Bangkok Vs. Chiang Mai

[tfc]

I can never understand anyone claiming 'lack of nightlife' in CM.

Hundreds of bar/restaurants with cheap beer, good food and live Thai rock bands every night.

Oxide in Santhitham area, along Chang Puak road, left up the soi after the Thanin market traffic lights, left at 7/11, then right at T-junction, themed uniforms, live music, food. Time is just opposite same game.

Chang Puak Lake complex, along Chang Puak, over the superhighway, left at next traffic lights, past Police station, right into dark soi after Asia Garden, about 25 bar/restaurants round the lake. First one you come to, great bar, live band, good food, beer girls. A bit further on "Say Hi", live gay band, good food, beer girls.

Loads and loads more open every night.

Now you've put me really off the place. I hate rock music, especially Thai rock music. LOL.

Blasphemy!

Seriously though there is a lot of Western style "folk" music stuff (covers bands) up here too in the bar/cafes in Sois around Nimman. I've also seen some on the street that the Steak House is on. Cover bands are one of the times when I can really admire the Thai's ability to make authentic copies because some of them really nail the songs.

[Baloo22]

Positive things, IMO: MUCH cheaper rents, better variety of places to rent, different food, quite delicious, proximity to mountains and rivers, lots of good day trips, less traffic than Bangkok, especially away from city center, etc. But for me, really, the air pollution is an absolute show-stopper.

Is the pollution bad all year, or just during the burning season?

Just during the smoky season around February and March. Other than those times, the air quality seems pretty good to me.

I arrived here in Chiang Mai early March this year and many days you could barely see the sun. Some days were so bad my eyes would be burning after a short time outside. And it was even worse further north in Chiang Rai. They had multiple airline flights into Chiang Rai cancelled because of the smoke "haze". It started to clear up the first part of April.

I've met a few residents here that always plan trips and vacations specifically during that Feb-Mar timeframe. I have already made plans to be elsewhere by the start of February 2013.

Edited October 31, 2012 by Baloo22

[davejones]

Dirty, filthy, unhealthy place for sure!

+1

In what way is it dirty and filthy? Do you mean rubbish on the streets or something else?

[davejones]

I can never understand anyone claiming 'lack of nightlife' in CM.

Hundreds of bar/restaurants with cheap beer, good food and live Thai rock bands every night.

Oxide in Santhitham area, along Chang Puak road, left up the soi after the Thanin market traffic lights, left at 7/11, then right at T-junction, themed uniforms, live music, food. Time is just opposite same game.

Chang Puak Lake complex, along Chang Puak, over the superhighway, left at next traffic lights, past Police station, right into dark soi after Asia Garden, about 25 bar/restaurants round the lake. First one you come to, great bar, live band, good food, beer girls. A bit further on "Say Hi", live gay band, good food, beer girls.

Loads and loads more open every night.

Now you've put me really off the place. I hate rock music, especially Thai rock music. LOL.

Blasphemy!

Seriously though there is a lot of Western style "folk" music stuff (covers bands) up here too in the bar/cafes in Sois around Nimman. I've also seen some on the street that the Steak House is on. Cover bands are one of the times when I can really admire the Thai's ability to make authentic copies because some of them really nail the songs.

Now you've really, really, really put me off. Folk music is worse than rock music, and cover bands are just laughable. No wonder it attracts so many old people. LOL.

I'll be coming to see for myself next month, but when I read about Chiang Mai it seems completely different to what people on here think it's like. I suspect many on here are wrong, as that has been my experience in other places that I've visited, where I found the opposite of what people said on here. Maybe some on here just hang out in the wrong places. I'm not sure what it is, but you can rely on TV members to make even paradise sound like hell. LOL.

[davejones]

Positive things, IMO: MUCH cheaper rents, better variety of places to rent, different food, quite delicious, proximity to mountains and rivers, lots of good day trips, less traffic than Bangkok, especially away from city center, etc. But for me, really, the air pollution is an absolute show-stopper.

Is the pollution bad all year, or just during the burning season?

Just during the smoky season around February and March. Other than those times, the air quality seems pretty good to me.

I arrived here in Chiang Mai early March this year and many days you could barely see the sun. Some days were so bad my eyes would be burning after a short time outside. And it was even worse further north in Chiang Rai. They had multiple airline flights into Chiang Rai cancelled because of the smoke "haze". It started to clear up the first part of April.

I've met a few residents here that always plan trips and vacations specifically during that Feb-Mar timeframe. I have already made plans to be elsewhere by the start of February 2013.

