Positive stroke for moving to Chiang Mai

[KhunLA]

6 minutes ago, novacova said:

4 months 

And yet, some areas starting to hit the unhealthy #s this month already, and that will last until the rains in May.

Edited October 23 by KhunLA

[novacova]

Just now, UWEB said:

Don't forget your Oxygen Mask when moving to the north.

The smoke in north Lampang is way worse than in cm though I’d prefer living there in than in cm. The traffic in cm pretty bad with quite a few psychopath drivers. Most of the westerners here are weird antisocial types. The only thing I like about cm is the actual locals and my wife. When she’s ready to retire or have someone else run her business, we’ll move back to Lampang. 

[novacova]

6 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

And yet, some areas starting to hit the unhealthy #s this month already, and that will last until the rains in May.

The air here is and has been very good since the end of May and don’t expect it to get bad until February 

Edited October 23 by novacova

[KhunLA]

11 minutes ago, novacova said:

The air here is and has been very good since the end of May and don’t expect it to get bad until February 

That's a different opinion, or what is dated on this recent thread 

[Nick Carter icp]

49 minutes ago, Mark1066 said:

I moved here unwillingly 14 years ago and it's never been a great place to live in my experience. It was dull and boring when I arrived and it still is. The expat population was (and probably still is) significantly older than it is in Bangkok. Walking around Airport Plaza when I first arrived was like walking around an old people's home. Every single Westerner I saw was well over 60. There's nothing wrong with being older of course but if you're under 50 and still active, I don't think Chiang Mai is a good place to live.

.

 

  You walk around shopping canters looking at other people ?

   If that's what you do for enjoyment , then its you that is dull and  boring .

[novacova]

5 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

That's a different opinion, or what is dated on this recent thread 

Perhaps those opinions are from out-of-towners. The air here has been fine, especially during the time that thread was posted. 

[Sydebolle]

I sold my two condos in Chiang Mai for precisely the hazy smog season; it's committing suicide on installments. 

And, for those who want to follow, put the place up just after the rainy season as the price is significantly below 50% during the smoking delights period! 

[Cameroni]

3 hours ago, Mark1066 said:

I moved here unwillingly 14 years ago and it's never been a great place to live in my experience. It was dull and boring when I arrived and it still is. The expat population was (and probably still is) significantly older than it is in Bangkok. Walking around Airport Plaza when I first arrived was like walking around an old people's home. Every single Westerner I saw was well over 60. There's nothing wrong with being older of course but if you're under 50 and still active, I don't think Chiang Mai is a good place to live.

 

I mentioned some of my concerns on this very forum back then, which included food, and was met with hostility from posters, one of whom went so far as to claim the choice of restaurants in Chiang Mai is every bit as good as the choice in Bangkok. I gave up trying to have serious conversations on here after that. The city is dirty, unattractive, congested and attracts the type of visitors I could cheerfully strangle: posers, hipsters, digital nomads and neo-hippies who wander around SEA in search of authentic experiences, man. It also attracts the type of expats I dislike: older Westerners on a fixed income who are unable to see the irony of their bigoted attitudes, having chosen to emigrate here. Most of them pair up with a native girl whose history is better left undiscussed and slowly drink themselves to death.

 

You're just not going to the right places.

 

Chiang Mai food paradise: 'The best I've ever eaten'

 

Wherever you go in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, the food is outstanding, says novelist Deepti Kapoor, who shares her favourite street stalls, markets and must-try barbecue, curry and noodle dishes

 

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/feb/24/thai-street-food-chiang-mai-tour-thailand

[Cameroni]

3 hours ago, novacova said:

The air here is and has been very good since the end of May and don’t expect it to get bad until February 

 

Agreed, air quality has been very good for months.

[motdaeng]

3 hours ago, novacova said:

The air here is and has been very good since the end of May and don’t expect it to get bad until February 

 

can you please provide some reliable proof for your claim (good air from june to february), like air quality data or studies?

 

foreigners who say "chiang mai is great" and that the air quality is very good, while looking through rose-colored glasses,

are not considered as a very trustworthy source...

 

Edited October 23 by motdaeng
add text

[CARLO BALDASSARRE]

On 10/21/2024 at 5:19 PM, JimGant said:

This is a 'feel good' news story about moving from the US to Chiang Mai. Probably similar for most of us reading this, especially Yanks, who, for most of us, will have no new tax hit with the recent Thai proposals. And who get by just fine in the smoky season.

https://www.businessinsider.com/retired-florida-cop-moved-to-chiang-mai-thailand-cheaper-safer-2024-10

where's smoke there's fire .......yeh chang mai over rated ..and so polluted with the burning of sugar cane .....

