Possible Move to Chiang Rai, Question Regarding Safety and Environment

[villagefarang]

This is a beautiful mountain reservoir but you can see the trail is better traversed on foot or mountain bike.

When it is empty it is interesting too.

[villagefarang]

@yunnantea - I find it interesting that your focus seems to be safety and environment. More often than not cost seems to overshadow everything else, in the minds of new arrivals. Logistics also way heavily for most with questions of visas, accommodation, food, transportation and the process of developing a mental map of the area and where to find stuff.

Eventually people have to visit the question of socialization. Some will find what they need close to home and will develop local friendships among their neighbors. Others will attempt to shield themselves from the locals and surround themselves with other expats, preferably from their home country. Social media also helps us stay in touch with our far-flung network of friends, developed over decades.

I have observed that it is often easier and more mutually beneficial for newer arrivals to hangout with other newer arrivals. They tend to share the same problems, questions and interests.

Not sure if there is a question here or not but I would be interested in your thoughts.

[yunnantea]

@villagefarang - The pictures are lovely... as is the area! I love these humble country roads with more critters than people.

I see safety and environment as the basis for my well-being. I have lived in polluted places and some pretty rough places as well and I really believe that negatively impacts my state of being, not to mention those around me. In terms of costs, I am not too worried about it. I have a rough idea of costs and while having a lower cost of living than the US is attractive it's not the end all be all for me. I know there are things that I won't have, that I have here. Remember I lived in Yunnan for most of the 2000's. ;-)

In terms of social life, I am not too worried. I am sociable, my wife is as well. One of the things I miss about being an expat is getting to meet some other interesting expats. I feel there is much to share that can bind that community together. That being said 80% of my friends in China, were Chinese, and I hope to invite them to visit me in Thailand... it's so much easier for them to visit Thailand than the USA.I hope to meet many Thai people and I will definitely be tackling the Thai language. I like to go for walks and talk to people. I find it hard to hop in the car and drive somewhere just to see a face, so I tend to spend alot of time close to home, walking around, talking to whomever, etc. My work is so focused and goal-oriented when I am not working I tend to want to just get out. If one has the right state of mind, most anything can be rewarding and relaxing! I want to get to know my neighbors for sure... I speak Mandarin fluently and can also read/write Chinese, so I am hoping my brain is still fit enough to cram another language in there.

Visa... thinking Thai Elite 5 year one. I don't want to muck about with coming and going on a schedule. If still in Thailand after 5 years I would look for some more permanent option.

Edited July 8, 2016 by yunnantea

[villagefarang]

@villagefarang - The pictures are lovely... as is the area! I love these humble country roads with more critters than people.

I see safety and environment as the basis for my well-being. I have lived in polluted places and some pretty rough places as well and I really believe that negatively impacts my state of being, not to mention those around me. In terms of costs, I am not too worried about it. I have a rough idea of costs and while having a lower cost of living than the US is attractive it's not the end all be all for me. I know there are things that I won't have, that I have here. Remember I lived in Yunnan for most of the 2000's. ;-)

In terms of social life, I am not too worried. I am sociable, my wife is as well. One of the things I miss about being an expat is getting to meet some other interesting expats. I feel there is much to share that can bind that community together. That being said 80% of my friends in China, were Chinese, and I hope to invite them to visit me in Thailand... it's so much easier for them to visit Thailand than the USA.I hope to meet many Thai people and I will definitely be tackling the Thai language. I like to go for walks and talk to people. I find it hard to hop in the car and drive somewhere just to see a face, so I tend to spend alot of time close to home, walking around, talking to whomever, etc. My work is so focused and goal-oriented when I am not working I tend to want to just get out. If one has the right state of mind, most anything can be rewarding and relaxing! I want to get to know my neighbors for sure... I speak Mandarin fluently and can also read/write Chinese, so I am hoping my brain is still fit enough to cram another language in there.

Visa... thinking Thai Elite 5 year one. I don't want to muck about with coming and going on a schedule. If still in Thailand after 5 years I would look for some more permanent option.

Thank you for your thoughtful and informative answer. Sounds to me like you should have no difficulties at all in Chiang Rai.

[villagefarang]

A little off topic but being a Doberman guy I though you might appreciate a couple shot I took on the North Shore of Hawaii a few years back.

[yunnantea]

@villagefarang - wow! 7 little terrors at the teat! one puppy doberman was enough for me!!! I have a big soft spot for dogs and dobies are my favorite. Never a dull moment... very smart dogs but can be very very stubborn.

