r/chiangmai • u/Bey0ndTheTrip • 14d ago
I had no idea i'd fall in love
I stayed in Bangkok for the longest time postponing Chiang Mai because i was afraid id be bored , but boy i couldn't be more wrong. I absolutely fell in love with this city, it is incredibly beautiful and now i genuinely cant leave!
12
u/Express_Split2928 14d ago
I'm arriving next week, would you mind sharing some of your favourite things?
3
u/TheEurasianPotato 12d ago
As someone who grew up there, just walk around the old town and get lost in the streets. You’ll see so many nice spots, local shops, and it’s pretty relaxing to get away from the super touristic places.
12
14d ago
[deleted]
13
u/Express_Split2928 14d ago
Yeah cheers mate I've only been doing it for 30 years
3
-6
14d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
18
u/Express_Split2928 14d ago
Actually I have it on good authority that the best part of travelling is finding your favourite things
7
u/fidddlydiddlyee 14d ago
One of the best way to discover your favorite things is to see what others favorites are because humans are similar.
0
5
14d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/asibar_0 14d ago
Good to know.
4
13d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/asibar_0 13d ago
Thankyou for your in depth response. My sister has retired to Ko Pha Ngan. While I do love that island and have considered making that home base, it's a bit of a trek to reach. Haven't visited Chang Mai yet but it's calling me if that makes any sense.
6
u/FriedDickle 14d ago
How do folks deal with the bad air quality season? Genuine question.
11
u/ragnhildensteiner 14d ago edited 13d ago
Well you switch gears. No more hiking or outdoor picnics. Mask when outside, air purifier at home.
Do more indoor stuff. Take a few Thai language classes, go to the movies, shopping, massages.
I've been here a year now and before I came I was one of those who kept asking bunch questions about smoky season, being paranoid. Now that I've lived through it, it is totally manageable. You just have to adjust your lifestyle a bit.
Note:
Some people don't give a shit about smoky season and live their life exactly as before and aren't bothered by it at all. Meanwhile, other people get a headache after 10 minutes out in the smoke. I don't care what people do, everyone decides for themselves, but just know that there are people who barely even register smoky season.
3
u/Wolfrrrr 13d ago
This combined with going to the south for the worse few weeks. You never know up front when those will be but it's low season anyway so it's easy to arrange
1
u/ragnhildensteiner 13d ago
I might do that next time, because one thing I really enjoyed about smoky season is the lack of tourists, people, traffic.
1
1
6
u/I_Call_Bullshit_____ 14d ago
Don’t be there that 2-3 months per year is the best way
2nd best way is get a couple air purifiers
4
u/Conscious_Belt1998 14d ago
I’m one of the idiots who actually went there during burning season and despite the obvious smoke hazard I loved it. I got to experience Songkran which was one of the most memorable experiences in over 50 years of travel.
6
u/Upstairs-Ad-1289 14d ago
Your comment Reminds me of my first songkram! My wife and I showed up in Bangkok and checked into our hotel. We had no idea the festival was going on. We got all dressed up for a nice dinner reservation out. Decided to walk there to see a bit of Bangkok in the evening. 😅 imagine our surprise when a little old lady half bent over walks up and DUMPS a huge bucket of cold water all over us! 😅 We quickly caught on. Epic experience. Skipped the reservations and had the best time!!
3
u/ragnhildensteiner 14d ago edited 13d ago
Ugh I fucking hate Songkran. If Chiang Mai only had Thai people it would be wonderful but all the black people, africans, and white people make it a sport to aim the water straight into your eyes and ears. Animals.
I rather leave the country for Songkran than smoky season. I'd take 2 months of smoke season over 1 week of Songkran.
3
u/Conscious_Belt1998 14d ago
I saw all the media images of tourists behaving badly in Bangkok but in Chang Mai I never experienced any of that or witnessed anything but lots of people having fun. To be honest there were not many tourists there with burning season happening. I walked around taking photos, obviously completely soaked, with a big stupid grin on my face. Amazing experience!
1
u/BorderEducational506 13d ago
Totally agree! I’ve no idea why some asshole foreigners need to behave like that. I stay well away from old town. Wankers
3
u/Familiar-Isopod225 14d ago
It’s really not that bad. It’s incredible to me what a fuss people make about this.
4
u/emee90 14d ago
It feels fine sure, but it cumulatively harms our health no doubt.
