Removing my rose spectacles completely, I do see what some of us complain about here. I also do see the smog in Hong Kong, for example, and the forever burning coal pits in China, with dust so think in some towns that you might some days consider mining coal right out of your neighbor's nostrils if you had a pick and shovel small enough.

But I was just sitting down for a feast of street food here in Chiang Mai about an hour ago. I bought 3 large breasts with about 2 plastic bottles of Coke.

I walked home in 5 minutes and sat outside in the garden listening to the birds in my piece of jungle.

And suddenly half way through the last breast it came to me......

I had been searching all my life for paradise, and I now was smack dab in the middle of it,

If I only took the time to gaze upon it,

And realize that life just could not possible get much finer,

Even if I had half of Doom and Boom's Billions.

So I just thought I would mention this thought to the members of our fine august Forum.

We would truly be ungrateful if we did not take time to give thanks to the Big Bang that placed us all here,

In this beautiful remnant of exploded star dust.

Yes, we are stardust

Don't forget to give thanks.

Stop your complaining.

And so, what are your thoughts after just finishing a fine meal in the heart of Chiang Mai,

In the heart of paradise

And not the heart of darkness (up there in the sky with Kim)

And, did you help your wife with washing dishes after she slaved away all day making a meal fit for you, her king?

I hope she made you some PadKrapCow,

My favorite dish.

Besides chicken thighs.

Congratulations "Old China Ham" you said it all so very well.

I first visited CNX about 30 years ago with a group of Journalists to write travel stories. At the time, I mentioned to the crew that I would come and live here at some stage.

Well after later working for Tourism Authority of Thailand in Western Australia and developing an even stronger relationship with paradise, I came here to work a number of years ago. Then went back to Australia, to chase the Almighty GOD Dollar for a few more years but have now been back and Retired for the past couple of years with my wife and our teenage daughter.

My wife is a Chiang Mai Girl, our daughter attends the same brilliant School that my Wife went to, we have a nice home and a far better lifestyle than you can have for the price in Australia these days.

By the way, YES, I did help my wife with the dishes!

Congratulations "Old China Ham" you said it all so very well.

I first visited CNX about 30 years ago with a group of Journalists to write travel stories. At the time, I mentioned to the crew that I would come and live here at some stage.

Well after later working for Tourism Authority of Thailand in Western Australia and developing an even stronger relationship with paradise, I came here to work a number of years ago. Then went back to Australia, to chase the Almighty GOD Dollar for a few more years but have now been back and Retired for the past couple of years with my wife and our teenage daughter.

My wife is a Chiang Mai Girl, our daughter attends the same brilliant School that my Wife went to, we have a nice home and a far better lifestyle than you can have for the price in Australia these days.

By the way, YES, I did help my wife with the dishes!

Very glad to hear about the dish washing together. It helps build not only character but also a lasting bond between husband and wife when chores around the house are shared.

When we give thanks, in general, for good things that happen to us, it makes us feel even better about our lives.

If you are referring to CMU, yes I do agree. It is a brilliant school with some very smart students. Not only smart, but many are the type of younger generation that will most benefit Thailand in the future.

The longer I am here, the more I truly do realize that Chiang Mai is a special place. Very lucky to be here for however long I am able to stay.

Good luck to you and your family.

I hadn't heard that their is clean air in Chiang Mai these days.Everytime I go there my chest starts closing up.

Any man can be happy with 3 large breast.

And, did you help your wife with washing dishes after she slaved away all day making a meal fit for you, her king?

Have you a prenuptial? You're going to get stung soon enough and humiliated by a gang of lady boys on Honda Waves. You'll lose your utopian lifestyle overnight and banished to the occident on the next flight out. Don't sit pretty.

I'm not sure why this topic is not in the Chiang Mai forum, but I'll agree that this northern Thai city is a pretty nice place to spend time. The city has a large number of Caucasian expats and that leads to a wide variety of interests to sustain them. The city is large enough and changes constantly to never know it all, and yet it is small enough to walk anywhere in the heart of the city within an hour. You can have an enjoyable day just walking around the perimeter along the moat.

I'm fortunate that I can bounce back and forth between Canada and Thailand, so I can miss out on the worst weather of both countries. During the smoky season in March I can easily take a month long holiday in a beach area in the south of Thailand. Some day I might grow bored of it, but I don't see that happening any time soon. There are still too many back roads in northern Thailand to explore on my motorbike.