My 1st Take on Chiang Mai

(September 2009)

 

    

 LIKES

• Airport is less than 5km from the city.

• A tasty bowl of curry or soup noodle in Chinatown costs 15 to 20 baht.

• Halal and vegetarian food available.

• More than 60 wats (temples) in the city.

• More laid-back than Bangkok/Pattaya/Phuket (BPP).

• Tons of handicrafts and antiques.

• Tons of fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Suitable for families with senior citizens and children.

• Zoos and wildlife parks are well maintained and managed.

• Food & beverage cost 20 – 40% less than BPP.

• A 1-hour Thai massage costs 100 – 200 baht, while many offer ½ hour massage for 60 – 80 baht.

• Less in-your-face nightlife than BPP.

• Less aggressive touts for tuk-tuk, taxi, massage, and tailored suit than BPP.

• Convenient to walk or cycle in and around the old city area.

• Bicycle lane around old city area.

• Every Sunday is a cycling day where packs of 10 to 30 cyclists in full gears all over the city.

• Bank ATM's and currency exchange kiosks readily available.

• UOB bank located in Night Bazaar area.

 

DISLIKES

• Very limited number of metered taxis.

• Very limited number of public buses and routes.

• Need to haggle or bargain for a good deal, like anywhere else in Southeast Asia.

• Spa packages are not cheap compared to those in Malaysia and Singapore.

• Vehicles parked along bicycle lanes.

• Exhaust fumes from vehicles, particularly tuk-tuk.

 

MY OBSERVATIONS

• Cool weather only from December to mid February.

• No sea or beach related activities but plenty of river related activities.

• Most pubs and bars close by 2:00 AM as required by local law.

• I don't recommend seafood as Chiang Mai is far from the sea. If you decide to go for a seafood dinner like many tourists, be prepared to pay more.

• The monkey show, though entertaining, is more suitable if you are traveling with children. You can skip if you are short on time.

• The long-neck hilltribe visit is another activity you can skip if you are short on time.

• Share your itinerary with your tour guide or tuk-tuk driver, especially the payable activities. The guide or driver can often give you a huge discount on the transportation charges if he/she knows the commissions that can be made from the entrance fees, ride fees, purchases, etc. For example, if you plan to buy a bottle of honey or bee pollen at the honey factory, the driver may give you a 50% discount on the tuk-tuk charge based on the commission he/she can get from the honey factory.

• There are too many wat so plan the few that you are interested to visit.  

• Price for handicraft items are the same everywhere in Chiang Mai. Unless you are buying in bulk. It makes no difference to buy them in the city or the handicraft village. Many handicraft items are actually made on-the-spot by the stall vendor. These handicraft items are not mass-produced from a factory.

• Compare to other Southeast Asia countries, the animal camps/farms/zoos are better maintained and operated as the grounds are tidy, animals appear well-fed, signs are clear, and facilities are clean.