That's not too bad, as I can come outside that time. Will be coming to check the place out in a couple of weeks and then decide whether it's worth a longer stay.

But are there any modern condos/houses in the central areas?

[LawrenceChee]

Heya DJ

The weather is horrid only for about 2 months max (Marhc - April) in the year when the burning is really intense and for those months, most who can afford it fly back to BBK, head off to the rest of South East Asia for a short jaunt and return.

I find CM laid back and lots to do , there are good international buffets (see my links for buffet reviews) and restaurants that cost far less than BKK and for the naugthy side of things there is enough to keep one occupied. The nightlife is good here, if you enjoy sports, beers and just chilling there are a variety of locations.

As for malls and such, things are popping up so that you will have more options than airport plaza ; for serious shopping you can always hop back to BKK and for those who hate spending money...it's a god send there aren't many options here where you missus can burn your cash too badly with the branded names.

Accommodation wise, for 25k a month, you can rent a really nice house, check out chiangmaiproperties.com ; if you need to stay in a western style condo, Mountain Front , Mountain View, Embassy House, Riverside Condo, Rimping Condo, Convention Condo has tons of selection...like everything else, you need to search a little before you find your perfect abode for a start.

Getting a bike is a great way to zip around or if you really like walking then rent in the Nimman Area where you will be surrounded by aplenty. There are the new One Plus Condo which has a development near to this area and there are also tons of service apartments in this area

comparing both, CM beats it hands down....the age group of the expats here is higher and if you can take the cynics...they are more friendly than you think :-)

Best of luck

[LawrenceChee]

Floral Condo is also a great condo as it is favored by the Japs...well maintained, central and more expensive than the rest. There is another condo block next to the Shangrila which a lot of the western expats are staying at ...not the cheapest but very modern western and well equipped in most of the rental apartments

[uptheos]

I was shocked when I first visited Central Airport Plaza. I thought I'd take the wrong plane and ended up in Eastbourne, UK.

Good one.

[chiang mai]

Floral Condo is also a great condo as it is favored by the Japs...well maintained, central and more expensive than the rest. There is another condo block next to the Shangrila which a lot of the western expats are staying at ...not the cheapest but very modern western and well equipped in most of the rental apartments

Twin Peaks (next to shangri-la), there's a waiting list at Floral.

[inthepink]

I can never understand anyone claiming 'lack of nightlife' in CM.

Hundreds of bar/restaurants with cheap beer, good food and live Thai rock bands every night.

Oxide in Santhitham area, along Chang Puak road, left up the soi after the Thanin market traffic lights, left at 7/11, then right at T-junction, themed uniforms, live music, food. Time is just opposite same game.

Chang Puak Lake complex, along Chang Puak, over the superhighway, left at next traffic lights, past Police station, right into dark soi after Asia Garden, about 25 bar/restaurants round the lake. First one you come to, great bar, live band, good food, beer girls. A bit further on "Say Hi", live gay band, good food, beer girls.

Loads and loads more open every night.

I didn't claim "lack of nightlife", I said it's a lot quieter than Bangkok. The OP has experience of living in BKK but not CM so I thought he should know this. A night out listening to amateur Thai rock bands (gay or otherwise) is not really my bag either.

Now that this topic has been moved to the Chiang Mai forum I will desist from posting again. When I first moved here I started a light-hearted thread about there not being very much that appealed to me about CM and a certain poster refused to concede that there were less decent restaurants and night-life venues in Chiang Mai than Bangkok. The thread was eventually locked and a couple of weeks later I noticed that the same poster was saying in another thread that he visited Bangkok occasionally but would not want to live there because he might spend too much money going out, given that there was a greater choice of restaurants etcetera in BKK than Chiang Mai! In short, I would expect some very biased posts in this forum, although not everybody who posts here is mad of course.

In closing, the one thing that I have never had a problem with is the weather when they are burning stuff - never even noticed it.

Edited October 31, 2012 by inthepink

[TheVicar]

DaveyJones,

Good question. I lived in Bangkok for 20 years before moving here about 6 months ago, so I think I can compare the two places quite easily:

1) I had to laugh when some people (obviously who have been spending more/all their time in CM, wrote about the air quality being bad in CM. Really? Maybe for a couple weeks or a month or two in the dry season. But in Bangkok the air is bad all year long because it is so polluted. Here it is clean and green, especially if you get out of the center of the city.

2) rentals are generally cheaper here but there is not as large a selection and there are fewer really upmarket places.

3) I suggest you rethink your idea of living in cental (within the wall) CM. It's very touristy, and the kind of expats who generally frequent that area are fairly repulsive. Most farangs who live in CM do not live where you want to live for a reason.

