I guess that can be said about almost anywhere but...

 

We lived in Chiang Mai from 2011 till 2016 loved it but sold up & left for various reasons

 

Came back to visit in 2018/2019 & thought it still nice then Covid hit & we did not visit again till now 2022

What a difference!

 

Population/traffic etc has really exploded. Anywhere we went too so long by car. I know it is always faster by scooter & we

usually went that way when we lived there but also used out car a lot without problem back then.

 

But now? I mean it is crazy IMHO  going along canal road around 3-4pm trying to get to Nimmanhaemin road took literally

over an house to go 4km

 

Same if we were in town at various times & tried to go up Chang Phueak crazy traffic with super long waits at stop lights

 

Chang Klan road? What happened? looks like so many places boarded up now & the whole road basically in a state of disrepair

 

So whats going on? Is it just a population explosion? I assume much of the boarded up sections were victims of Covid

But overall was saddened to see what is no longer. Even around the moat is just not as well kept anymore ????

 

 

Meh, still the best city in Thailand. 

7 minutes ago, Lacrimas said:

Meh, still the best city in Thailand. 

I moved from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai two and a half years ago. IMO CR is better.

I agree with the OP, CM traffic is ridiculous now.

CR has many more attractions. Doi Inthanon, Doi Suthep and San Kamphaeng hot springs - that's about it for CM.

5 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

CR has many more attractions. Doi Inthanon, Doi Suthep and San Kamphaeng hot springs - that's about it for CM.

That is correct, if you cancel out all of the hundreds of other attractions in CM... 

31 minutes ago, mania said:

So whats going on? Is it just a population explosion?

"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded." Yogi Berra 

34 minutes ago, mania said:

But now? I mean it is crazy IMHO  going along canal road around 3-4pm trying to get to Nimmanhaemin road took literally

over an house to go 4km

 

Same if we were in town at various times & tried to go up Chang Phueak crazy traffic with super long waits at stop lights

Both those location have been a horror story for driving in a car.  Nothing new there.

Other places were turned into ghost towns (some still are).  Overall driving city-wide isn't much difference between now and when you left.  I wouldn't use Nimmanhaemin and Chang Phueak as your gauges for what all of Chiang Mai driving is like. 

Also, Chiang Mai is expanding outwards.  There are a lot of new bedroom communities springing out where they were still growing rice a few years back.  So I'd expect traffic to get heavier on those artial highways branching out from the center of CM while central Chiang Mai deteriorates.

Of course Covid happened but that happened everwhere and population sharply increased considering also Bangkokians moving here.

 

If you still wanted Opium or long neck begging for your 20 baht you are a bit late for that. Progress happens everywhere. 

If you experienced CM pre 2010 like me, you saw it’s best.   It will never, ever get back to that mystique for anyone!   Lol.      I cannot tell you about the “new” CM city I’m currently living in, because it’s now the best!     Almost every city is great then ruined…….you must not be a sheep and follow!   Lol

20 minutes ago, BananaStrong said:

If you experienced CM pre 2010 like me, you saw it’s best.   It will never, ever get back to that mystique for anyone!   Lol.      I cannot tell you about the “new” CM city I’m currently living in, because it’s now the best!     Almost every city is great then ruined…….you must not be a sheep and follow!   Lol

Yes actually we bought our Chiang Mai Condo in 2004 but lived there only 3-4 months a year till 2012 then full time. So I agree it was very nice back then. Clean not overcrowded & still looked like Thailand

 

Hahah also like you we now have a house in the country in an area we too will not mention ???? Bangkok folks already traveling here a lot to take back to the land type selfies ????

8 minutes ago, BananaStrong said:

If you experienced CM pre 2010 like me, you saw it’s best.   It will never, ever get back to that mystique for anyone!   Lol.      I cannot tell you about the “new” CM city I’m currently living in, because it’s now the best!     Almost every city is great then ruined…….you must not be a sheep and follow!   Lol

well I experienced it in the mid 90's thru to early 2000's - I now stay well clear as it is now has nothing to offer.

1 hour ago, connda said:

Both those location have been a horror story for driving in a car.  Nothing new there.

Other places were turned into ghost towns (some still are).  Overall driving city-wide isn't much difference between now and when you left.  I wouldn't use Nimmanhaemin and Chang Phueak as your gauges for what all of Chiang Mai driving is like. 

Also, Chiang Mai is expanding outwards.  There are a lot of new bedroom communities springing out where they were still growing rice a few years back.  So I'd expect traffic to get heavier on those artial highways branching out from the center of CM while central Chiang Mai deteriorates.

