Living in Thailand: Chiang Rai is a Great Option
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ค. 2023
- Welcome to my channel! In today's video, join me as I embark on a nostalgic journey back to Chiang Rai, a city that holds a special place in my heart. But first, I decide to explore the local Chiang Rai Mall, curious to see how it has evolved since my last visit seven years ago.
As I step into Central Plaza, memories flood back to me. This mall used to be my daily hangout spot during my stay in Chiang Rai, but now it feels so different. The city has transformed, and I can't help but reminisce about the Chiang Rai I left behind. I even try to find an old flame, an ex-girlfriend who used to work here, but alas, she has moved on.
Leaving the mall behind, I make my way to the old airport of Chiang Rai, a place that holds countless cherished memories. What strikes me is the vibrant energy that fills the air as people gather here for their nightly fitness routines. It's truly a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and make new acquaintances.
Of course, no visit to Chiang Rai would be complete without indulging in the local culinary delights. I stroll through the bustling food stalls, savoring the flavors and immersing myself in the unique atmosphere that only this city can offer. It feels surreal to be back after such a long time, but the warmth and charm of Chiang Rai haven't faded one bit.
Did you know that Chiang Rai is not only a captivating tourist destination but also an excellent place for expats to call home? With its laid-back lifestyle, affordable cost of living, and welcoming community, it's no wonder many foreigners choose to settle here.
Join me on this trip down memory lane, and let's rediscover the beauty of Chiang Rai together.
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📍Locations in this video:
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▶️ OLD AIRPORT - goo.gl/maps/KBgJh2J5Jds9od6R6
▶️ CENTRAL MALL - goo.gl/maps/Er1NBVfLTHrBe7n4A
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Watch part 1 here - th-cam.com/video/erZSs5FZbiA/w-d-xo.html
Watch the whole series here - th-cam.com/play/PLdc6l1RJwq0DxV_S9PrFC3dOnqkVAhj9I.html
Good to see that Chiang Rai still has that small town vibe.
Still a great little town :)
I went to change rai 12 years ago and it honestly looks exactly as I remember it even the shopping centre, of course I don’t recall specific shops or anything but it’s just as a I remember.
Yes, it’s still the same layout, just seems a few more people these days.
CR looks good.. Bovy, even better! What a country! 😊
Both Baobby Dazzlers mate.
Thanks for bringing us along Wayne to Chang Rai and showing us your old stumping ground the old airport is pretty cool and the Mountain View is always a plus and it wouldn’t be Thailand without street food vendors lol which I like very much nice place overall
Thank you 👌👌
Thanks, Wayne. Always nice to go "home," even if it was just your last home and not exactly original home. Big difference between the mall there and the huge ones in CM. A former airport runway looks like a nice place to walk or run.
Cheers Randy, it's nice to be back in Chiang Rai.
Took a spin down the old runway on the start of a north Thailand cycling tour. They have a similar setup in Kailua Kona on the big island of Hawaii and it's right on the beach. As a retired pilot I love old decommissioned airfields and when the time comes, my ashes are going to be dumped on the numbers of a runway somewhere. Not soon I hope!
edit: appreciate the location pins
Hi, thanks for the great comment, I enjoyed reading. I hope you can cycle many more great places before that time comes. Thanks again.
First the vendor girl then came nurse looking forward for the third thumbnail man.
Probably back to boring old me buddy, but you never know 🤣
It's interesting to see the reaction from locals when you mention the "changes in 7 years ". May as well have said 70 years! Chiang Rai city itself doesn't really float my boat either, yes, the walking street market is ok. Shopping malls are also pretty much the same everywhere. Can definitely recommend a ride out to Chiang Saen Wayne.
Yes mate, the locals didn't really think much had changed. No Chiang Saen this time buddy, maybe another time. Cheers Lars 👌
That looks like a cool place to run Wayne. I've been a few times in Chiang Rai and I never knew about this airport. Thanks!
Hey man, yes the old airport is a great area of Chiang Rai , lots of people in the evenings. Hope all is well mate, wherever you are in the world 👍
Another good one Wayne, cheers
Thanks buddy 👍
Great vlog Wayne. It's nice to go back to places and reminisce about the old times.. It's good for the soul!! Keep 'em coming mate.
