"I want to feel like I'm in Thailand." That makes total sense, and I agree. In Chiang Mai, all you need to do is walk 30 minutes out of the Old City, in any direction, and there you are. Cheers.
My wife and I have been living in her village for 2 years now. Here in Buriram. We are moving to Chiang Mai in June. Everything you said we agreed with. We have been there many times and can't wait to make it our home. Chiang Mai is by far our fav Thai city.
Hey, I first came to CM in 1980 as a young backpacker… been coming ever since….. have lived here full time since 2017…. for those interested in the future of CM and Thailand then have a read of the two articles I just posted below. Personally, IMO, the glory days of CM are over…. and it’s happening all over the world!!!!!
@@clivebaxter6354 Bangkok is terrible. Overpriced now, too westernized, pollution, traffic. No thanks. Thailand has had its best days. There are many much better countries and cities but I'm not telling you because I don't want them to be ruined. Stay in Thailand.
Agree with you about Chiang Mai. Can't wait to retire so my wife (Thai) and I can move from Western Australia to Saraphi. Have 3.5 years to build house and have great family close by.
Hi Jon could I ask for some advice please? I’m heading to Bangkok / CM in January to start trying to pick where to live the year after. I’m really attracted to CM (for the Thainess you mention) but how bad is the burning season there? Is it still liveable?
@@jondcanton Air purifiers are good for inside, but you do need to go outside, so it’s best to leave Chang Mai and go to the islands for the months that the air is horrible…
I don't know. Whenever I see these videos about Chiang Mai I get the impression that the city stretches out like an endless suburban area with neither a true city center nor a modern public transportation system to connect it all. Then add a challenging climate that is either hot, humid or both as well as a regular burning season. Makes me wonder why people move there. For the "nostalgic" Thailand feel?
Mainly it is cheap and relative convenient as long you use a motorbike. People not only move there but also leave (coming and going), but who make videos about leaving?
It is a spread out city with zero public transit, so in a way similar to Southern California (not a compliment). Housing is relatively inexpensive, people are relatively well educated (on the whole) and it has a smaller town vibe. Good for families that want a safe place to raise their kids.
I agree with most of what you said Jon, but there are a few warts as there are in any place in Thailand. I won’t go into that, but just saying there are options if you want to travel to other locations in Thailand at certain times of the year, so yes, Chiang Mai is a great home base with most everything you might need available to you. And also still retains a lot of Thai charm and culture.
Jon is always telling you how great CM is but never tells you the other side. I call it fake content. CM has countless problems from terrible public transportation (including red truck mafia) to terrible pollution and dangerous roads. It was nice 15 years ago but no longer. And the massive wave of tourism from the nearby communist country in Asia makes things so much worse. Doesn't anyone wonder why all of his videos claim CM is so wonderful? Just not true.
I understand the desire to see the real deal. But what confuses the heck out of me is your interest in it? It seems you don't speak fluent Thai, so what is the appeal of "authentic" when you're incapable of experiencing it? I say this as someone who traveled solo into the furthest reaches of China, sometimes taking trains for 36 hours. I was fully literate and able to communicate well (except, well, with heavy accents I'm screwed!) Thankfully back then (I don't know about the modern day), hotels in China didn't have "English speaking staff" or anything like that. I got to get on just like any Chinese, no impositions of American culture on me (Thais basically force American culture down your throat starting from "Hello." ;( lamentably.)
are you real you are in middle of tourist town if you get out of centre you will see huge developments you will not remember the dirt track road from the airport the endless knocked down areas replaced with huge hotels the time only 1 ring road how many now 3 but as you walk down only a select few roads
Chiang Mai is nice, but I don't want to live there, burning season sucks and flooding every 12/18 months isn't either... I love Bangkok as my home, but places like Chiang Mai and alike is a great place to fly in and spend a week..
My concerns about Chiang Mai are the burn season, and the flooding. I'm trying to decide between Chiang Mai and Hua Hin.
"I want to feel like I'm in Thailand." That makes total sense, and I agree. In Chiang Mai, all you need to do is walk 30 minutes out of the Old City, in any direction, and there you are. Cheers.
I ❤ Kangsadan waterfall in Chiang Mai , nice coffee and great view on the top pines hill. 😊
My wife and I have been living in her village for 2 years now. Here in Buriram. We are moving to Chiang Mai in June. Everything you said we agreed with.
We have been there many times and can't wait to make it our home. Chiang Mai is by far our fav Thai city.
Hey, I first came to CM in 1980 as a young backpacker… been coming ever since….. have lived here full time since 2017…. for those interested in the future of CM and Thailand then have a read of the two articles I just posted below. Personally, IMO, the glory days of CM are over…. and it’s happening all over the world!!!!!
The burning season and yearly flooding makes Chiang Mai not suitable for many.
agree...
@@markholland6657Why anyone would choose to retire in one of the most polluted cities in the world is beyond me.
