23 minutes ago, Mark17AA said:

Have they been to Chiang Mai lately... Its as dead as dead can be, and not the most attractive place either.

I am there now and honestly haven't got a clue what you are talking about. 

9 minutes ago, CM Dad said:

I agree with your post.  I have lived in Chiang Mai for more than thirty years and love it.  It's the only place in Thailand I want to live.  I am always amazed at how many disgruntled people there are on this site who have chosen to live in Thailand but continually spout negative comments about it.  Why did they come and why do they stay? 

How do you cope with the toxic pollution for all that time?  How's your cardiovascular and respiratory health, if you don't mind me asking?  (hopefully great but I would worry personally)

Maybe the air wasn't so bad years back?

Genuine question, would likely move there if it wasn't for the poisonous air for a third of the year. Countryside is great in that area, a nice-sized city, decent mix of people

3 minutes ago, Keeps said:

I am there now and honestly haven't got a clue what you are talking about. 

 

Nor do I. Had to queue at Jing Jai, could just about find one parking spot, as usual. 

 

Quite busy. Mostly Korean tourists.

 

 

What????  No Pattaya?

1 minute ago, pimmmm said:

How do you cope with the toxic pollution for all that time?  How's your cardiovascular and respiratory health, if you don't mind me asking?  (hopefully great but I would worry personally)

 

Air quiality is superb now. Delightful.

 

When burning season comes I stopped even running the air purifiers. Doesn't bother me in the slightest. I measured air quality for a while, but when I saw inside it was always fine, I didn't worry anymore.

 

Since I stopped running the air purifiers feel less stressed and healthier than ever.

 

I cycle every day and walk, play sports. No issues whatsoever. People display too much of precious snowflake syndrome.  

8 hours ago, BayArea said:

when you have THREE Indian cities in the Top 15, all credibility is completely lost. 

and 2 of the 3 are ahead of Osaka and Singapore. 🤣

Actually if you have not been to Jaipur and Agra (Red Fort, Taj) then you have missed out on some of the best tourism site-seeing in Asia. Not for the dilettante traveler though. Mumbai of course is horrible in every level.

4 hours ago, Cameroni said:

 

But no traditional testicle massage then?

 

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Obscene comment 👎

@newbee2022 - I would have thought that comment would have been right up your street as you mainly post b0ll0ck$.

7 minutes ago, malibukid said:

just got back from Malibu. you can have L.A. love CM, i walk. ok no beach no problem.  its just peaceful. 

LA County is being destroyed by the extreme leftist policies of Governor Newson and the woke DEI Mayor. This goes for all the ‘sanctuary’ cities across the USA.

 

Fortunately they have a President who against all odds is implementing the necessary policies to help correct that decline, the policies he promised the electorate and is delivering on. 

8 minutes ago, Keeps said:

 

@newbee2022 - I would have thought that comment would have been right up your street as you mainly post b0ll0ck$.

no, the gutter is always your area and business

Those who gave that coronation have certainly not been there with the air pollution there surely above average.

Unless they don't think that's worth mentioning, that's also possible of course, a knee-jerk reaction.

8 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

Those who gave that coronation have certainly not been there with the air pollution there surely above average.

Unless they don't think that's worth mentioning, that's also possible of course, a knee-jerk reaction.

 

It's not worth mentioning. It's Asia. Air quality is less than ideal in almost every major city  If you want air quality go live in the Swiss alps.

 

Chiang Mai got the top spot because it offers a historic city centre with charm and filled to the brim with great restaurants, the best massages in the world, elephant camps, Japanese Onsen in the mountains, day trips to Mon Jam and other charming villages, King Cobra show, Tiger Kingdom, One of the best Zoos in the world, ATV camps, shooting ranges, great archery, the worlds best selection of themed cafes, hiking, tennis, basketball, pickleball, the best festivals in Thailand, the best baguette in the world...in short, no city even comes close.

 

It seems churlish and pedantic to talk of silly things like air, when faced with such an obvious avalanche of reasons why Chiang Mai is the best city in the world, as has now been officially confrimed.