Cheers Paul mate. Yes, it's great to be back and remembering old times. More on the way buddy.
Great 😊 video!!
Cheers girls 👌
You don't need to find old girlfriend, you found Bovy 555
Bovy was really nice, great girl 👌
She was very attentive and friendly. It's difficult to find that in the west.
Hi Wayne looks nice and chilled there ,looks more peaceful than changmai
Hi Julie, yes Chiang Rai is a more relaxed place but it still has the small city feel. It's perfect really.
Great blog like always mate chiang rai is a great city.
Cheers David! Yes, great to be back in Chiang Rai.
It’s all looking good mate - gee the mall is very modern - nice work 👌👍👋😎🙏
Cheers Ant mate 👍
Nice place Wayne.Thank you..
Thanks for watching 👌
great video Wayne Chiang rai and northern Thai in general is fab place to live
Cheers mate! Yes, I agree, great area to live.
Thank you for showing us around Wayne. CR is very different to when I was there which was a long time ago. Nice one 😃👍🏼
Cheers Kashif! It feels a little different for me also. 👍
@@WalkAboutWayne I think the only thing that hasn't changed for me is the clock tower. Thank you 😃👍🏼
Everyway looks clean and tidy Wayne
Nice and clean city mate 👌
Pity you didn't come across the old girlfriend Wayne. I love that excitement of anticipation to the person's reaction. Anyhow the girl you did actually talk to was quite nice. It's always fun returning to old stomping grounds and reminiscing mate. Excellent video. In your intro above may need to amend local Chiang Mai Mall to local Chiang Rai Mall. Cheers man . 🤩
I did find out where she was working though, but I didn't;t bother going to see. Bovy was a great girl. Nice one for letting me know about the description mistake mate, I've changed it. I was saying Chiang Mai in the video also haha.
I was in the mall yesterday afternoon to pick up a few things but didn't see you. We now have two Big Cs and a few new DIY places like Home Pro and Global. So much has changed over the last seven years. It would take you weeks to catch up on all the new and amazing stuff we have now.
Shame I didn't see you around the city, I bumped into a few people. Yes, the city seems to have expanded a bit since 7 years a go. It's good to see Chiang Rai moving and expanding. Still my favorite place. Thanks mate.
Well, I see you're new "Boby" dazzler!!!! I think you might stick around Chiang Rai a bit longer 😉
Really enjoying your road trip.
Thanks
🤣 Thanks mate.
7 years later, quite reminiscent, keep buzzing, Wayne
Buzzing to be back mate 👍
@@WalkAboutWayne absolutely, I've just made it back to Malaysia from Brighton. To create my sec home here
Hello Wayne, i liked the vlog mate Chiang Rai looks a bit special, i could live there no problem and that mal was good. hope you will do more vlogs on the city.
Cheers Brett, hope the vlogging is going well mate 👍
@@WalkAboutWayne Thanks Wayne, i am really enjoying the vlogging mate lots of fun doing it.
I have stayed at pim man many times before covid. Can't wait to get back hopefully early next year. Good memories.
Nice one! Although Pimann is old, I still really like it, it's a nice base to stay. Thanks 👍
I love a bit of Chiang Rai, and I sense you really like Bovy, 👍I went there this January wish I had longer time to stay there
It's a great city! Bovy was a nice girl 👌. Thanks Leila.
I like this city
It's a great city
@@WalkAboutWayne i agree and the people there a bit more laid back than in Chiang Mai or Pattaya or Bangkok
You waffle away Wayne (could be an alternative moniker to walk about Wayne there🤣), it's entertaining! I'm enjoying your look at Chiang Rai cos it's different from most other vlogs about the place, it does seem like a nice vibe away from the centre.
Thanks Tanya 🤣. Chiang Rai is a great place 👌👌
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You're at the old airport and across from the golf course. You can still go through even though it's a one way 😅
Yep 👍
Bovy Dazzler mate . Places change so quickly , you just got to find a new gem . No good being all nostalgic .
