A Short Review of Chiang Mai

This city is CROWDED, very unsafe for PEDESTRIANS, is 80% geared to STUPID TOURISTS (read: so many massage parlors, pussy bars, motorcycle rental joints, guest houses, overpriced, fake Thai restaurants, SURLY SERVICE, shops peddling the same DULL TOURS, and on ad nauseum) you'll wonder what country you're in.

Yes there are wats and self-conscious "cultural attractions". Ooooh, Chiang Mai is just so self-aware about it's "cultural attractions". Folks, "cultural attractions" are what you get in a place that has no authentic culture left. Chiang Mai is such a place.

SENTIENT BEINGS: give Chiang Mai a WIDE MISS.

Just a moment, I will get your wooden spoon for you.

Can't wait for his review of Pattaya!!!

troll bait... have at it

troll bait... have at it

I wasn't trolling. What I said is what I meant. Some people will benefit from a negative review of this city. I wish I had read something similar before going there myself.

And ... I'll never go to Pattaya.

..And off he goes, tubing in Vang Viang, then chilling to Bob Marley on an island. Enjoy.

I think a troll got out of bed the wrong side this morning. Look for it and you will find it.

You are right we are all idiots and uncultured. I will now move to wherever you tell me is the best place to live.

FYI move away from the 2 blocks in the center of town and you will find lovely parks, waterfalls, ancient buildings that are some of the oldest in Thailand.

Northern Thai food is second only to Issaan food. If you haven't had Gaeng: Hinlay, Kanoon, pak wan, som, hok, nam prik aong, you haven't eaten Northern and cannot judge.

10 minutes from the city center and you will find another world.

Why do tourist complain about areas being for tourists?

IE. I hate Vegas because there are so many casinos and bright lights.

Judging the second largest province by the 2 blocks around the city center is pretty lame.

OP, wake up and go out more. You know nothing at all about Chiang Mai.

If you want high arts and culture, then yes Chiang Mai is lame, but it is not a metropolis it isn't suppose to have the best art museums and music scene. It has what it has and for a relaxed pace of life that isn't overcrowded at all, it is a wonderful place with a mix of everything.

OP, just tell me where you are living, and I'll make sure to avoid it.

You clearly know so little about Chiangmai... almost as bad as a friend of mine who described it as 'a sort of oriental York'. He wasn't invited again.

Not being a tourist I wont feel offended. Yes there are a lot of massage places and the vast majority are for just that, massage. How do you get a fake Thai restaurant in Thailand? From your comments you will not be booking a return ticket. I hope you find what you are looking for.

Suspect this topic is going to be entertaining. Just not too entertaining guys.

Perhaps the title should be changed to Short Review of Chiang Mai by a short timer. Sorry, but clearly doesn't have clue about the real Chiang Mai. I understand Surin is pretty laid back.

OP got rejected by a lovely Ladyboy... Life can be disappointing. Pick yourself up and try try again.

The night is young

MODs please change title to

Short Review of Loi Croh Road in Chiang Mai

If tourist doesn't bother to leave tourist area, tourist can only expect to see tourist stuff.

... almost as bad as a friend of mine who described it as 'a sort of oriental York'. He wasn't invited again.

I once described Chiang Mai as "Cape May without jellyfish" to a buddy from New Jersey. Am I now dis-invited too?

OP got rejected by a lovely Ladyboy... Life can be disappointing. Pick yourself up and try try again.

The night is young

Hell has no fury like a troll scorned.

He is correct about the pedestrian situation.

.

I get the feeling he is just unhappy about life in General.

My suggestion would be as mentioned before get out of the tourist area.

Problem being he would not like what he found there because they spoke Thai.

OP got rejected by a lovely Ladyboy... Life can be disappointing. Pick yourself up and try try again.

The night is young

More likely he didn't get rejected and was just sober enough to remember a little.

Ah, well.....

Let's not be too hard on the OP. He seems a bit unhappy about CM- but haven't we all been same-same at one time or another?

I see it like this. Everyone new here goes through 2 or 3 or 5 stages (some never get past stage 2).

Stage 1: High On Thai. Walk around blissed out, wai' ing monks, beggars, and everyone on the street who isn't hi-so. Rave about how wonderful and healthful Thai food is.:jap:

Stage 2: Learned a bit of language, but still really can't communicate with locals. Starting to get a bit PO'd about lack of infrastructure, corruption- and getting homesick for Provo, Utah.

Stage 3: Discover all the secret hidden mystical gems and treasures this town has to offer. Whatever your fantasy, be it higher chakra or base desire...Ali Baba time.

Stage 4: Get a bit cranky about Thai politics and the intrinsic unfairness of the patronage system, etc. Life is unfair, for many.

Stage 5: Just realize how life back in Kenosha, Wisconsin, or Essex, England, or wherever, will never be the same (see Stage 3). Decide you are here for the long haul, and adopt mai bpen rai attitude. All is good.

Yes there are wats and self-conscious "cultural attractions". Ooooh, Chiang Mai is just so self-aware about it's "cultural attractions". Folks, "cultural attractions" are what you get in a place that has no authentic culture left. Chiang Mai is such a place.

I tend to agree with this poster, although the OP perhaps never left the hard core tourist ghetto areas of the city. On the rare occasion I go into town to see friends, I see that the city is an empty shell of its former self relative to Lanna culture. Now my kids really enjoy the young club scene at night, but that is just about all the city has to offer apart from an endless variety of eateries catering to the rather bland western palate, all of which are blandly discussed here ad nauseum.

troll bait... have at it

I wasn't trolling. What I said is what I meant. Some people will benefit from a negative review of this city. I wish I had read something similar before going there myself.

And ... I'll never go to Pattaya.

Perhaps you should, it has it's attractions.

Stage 3: Discover all the secret hidden mystical gems and treasures this town has to offer. Whatever your fantasy, be it higher chakra or base desire...Ali Baba time.

Can somebody point me to the secret mystical gems please?

//Closed//