[novacova]

1 hour ago, motdaeng said:

can you please provide some reliable proof for your claim

Me, I live here is proof enough for me. Some complain about a minor amount of haze here in December just for the sake of complaining. If you want horrible air then go stay in Wangnuea during the dry season, cm smoke is Micky Mouse in comparison.

Edited October 23 by novacova

[Cameroni]

7 minutes ago, novacova said:

Me, I live here is proof enough for me. Some complain about a minor amount of haze here in December just for the sake of complaining. If you want horrible air then go stay in Wangnuea during the dry season, cm smoke is Micky Mouse in comparison.

 

Or just go to Bangkok, horrible air all year round.

[novacova]

Just now, Cameroni said:

 

Or just go to Bangkok, horrible air all year round.

No thanks. Never been and don’t plan on it.

[motdaeng]

31 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

Or just go to Bangkok, horrible air all year round.

 

just as i thought, no reliable proof for the claim about good air quality most of the year in chiang mai ...

 

but never mind. people who live in chiang mai and think it’s great, they can continue to believe that.

but please don’t spread complete falsehoods that you can’t back up with reliable proof...

thankfully, not all foreigners are easily fooled!

 

 

below look at the evidence of the poor air quality in chiang mai, with some improvement during the rainy season:

 

[Nick Carter icp]

5 hours ago, KhunLA said:

And yet, some areas starting to hit the unhealthy #s this month already, and that will last until the rains in May.

 

   Its raining today and also forecast for a wet weekend in CH and the AQI is 75 today , which is lower than some USA cities

[motdaeng]

14 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Its raining today and also forecast for a wet weekend in CH and the AQI is 75 today , which is lower than some USA cities

 

AQI 75 is equal with about PM2.5  of about 23.5 µg/m3 ...  

 

 

 

 

[KhunLA]

2 hours ago, Cameroni said:

 

Agreed, air quality has been very good for months.

I hope so, at least most of the time, since rainy season still winding down.   Y'all might get a bit more, Sun/Mon. 

 

Still raining down here/PKK, occasionally, though they do seem to burn stuff, on the dry days, and understandable.  We do the same, with our trash, maybe 1 day a month though, if that, since we don't produce much at all.

[KhunLA]

29 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Its raining today and also forecast for a wet weekend in CH and the AQI is 75 today , which is lower than some USA cities

Some = very few considering the size of USA, 19X larger than TH.  TH has 1 large metro, USA has a few more.  Apples & Orange

 

Only 3 of 50 stated added up have more people than TH - wiki

2 of the states are larger than TH - wiki

[MangoKorat]

On 10/21/2024 at 9:44 AM, Keeps said:

Was your Mrs looking over your shoulder and possibly holding some sort of weapon when you typed that last bit?

Hey - there are some great places to live in Isaan.  I have a great time around Pak Chong/Korat - 10 years in and I'm still discovering new places to spend a night out. It can be difficult to avoid those bloody 'hostess bars' where the girls come and sit with you demanding shots all night but never 'go out'. I've never understood why Asian guys spend 4-5000 + just to sit and chat then go home alone..........buy anyway, I digress.  A lot of the Thai style pubs and bars are actually a lot of fun if you join in and don't expect 'Hotel California' to be on tap.

 

I do know what you mean though - there are some parts of Isaan where I'd just die of boredom but its not all like that.  Best part about it is that food and drink is cheap - a good night out doesn't end up costing the earth (unless you are stupid enough to play the 'shots' game.

[Keeps]

9 minutes ago, MangoKorat said:

Hey - there are some great places to live in Isaan.  I have a great time around Pak Chong/Korat - 10 years in and I'm still discovering new places to spend a night out. It can be difficult to avoid those bloody 'hostess bars' where the girls come and sit with you demanding shots all night but never 'go out'. I've never understood why Asian guys spend 4-5000 + just to sit and chat then go home alone..........buy anyway, I digress.  A lot of the Thai style pubs and bars are actually a lot of fun if you join in and don't expect 'Hotel California' to be on tap.

 

I do know what you mean though - there are some parts of Isaan where I'd just die of boredom but its not all like that.  Best part about it is that food and drink is cheap - a good night out doesn't end up costing the earth (unless you are stupid enough to play the 'shots' game.

I wasn't having a 'pop' at Isaan in any way, shape or form. It was more a joke with WillBGood as he often refers to his miserable existence (tongue in cheek for the most part I assume) in Isaan and how he wishes he was elsewhere.

