Go shoot somebody

Chiang Mai - quiet, laid back. Nonsense, there's piles of exciting stuff to do, and here's just a sample. You'll need muscles and some sort of weapon, but relax!

THE X-CENTRE

It's playtime for your adrenaline at this bungeejumping, gokarting, off-roading, paint-balling fun park sprawled across 36 rai in the Mae Sa Valley.

Take a flying leap with a bungee cord (hopefully) attached to your ankle for Bt1,800. That includes 24 photographs of you in flight, a Tshirt and certification that you did it and, uh, insurance.

Rent a go-kart for Bt500 per 10 minutes or head offroad in an ATV buggy for Bt2,000 per hour.

Paintball action takes the form of target practice for wimps at Bt300 for 50 pellets or allout warfare for real men at Bt350.

Call or fax (053) 297 700.

THE PEAK

The Peak has rock climbing, offroad driving and rafting, one of which you can do right in the heart of the city, at the Night Bazaar. That's right, it's an artificial cliff 15 metres high. Scale it for Bt300 an hour. Training is available.

Call (01) 716 4032 or (053) 800 567 or visit www.ThePeakAdventure.com.

MORE PAINTBALL

The Chiang Mai Paintball Club on the Chiang MaiHang Dong Road has a battlefield big enough for 16 combatants at Bt350 per head - no time limit. Arrive in a crowd of 10 and No 11 gets in for free.

Call (081) 937 9928 or (086) 537 7115.

SHOOT 'N' DRIVE

The Shooting Club and ATV Park is operated by the Army's Third Development Battalion in Mae Rim, north of Chiang Mai town, so show up triggerhappy. The soldiers in charge of training insist it's safe.

Learn how to shoot handguns, rifles and shotguns, and then climb into an allterrain vehicle and choose between the beginner's and the crazy people's routes. The fee depends on the size of your engine and how long you want to be Rambo.

Call (053) 112 095 or (09) 435 2940.

THE SPEEDWAY

The gokarting is serious at the Speedway on Chiang MaiHang Dong Road. Pick a vehicle according to desired speed and let loose on the wildly curving, 800metre track. It costs between Bt500 and Bt1,600 for 12 minutes.

Call (053) 430 059 or (089) 433 4904.