4) You will need some form of transport no matter where you live unless you are a hermit because CM is spread out (no real high rises) and there are lots of nice things to see outside the central area. I suggest a motorbike (at the minimum). The drivers are WORSE (hard to believe but true) than they are in Bangkok. More than 50% of the biking population doesn't use helmets.

5) The hospital/medical situation is NOT as good as it is in Bangkok, on any price level. Bangkok has more good, excellent hospitals than CM by far. There is nothing at all like Bumrungrad or Bangkok Hospital (high price end) in terms of quality here. There also is nothing on the medium price level like Kasemrad in Bangkok. The top hospital in CM would be considered below average in Bangkok. Prices are maybe even a bit higher here in CM for medical services because there is less competition. Dentists are about the same or maybe more than in Bangkok (again, less competition).

6) One big difference between the two cities is in the entertainment area. There simply is not as much or the broad array of entertainment that you have in Bangkok. CM has two (2) decent shopping centers, Sukhumvit has what, maybe 20? Ditto for girlie/man bars. CM is more of the spiritual and cultural center of Thailand so if you are into temples, reflection, Buddhism it is ideal; if you are into drinking, shopping, gambling, womanizing, manizing, it is not the place to be. Bookstores are abundant in Bangkok and there are some superb new ones; here they are much smaller. Used book stores in CM are more expensive than those in Bangkok. Bangkok also has a wider variety of food. It has all regions of Thailand food and has especially good Issarn food (not easily found here); CM mostly has Northern (Lanna) Thai food but it also has many good international restaurants (Italian; French; German). In general, the Thai food here is far less spicy than in Bangkok. Food outlets, in general, are cheaper here than in Bangkok. CM has an excellent set of food stores (Rimping) that have good gourmet, foreign, dairy products, wine, bakeries et. Just as good or better than the pricier Foodland, Gourmet Foodstores and Villa in Bangkok. Tops is also here (at least 2 stores). CM has Big C, Makro, Lotus, HomePro etc. superstores although their prices are marginally higher than the same stores in Bangkok (shipping?).

7) transport and visa considerations. There are many more flights in and out of Bangkok than here in the North and for getting visas and for travelling in general, Bangkok is far more central. Having said that, CM has a nice (if small) international airport that is easily accessible (unlike Bangkok's new monster) and a growing number of international flights (but they are more expensive than through Bangkok).

So I think you have to ask yourself: what kind of person am I and where am I in life? If you are into a healthy environment, clean living, and greenery, CM is ideal. If not, stay in Bangkok, especially if you have frequent need of medical services and entertainment outlets of all kinds. Age is also a factor. Genrally, young people like the bright lights of Bankok more than the temples and mountains of the North.

I strongly suggest that you spend a couple of weeks time in CM (in the dry and in the rainy season BOTH) before moving permanently. I like it here now but I am older; when younger, I preferred Bangkok by far.

Edited October 31, 2012 by TheVicar

[chiang mai]

5) The hospital/medical situation is NOT as good as it is in Bangkok, on any price level. Bangkok has more good, excellent hospitals than CM by far. There is nothing at all like Bumrungrad or Bangkok Hospital (high price end) in terms of quality here. There also is nothing on the medium price level like Kasemrad in Bangkok. The top hospital in CM would be considered below average in Bangkok. Prices are maybe even a bit higher here in CM for medical services because there is less competition. Dentists are about the same or maybe more than in Bangkok (again, less competition).

I strongly disagree with you, I think the quality of medicaql care in Chiang Mai is equally as good if not higher than in Bangkok, certainly the cost of most procedures is at least half in many cases. Sriphat is the semi private wing of Marahraj which is attached to CMU, the medical teaching hospital, at Sriphat you can be seen and treated by medical professors of the university, the same professors who may later move to Bangkok to enrich themselves whilst working at the likes of Bumrungrad. Between Sriphat, Mahraj, Rajavej and RAM there is the full spectrum of medical specialists to a very high standard, full details here

Years ago I used to use Bumrungrad and later Bangkok Hospital, eventually I began to question their costing and soon after the quality of their work. I eventually wound up in litigation with one of them and at that time I saw what the commercuial medicine scene in Thailand is really like.

I recently had an MRI of the lumber region, the cost was THB 6,000, last year I had a brain and C-Spine MRI, the cost was 8,000, show me anywhere in Bangkok at the major hospitals where you can those things at even half the cost, you can't, my cost a year ago at Bangkok Hopsital was 18,000!