 

I have in fact got a week trip planned for February to catch up with some of the Mrs family. Near Pak Thong, Nakhon Ratchasima I believe although I don't listen too closely. I'll just get reminded nearer the time. Quite looking forward to the change of scenery to be honest and trying out a few different restaurants and watering holes. 

[GypsyT]

On 10/21/2024 at 3:08 PM, motdaeng said:

you have to wonder what goes through people's minds when they move to a city known for its extreme air pollution ...

and then talk about having a good quality of life in chiang mai ... unbelievable ...

Thailand makes people, like me, forget what is "normal and safe".

I was monitoring pollution number in Bangkok and they were high. Now I'm near On Nut BTS - one of the busiest and polluted spot in Bangkok - and I like it!

I guess I checked my brain at the door... I am alive! I love the action, smells (food), energy of young AND old people on the streets and so on. Only 1% speaks English! Now I'm in Thailand.

I hear Chiang Mai is even more polluted yet very popular. I may go to see it too.

 

My regular place, Jomtien, was/is cemetery quiet compared to this hell hole 😉

Only ONE motobike revving at night, as reported here, 1 000 000+ in Bangkok.

It's a win-win to me. Got to see REAL Bangkok and when tired of this I appreciate Jomtien more. When is that? I donno, just paid 7 more days...

 

[ChaiyaTH]

19 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   What kind of nightlife do you like ?

Has zero to do with my personal preferences, it simply is dead in Chiang Mai, anyone knows that. People stating opposite are merely defending their poor positions or full of crap, like so many on this forum living under their rocks.

 

Some lived decades in TH and are still clueless on most ends, just the other day someone tried telling us here that there are no corrupt checkpoints in Bangkok too >< Pathetic really. It's cliche too, it's the same with anything in life.

 

If Chiang Mai in this subject actually would be just a tiny bit attractive or fun, you would have read or heard as much about it as in the good old years, and you do not. In fact, I only hear tourists being disapointed, even it's a nice city to have visited. It's a bit like they went to the best (Vietnam) to then arrive at some overpriced scam place with old muppets.

 

Never seen such a dead expat community too, there is a few leaving every 2 weeks.

Edited October 23 by ChaiyaTH

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

20 hours ago, novacova said:

Most of the westerners here are weird antisocial types.

It's maybe because of all the pot theyre smoking?  Paranoia, delusions...

[Celsius]

When I think of Chiang Mai I think of Anthony Bourdain type of expat living on the "edge" about to off themselves because some skirt cheated on them with a Frenchy

[GammaGlobulin]

22 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Agree, the city never did anything for me.  Visited a couple times, abet, 20 yrs ago, but thought the same.   

 

The countryside on the other hand, is lovely, and actually only have a deeper appreciation for it, the last 4 years, as got to see a lot of it, with clear skies, during rainy season & cusp of, along with no tourist. 

 

Of course.

The city, city proper, of CM is a place that I have visited only once in over a decade.

It's outside the city that is so nice.

Also, the people here, and the community here.

So, keep those newcomers out.

 

[Maejo Man]

On 10/23/2024 at 1:37 PM, ChaiyaTH said:

Yet the biggest embassy ever was build right in Chiang Mai 😄

That works in conjunction to the CIA listening post half way up the mountain.

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

3 hours ago, Celsius said:

I think of Anthony Bourdain type of expat living on the "edge" about to off themselves

Is there really enough evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Anthony offed himself?  I heard it was some funny Hollyweird business going on.

[Cameroni]

6 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Has zero to do with my personal preferences, it simply is dead in Chiang Mai,

 

No, you're wrong. Nightlife in Chiang Mai is not "dead". There are night clubs, roof terraces, jazz clubs, bars, karaoke, there's everything.  It's just the ladybar scene, which exists, is pretty dead, with old ugly women, ok fine. But most people who come to Chiang Mai don't come for that.

 

Is it Pattaya, no, is it Bangkok, no, but if you want to go to a roof terrace and listen to music, if you want to go to a good bar, if you want to go to a jazz club for live music, it's all there.

[watchcat]

On 10/21/2024 at 8:25 AM, Will B Good said:

Why go there when there are so many other places to choose from just in Thailand.

 

Perhaps he likes the thieving ladyboys, the barlife with hookers or arabs with scooters with noisy exhaustsystems in the middle of night. Oh, and don't forget the beautifful beach.

Then Pattaya is perfect.

Edited October 24 by watchcat