Yes I agree those places were always "busy" but now are basically full gridlock

 

Also we were not going to Nim as it always was a cluster F@3\#!  always !

( My bad for describing that poorly)

But instead as I said we were on Canal heading towards Nim direction as we were headed to 700 year stadium,

 

But that aside the Canal road is just full stop. I felt bad for an ambulance as they tried to get thru as obviously they could not.

 

Yes there are some nice new areas outside CM & we did in fact go visit a few considering whether or not we wanted to maybe move back to CM. Some nice homes for good prices actually! But after two trips of a week each we're sad to say giving CM a pass as any future living idea

 

Was nice though as we are cyclist & rode the usual Bhubing Palace & Samoeng Loop etc & those were nice...Suthep climb crowded as heck (a Saturday so expected)& we started before sunrise but nice

Like all Thailand cities and towns, its just gotten uglier and uglier through uncontrolled "development"

2 minutes ago, MRToMRT said:

Like all Thailand cities and towns, its just gotten uglier and uglier through uncontrolled "development"

???? I was telling my wife about the counting crows Big Yellow Taxi song

they paved paradise put up a parking lot ????

1 hour ago, 1FinickyOne said:

That is correct, if you cancel out all of the hundreds of other attractions in CM... 

I don't count Loi Kroh grannies in my list of attractions.

19 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I don't count Loi Kroh grannies in my list of attractions.

And I assume you don't count their mothers who work massage in CR?

 

“Chang Klan road? What happened? looks like so many places boarded up now & the whole road basically in a state of disrepair”

 

Many part of the city have grown but the area where Pantip Plaza starts down to the Astra Condo looks like a zombie battle has occurred.  At night it is very quiet.  I am moving next year and the Astra Condo is impressive but the neighborhood does not offer much.  

just noticed this week that they demoed a part of the side walk in front of KSK. stupid piece meal work.  CM is still declineing

 

 despite covid being over.  if they where smart they would build mass transit, btw, what happen to the buses? songtheaw mafia? put the power cables underground. too cheap.  90% of infrastructure funds probably go for pay offs? CM is looking like a 3rd world dump more than ever.  

1 hour ago, mania said:

Yes I agree those places were always "busy" but now are basically full gridlock

 

Also we were not going to Nim as it always was a cluster F@3\#!  always !

( My bad for describing that poorly)

But instead as I said we were on Canal heading towards Nim direction as we were headed to 700 year stadium,

 

But that aside the Canal road is just full stop. I felt bad for an ambulance as they tried to get thru as obviously they could not.

 

Yes there are some nice new areas outside CM & we did in fact go visit a few considering whether or not we wanted to maybe move back to CM. Some nice homes for good prices actually! But after two trips of a week each we're sad to say giving CM a pass as any future living idea

 

Was nice though as we are cyclist & rode the usual Bhubing Palace & Samoeng Loop etc & those were nice...Suthep climb crowded as heck (a Saturday so expected)& we started before sunrise but nice

they need separate lanes for emergency vehicles.  thai think.

1 hour ago, sqwakvfr said:

“Chang Klan road? What happened? looks like so many places boarded up now & the whole road basically in a state of disrepair”

 

Many part of the city have grown but the area where Pantip Plaza starts down to the Astra Condo looks like a zombie battle has occurred.  At night it is very quiet.  I am moving next year and the Astra Condo is impressive but the neighborhood does not offer much.  

Exactly !

1 hour ago, malibukid said:

they need separate lanes for emergency vehicles.  thai think.

Never work here Thai drivers are too selfish to leave an empty lane ????

2 hours ago, mania said:

Yes I agree those places were always "busy" but now are basically full gridlock

 

Also we were not going to Nim as it always was a cluster F@3\#!  always !

( My bad for describing that poorly)

But instead as I said we were on Canal heading towards Nim direction as we were headed to 700 year stadium,

 

But that aside the Canal road is just full stop. I felt bad for an ambulance as they tried to get thru as obviously they could not.

