Chiang Mai is a breath of fresh
air. No. That’s not exactly correct. After the hustle, bustle and sleaze of
Phuket Chiang Mai feels like a veritable gust of revitalising wind. It really
does soothe the soul to be in a place as authentic feeling as this.
Sure it’s still filled with
thousands of tourists. But the local people feel different. More genuine, less
corrupted. Even the tourists seem to be a different breed. The old men with
whores have given way to dreadlocked backpackers.* Interestingly, all the
westerners seem to be overwhelmingly less fat. And in direct contrast to the
Phuketians (is that a word? No.) hassling for Ping Pong shows, hookers and
sunglasses, the people of Chiang Mai seem to shine with warmth and happiness.
For me, the most striking
difference was simple. It didn’t feel like it had all been put on for us. There
was no shortage of tacky souvenirs at the markets and most restaurants sold
French Fried (sic) But there were almost as many Thais in the market as
tourists and we actually saw them buying food from the same places as us.
The city itself is achingly
beautiful, a perfect square encapsulated by a tree lined, free flowing river,
about twenty metres wide. Amble around the inner city and you’re guaranteed to
see countless Buddhist temples, Glistening with Gold from every angle.
Chiang Mai’s also the gateway to
some of the best adventure tourism in Thailand, Mountain biking, rafting,
trekking, inordinately huge flying foxes populated by monkeys, you’ll ind it
all there. But most of all I guess it’s a vibe thing. Chiang Mai is a pleasant
place to be.
*obviously not all of them were
dreadlocked. That would be ridiculous. Some were dreadlocked though, and sweeping
generalisations are kind of my thing.
Yes, see now I really want to be there! Sounds spectacular.
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