Living in Chiang Mai during the "slow season"

[watgate]

Since I have been staying in Chiang Mai for the past 5 winters primarily from the beginning of November until the first part of March when I return to the U.S. I was curious as to how is it residing in Chiang Mai from March until the end of October? By that I mean does the burning of the rice fields and the resultant foul air for a period of time dramatically impact your quality of life? Also, I understand it gets oppressively hot and humid and does that weigh on you considerably? I also understand that you then enter the rainy season and does the incessant rain cause one much angst? I have been told by some blokes that during the rainy season it isn't that bad because the rain is a welcome respite from the oppressive heat. Furthermore I have been told also that generally when it rains, it doesn't last that long. I was just wondering from some full-timers how is living inThailand, and primarily in Chiang Mai all year round, and if you are satisfied with your living arrangements given the realities of the weather? Oh also, do the mozzies drive you mad or do you get acclimated to them? Lastly, is it nicer, during the slow season, not having a bunch of part-time farangs and other ethnic groups coming to Chiang Mai like they do during high season and causing more traffic problems, more pollution, and more problems due to the significant increase in their numbers during the high season? No I am not writing a book, just curious.

[Ulysses G.]

The only thing that bothers me all year is the height of hot season and that is when the best fruit is easily available, so I try to concentrate on that. I do use air con at night, so it really isn't that much of a burden.

[BB1955]

Chiang Mai is very livable all year round . Granted there are times the air gets bad but its livable . Hot yes but bearable . It also gets cold here too ... Don't leave your blankets and coats behind when you come ..

[Beetlejuice]

Living in Chiang Mai during the slow season. You mean there is a fast season in Chiang Mai? When? Where?

From November to the end of February, it`s cold, sometimes very cold. Considering that homes are not built to keep out the cold, it means there is nowhere to go to get warm, unless you are wealthy enough to hire the services of a young female escort every night to snug up to in bed.

At the beginning of March it begins to hot up. 3 temperatures from March to the middle of May, hot, sweating hot and F/ing hot, and strong gale force winds appear to be becoming more prevalent during the baking hot season, and of course there is the cut and slash burning by the farmers during these times that can last for about 6 weeks. Acrid and choking, there is no escape from it. Over the years I have acquire a permanent cough. If I don`t cough up a lung full at least 4 times a day, I start thinking something is wrong.

About the end of May it begins to cool down slightly with more comfortable temperatures, but then the rainy season starts. Although a lot of the rain is localised you are guaranteed to meet the rain on the route when journeying out. The rain can last for days and many areas are now prone to severe flooding. This continues until the end of October in readiness for the cold season again.

The mozzies appear to come in phases. At times they seem to be everywhere and then we can go through a short period when they go away for a while. Same regarding the ants and other nasty little creatures. I had dengue fever twice, so yes, the mozzies can be a real problem and one has to be careful.

It`s all a case of being able to adapt and getting used to it. Having lived here since the Jurassic period, the environment and conditions in Thailand are now the norm for me, but the newbies may find these conditions unbearable, so be prepared.

[villagefarang]

With good transportation and a comfortable home with air-conditioning there is no real problem living here year-round. I do live in Chiang Rai and not Chiang Mai, however.

Edited May 4, 2014 by villagefarang

[NancyL]

Ever since we put glass and screens in our windows, we've been able to stay warm in the winter and keep the mosquitoes out at night. Now that we have air con, it's downright tolerable during hot season. Wish we'd thought to do it earlier.

Edited May 5, 2014 by NancyL

[searcher22]

I find the March-April-May period unbearable in Chiang Mai due to the double-whammy of extreme heat (April-May) and extreme pollution (around Feb-March-April). So much so that next year I will either go south to the beach or return home to Canada during that period. The dilemma with going back to Canada is that's it's still bloody cold in March!

[beau thai]

I dont know what definition Beetlejuice uses for 'very cold' but unless that means below 30c, I have not experienced Chiang Mai as cold from November through February as he asserts. But then I live in the city and not the hills.

