Advice needed for 1 week in Chiang Mai

[Prubangboy]

1 minute ago, MrPancake said:

 

During burning season, the levels of pollution become dangerous for a couple of months.

 

True. I love it here and am willing to suffer the inconvenience and expense of relocating for March and April, or just go traveling. But it def is a case of paying for 12 months and getting 10 bearable months on the ground.

 

Plus, to start another zillion page thread, a lot of years you can get by with staying put with an air purifier and not be too put out.

[bignok]

12 minutes ago, MrPancake said:

Retiring in Chiang Mai would be a mistake.

The air quality scores very poorly most of the time.

During burning season, the levels of pollution become dangerous for a couple of months.

 

Only bad 2 months. 

[Chris Daley]

It's just Bangkok but colder.

[bignok]

Just now, Chris Daley said:

It's just Bangkok but colder.

CM is hot most of the time

[Prubangboy]

9 minutes ago, bignok said:

maya mall

 

 

 

The least useful mall in CM, not even a Robertson's Department Store.

 

Excuse me, it's the Maya Lifestyle Mall, which is only good if your lifestyle involves browsing dozens and dozens of opportunities to buy a new plastic iPhone case. Or if you need a lot of aroma therapy options.

 

Some nice condos behind it tho. A lot of Chinese people rent there. Mae Sai Khao Soi is there too, and is usually the food highlight for our visiting guests.

 

Across the road is a slightly baffling Japanese theme park entertainment development. Lot's of food trucks etc. Not bad, but I went twice, love Japanese food, and left without eating. You can't throw a rock in Nimman without hitting a good value Japanese or Korean restaurant.

 

A lot of Bangkok Thai people pack into Nimman on the weekends and they love that little Epcot-like Japanese experience. People should def visit Nimman on a Saturday night in tourist season to see if they like it. It's like Bourbon Street, New Orleans (we love it).

[bignok]

1 minute ago, Prubangboy said:

The least useful mall in CM, not even a Robertson's Department Store.

 

Excuse me, it's the Maya Lifestyle Mall, which is only good if your lifestyle involves browsing dozens and dozens of opportunities to buy a new plastic iPhone case. Or if you need a lot of aroma therapy options.

 

Some nice condos behind it tho. A lot of Chinese people rent there. Mae Sai Khao Soi is there too, and is usually the food highlight for our visiting guests.

 

Across the road is a slightly baffling Japanese theme park entertainment development. Lot's of food trucks etc. Not bad, but I went twice, love Japanese food, and left without eating. You can't throw a rock in Nimman without hitting a good value Japanese or Korean restaurant.

 

A lot of Bangkok Thai people pack into Nimman on the weekends and they love that little Epcot-like Japanese experience. People should def visit Nimman on a Saturday night in tourist season to see if they like it. It's like Bourbon Street, New Orleans (we love it).

The sky bar provides great views of the city. Its right near Nimman. Walk from Maya to Old City via Nimman gives a good idea of city.

 

The Airport mall has the best food court.

 

 

 

 

 

[Prubangboy]

2 minutes ago, bignok said:

Walk from Maya to Old City via Nimman gives a good idea of city.

 

Not that nice a walk along a heavy traffic road. Not that compelling an area to live in. Def do that walk before 10 AM before the heat cancels it.

 

Cab is 80 baht to the old city (tho often, 150 baht coming back, 120 baht if you're on border by the moat).

[bignok]

2 good walks

[roo860]

There's cycling groups in Chiang Mai, Thai and foreign, I don't have Facebook but I'm sure you'll find them, around 5pm just before the zoo on the Doi Suthep Rd, many cyclist meet to ride up to the temple.

Edited November 12, 2023 by roo860

[Prubangboy]

Chiang Mai is like New York -a place where you take a cab to take a walk.

[Lacessit]

The OP would probably be most comfortable in the Old City, a lot of accommodation and bikes there. Personally, I prefer my scooter because bicycles can't accelerate out of the way of trouble.

 

I lived in Chiang Mai for 10 years, then moved to Chiang Rai. More laid-back, accommodation is less expensive, renting or buying.