 

Yes there are some nice new areas outside CM & we did in fact go visit a few considering whether or not we wanted to maybe move back to CM. Some nice homes for good prices actually! But after two trips of a week each we're sad to say giving CM a pass as any future living idea

 

Was nice though as we are cyclist & rode the usual Bhubing Palace & Samoeng Loop etc & those were nice...Suthep climb crowded as heck (a Saturday so expected)& we started before sunrise but nice

You should check out Fang/Chai Prakhan districts. Yes they're around 140kms from CM, but it's a nice rural style of living (still idiots on the roads but no traffic gridlocks) and there are some excellent rides for cyclists. My wife and I cycle and there are so many different types of rides. Flat ones, undulating ones, serious hill climbs (Doi Ang Khang e.g)

It was a little different around 1988 and my uncle Bill, sadly passed, said it was even more different in 1964.

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Doi Inthanon, Doi Suthep and San Kamphaeng hot springs - that's about it for CM.

With the greatest respect, having lived near Chiang Mai for several years, the following tourist attractions could be included:- Royal Park Rajapruek, Chiang Mai Night Safari, Chiang Mai Zoo and Aquarium, whilst nearby at Mae Rim there are the Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens, Mae Sa Elephant Camp and The Canopy Walks. Pre-pandemic there was Tiger Kingdom and the King Cobra Farm (with shows).

2 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

With the greatest respect, having lived near Chiang Mai for several years, the following tourist attractions could be included:- Royal Park Rajapruek, Chiang Mai Night Safari, Chiang Mai Zoo and Aquarium, whilst nearby at Mae Rim there are the Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens, Mae Sa Elephant Camp and The Canopy Walks. Pre-pandemic there was Tiger Kingdom and the King Cobra Farm (with shows).

I could include Chiang Mai Erotic Gardens, if it is still going. There's an interesting collection of Thai proverbs in Thai and English at the Doi Saket temple.

 

Chiang Rai is a jumping off point for so much more, Mae Sai markets, Phu Chi Fa, White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House, Doi Mae Salong, Doi Mae Mon, Chiang Saen Skywalk, the Mekong, Doi Chang and Wat Sang Kaew Phothiyan.

 

I suppose with time Chiang Rai will become as congested as Chiang Mai.

3 hours ago, BananaStrong said:

If you experienced CM pre 2010 like me, you saw it’s best.   It will never, ever get back to that mystique for anyone!   Lol.      I cannot tell you about the “new” CM city I’m currently living in, because it’s now the best!     Almost every city is great then ruined…….you must not be a sheep and follow!   Lol

Difference between 2009 and 2022 ......... less hooker bars, more coffee shops.

That's about it as far as I can see.

Better in the 70s.

3 hours ago, mania said:

Yes I agree those places were always "busy" but now are basically full gridlock

 

Also we were not going to Nim as it always was a cluster F@3\#!  always !

( My bad for describing that poorly)

But instead as I said we were on Canal heading towards Nim direction as we were headed to 700 year stadium,

 

But that aside the Canal road is just full stop. I felt bad for an ambulance as they tried to get thru as obviously they could not.

 

Yes there are some nice new areas outside CM & we did in fact go visit a few considering whether or not we wanted to maybe move back to CM. Some nice homes for good prices actually! But after two trips of a week each we're sad to say giving CM a pass as any future living idea

 

Was nice though as we are cyclist & rode the usual Bhubing Palace & Samoeng Loop etc & those were nice...Suthep climb crowded as heck (a Saturday so expected)& we started before sunrise but nice

There's a flower festival on at 700yr stadium.

2 minutes ago, Colabamumbai said:

Better in the 70s.

1870's?

16 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I could include Chiang Mai Erotic Gardens, if it is still going. There's an interesting collection of Thai proverbs in Thai and English at the Doi Saket temple.

 

Chiang Rai is a jumping off point for so much more, Mae Sai markets, Phu Chi Fa, White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House, Doi Mae Salong, Doi Mae Mon, Chiang Saen Skywalk, the Mekong, Doi Chang and Wat Sang Kaew Phothiyan.

 

I suppose with time Chiang Rai will become as congested as Chiang Mai.

Very interesting indeed, bringing back many happy memories when I was a Tourist Police Volunteer based in Chiang Rai, before moving across country to Khon Kaen Province. Regarding traffic in CR, the newish by-pass (via airport) might help divert traffic from the City centre.

1 hour ago, TigerandDog said:

You should check out Fang/Chai Prakhan districts. Yes they're around 140kms from CM, but it's a nice rural style of living (still idiots on the roads but no traffic gridlocks) and there are some excellent rides for cyclists. My wife and I cycle and there are so many different types of rides. Flat ones, undulating ones, serious hill climbs (Doi Ang Khang e.g)

I have seen videos of Doi Ang Khang ! Looks great

We ride a lot in the northern areas too