviewing recipients, on site, to assess their real, tangible needs. Headline sponsors for 2012 are Tesco-Lotus, GT-Rider, Richco Motor Sports, the Chiang Mai X-Centre, Impulse Tourism, Parklane Systems, Geokon and Code Electric, plus major sponsors listed on our web site, banners, posters and t-shirts.

If you’d like more information, please visit www.chiangmaitoyride.com or email info@chiangmaitoryride.com. To schedule an interview, become a sponsor, or donate to the children, please contact us. Online donations may also be given on our website through PayPal, which also takes most major credit cards.


Please come join us and help us "Helping Children in Need!"

On the 3^rd of December 2011, (4:09 PM) the We Love Our King Club, (International) will stage a parade, beginning at Thapae Gate, and concluding at J.J. Market area where a full program of events will take place through the evening in celebration of the 84^th birthday of HRH King Bhumibol Adulyadez Rama IX.

   Now, please read carefully.  The founder of the club, and the main organizer and promoter of the event, is Khun Ruchuchai Potha, the head of the Labor Department in Chiang Mai and in charge of issuing work permits.

   Khun Ruchuchai has extended an invitation to all foreigners and nationalities to attend the event.  He wishes to encourage a better understanding and cooperative environment between the Thai people and foreigners working and volunteering in Chiang Mai.

   There will be many bands and musicians playing at the event, including some musicians who are very well known on this forum. With his prior approval, work permits are not needed for this and other similar short term volunteer events.

   "Hog Head" and I (co-chairmen of the Chiang Mai ToyRide), met with him personally.  He wishes to not only have as many people walking in the parade as possible, but would also like riders of big motorcycles to also participate.  He is a rider himself and he would like to participate in some of the motorcycle events and activities scheduled in Chiang Mai. We are not involved with the organization of this event, but agreed to help pass on the information to our community.

   Here is a link to the Chiang Mai Friends Group with a letter and full schedule detailing the event;  

   Chiang Mai Friends Info

   If you wish to ride or walk with us and others in the short parade, show up at Thapae Gate before 3:00PM on the day of the event.  Tell police and security you are part of the parade and you should be allowed into the area which will be closed to traffic.

   Even if you do not wish to participate in the parade; please attend the other activities for what may turn out to be a very important show of cooperation and future understanding.

   Parking is also available at JJ Market and transport for walkers to Thapae Gate will be provided.


Edit:typo

Every few days there are media reports showing an increasing number of flood deaths.  Obviously this is alarming both locally and internationally. These are no longer flash floods, and in most cases not very deep.  How are people dying?  I have read a few reports of electrocution, but not much else.  What are they including in these numbers ? More importantly how do you prevent whatever the cause?

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The Chiang Mai ToyRide is  having a Give Away Event on June 18, 2011.   We will ride from Tesco  Lotus (Super Highway), departing at 10:30AM, to  an orphans home in Doi  Saket.

This home is literally just a house rented with money from  individual  donations, which houses 35 orphaned Hmong, Lisu and Karen  children.  Even so. the home is kept neat and clean, and the children are  well  cared for, as we discovered on a surprise survey visit.  Their  ages  range from 4 years old to 12 years of age.

The Chiang Mai  ToyRide has already provided new school shoes so that  the children could  start the school year without facing the stigma of  not having proper  shoes to wear.  The CMTR has also purchased 10 bunk  beds and mattresses,  blankets and some wardrobes, which have already  been delivered.

On  June 18, we will bring toys, games and educational material to the   children and have a small party along with our CMTR Clowns.  Come and   join us.  If you wish to contribute additional items or toys for the   children, please do.  If not, just come along for the fun and to show   the children some support and that people do care.

All sizes and  types of motorcycles are welcome. If we have enough  interest we may do  an afternoon ride after the event.  This is rain or  shine, so meet us in  the parking lot of Tesco Lotus near the Super  Highway exit area.  

If you can confirm that you will attend, it will help us with our preparations.  See  you there.

Today the girlfriend and I did some routine shopping at Carrefour.  When we got to the checkout the clerk removed the cartons of Coconut Milk we were attempting to purchase, maybe 4 very small cartons and 3 a little larger.  After a conversation between the GF and the clerk, it was explained to me that there is some "new law" in effect that says you are only allowed to buy one carton of coconut milk per person.  You can buy the small or the large, but only one.  She said this also applied to the two cans of tuna I had purchased, but as there were two of us, it was OK.  

The explanation passed on to me was that prices were going up, there is a short supply, and they don't want one person buying too many.  I guess to stop hording or some such thing.  What are the restaurants and roadside stalls doing if this is true?  

Anyone that can explain this better?