[davejones]

DaveyJones,

Good question. I lived in Bangkok for 20 years before moving here about 6 months ago, so I think I can compare the two places quite easily:

1) I had to laugh when some people (obviously who have been spending more/all their time in CM, wrote about the air quality being bad in CM. Really? Maybe for a couple weeks or a month or two in the dry season. But in Bangkok the air is bad all year long because it is so polluted. Here it is clean and green, especially if you get out of the center of the city.

2) rentals are generally cheaper here but there is not as large a selection and there are fewer really upmarket places.

3) I suggest you rethink your idea of living in cental (within the wall) CM. It's very touristy, and the kind of expats who generally frequent that area are fairly repulsive. Most farangs who live in CM do not live where you want to live for a reason.

4) You will need some form of transport no matter where you live unless you are a hermit because CM is spread out (no real high rises) and there are lots of nice things to see outside the central area. I suggest a motorbike (at the minimum). The drivers are WORSE (hard to believe but true) than they are in Bangkok. More than 50% of the biking population doesn't use helmets.

5) The hospital/medical situation is NOT as good as it is in Bangkok, on any price level. Bangkok has more good, excellent hospitals than CM by far. There is nothing at all like Bumrungrad or Bangkok Hospital (high price end) in terms of quality here. There also is nothing on the medium price level like Kasemrad in Bangkok. The top hospital in CM would be considered below average in Bangkok. Prices are maybe even a bit higher here in CM for medical services because there is less competition. Dentists are about the same or maybe more than in Bangkok (again, less competition).

6) One big difference between the two cities is in the entertainment area. There simply is not as much or the broad array of entertainment that you have in Bangkok. CM has two (2) decent shopping centers, Sukhumvit has what, maybe 20? Ditto for girlie/man bars. CM is more of the spiritual and cultural center of Thailand so if you are into temples, reflection, Buddhism it is ideal; if you are into drinking, shopping, gambling, womanizing, manizing, it is not the place to be. Bookstores are abundant in Bangkok and there are some superb new ones; here they are much smaller. Used book stores in CM are more expensive than those in Bangkok. Bangkok also has a wider variety of food. It has all regions of Thailand food and has especially good Issarn food (not easily found here); CM mostly has Northern (Lanna) Thai food but it also has many good international restaurants (Italian; French; German). In general, the Thai food here is far less spicy than in Bangkok. Food outlets, in general, are cheaper here than in Bangkok. CM has an excellent set of food stores (Rimping) that have good gourmet, foreign, dairy products, wine, bakeries et. Just as good or better than the pricier Foodland, Gourmet Foodstores and Villa in Bangkok. Tops is also here (at least 2 stores). CM has Big C, Makro, Lotus, HomePro etc. superstores although their prices are marginally higher than the same stores in Bangkok (shipping?).

7) transport and visa considerations. There are many more flights in and out of Bangkok than here in the North and for getting visas and for travelling in general, Bangkok is far more central. Having said that, CM has a nice (if small) international airport that is easily accessible (unlike Bangkok's new monster) and a growing number of international flights (but they are more expensive than through Bangkok).

So I think you have to ask yourself: what kind of person am I and where am I in life? If you are into a healthy environment, clean living, and greenery, CM is ideal. If not, stay in Bangkok, especially if you have frequent need of medical services and entertainment outlets of all kinds. Age is also a factor. Genrally, young people like the bright lights of Bankok more than the temples and mountains of the North.

I strongly suggest that you spend a couple of weeks time in CM (in the dry and in the rainy season BOTH) before moving permanently. I like it here now but I am older; when younger, I preferred Bangkok by far.

Excellent post. This is just the sort of thing I was looking for. Sounds like the place isn't so bad after all. I rarely drink, so as long as there are a few bars, then that's enough for me. Also, you could be right about not living in the central area, so a bike might be the answer. I'll be there soon, so I can check it out for myself.

[davejones]

Heya DJ

The weather is horrid only for about 2 months max (Marhc - April) in the year when the burning is really intense and for those months, most who can afford it fly back to BBK, head off to the rest of South East Asia for a short jaunt and return.

I find CM laid back and lots to do , there are good international buffets (see my links for buffet reviews) and restaurants that cost far less than BKK and for the naugthy side of things there is enough to keep one occupied. The nightlife is good here, if you enjoy sports, beers and just chilling there are a variety of locations.

As for malls and such, things are popping up so that you will have more options than airport plaza ; for serious shopping you can always hop back to BKK and for those who hate spending money...it's a god send there aren't many options here where you missus can burn your cash too badly with the branded names.