This year we had a couple of weeks when it dropped to 12-13c at night but was hot (by my definition :25-30c) daytime.

TV members wrote about how their shower heaters didnt heat up properly for 2-3 weeks then the issue went away!

But his suggestion of a young female escort every night to snuggle up to seems a great way to deal with the cold nights.......

[hawkeye76]

 

I dont know what definition Beetlejuice uses for 'very cold' but unless that means below 30c, I have not experienced Chiang Mai as cold from November through February as he asserts. But then I live in the city and not the hills.

This year we had a couple of weeks when it dropped to 12-13c at night but was hot (by my definition :25-30c) daytime.

TV members wrote about how their shower heaters didnt heat up properly for 2-3 weeks then the issue went away!

But his suggestion of a young female escort every night to snuggle up to seems a great way to deal with the cold nights.......

 

I think it were in January, they registrated 3 or 4 celcius one night, in the hills south west of CM city.. Personally i have seen 1 time that there were some light white frost cover on the grass in the mountains .. NOt sure of the english name..
So yes.. Can be really cold sometimes..

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=1208

the link is from another part of thailand, but same weather type as here most of the time..

Edited May 5, 2014 by hawkeye76

[beau thai]

 

I dont know what definition Beetlejuice uses for 'very cold' but unless that means below 30c, I have not experienced Chiang Mai as cold from November through February as he asserts. But then I live in the city and not the hills.

This year we had a couple of weeks when it dropped to 12-13c at night but was hot (by my definition :25-30c) daytime.

TV members wrote about how their shower heaters didnt heat up properly for 2-3 weeks then the issue went away!

But his suggestion of a young female escort every night to snuggle up to seems a great way to deal with the cold nights.......

 

I think it were in January, they registrated 3 or 4 celcius one night, in the hills south west of CM city.. Personally i have seen 1 time that there were some light white frost cover on the grass in the mountains .. NOt sure of the english name..

So yes.. Can be really cold sometimes..

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=1208

the link is from another part of thailand, but same weather type as here most of the time..

Certaintly there was frost on Doi Suthep, but then it is 1676 metres and temp drops .7C for every 100m altitude, so it could be 0c there and 11c in the city at the same moment.

Not sure how accurate wiki is but it shows Jan as the coldest month with an average low of 14.9C and average high of 29.8C - a lot better than Southern Spain where I used to live, and they have a lot of rain and high winds there, so for me, Chiang Mai is a much more pleasant climate

[ChristianBlessing]

I live and work in Malaysia most of the year and have stayed at my little place outside Chiang Mai in each of the seasons. I find the summer months most enjoyable. The rain cools things down and clears the air and I have yet to need A/C at night although it does take the edge of in the late afternoon. With reduced tourism getting in, around and out of town is pretty painless.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Thailand]

The golf courses are relatively quiet!

No hordes of Koreans, Japanese, various Farangs etc!

And the prices are generally lower!

[Frank James]

It's pretty hot now, but we have had some really good rains and winds blow through town lately. I think the worst of the burning is over now, thank God. That's the worst. And as for tourists, it seems that the Chinese are still here in great numbers, which is good for the local economy. I look forward to the rains, but please, no floods!

[Old Stud]

I like Chiang Mai much better in the low season than the high. It doesn't seem to be as hot this year, so I don't mind the weather at all - it's May and I have yet to turn on the air conditioner (use the fan). When it gets into the summer months with the rain, I think it's ideal. More like where I came from in Hawaii.

[chirunr]

Some expressions of the OP suggest that he may have some misunderstandings.

He refers to "incessant" rain in the rainy season. Incessant is far from how the rains come. They usually come as storms lasting an hour or less, followed by blue skies and billowy clouds. Rarely is there a persistent rain lasting all day long.

Then the OP refers to the "oppressive" heat. The heat is oppressive from mid-February to mid-April, but outside if those two months, one could not imagine more comfortable temperatures than are offered in Chiang Mai. Occasional donning of a sombrero or of a light sweater or jacket are all that are needed beyond sleeveless shirts and short pants. The rule is for lovely balmy evenings.