23 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

When burning season comes I stopped even running the air purifiers. Doesn't bother me in the slightest. I measured air quality for a while, but when I saw inside it was always fine, I didn't worry anymore.

 

Since I stopped running the air purifiers feel less stressed and healthier than ever.

🤣

6 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Singapore is boring. Tokyo expensive.

Cant see how Singapore is boring. And Tokyo offers great value these days after decades of low inflation compared to other countries.

 

I think you need to get out more and move away from out dated stereotypes.

 

Now if you had said Singapore is expensive…..

1 minute ago, wensiensheng said:

Cant see how Singapore is boring. And Tokyo offers great value these days after decades of low inflation compared to other countries.

 

I think you need to get out more and move away from out dated stereotypes.

 

Now if you had said Singapore is expensive…..

My opinion. 

22 minutes ago, HK MacPhooey said:

LA County is being destroyed by the extreme leftist policies of Governor Newson and the woke DEI Mayor. This goes for all the ‘sanctuary’ cities across the USA.

 

Fortunately they have a President who against all odds is implementing the necessary policies to help correct that decline, the policies he promised the electorate and is delivering on. 

Maybe, but do you have anything to say about Chang Mai’s ranking in a survey? Just because, you know, that’s what this thread is about

Just now, wensiensheng said:

Cant see how Singapore is boring. And Tokyo offers great value these days after decades of low inflation compared to other countries.

 

I think you need to get out more and move away from out dated stereotypes.

 

Now if you had said Singapore is expensive…..

 

Singapore has some passable malls and the food is very good, like in Chiang Mai. However in Chiang Mai there is a more  cosmopolitan offering due to the breadth of foreigners who've chosen Chiang Mai as a second home. You certainly won't get baguette as good as in Chiang Mai in Singapore.

 

Then of course you can't drive in Singapore, you're forced to use taxis or public transport. It's far hotter than Thailand.. 

 

There are no mountains close to Singapore. No wealth of themed cafes. No elephant sanctuaries. No charming festivals.

 

Singapore is okay for a short visit. But to live, Chiang Mai wins hands down. Not just because of the exorbitant prices in Singapore.

3 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

My opinion. 

Sure. Whether Singapore is boring or not. The Tokyo thing is a mathematical comparison though. I think you’d be surprised just how much value is provided by Japan in general. It’s taken a bit of a hit just recently for Americans because of the USD to JPY fx rate, but overall I find it great value for high quality 

2 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Sure. Whether Singapore is boring or not. The Tokyo thing is a mathematical comparison though. I think you’d be surprised just how much value is provided by Japan in general. It’s taken a bit of a hit just recently for Americans because of the USD to JPY fx rate, but overall I find it great value for high quality 

400 baht large rooms? No

1 minute ago, Cameroni said:

 

Singapore has some passable malls and the food is very good, like in Chiang Mai. However in Chiang Mai there is a more  cosmopolitan offering due to the breadth of foreigners who've chosen Chiang Mai as a second home. You certainly won't get baguette as good as in Chiang Mai in Singapore.

 

Then of course you can't drive in Singapore, you're forced to use taxis or public transport. It's far hotter than Thailand.. 

 

There are no mountains close to Singapore. No wealth of themed cafes. No elephant sanctuaries. No charming festivals.

 

Singapore is okay for a short visit. But to live, Chiang Mai wins hands down. Not just because of the exorbitant prices in Singapore.

Guess we’ll have to agree to disagree in respect of Singapore. 
 

one thing I do agree with you is that Singapore doesn’t have mountains. 
 

It does have an excellent zoo and night safari to rival tired and smelly elephant sanctuaries, excellent baguettes if you go to the right place although bread isn’t a cultural thing. Themed cafes? That’s a thing in Chang Mai? Don’t think you can get more cosmopolitan than Singapore, granted most of the foreigners are working rather than retired. Maybe you do have to take public transport or taxis in Singapore, on the other hand, silver lining, the chance of being mown down on a zebra crossing is far less. And if Singapore is a second home, of course you can drive.