Never new about that old runway area . First time I went CR i was on real budget .Found a 6' X 4' wooden shoe box for 150 or 200 . I paid but never did go through the hatch door , dumped my gear inside & found something liveable 😊
🤣 Bovy Dazzler! That's a good one. Cheers mate 👍
Nice Thanks Wayne! Maybe Chiang Rai is now what Chiang Mai use to be when it was quieter/less populated eh?
Cheers Mike! Yes, Chiang Rai does remind me of a smaller chilled out Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai has everything you need in a compact city.
Yes you can go through there, I always passed there😅😅😅😅
No cars I think. That sign never use to be there though. Cheers.
That road motor bikes can get through except cars.
Nice one buddy 👍
Bovy seems a nice lady Wayne you could ask her out for a coffee ☕️ seems very nice enjoying your vlog Wayne
She was a great girl and loved being on camera.
Good video Chang Rai is a great place, you have to love Thailand No entry sign means no entry but if you really want to then ok you can 😃😁
If you were feeling a bit under the weather just seening nurse Bobby would make you feel a lot better 😎👍
Cheers mate! Chiang Rai is a great place. Someone mentioned the no entry was for cars only, so the bike was ok 👍 Bovy was a great girl 👌
G'day Wayne,
Are there many new apartment buildings around that you’ve noticed compared to several years ago?
You should check out Chiang Rai beach while you're up there. I’ve heard they have done some work there to make it a nicer place to spend time.
I'm surprised you spent so much time with your arsh on a old airport runway without doing a cheeky ""Touching down from...."
Hey mate, I was hoping to go back to the beach but it was hammering down with rain on the day I was going. I use to go there and it wasn't much, but a nice place to chill. I didn't know they had done it up though. Haha, yeah that would have been the perfect touchdown opportunity. Why didn't I think of it haha. Cheers man.
@WalkAboutWayne You can do the touching down next time you visit the Rai mate. Would be a good way to start the video. 👍
The lass in the mall was cute Wayne. I was the only farang there one Sat night at the markets 10yrs ago. How's Lucille? Safe travels🙏
Bovy is a hit with the viewers, she was a nice girl. Lucille in desperate need of a service but she's still ticking along mate 👍
Wayne, what recent video showed a rental in Chiang Mai that was a separate one bedroom house, (not a hut), very small, part of a hotel, with a self serve breakfast?
Hi Larry, I can't think of that video mate?? 1 bedroom house , part of a hotel with breakfast hmmmm. If I think of it, I'll let you know.
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Can you at some point go to tachileik, Burma? For maybe a day or something 🙏 if you did that’d be a nice wildcard
Not much happening at the border . I doubt if I'll be going there anytime soon. Sorry.
Looks like a nice place, wonder what the cost of living is like there.. happy holidays Wayne 👍
Far more expensive than the rest of rural Thailand... that is for sure! Too many farang being the obvious problem!
Still very cheap! Rural towns will always be cheaper but CR is still cheap. 👍
@@WalkAboutWayne Still too many farang though Wayne... not half as bad as CM, Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket... but personally speaking, I didn't come to Thailand to live around tourists and other westerners! The North of Thailand is fine but the South has just about everything... including two never ending coastlines, rainforest and numerous mountain ranges/parks! I pay 78 quid pm for a 1-2 bedroom (very) detached house with free pumped water from an astonishing mountain river in the foothills of a National Wildlife park, around 1km walk from an 11km deserted beach! Now that's what I call 'cheap'... and paradise too of course!
@@nativeseedbank-thailand I dunno about that buddy. Chiang Rai is mainly older expats just floating around. Tourists come to look at the temple but none stick around too long in CR I don't think.
Everyone to their own though, some people like north and some down south. Sounds like you have a great life down south, sounds amazing. The North has always been for me, but I've not really properly explored the south, so maybe I would like it
.
Thanks mate.
I'm having a trip down memory lane too! But I lived there back in 2005! A lot has changed since then I bet.
I'd like to see how the bar area has changed - see if I notice anything that's still the same!...LOL.
Yes, things have changed but still the Chiang Rai I know. I have a night vlog on the channel, where I have a brief walk down the bar area.