As for air quality, bad air is a direct result of burning of rice straw in the fields; and that happens only when the straw is dry. It begins in January, increases in February, and continues until the rains come in April. The smoke during the peak two months is quite oppressive for most folks.

The present writer regularly picks up and leaves in the last week of March, and spends that time in the delightful springtime of eastern USA. I'd leave a month earlier if I could find a spot not too far away with moderate temps and pleasant air.

Fear of 24/7 monsoon rains keep the tourist crowd away during our "rainy" season, so living conditions are really the best of the entire year during June to October. Flooding mostly affects central and south regions of Thailand, and is rare and short-lived in Chiang Mai.

In summary, climate and ambiance in Chiang Mai are unbeatable from mid-April to mid-February. During those two months, find a retreat somewhere else if you can.

[mikey88]

Isn't the 'Dengue' a very serious issue Beetlejuice?

What's your opinion...

Is your place screened? Or is that a false security...

Mike

[Toby Jugg]

So please kind ladies and gentlemen, where to go during April and May?

Not too cold nor too hot.

Not too far and not too dear

[blazes]

How ironic that as I was reading this thread, an earthquake struck Chiang Mai. No idea where the epicentre was, but my condo building was swaying. I am surprised there is no damage....

scary while it lasted..

[Ulysses G.]

One more reason not to come to Chiang Mai.

[Mousehound]

 

I dont know what definition Beetlejuice uses for 'very cold' but unless that means below 30c, I have not experienced Chiang Mai as cold from November through February as he asserts. But then I live in the city and not the hills.

This year we had a couple of weeks when it dropped to 12-13c at night but was hot (by my definition :25-30c) daytime.

TV members wrote about how their shower heaters didnt heat up properly for 2-3 weeks then the issue went away!

But his suggestion of a young female escort every night to snuggle up to seems a great way to deal with the cold nights.......

 

I think it were in January, they registrated 3 or 4 celcius one night, in the hills south west of CM city.. Personally i have seen 1 time that there were some light white frost cover on the grass in the mountains .. NOt sure of the english name..

So yes.. Can be really cold sometimes..

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=1208

the link is from another part of thailand, but same weather type as here most of the time..

"Personally i have seen 1 time that there were some light white frost cover on the grass in the mountains .. NOt sure of the english name.."

The Brits call this "Hoare frost" So the suggestions re female company are quite relevant it seems.

[Ricardo]

We also have the odd bit of excitement, when a 6.0 earthquake hits, this can be the main faultline Chai-Prakan/Fang/Thaton/Mae-Chan.Chiang-saen or our local Mae-Rim/San-Kampaeng one.

Like what happened about 18.10 today !

Personally, I can live with a 'slow season', bugger the excitement !

[louse1953]

So please kind ladies and gentlemen, where to go during April and May?

Not too cold nor too hot.

Not too far and not too dear

Nepal.

[beau thai]

So please kind ladies and gentlemen, where to go during April and May?

Not too cold nor too hot.

Not too far and not too dear

Nepal.

Seems an interesting idea. Care to elaborate on its attractions apart from not too far/dear? Maybe your top 5 reasons for enjoying time there would help please.

[Frank James]

So please kind ladies and gentlemen, where to go during April and May?

Not too cold nor too hot.

Not too far and not too dear

I've heard Darjeeling is nice. Plan to go there next life.

[elgenon]

I stayed at a hotel in CM in December and January. It was COLD. So cold I couldn't sleep. I think I am becoming Thai. I asked the hotel for a blanket and they had no heater and no blankets. I bought a sweatshirt to sleep in. When I went to breakfast I wore the light jacket I had brought with 2 shirts underneath. My memory is not that good anymore, but it seemed to be the coldest since I started going to CM in 1983.

I was hoping a friend would email me a hoodie.

[true blue]

must admit it was the coldest ive experience in los this xmas period,but it did notlast long soon warms up,