 

Chiang Mai really only has three attractions outside the city. Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, San Kamphaeng Hot Springs - that's about it. I think there's white water rafting somewhere north of Mae Rim.

 

In contrast, Chiang Rai is the jumping off point for everything in the Golden Triangle and beyond. It's also cooler than Chiang Mai, air pollution levels are the same in the burning season.

[bignok]

This area is good. Lotus Pang to Maya.

[JimTripper]

depends on how far you can walk. how old are you to retire?

 

i lived in the haiya area just off chiang mai gate in the silverware district. loved it. quiet but walking distance to moat and old city. baht bus also runs around there.

 

another good area is up by the ping river close to the old city, all along it pretty much up and down.

Edited November 12, 2023 by JimTripper

[bignok]

10 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The OP would probably be most comfortable in the Old City, a lot of accommodation and bikes there. Personally, I prefer my scooter because bicycles can't accelerate out of the way of trouble.

 

I lived in Chiang Mai for 10 years, then moved to Chiang Rai. More laid-back, accommodation is less expensive, renting or buying.

 

Chiang Mai really only has three attractions outside the city. Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, San Kamphaeng Hot Springs - that's about it. I think there's white water rafting somewhere north of Mae Rim.

 

In contrast, Chiang Rai is the jumping off point for everything in the Golden Triangle and beyond. It's also cooler than Chiang Mai, air pollution levels are the same in the burning season.

CM has far more good restaurants and bars. Found guesthouses the same price level but CM far more choice.

 

The Golden Triangle is overrated.

 

The best caves are at soppong. Not near either city.

 

CM airport is a proper airport. CR only flies to Bangkok I think.

 

CM has a train station as well.

 

CM worse traffic.

 

I was bored with CR after 4 days. CM has enough touristy stuff to fill 2 weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 12, 2023 by bignok

[MrPancake]

45 minutes ago, bignok said:

Only bad 2 months. 

 

You mean terrible 2 months and bad the rest of the time.

Edited November 12, 2023 by MrPancake

[bignok]

Just now, MrPancake said:

 

You terrible 2 months and bad the rest of the time.

Hows Phnoh Penh? Dump of the year?

[Prubangboy]

That little Nimman grid of streets that you keep referencing is indeed a uniquely walkable, low-traffic area in CM. I live within hopping distance of Charin Pie on your map (where they will put your pic onto your latte foam).

 

But once you leave it, you're abutted by high traffic streets. I was on the Maya Mall side of Nimman Road, it was much less attractive for a pedestrian. I paid off a lease to move to the good side.

 

Medium traffic is what makes the Old City so great (and so hard to rent in).

 

The area between Tapie Road And Loy Koh Road is another uniquely walkable area of Chiang Mai where you have that mix of quietude and access to good restaurants. 'Can't think of a third of any size that's centrally located (Night Market?).

 

This is the typical layout of a developing nation's historic towns: they have a traffic-calmed downtown, an expat area adjacent to it, and then the mall out on the main road leading in. I had this problem living in Mexico City; it was leafy and quaint for 6 blocks and then I had to cross eight lanes of traffic.

Edited November 12, 2023 by Prubangboy

[MrPancake]

Same as Chiang Mai today.

Average air quality.

Around 75 IQA US whatever that means...

[Lacessit]

8 minutes ago, bignok said:

CM has far more good restaurants and bars. Found guesthouses the same price level but CM far more choice.

 

The Golden Triangle is overrated.

 

The best caves are at soppong. Not near either city.

 

CM airport is a proper airport. CR only flies to Bangkok I think.

 

CM has a train station as well.

 

CM worse traffic.

 

I was bored with CR after 4 days. CM has enough touristy stuff to fill 2 weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

If you were bored with Chiang Rai after 4 days, you simply did not get out enough.

Show me a condo in Chiang Mai with a swimming pool that I can rent for 7000 baht/month.

Talking out of your rear, as usual.

 

[bignok]

2 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

That little Nimman grid of streets that you keep referencing is indeed a uniquely walkable, low-traffic area in CM. I live within hopping distance of Charin Pie on your map (where they will put your pic onto you latte foam).

