Why Chiang Mai

[cmdream]

OK Gang, I know I am leaving myself open here. Its not easy to be me but I try. How about a thread about the wonderful things that Chiang Mai and environs has to offer. After 5 years living here I would not want to live anywhere else. The people # 1 are what makes a city. The Thai people I meet and do business with and the smiles I get are not found anywhere that I have been. The people of CM are class people. The weather? Everyplace I have lived has weather problems of one sort or another. If you do not like it move on. I agree the burning is excessive to us farange but accept that it is a culture thing that has been going on for eons. If it is bothersome, move on. No one is stopping you. Chiang Mai has such a party atmosphere from Loy Krathong to Flower Festival, Songkran, and the many visitor places

that are not found in any other places in this world. I could elaborate about Night Bazaar and Sunday and Saturday Night Walking Streets.

To top off this is a wonderful city, Just one guys opinion. Chok dee

[ManilaLover]

The best place of ChiangMai is the departure hall of the airport. It's a shithole without anything that makes a city a good place to be and nothing different from any random outskirt of Bangkok mixed with an overdose of WaltDisney temples. They just don't know how to create a city. With such a management Chiang Mai will never be a nice city.

Glad I'm living 20km away from it after 7 years inside !

Compare: Vientiane, how poor and simple even that city has grandeur, class. Not like any Thai city.

Edited April 5, 2010 by ManilaLover

[Donnyboy]

^ did you have to travel 20km away from CM via the departure hall?

i do enjoy Loy Krathong but Songkran can get out of hand in the inner city, does it need to go on for 5 days?

Edited April 5, 2010 by Donnyboy

[clinique]

or are you there now,,,?? the departure hall i mean !!

[whiterussian]

^ Hmm...

Thats the reason I love CM! I can go into town when I have to - eg: to celebrate Loi Kratong, Songkran, or if i have to go to a mall... but then I have just 20km away in any direction... lovely jungle, and mountains! Plan to live 20km away if I get a chance... but now living on the edge of the outer highway... I can just hop on the chopper... and enjoy a refreshing trip to the countryside...

never lived 'in town'. Too many farang! . Bangkok is too crazy. Pattaya and the resorts are too sleazy/western. I've heard Issan is pretty dangerous/ Pai is too sleepy/small towny... Chiang Rai is a possibility.. but again.. scary people up in the golden triangle!

Thinking back, I did enjoy all the exotic sights, sounds and smells of CM town center for about 3 years.. until I got numb to it all... but its the hub for such a nice region!

I'm sad that now I am employed I am getting a work permit.. I used to love my tri-monthly motorbike runs to Burma to get a visa stamp..

I used to take my time... stop at all the viewpoints, take the backroads, and the mountain roads are just awesome to ride!

Got a chopper gang party on the 18th somewhere out in the mountains...

I think CM has a bright future ... who knows maybe we will have a rail link with China... that would open up a whole new avenue for exploration.

I see China is going to build Burma a new high speed train network (200kmph)

forgot to mention... cracking broadband and empty highways!

Edited April 5, 2010 by whiterussian

[sticklee]

I would normally avoid posting anything negative in response to another post as it annoys me to no end to see the extent of such on here. The OP has positive input in mind and yet we have someone who wishes to disrupt the intent and spew some vitriol. If the individual I am referring to enjoys the departure lounge so much, maybe he should be using it to get a lot further than 20km away from somewhere he seems to abhor. Maybe Manila would be more in keeping with the high standards he has set for himself. As noted in another posting, he isn't staying away from that detestable Sunday Walking Street, as noted in his posting about 'Okinawa'.

[cmdream]

Some folks will never be happy no matter where they are ! It is a problem that they must face, its not external.

[ManilaLover]

As noted in another posting, he isn't staying away from that detestable Sunday Walking Street, as noted in his posting about 'Okinawa'.

Just for your information, I HAD to be on the walkingstreet to get something repaired, I didn't know how fast to leave that crowd again, feel not relaxed there.

(I hate shopping and crowds)

PS, halfway Wulay Road at the 3M shop you can buy mouthcaps per 100pc-pack, saves you lot of money and hassle

Edited April 5, 2010 by ManilaLover

[cmdream]

^ Hmm...

Thats the reason I love CM! I can go into town when I have to - eg: to celebrate Loi Kratong, Songkran, or if i have to go to a mall... but then I have just 20km away in any direction... lovely jungle, and mountains! Plan to live 20km away if I get a chance... but now living on the edge of the outer highway... I can just hop on the chopper... and enjoy a refreshing trip to the countryside...

never lived 'in town'. Too many farang! . Bangkok is too crazy. Pattaya and the resorts are too sleazy/western. I've heard Issan is pretty dangerous/ Pai is too sleepy/small towny... Chiang Rai is a possibility.. but again.. scary people up in the golden triangle!

Thinking back, I did enjoy all the exotic sights, sounds and smells of CM town center for about 3 years.. until I got numb to it all... but its the hub for such a nice region!