Accommodation wise, for 25k a month, you can rent a really nice house, check out chiangmaiproperties.com ; if you need to stay in a western style condo, Mountain Front , Mountain View, Embassy House, Riverside Condo, Rimping Condo, Convention Condo has tons of selection...like everything else, you need to search a little before you find your perfect abode for a start.

Getting a bike is a great way to zip around or if you really like walking then rent in the Nimman Area where you will be surrounded by aplenty. There are the new One Plus Condo which has a development near to this area and there are also tons of service apartments in this area

comparing both, CM beats it hands down....the age group of the expats here is higher and if you can take the cynics...they are more friendly than you think :-)

Best of luck

Great post, especially the list of modern condos. At least I have somewhere to start my condo research now. Thanks.

[LawrenceChee]

I have lived in Embassy & Mountain Front / View before and can attest the condo rental units here are great. I have seen Twin Peaks and while they are nice, they are also more highly priced than its value and has a high western neighbor ratio. If you enjoy that, you may find some of the best units there besides Flora Condo which has a waiting list. The units in Flora Condo are very well kept as expected since most of your neighbors are Japanese and they have a very neat & tidy culture.

Rimping & Riverside gives you the flexibility of walking around due to its location although the units are older. It drives down to a personal choice.

As for restaurants and buffets, you can see from my previous postings, you will not miss Bangkok especially its price. I like the value for money and if you like street food...see the recommendations made under my heading 50 baht or less as the group has contributed some of their fav stores there and some are really great value !

For shopping like Vicar said, Tops & Rimping are my first choice for fresh seafood & meats, fresh markets for fruits / vegetables, Tesco ,Big C is where I go for my non food & toiletries when I need to buy in bulk and save. Great value true and true.

If you enjoyed Bangkok and like the buzz of a quiet city. Stay in the Hang Dong area, it's 10 misn drive to the mods and is so quiet it's amazing for the soul....not too many condo complexes there more moo baan and houses and for 25k, you will find great value.

Enjoy mate...be back in jan...and if you are around ...we can go for a meal mate !

Lawrence

[TheVicar]

5) The hospital/medical situation is NOT as good as it is in Bangkok, on any price level. Bangkok has more good, excellent hospitals than CM by far. There is nothing at all like Bumrungrad or Bangkok Hospital (high price end) in terms of quality here. There also is nothing on the medium price level like Kasemrad in Bangkok. The top hospital in CM would be considered below average in Bangkok. Prices are maybe even a bit higher here in CM for medical services because there is less competition. Dentists are about the same or maybe more than in Bangkok (again, less competition).

I strongly disagree with you, I think the quality of medicaql care in Chiang Mai is equally as good if not higher than in Bangkok, certainly the cost of most procedures is at least half in many cases. Sriphat is the semi private wing of Marahraj which is attached to CMU, the medical teaching hospital, at Sriphat you can be seen and treated by medical professors of the university, the same professors who may later move to Bangkok to enrich themselves whilst working at the likes of Bumrungrad. Between Sriphat, Mahraj, Rajavej and RAM there is the full spectrum of medical specialists to a very high standard, full details here http://www.thaivisa....l-specialists/.

Years ago I used to use Bumrungrad and later Bangkok Hospital, eventually I began to question their costing and soon after the quality of their work. I eventually wound up in litigation with one of them and at that time I saw what the commercuial medicine scene in Thailand is really like.

I recently had an MRI of the lumber region, the cost was THB 6,000, last year I had a brain and C-Spine MRI, the cost was 8,000, show me anywhere in Bangkok at the major hospitals where you can those things at even half the cost, you can't, my cost a year ago at Bangkok Hopsital was 18,000!

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you and I have 20 plus years of experience in Bangkok (20 years) and about 6 months here. In part, you misunderstood my post or I was unclear. Bangkok has a wider range of options: Chiang Mai really has nothing like Bumrungrad (sorry about your experience but it may have jaded you) and Bangkok Hospitals: these are world class hospitals with the very latest equipment and top doctors and 5 star hotel treatment for guests in 5 star rooms. People travel from the Middle East, Europe and America to get treatment there. They are both expensive by Thai standards. Scuttlebut I have heard here is that the Ram Hospital chain (which is below average in Bangkok but the best here) opposed Bangkok Hospital's desire to open a hospital here and blocked it politically.

Bangkok has some very, very good medium range hospitals too (like Kasemrad which has 3 hospitals there) that are better than any, in my opinion, here. I'm not impressed at all with Sriphat (it's something of a bad joke that the hospital has put the farangs on the 13th floor!) which looks to me like an ordinary county hospital back in America, or like Chulalongkorn hospital in Bangkok. If you want a hospital with university profs, go to Chula (public) not Sriphat. It is much harder to get into the Bangkok medical schools than the local ones, so guess what about the doctors and who gets the best ones?