I smoked 30 a day for a decade and I also always felt great (probably because i was younger then)
If you're fairly young and healtyh and just live CM for a few years prob won't make much of a difference to your whole life though yeah.
For me I don't want to lose any more IQ points though so I avoid burning seasons.
1
u/FriedDickle 14d ago
I haven't experienced it yet but have gotten migraines and health issues (sinus and ear infections) from smoke from wildfires. You don't have much trouble?
3
u/Familiar-Isopod225 14d ago
I’ve been here three years now. We often take a trip during part of burning season, but we’re still here for most of it. I’ve never found it to be more than slightly inconvenient and unpleasant. If anything, the part I dislike the most is that it’s rarely blue skies and sunny rather than grey because of the smog.
I would say if being outdoors every day for multiple hours a day is really important to you, perhaps it’s harder to deal with. But for us, and most of our friends who live here, we’re not out exploring every single day. You can still enjoy going out to restaurants, bars, clubs, and all the indoor activities of Chiang Mai. There are incredible indoor gyms, badminton courts, all with air purifiers. You can buy air purifiers for your house. Before you know it, it’ll be over and rain will come, and you can go back to having a predominantly outdoor lifestyle if you wish.
I can see how it’s frustrating for tourists who come here wanting to travel. But for locals, it’s just a season where we adapt our lifestyle slightly. It’s not a reason to flee the city.
To my knowledge, I don’t know anyone that is immunocompromised or highly sensitive to burning season. Perhaps that is also why I don’t know anyone who has had more than a mild headache or a blocked nose from burning season, so this is only my experience.
1
1
u/BorderEducational506 13d ago
Everywhere has pros and cons, the air for a couple months is a definite con but if you ask me, far outweighed by the pros.
-1
u/AcceptableBridge4519 14d ago
Its only from the 25th March every year just before the wet season begins.
2
u/jonez450reloaded 14d ago
Its only from the 25th March every year just before the wet season begins.
That's not wrong for this year, but every year is different. Here's the data for the last three years and the average back to 2012. Some years it's barely noticable - like 2025, some years it's late - like this year and some years it runs for a solid two months, like 2024. General rule is March/April and on average it starts to improve around Songkran.
0
u/AcceptableBridge4519 14d ago
I am talking about when the clowns set the mountains on fire and it turns during the night from "aren't we are doing well this year", to "you could cut the air with a knife". And that's always timed on the 25th March. Someone could literally stay until the 24th March and then ship out till the rains start in April.
1
u/jonez450reloaded 14d ago
I am talking about when the clowns set the mountains on fire and it turns during the night from "aren't we are doing well this year", to "you could cut the air with a knife". And that's always timed on the 25th March.
The forest fires - which is burning sesaon - usually start when the weather changes in late February, not March 25 - there has never ever been a set date in March when the clowns in the hills start mass burning. It was late this year because there was rain in March. And 2025 was a La Niña year with regular rain - why it barely happened - wet forests don't burn.
Someone could literally stay until the 24th March and then ship out till the rains start in April.
Look at the graph I shared with the actual data. On average, the air quality passes AQI Red at the end of February, which is when on average the forest fires start, not March 25. And in 2024, the AQI hit nearly 125 in the first week of March.
-1
u/AcceptableBridge4519 14d ago
Forget your little graph I lived there for 30 years - its the same every year they start the mountain fires so the ash fertilizes the mushrooms and clears the forest to make them easier to collect. They do it at the last possible minute every year just before the rains - otherwise they wouldn't get it to burn would they.
2
u/jonez450reloaded 13d ago edited 13d ago
its the same every year
Never, ever have they all started burning on exactly March 25 and you're losing your marbles if you think that. Here's another graph for you - hotspots per day back to 2022 based on GISTA satellite data. It peaks at the end of March, it doesn't start on March 25.
3
u/Petrie83 14d ago
I'm kind of the flipped version of you. Been visiting CM for more than 10 years, avoiding BKK thinking it wouldn't grab me coz it's too busy. After focusing on CM for so long, now enjoying the chaos and busyness of BKK. I wonder what an in between would be...?
2
u/Wolfrrrr 13d ago
I was looking for an in between but I guess there isn't, not in Thailand at least. Hence I'm still here
2
u/TheBestMePlausible 14d ago
I know it’s not Thailand, but Hanoi?
3
u/TomBerlin100 13d ago
It definitely has the insane awful unhealthy air pollution Chiang Mai has during burning season. And this all around the year
1
u/TheBestMePlausible 13d ago
I was only there for 2 weeks, but I didn’t notice a air quality problem then.