I'm sad that now I am employed I am getting a work permit.. I used to love my tri-monthly motorbike runs to Burma to get a visa stamp..

I used to take my time... stop at all the viewpoints, take the backroads, and the mountain roads are just awesome to ride!

Got a chopper gang party on the 18th somewhere out in the mountains...

I think CM has a bright future ... who knows maybe we will have a rail link with China... that would open up a whole new avenue for exploration.

I see China is going to build Burma a new high speed train network (200kmph)

forgot to mention... cracking broadband and empty highways!

Nice input. Anyone with half a brain can see that this town has a future for the reasons stated. CM is a place held dear to the hearts of the Thai people as a vacation destination. Twice as many Thais come to CM. It can only grow from here. The expat community is also growing yearly. Its just a nice place all around. Meet the Immigration qualifications and you found a nice place to live.

[cmdream]

As noted in another posting, he isn't staying away from that detestable Sunday Walking Street, as noted in his posting about 'Okinawa'.

Just for your information, I HAD to be on the walkingstreet to get something repaired, I didn't know how fast to leave that crowd again, feel not relaxed there.

(I hate shopping and crowds)

PS, halfway Wulay Road at the 3M shop you can buy mouthcaps per 100pc-pack, saves you lot of money and hassle

What the hel_l are you ingesting ? Get a grip mate !

[ManilaLover]

Nice input. Anyone with half a brain can see that this town has a future for the reasons stated. CM is a place held dear to the hearts of the Thai people as a vacation destination. Twice as many Thais come to CM. It can only grow from here. The expat community is also growing yearly. Its just a nice place all around. Meet the Immigration qualifications and you found a nice place to live.

Not my business... but what happened with the other half of your brain ??

(just joking, I'm happy you like place where you live)

[BugJackBaron]

I've never understood this parochial either-or mentality

that graces so many of the posters here and

among the expatriates I have met(including many of my friends).

Maybe I'm a rarity. Someone who can appreciate the hippies and

Russian mystics in the north but also often enjoys the pleasures of

the flesh in Pattaya or the wonderful beaches of Phuket.

At least in Chiang Mai it cools off in the evening(unlike Bangkok).

And unlike Bangkok, western food is usually more affordable

Maybe among the yuoutube generation not many read any more but if you do CM is the place

for second hand books. The bad? Burning sure. And too few jobs compared with Bangkok. The strippers are uglier than

down south And

I did notice more gangs of wayward youth there, hanging around in the street. In Bangkok you would

have to actively look to find such trouble

Edited April 5, 2010 by BugJackBaron

[Blinky Bill]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Chiang Mai ain't what it used to be.

[IanForbes]

All I ask is why NOT Chiang Mai?

This is at a local reservoir within 50 km away.

This is at a popular swimming and recreational park... Huay Tung Thao

This is at the city swimming pool

This is the busy and popular Chinese market where you can find just about anything.

And blossom trees are everywhere

And you can take a semi-wilderness hike to the top of Doi Suthep while following a lovely stream with many waterfalls.

And there is nothing wrong with the night life...

Or dining inexpensively with friends.

And nothing wrong with all the festivals.

[cmdream]

It looks like you got my message :-) Don't sweat the small stuff.

[cmdream]

Nice input. Anyone with half a brain can see that this town has a future for the reasons stated. CM is a place held dear to the hearts of the Thai people as a vacation destination. Twice as many Thais come to CM. It can only grow from here. The expat community is also growing yearly. Its just a nice place all around. Meet the Immigration qualifications and you found a nice place to live.

Not my business... but what happened with the other half of your brain ??

(just joking, I'm happy you like place where you live)

The other half my ex won in the divorce settlement :-) I can almost feed myself now.:-)

[thrilled]

Chiang Mai is no prize.Maybe A nice place to visit.If you like it there then I believe your easily satisfied.It's an ok place to visit.To many farangs for me.

[swain]

Fix the burning and rapid development with little or no thought to infrastructure and Chiang Mai would be my favorite place. The air is so bad now I just cant talk about anything else. Thank God for ionizers and air filters.

[IanForbes]

Chiang Mai is no prize.Maybe A nice place to visit.If you like it there then I believe your easily satisfied.It's an ok place to visit.To many farangs for me.

Oh, in that case I've got the perfect place just for you... a small place by the river with no farangs around.

[krakatoa]

Chiang Mai has less culture that "out of date yoghurt"

[krakatoa]

Nice input. Anyone with half a brain can see that this town has a future for the reasons stated. CM is a place held dear to the hearts of the Thai people as a vacation destination. Twice as many Thais come to CM. It can only grow from here. The expat community is also growing yearly. Its just a nice place all around. Meet the Immigration qualifications and you found a nice place to live.

Not my business... but what happened with the other half of your brain ??

(just joking, I'm happy you like place where you live)

The other half my ex won in the divorce settlement :-) I can almost feed myself now.:-)

As for CM having a future, what have they been doing for the last 700 years

[BLUEEYEDTHAI]

^ Hmm...