The King himself gets treated at a public hospital of high repute in Bangkok. Need I say more?

The quality of medical care in Bangkok is much higher just because of the population factor (CM is 1/12th the size of Bangkok) and the fact that Bangkok, for a reason, is the capital city. It's like comparing London with Manchester or New York City with Peoria, Illinois or Berlin with Leipzig. Doctors like the big time and the big time is in Bangkok in Thailand. I will agree with you that the costs for medical treatment at Bangkok's top hospitals is far in excess of those here. But so, in general, are the care and the quality of the treatment and rooms.

You gave some cost figures and I cannot rebut them because I don't know about them. But let me give you a comparison. You can have a full battery of tests done at Kasemrad for a physical for about B 1,300; here the cost is about B 2,000. Kasemrad also gives users who buy a "frequent user" card, a discount on hospital room (10%), doctor and dental services and medicine (5%). I don't know of any hospital that does that here. In fact, you get one free battery of tests for a physical free with the "frequent user" card at Kasemrad (B3,000 and good for 3 years of discounts). And oh, Kasemrad has better facilities than any hospital here.

Edited October 31, 2012 by TheVicar

[ultramarine]

There may be another recognizable farang demographic in CM -- the digital nomad. They tend to skew young but they are not really part of the scruffy backpacker set. They have internet-based businesses and have honed in on CM as a cheap and interesting place from which to conduct their businesses.

http://www.jetsetcitizen.com/cheap-travel/chiang-mai-digital-nomad/

[Sydneycraig]

There may be another recognizable farang demographic in CM -- the digital nomad. They tend to skew young but they are not really part of the scruffy backpacker set. They have internet-based businesses and have honed in on CM as a cheap and interesting place from which to conduct their businesses.

http://www.jetsetcitizen.com/cheap-travel/chiang-mai-digital-nomad/

yes I heard there a quite a few there... Not all old retired folk!

[uptheos]

.I recently had an MRI of the lumber region, the cost was THB 6,000, last year I had a brain and C-Spine MRI, the cost was 8,000,

I thought the prices were much higher than that.......I don't think you'll get a brain and cervical spine MRI for 8,000 now......will you?

[davejones]

As for restaurants and buffets, you can see from my previous postings, you will not miss Bangkok especially its price. I like the value for money and if you like street food...see the recommendations made under my heading 50 baht or less as the group has contributed some of their fav stores there and some are really great value !

I can't see any links to restaurants and buffets.

[davejones]

There may be another recognizable farang demographic in CM -- the digital nomad. They tend to skew young but they are not really part of the scruffy backpacker set. They have internet-based businesses and have honed in on CM as a cheap and interesting place from which to conduct their businesses.

http://www.jetsetcit...-digital-nomad/

Thanks for that link. Shows things in a bit of a different light to what some on here think. So it's not all old people at all!!!

[hellodolly]

There may be another recognizable farang demographic in CM -- the digital nomad. They tend to skew young but they are not really part of the scruffy backpacker set. They have internet-based businesses and have honed in on CM as a cheap and interesting place from which to conduct their businesses.

http://www.jetsetcit...-digital-nomad/

Thanks for that link. Shows things in a bit of a different light to what some on here think. So it's not all old people at all!!!

Defiantly not all old people but for permanent residence It would seem there is a large majority of us here.

For sure you could live on the budget the link shows and many do. How ever if you are going to spend a long time here You might not enjoy it as much as the short timers do.

[LawrenceChee]

Heya DJ

If you click my profile, you can see the subject postings I have done, you will find the 50 baht and restaurants and buffet postings mate and those were heavily debated by the locals ;-)

Agree with the age profile...I am below 45 and found a niche here.

I enjoy the place, the weather (except for those 2 mths), the northern charm of the women and people here and the options for me to have a relaxing lifestyle at a fraction of the cost of Bangkok

[elektrified]

I'm not impressed at all with Sriphat (it's something of a bad joke that the hospital has put the farangs on the 13th floor!) which looks to me like an ordinary county hospital back in America, or like Chulalongkorn hospital in Bangkok.

You can have a full battery of tests done at Kasemrad for a physical for about B 1,300; here the cost is about B 2,000. Kasemrad also gives users who buy a "frequent user" card, a discount on hospital room (10%), doctor and dental services and medicine (5%). I don't know of any hospital that does that here.

