Resident here longer than I can remember, and first visited Chiang Mai in 1969 when it wasn't much more than a nice village with everybody riding around in bicycle samlors. Utterly charming.

I'm looking now for possible greener, quieter, less stressful, less polluted pastures before I lay down my bones. Probably difficult to find better alternatives though, especially for competent medical treatment, good internet, etc.

Anyway, if anyone has lived a while in Sri Lanka or Philippines recently and moved up here, would nonetheless appreciate reading the relative pros and cons compared to CNX. Both of these countries I read are very keen now on encouraging foreign residents with easy residence formalities.

A few of my chums are also considering a move elsewhere too, so it might be useful feedback for other old folks disillusioned and disappointed by Lanna, particularly what has now become of its once-lovely city - alas.

Cebu is a great pace to live in the Phils,people are very helpful and all speak great English I would suggest anyone give the Phils a go.Central Phils/Visayas region is more laid back than the mega-city of Manila and charming islands like Bohol are paradise.Even smaller are Bantayan and Malapascua but all the big islands and provinces have regional capitals that I hear nothing but good news about.
Tacloban on Leyte,Iloilo City on Iloilo,Bacolod,Dumaguete,Legazpi,Cagayan De Oro there are 7,000 plus islands so the possibilities are endless! :

http://www.thetoptens.com/top-cities-philippines/

What about relative costs of living, here and there?

Food and drink much cheaper in the Phils,electricity and water more expensive so overall cost of living less than Thailand...
Nature and beaches much nicer,people much,much friendlier you really have to try it,you'll love it I have no doubt it's impossible not to!