Jon i look forward to your Videos. Can you do some more Apartment videos? knowing the current prices are nice
I agree with you. Pattaya is the same way.
Wow was that massage road at the start of the vid :)
Thumbs up 👍 Jon……Just wondering where did you stay in Phuket?
The massage girls are always entertaining.
They call it paradise,
I don't know why
You call some place paradise,
Kiss it goodbye
Pollution, floods, far from sea, crowds of tourists, no great shopping malls, don't think so.
Where do you recommend?
@@ViewTalay Bangkok
It’s also not that authentic either.
@@clivebaxter6354 Bangkok is terrible. Overpriced now, too westernized, pollution, traffic. No thanks. Thailand has had its best days. There are many much better countries and cities but I'm not telling you because I don't want them to be ruined. Stay in Thailand.
@@newgraphics1617 Best place for Thai music and that's why I live here, you can keep the rest.
Agree with you about Chiang Mai. Can't wait to retire so my wife (Thai) and I can move from Western Australia to Saraphi. Have 3.5 years to build house and have great family close by.
Hi Jon could I ask for some advice please? I’m heading to Bangkok / CM in January to start trying to pick where to live the year after. I’m really attracted to CM (for the Thainess you mention) but how bad is the burning season there? Is it still liveable?
Chang Mai had the worst air pollution in the WORLD many times last year during burning season. Does that answer your question ?
@ lol yes! Thanks buddy 🤣🙏
Yeah the pollution does get bad for a few months, air purifiers are a must at this time :)
@@jondcanton Air purifiers are good for inside, but you do need to go outside, so it’s best to leave Chang Mai and go to the islands for the months that the air is horrible…
Thanks for your help chaps 🙏
Exactly , the pollution was rated the highest in the world during burning season.
Life is a beach in Thailand 🏝️
I don't know. Whenever I see these videos about Chiang Mai I get the impression that the city stretches out like an endless suburban area with neither a true city center nor a modern public transportation system to connect it all. Then add a challenging climate that is either hot, humid or both as well as a regular burning season. Makes me wonder why people move there. For the "nostalgic" Thailand feel?
Mainly it is cheap and relative convenient as long you use a motorbike. People not only move there but also leave (coming and going), but who make videos about leaving?
It is a spread out city with zero public transit, so in a way similar to Southern California (not a compliment). Housing is relatively inexpensive, people are relatively well educated (on the whole) and it has a smaller town vibe. Good for families that want a safe place to raise their kids.
Have you ever visited Sakon Nakhon? This is much better than Chiang Mai. It is not well-known for many Expats.
I agree with most of what you said Jon, but there are a few warts as there are in any place in Thailand. I won’t go into that, but just saying there are options if you want to travel to other locations in Thailand at certain times of the year, so yes, Chiang Mai is a great home base with most everything you might need available to you. And also still retains a lot of Thai charm and culture.
ฉันไม่รู้จะพูดอะไรนอกจาก
ขอบคุณที่รักประเทศของเรา❤
Yes, we get it. You like Chiang Mai. You're running out of content.
That’s interesting!!!!! TH-cam DELETED the links I posted???????? I will try again….. so much for free speech eh!!!
Make another video again in a couple of months in the midst of burning season….then ask me again
Jon is always telling you how great CM is but never tells you the other side. I call it fake content. CM has countless problems from terrible public transportation (including red truck mafia) to terrible pollution and dangerous roads. It was nice 15 years ago but no longer. And the massive wave of tourism from the nearby communist country in Asia makes things so much worse. Doesn't anyone wonder why all of his videos claim CM is so wonderful? Just not true.
😢I'm scared it's shifting more westward
Free polluted air and traffic jams.
You're often on Loi Kroh. I stayed near there recently, and if that's the best Chiang Mai has to offer, it's not for me.
Would feel better informed if the presenters could learn to pronounce Loh kroh more accurately..
A very very polluted city...😐
I understand the desire to see the real deal. But what confuses the heck out of me is your interest in it? It seems you don't speak fluent Thai, so what is the appeal of "authentic" when you're incapable of experiencing it? I say this as someone who traveled solo into the furthest reaches of China, sometimes taking trains for 36 hours. I was fully literate and able to communicate well (except, well, with heavy accents I'm screwed!) Thankfully back then (I don't know about the modern day), hotels in China didn't have "English speaking staff" or anything like that. I got to get on just like any Chinese, no impositions of American culture on me (Thais basically force American culture down your throat starting from "Hello." ;( lamentably.)
are you real you are in middle of tourist town if you get out of centre you will see huge developments
you will not remember the dirt track road from the airport the endless knocked down areas replaced with huge hotels
the time only 1 ring road how many now 3 but as you walk down only a select few roads
Chiang Mai is nice, but I don't want to live there, burning season sucks and flooding every 12/18 months isn't either... I love Bangkok as my home, but places like Chiang Mai and alike is a great place to fly in and spend a week..
The last big flood before this year was 2016, before that around 2006, was here at both times