I don't know why some people think that the 13th Floor of Sriphat is "for farangs". I was there this past Saturday and the place was busier than I have ever seen it. There had to have been 500 or more people up there. Guess what? I was the only farang that I saw there during the 45 minutes or so I was there.

Discount cards are indeed available here. We have them for both Sriphat and McCormick. I believe it is 10% of all lab tests at Sriphat and possibly other discounts at McCormick as well. One member recently reported that Rajavej offers a discount card too but that it applies to the cost of medicines.

[chiang mai]

5) The hospital/medical situation is NOT as good as it is in Bangkok, on any price level. Bangkok has more good, excellent hospitals than CM by far. There is nothing at all like Bumrungrad or Bangkok Hospital (high price end) in terms of quality here. There also is nothing on the medium price level like Kasemrad in Bangkok. The top hospital in CM would be considered below average in Bangkok. Prices are maybe even a bit higher here in CM for medical services because there is less competition. Dentists are about the same or maybe more than in Bangkok (again, less competition).

I strongly disagree with you, I think the quality of medicaql care in Chiang Mai is equally as good if not higher than in Bangkok, certainly the cost of most procedures is at least half in many cases. Sriphat is the semi private wing of Marahraj which is attached to CMU, the medical teaching hospital, at Sriphat you can be seen and treated by medical professors of the university, the same professors who may later move to Bangkok to enrich themselves whilst working at the likes of Bumrungrad. Between Sriphat, Mahraj, Rajavej and RAM there is the full spectrum of medical specialists to a very high standard, full details here http://www.thaivisa....l-specialists/.

Years ago I used to use Bumrungrad and later Bangkok Hospital, eventually I began to question their costing and soon after the quality of their work. I eventually wound up in litigation with one of them and at that time I saw what the commercuial medicine scene in Thailand is really like.

I recently had an MRI of the lumber region, the cost was THB 6,000, last year I had a brain and C-Spine MRI, the cost was 8,000, show me anywhere in Bangkok at the major hospitals where you can those things at even half the cost, you can't, my cost a year ago at Bangkok Hopsital was 18,000!

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you and I have 20 plus years of experience in Bangkok (20 years) and about 6 months here. In part, you misunderstood my post or I was unclear. Bangkok has a wider range of options: Chiang Mai really has nothing like Bumrungrad (sorry about your experience but it may have jaded you) and Bangkok Hospitals: these are world class hospitals with the very latest equipment and top doctors and 5 star hotel treatment for guests in 5 star rooms. People travel from the Middle East, Europe and America to get treatment there. They are both expensive by Thai standards. Scuttlebut I have heard here is that the Ram Hospital chain (which is below average in Bangkok but the best here) opposed Bangkok Hospital's desire to open a hospital here and blocked it politically.

Bangkok has some very, very good medium range hospitals too (like Kasemrad which has 3 hospitals there) that are better than any, in my opinion, here. I'm not impressed at all with Sriphat (it's something of a bad joke that the hospital has put the farangs on the 13th floor!) which looks to me like an ordinary county hospital back in America, or like Chulalongkorn hospital in Bangkok. If you want a hospital with university profs, go to Chula (public) not Sriphat. It is much harder to get into the Bangkok medical schools than the local ones, so guess what about the doctors and who gets the best ones?

The King himself gets treated at a public hospital of high repute in Bangkok. Need I say more?

The quality of medical care in Bangkok is much higher just because of the population factor (CM is 1/12th the size of Bangkok) and the fact that Bangkok, for a reason, is the capital city. It's like comparing London with Manchester or New York City with Peoria, Illinois or Berlin with Leipzig. Doctors like the big time and the big time is in Bangkok in Thailand. I will agree with you that the costs for medical treatment at Bangkok's top hospitals is far in excess of those here. But so, in general, are the care and the quality of the treatment and rooms.

You gave some cost figures and I cannot rebut them because I don't know about them. But let me give you a comparison. You can have a full battery of tests done at Kasemrad for a physical for about B 1,300; here the cost is about B 2,000. Kasemrad also gives users who buy a "frequent user" card, a discount on hospital room (10%), doctor and dental services and medicine (5%). I don't know of any hospital that does that here. In fact, you get one free battery of tests for a physical free with the "frequent user" card at Kasemrad (B3,000 and good for 3 years of discounts). And oh, Kasemrad has better facilities than any hospital here.