 

TBH comparing Singapore to Chiang Mai is comparing apples and oranges. Two very different places to live.

6 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

400 baht large rooms? No

I did say great value for HIGH quality. 400 baht rooms in Thailand aren’t up to much.

 

But now I agree with you. Thailand is much better for 400 baht rooms. 

 

3 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

I did say great value for HIGH quality. 400 baht rooms in Thailand aren’t up to much.

 

But now I agree with you. Thailand is much better for 400 baht rooms. 

I found some great ones for 400.

11 hours ago, webfact said:

.......breathtaking landscapes,.....

AKA 'The Burning Season' 😋

It's a dreadful place. Neither here nor there. Certainly not Thailand. 

8 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

And if Singapore is a second home, of course you can drive.

 

I don't think it's that easy in Singapore. To get a number plate you have to enter a lottery, it's an insane system and there's no guarantee you'll be allowed to drive a car, even if you pay the insane prices for the privelege.

 

9 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

It does have an excellent zoo and night safari

 

The Zoo and night safari are good, but not as good as the zoo and night safari in Chiang Mai. And the aquarium in Singapore is a massive let down. Chiang Mai has just refurbished its own aquarium.

 

10 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

excellent baguettes if you go to the right place

 

Where?

 

11 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Themed cafes? That’s a thing in Chang Mai?

 

Clearly you're not very familiar with Chiang Mai. Themed cafes are massive thing here, due to the cheap availability of land, large and elaborately themed cafes, such as the Nekoemon cafe abound here. It's an experience and a delight.

12 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Don’t think you can get more cosmopolitan than Singapore, granted most of the foreigners are working rather than retired.

 

Chiang Mai is more cosmopolitan than Singapore, which is largely made up of Indians, Chinese and Malay. In Chiang Mai however, you get Burmese, Yunannese, Koreans, French, there's everyone. Granted there's an expat community in Singapore, but they're all just employees, in Chiang Mai, they're residents who start up businesses like restaurants. It's a different quality of cosmopolitan in Chiang Mai. Singapore is corporate, Chiang Mai is down to earth.

 

 

4 hours ago, Keeps said:

 

You seem to be a bit of a mug. Looks like people see you coming.

 

What's the old saying? "A fool and his money are soon parted"?.

But I can afford it.  So I am the fool and you? 

They forgot to note it comes with the fact the air pollution is also close to the worse! 🤣 So depends when the survey was done!

24 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

Singapore has some passable malls and the food is very good, like in Chiang Mai. However in Chiang Mai there is a more  cosmopolitan offering due to the breadth of foreigners who've chosen Chiang Mai as a second home. You certainly won't get baguette as good as in Chiang Mai in Singapore.

 

Then of course you can't drive in Singapore, you're forced to use taxis or public transport. It's far hotter than Thailand.. 

 

There are no mountains close to Singapore. No wealth of themed cafes. No elephant sanctuaries. No charming festivals.

 

Singapore is okay for a short visit. But to live, Chiang Mai wins hands down. Not just because of the exorbitant prices in Singapore.

A baguette ! as a measure of a "Thai" city! Who travels to Thailand for a European sandwich? God help me!

3 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

A baguette ! as a measure of a "Thai" city! Who travels to Thailand for a European sandwich? God help me!

 

A city without good baguette is not worth a damn.

 

This is where Chiang Mai really leaves them all in the shade, due to the fortunate coincidence of one of France's greatest bakers having opened L'Opera bakery in Chiang Mai. The baguette produced there is the best in Asia, and possibly the best in the world, certainly better than anything you get in France.

 

Thankfully the national treasure that is this French baker has taught staff, and even though he now sold L'Opera the sale with the same staff retained ensures continuity.

 

Enjoy your Hawaiian bread in Singapore.

6 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

But I can afford it.  So I am the fool and you? 

I can afford that and a hell of a lot more. However, I am not stupid or a pussy and waste my money on sub standard accommodation or services but am too scared to complain.

 

Think that still makes you the fool?