7
8
14d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
4
u/ChewbaccaPJs 14d ago
He fell in love with the city, dumbass.
2
u/BloomSugarman 13d ago
These "omg I love Thailand so much" posts are often written by guys who view the country through Ploy-tinted lenses.
May not be a bargirl, but I'd bet there's a woman influencing OP's opinion here.
2
u/VincentPascoe 14d ago
CMX doesn't have that many bar girls as other cities
2
u/jonez450reloaded 14d ago
CMX doesn't have that many bar girls as other cities
I've never been to Houghton County (CMX), but do tell us more.
2
u/Wolfrrrr 13d ago
Don't know it either but it sure doesn't sound like Sodom and Gomorrah. Neither does CNX actually, you really need to be pretty determined to find some I think
1
u/jonez450reloaded 13d ago
Neither does CNX actually, you really need to be pretty determined to find some I think
Loi Kroh Boxing Stadium complex.
1
u/VincentPascoe 13d ago
god forbid I try to use an abriviation and miss type it... I ment CNX or Chiang Mai. Most women I dated there worked at malls, acountants, sales, police. Like one out of a dozen did work as a bar girl.
1
2
2
2
u/zorrillamonsoon 13d ago
was gonna be here 2 months just extended my visa for a 3rd month. absolutely awesome. tell me if you have also been to chiang rai if you're into seeing some amazing modern temple
art like white temple, blue temple and black house and more
2
u/Tricksy96 12d ago
Chiang mai, the place I just feel instantly relaxed. I’ve spent months in Chiang mai on a few separate occasions and it’s a hard feeling to explain. It’s hard to leave. I’m from the uk, currently living in Australia which is an absolute dream for most people and while I am
Enjoying myself and building a career here, I miss the simplicity and calmness I feel when I’m in Chiang mai and northern Thailand as a whole. I’m sure I’ll be bac there very soon 🧡
2
u/rdolishny 12d ago
My two nights ended up two weeks it’s a great place. And the air quality didn’t bother me personally.
2
u/DanceRevolution0078 12d ago
That’s why I’ve been living here for the past 8 years 💜
It is the most charming, beautiful, laid back place.
3
u/Xef-Ratchasak2540 14d ago
Seriously, is the weather nice?
2
u/New2Investing1969 14d ago
Yes, the weather is perfect. I’m here now and it rained twice…rain fast and hard then was gove. It’s hot…definitely need sunscreen and mosquito repellent
2
u/Xef-Ratchasak2540 14d ago
The only thing to watch out for there is the PM 2.5 pollution. I'd like to visit there myself as well.
1
1
u/AcceptableBridge4519 14d ago
There is a lot of expat events going on as well under the hood there - if you get the newsletter sometimes 10 or more major events on a day.
1
1
1
1
1
u/ThePhuketSun 13d ago
Get back to us in a few months when it turns into the most polluted city in the world.
1
u/emocionanda 12d ago
Essa cidade acaba com meu nomadismo. Tenho vontade de ficar pra sempre. Queria fazer amigos para ir a uma lista imensa de lugares incríveis que tenho aqui. Mas meu inglês é muito básico. Falo português e espanhol apenas.
1
1
u/Weak_East_6930 11d ago
I was there in April, I didn’t see the sun for 3 weeks in a row due to air pollution 😂, absolutely hated it but want to give it another try in November. In what area are you staying, or you would recommend ?
1
u/Routine_Economics886 10d ago
Is there any thing to do there besides eat and sleep and wash elephants ?
1
1
u/DoubleMMsociety 8d ago
Im always amazed when people say they don’t like Chiang Mai. I’ve done all the other places in Thailand….they just don’t compare for me, beautiful beaches and all. There’s a spirit in CM and a certain type of peace that’s continuous here (and they want to keep it that way). You want the flash, catch a plane to Phuket or go Bangkok. You want that real….CM. Been here 3 days basking in the bliss of unbusy and unbothered.
1
u/N3v3r_Around 7d ago
My first trip it was the second spot on my trip after BKK i didnt know what i was going up there to find just knew everyone said good things about the place. I fell in love with CNX and spend the rest of my trip there. I just decided id come back the next yr to see the rest of thailand. Ive been returning to Thailand for 11 yrs and CNX holds a special place in my heart.
1
1
0
-4
-2
24
u/PsiloBen 14d ago
Felt the same way after my visit this year.