We can agree on a number of things you have written but not on the idea that Bumrungrad is a world class hospital. Bumrungrad is a marketing machine, a very good one that has attracted atention globally, I do not believe however that the doctors at Bumrungrad are that much more capable than the doctors at say a University teaching hospital such as Chula, Sriphat or Songkla. Personally I question the motives of some doctors at large private hospitals such as Bumrungrad and I question whether some are in the business to practise medicine or to get reach, methings in many cases it's the latter.

Chiang Mai hospitals do not have the same customer appeal as some in Bangkok, there are no fountains in marble and glass foyers nor branches of KFC and McDonalds in the lobby that will deliver to patients rooms. But if we look at the factors that comprise a good hospital it mainly comes down to one thing only and that is well trained, dedictated and high quality doctors, in that area I think the university hospitals excell. If we then begin to compare cost of service there is no question that doctor, facility and testing costs are far cheaper in Chiang Mai, land costs and cost of living costs are cheaper hence one would expect costs to be lower. It has been some years since I used Bumrungrad but when I did, the cost of a simple ENT or Ortho consultation was around 1,500 baht, at Sriphat the same consultation is around 400 baht. (Yes I'm sure there are places in Bangkok such as the one you quoted that provide cheaper services).

Fifteen years ago I used to believe that the likes of Bumrungrad and Bangkok Hospital were the most wonderful places on earth, they used to make me feel very safe and comfortbale. Today I have more experience of their workings and I have looked closely at the options, for me today it's all about the most ecperienced specialist at a sensible cost and invariably since I live in Chiang Mai, that means Sriphat or occaisionally a specialist working at one of the other private hospitals..

[Ulysses G.]

I don't know why some people think that the 13th Floor of Sriphat is "for farangs". I was there this past Saturday and the place was busier than I have ever seen it. There had to have been 500 or more people up there. Guess what? I was the only farang that I saw there during the 45 minutes or so I was there.

I wonder about this too. I have been there a number of times and am usually the only Westerner and the place is always packed. I feel like we are extremely lucky to have the excellent quality medical care we have in Chiang Mai for very reasonable prices and there are even a number of decent options for those on a really low budget.

[davejones]

Regarding the Bumrungrad debate above, I have always had great service there - much, much better than in the UK. And the cost is pretty reasonable, at just a small fraction of costs in UK. But I have to say that I lose respect for hospitals that have KFC, McDs, etc. Shows that they aren't at all interested in people's health.

[chiang mai]

Regarding the Bumrungrad debate above, I have always had great service there - much, much better than in the UK. And the cost is pretty reasonable, at just a small fraction of costs in UK. But I have to say that I lose respect for hospitals that have KFC, McDs, etc. Shows that they aren't at all interested in people's health.

Sure, if you compare against the UK it;s excellent, but we're actually comparing against elsewhere in Thailand.

[weary]

I can never understand anyone claiming 'lack of nightlife' in CM.

Hundreds of bar/restaurants with cheap beer, good food and live Thai rock bands every night.

Oxide in Santhitham area, along Chang Puak road, left up the soi after the Thanin market traffic lights, left at 7/11, then right at T-junction, themed uniforms, live music, food. Time is just opposite same game.

Chang Puak Lake complex, along Chang Puak, over the superhighway, left at next traffic lights, past Police station, right into dark soi after Asia Garden, about 25 bar/restaurants round the lake. First one you come to, great bar, live band, good food, beer girls. A bit further on "Say Hi", live gay band, good food, beer girls.

Loads and loads more open every night.

Now you've put me really off the place. I hate rock music, especially Thai rock music. LOL.

Blasphemy!

Seriously though there is a lot of Western style "folk" music stuff (covers bands) up here too in the bar/cafes in Sois around Nimman. I've also seen some on the street that the Steak House is on. Cover bands are one of the times when I can really admire the Thai's ability to make authentic copies because some of them really nail the songs.

Now you've really, really, really put me off. Folk music is worse than rock music, and cover bands are just laughable. No wonder it attracts so many old people. LOL.

I'll be coming to see for myself next month, but when I read about Chiang Mai it seems completely different to what people on here think it's like. I suspect many on here are wrong, as that has been my experience in other places that I've visited, where I found the opposite of what people said on here. Maybe some on here just hang out in the wrong places. I'm not sure what it is, but you can rely on TV members to make even paradise sound like hell. LOL.

We see the world as we are, not as it is, somebody said in another thread. Come and look for yourself and see what you think.

[davejones]

We see the world as we are, not as it is, somebody said in another thread. Come and look for yourself and see what you think.

That's a very true saying. I will be there very soon to check the place out for myself. I think I will like it, though it may be a bit small for me, as I am generally a big city person. There are a few smaller towns I like though.