[geriatrickid]

Not one mention of the pollution? Chiang Rai is unsafe and uninhabitable during burning season. The toxic smoke hangs heavy and knocks years off the life expectancy of the region's inhabitants. Chiang Rai is also known for its high rates of mosquito vector diseases with it being the province with the highest rates of dengue and Japanese encephalitis. Malaria is also a significant killer in the region.

Healthcare in Chiang Rai is not particularly good and if you require care for a chronic illness, Chiang Rai is not the place to be. Yes there are hospitals, but the skilled specialists are in Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai is dependent upon the central government for much of its funding and the quality of infrastructure a reflects that. Roads, electrical grid, education etc. all are at the bottom of the scale in Thailand.

I was not impressed by the region. It has great potential, but I found that the locals skew to the lower end of the Thai intellectual capacity bell curve.That comment won't earn me any love I know, but the only other region where I encountered so many "slow" people was Nahkon si Thammarat.

Aside from the "Central" shopping mall experience in CR town, the retail options are crap. as are dining and entertainment. One gets spoiled in Bangkok or Hua Hin or Chiang Mai. Even Krabi offers more options, plus the ocean.

Edited July 9, 2016 by geriatrickid

[villagefarang]

@villagefarang - wow! 7 little terrors at the teat! one puppy doberman was enough for me!!! I have a big soft spot for dogs and dobies are my favorite. Never a dull moment... very smart dogs but can be very very stubborn.

If you look at the lower left corner you can see the paw of number 8, plus there were a few more out of frame. It was a very big litter but they were too small to make much noise while I was staying there, thankfully. The mother and grown daughter were fun though and the owner used them for search and rescue so had so interesting stories.

Edited July 9, 2016 by villagefarang

[villagefarang]

Not one mention of the pollution? Chiang Rai is unsafe and uninhabitable during burning season. The toxic smoke hangs heavy and knocks years off the life expectancy of the region's inhabitants. Chiang Rai is also known for its high rates of mosquito vector diseases with it being the province with the highest rates of dengue and Japanese encephalitis. Malaria is also a significant killer in the region.

Healthcare in Chiang Rai is not particularly good and if you require care for a chronic illness, Chiang Rai is not the place to be. Yes there are hospitals, but the skilled specialists are in Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai is dependent upon the central government for much of its funding and the quality of infrastructure a reflects that. Roads, electrical grid, education etc. all are at the bottom of the scale in Thailand.

I was not impressed by the region. It has great potential, but I found that the locals skew to the lower end of the Thai intellectual capacity bell curve.That comment won't earn me any love I know, but the only other region where I encountered so many "slow" people was Nahkon si Thammarat.

Aside from the "Central" shopping mall experience in CR town, the retail options are crap. as are dining and entertainment. One gets spoiled in Bangkok or Hua Hin or Chiang Mai. Even Krabi offers more options, plus the ocean.

This clearly wouldn’t be ThaiVisa without the naysayers. The burning was mentioned and the OP stated that he already knows about that. I live here year-round, as do the majority of residents, so “uninhabitable” is at the very least an exaggeration.

We have good screens on our doors and windows, so no mosquitos in our house. You are probably correct about chronic illness but then again I know people who choose to remain in Chiang Rai despite their illness.

The roads in my area are amazing and I have the pictures to prove it. Our 3phase electrical supply almost never drops out and my internet is stable even in bad weather.

We don’t have as many high end dining options as some bigger cities but the ones we do have are excellent. In this modern age, one is not limited to what is in stock at a local retail store. Granted we bought most of our furniture in Chiang Mai as well as one of our cars but those are infrequent purchases. Some special items have been ordered from Bangkok or bought online.

I lived in Bangkok for thirty years before moving to Chiang Rai and I thoroughly enjoyed my life there but at this time in my life I choose to live here and find that it has more of what I want in my daily life.

[siriweith]

we can say

chiang rai is for live

chiang mai is for die

if we talk about burning problem

both city have 2 month that is much better go away

and every years the situation will be much worse

[yunnantea]

OK so to the burning problem... what is the typical start and stop time in Chiang Rai? in Chiang Mai? Is it just two months? Could I not just go to the beach for those 2 months each year? Is this burning also present in Isaan as well?

[pomchop]

OK so to the burning problem... what is the typical start and stop time in Chiang Rai? in Chiang Mai? Is it just two months? Could I not just go to the beach for those 2 months each year? Is this burning also present in Isaan as well?

The burn/smoke gets bad around the end of feb/first of march and lasts a couple of months. I leave CR most years during that time and take advantage of the time to go travel somewhere else. While not all can leave it sure works for me and gives me a good "excuse" to go travel.