 

But once you leave it, you're abutted by high traffic streets. I was on the Maya Mall side of Nimman Road, it was much less attractive for a pedestrian. I paid off a lease to move to the good side. Medium traffic is what makes the Old City so great (and so hard to rent in).

 

The area between Tapie Road And Loy Koh Road is another uniquely walkable area of Chiang Mai where you have that mix of quietude and access to good restaurants. 'Can't think of a third of any size that's centrally located (Night Market?).

 

This is the typical layout of a developing nation's historic towns: they have a traffic-calmed downtown, an expat area adjacent to it, and then the mall out on the main road leading in. I had this problem living in Mexico City; it was leafy and quaint for 6 blocks and then I had to cross eight lanes of traffic.

I stayed at Lotus Pang. Heading towards Nimman is mostly quiet sois with cafes. Nimman itself is a gridlock.

 

I walked the entire Old city. Its the best. The walk over past China town over the river is ok to.

 

 

[JimTripper]

2 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

If you were bored with Chiang Rai after 4 days, you simply did not get out enough.

Show me a condo in Chiang Mai with a swimming pool that I can rent for 7000 baht/month.

Talking out of your rear, as usual.

 

do you really care about an extra 7k baht a month for a much better condo? that's only about $200!

[MrPancake]

8 minutes ago, bignok said:

Hows Phnoh Penh? Dump of the year?

  I meant to write "you mean" and not just you.

Changes the meaning of the sentence...

 

 

[Prubangboy]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

If you were bored with Chiang Rai after 4 days, you simply did not get out enough.

 

 

True. I find downtown CR a fair bit less attractive than CM, but a mile out, it's the dead-same for a third off. 

 

Just like CM gets the more educated and adventurous tourists than Phuket, CR is a yet further filter still. You have to really love the North as a repeat visitor or have a lot of travel time to put CR on your list.

 

To live there, you're probably a CM transplant. Moving directly to CR is prob less likely than hopping off of the plane and heading straight to Ubon.

[bignok]

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

If you were bored with Chiang Rai after 4 days, you simply did not get out enough.

Show me a condo in Chiang Mai with a swimming pool that I can rent for 7000 baht/month.

Talking out of your rear, as usual.

 

More abuse from you. Learnt nothing from the toxic topic I see. Still arrogant.

 

I saw 8,000 baht a month guesthouse with pool in old city.

 

I've been to CR twice. Its pretty sleepy. Its got a few good temples but CM has heaps. The scenary north of CR is good.

 

Went to a few restaurants in CR but they couldnt match CM.

 

 

 

 

[bignok]

Did this loop in CR

[Lacessit]

13 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

do you really care about an extra 7k baht a month for a much better condo? that's only about $200!

I don't like wasting money unnecessarily, the condo I have in CR suits me perfectly.

[bignok]

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I don't like wasting money unnecessarily, the condo I have in CR suits me perfectly.

It may be a great deal. The OP did not talk about budget.

[Prubangboy]

Lanna Moon Condo down by the Night Market is my fave cheapie: a thou a week. Brutal mattresses, tho, spring for a mattress topper.

 

And it has a pool. And a shared kitchen (10 baht per propane use). You can't book it; just show up and they'll call the landlord.

[Lacessit]

12 minutes ago, bignok said:

More abuse from you. Learnt nothing from the toxic topic I see. Still arrogant.

 

I saw 8,000 baht a month guesthouse with pool in old city.

 

I've been to CR twice. Its pretty sleepy. Its got a few good temples but CM has heaps. The scenary north of CR is good.

 

Went to a few restaurants in CR but they couldnt match CM.

 

 

 

 

Did the guesthouse room have its' own kitchen? King-size bed?

You seem to think because you have been in Thailand for a few months - a year at most - you are an authority on everything Thai.

Somewhat rich you accuse me of arrogance. You've got that and dogmatism in spades.

The only reason I don't have you on ignore is I enjoy puncturing your more fatuous posts. It's not as if you keep me starved of material.

 

[JimTripper]

smiths residence near chiang mai gate has weekly i think if you're not into guesthouses and want something a bit more comfortable.