Thats the reason I love CM! I can go into town when I have to - eg: to celebrate Loi Kratong, Songkran, or if i have to go to a mall... but then I have just 20km away in any direction... lovely jungle, and mountains! Plan to live 20km away if I get a chance... but now living on the edge of the outer highway... I can just hop on the chopper... and enjoy a refreshing trip to the countryside...

never lived 'in town'. Too many farang! . Bangkok is too crazy. Pattaya and the resorts are too sleazy/western. I've heard Issan is pretty dangerous/ Pai is too sleepy/small towny... Chiang Rai is a possibility.. but again.. scary people up in the golden triangle!

Thinking back, I did enjoy all the exotic sights, sounds and smells of CM town center for about 3 years.. until I got numb to it all... but its the hub for such a nice region!

I'm sad that now I am employed I am getting a work permit.. I used to love my tri-monthly motorbike runs to Burma to get a visa stamp..

I used to take my time... stop at all the viewpoints, take the backroads, and the mountain roads are just awesome to ride!

Got a chopper gang party on the 18th somewhere out in the mountains...

I think CM has a bright future ... who knows maybe we will have a rail link with China... that would open up a whole new avenue for exploration.

I see China is going to build Burma a new high speed train network (200kmph)

forgot to mention... cracking broadband and empty highways!

HUB,did you say CM is a HUB,thats it I'm out of here.

[JackSterling]

I LOVE CM.. it is the best place to live ...

[elektrified]

Simple solution: For those who are complaining and saying negative things about C.M., why not move on? That way those of us who appreciate the simple life here can enjoy it without having to hear others bitch and moan about it. I never could understand why ex-pats would live someplace that they don't like. There's a whole world out there... And for those from Pattaya who don't like it - by all means, stay there and don't bother coming!

[bifftastic]

^ Hmm...

Chiang Rai is a possibility.. but again.. scary people up in the golden triangle!

scary? do tell, what have you heard?

[Maccheroncini]

Where about do you live I'm looking for some place away from town too.

Nice input. Anyone with half a brain can see that this town has a future for the reasons stated. CM is a place held dear to the hearts of the Thai people as a vacation destination. Twice as many Thais come to CM. It can only grow from here. The expat community is also growing yearly. Its just a nice place all around. Meet the Immigration qualifications and you found a nice place to live.

Not my business... but what happened with the other half of your brain ??

(just joking, I'm happy you like place where you live)

[Ulysses G.]

Simple solution: For those who are complaining and saying negative things about C.M., why not move on? That way those of us who appreciate the simple life here can enjoy it without having to hear others bitch and moan about it. I never could understand why ex-pats would live someplace that they don't like.

Perhaps they should all move to Manilla - plenty of desperate women and a goldmine of things to complain about there!

Edited April 6, 2010 by Ulysses G.

[rodcourt49]

The best place of ChiangMai is the departure hall of the airport. It's a shithole without anything that makes a city a good place to be and nothing different from any random outskirt of Bangkok mixed with an overdose of WaltDisney temples. They just don't know how to create a city. With such a management Chiang Mai will never be a nice city.

Glad I'm living 20km away from it after 7 years inside !

Compare: Vientiane, how poor and simple even that city has grandeur, class. Not like any Thai city.

Let me know the next time you're intending to leave and I will personally escort you to the Departure Gates and wave you adieu..

[ManilaLover]

Simple solution: For those who are complaining and saying negative things about C.M., why not move on? That way those of us who appreciate the simple life here can enjoy it without having to hear others bitch and moan about it. I never could understand why ex-pats would live someplace that they don't like.

Perhaps they should all move to Manilla - plenty of desperate women and a goldmine of things to complain about there!

I can't recommend Manila as a place to live but having a darling Made in Manila is a good thing here ! (communicable/gossip proof/big boobs/great laugh/no soupchicken)

[mamborobert]

Simple solution: For those who are complaining and saying negative things about C.M., why not move on? That way those of us who appreciate the simple life here can enjoy it without having to hear others bitch and moan about it. I never could understand why ex-pats would live someplace that they don't like.

Perhaps they should all move to Manilla - plenty of desperate women and a goldmine of things to complain about there!

I can't recommend Manila as a place to live but having a darling Made in Manila is a good thing here ! (communicable/gossip proof/big boobs/great laugh/no soupchicken)

Have lived in most of SE Asia. I spent 8 months in Manila (Pasay, Paranaque, Makati etc) almost every city in Metro Manila

You can't even compare the two. I will say that the use of English is more widespread and so a lot easier to socialise and get around, and from a purely personal point of view the girls were much nicer.

But, shot guns everywhere, stabbings, robberies, corruption, armed guards at McDonalds and every shopping centre, road floodings, karaoke plus, and some of the biggest deviants you could find on the planet...the list is endless.

You certainly could not live there on a pension, maybe Angeles but too many Yanks for me.

I did have a ball, but as the saying goes "nice place to visit but I would'nt want to live there".

Living wise Chiang Mai has it hands down any day of the week.

Edited April 6, 2010 by mamborobert