Nice small town vibes but certainly looks busier than Phayao but not as busy as Chiang mai. What made you choose to live in Chiang Mai over Chiang Rai.
Yes, I would say Chiang Rai is in the middle of both Chiang Mai and Phayao. My plan was to always come back to Chiang Rai when I was older. Chiang Mai has a few more things going on and all my friends was in Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai has always been my favorite though.
From my inquiry so far, if I ever land in Thailand, it will be in Chiang Rai. I would just need to be close to good economical shopping, and local organic produce. I wonder if I have what it takes to sell most everything off to gain my wings. I wonder how much I could or should take with me? Gaining material goods has not made me happy, or fulfilled me, though they do burden me. My Vitamix blenders seem useful, and my bicycle, and I could have a box shipped easy enough, I'd imagine.
I'm thinking the same, organic local food, good weather, gym, ninja blender hahaha. Cheaper cost of living
If you ever come across anything which is not organic in rural Thailand I would be surprised... synthetic western 'growth' chemicals have never been required here... hopefully they never will be!
I would ditch everything, just bring the blender. Sell the bike, not worth the travel hassle, buy a nice bike here. Chiang Rai is a great option.
You CAN go down there if you’re on a motorbike.
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If i go chiang rai end of march or april is it good the weather??
Smokey
That golf course is 9 hole, old military course. Cheap but nothing special. Santiburi or Waterford is where to go
Cheers for the info Steve 👍
I stopped the video at the small road sign to comment that it only forbids cars and you could have gone through on your scooter. Another example of why you should put more effort into learning Thai. It is never too late.
Haha, yes someone mentioned in the comments that the sign said, only bikes. Luckily I was ok then. I think reading Thai would be even harder for me 🤣. Thanks mate.
I thinkBobby lub you !
She was a great girl, very friendly.
I am Bobby the dazzler. The girls love little Bobby and his 3" long timer.
Double that at least boyo 👌
Meant 3 minutes.
6:44 Cute Talking Babe
She was really nice 👌🏻
Get up to pu chi fa if Lucille can make it😂
Lucille will make it anywhere mate, not sure about me though 🤣
Ok Wayne, so Chiang Rai would appeal to who….someone that prefers a smaller city than Chiang Mai ?
I would say yes, you hit the nail on the head. Chiang Rai is a smaller and less touristy version of Chiang Mai. Tourists come here to see the white temple etc etc, but I feel they don't stick around, like they do in Chiang Mai. If Chiang Mai is a bit to much for some people, Chiang Rai is the answer.
I think she wanted your phone number Wayne, not your youtube channel 😅
She might have got it 😉
@@WalkAboutWayne 😉
@@WalkAboutWayne What happened to the search for the old gf? 555
@@Mikeasian Nothing happened, I didn't find her, as I put in the video 👍
Interested in golfcourse in Chiang Rai
Santiburi is the best in N Thailand. Waterford Valley is also good
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Haha yeah I imagine the thais don’t walk around in the middle of the day because as the song goes: Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun 😉
A few Scots and Irish too 👌
Phi Chi Fa
Cool place 👍
I hope that you gave Bovy your line address, me thinks she likes you 😂😂😂
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An innocent question only. Why were you looking for an old girlfriend when you had a very beautiful nurse right next to you?...😂😂
Take it easy man, take it easy...❤
Good point Alberto 🤣🤣
Mad dogs and Englishmen
And a few Scots
Fluff my life how many times are you going down...or not any more....scratched record even by your standards.
Probably a few more , I love a good old scratch record, I was a DJ for 30 years 👍. Cheers for enjoying the vlog 👌
Chiang Rai is a very peaceful and pleasant city but the main drawback is the pollution during the dry season due the controlled fires used by the farmers .
That's not Chiang Rai specific though, most of the north is covered. In fact, most of the country was covered this year. It's a very peaceful city yes!. Thanks
Yeah... all that 'pollution'... generations have been doing it for thousands of years too... some enlightened western intellectual should now put a stop to it right?
Land of masks - what a depressing dystopia has become
They love a good mask 👍
@@WalkAboutWayne There is nothing good about masks - completely rips the soul out of the place