Chiang Mai, my new home town?

Well after a year in Cuenca, Ecuador I’ve hit the road again and I am back in the Land of Flip-flops.  I wasn’t unhappy in Cuenca; in fact I was quite content.  The cost of living was low; the climate was perfect for me (72 degrees almost every day), I had great friends in the expat community and an easy flight to the States which made it a really great place to be an expat. The only problem for me was the altitude (8,300 Ft) …..I was always short of breath.  So after a year of being settled I am on the road again and have landed in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Now some of you may remember that last year when I was in South East Asia I may have complained a little bit about the heat and seemed a little disgruntled (OK a lot) but I am telling myself that it was because I was in culture shock. Last year I had just sold all my stuff…..a lifetimes worth of furniture, art, books, oriental rugs, china, crystal and had headed off to the Developing World. Now after a year and a half of living in Third World countries I’ve grown pretty tolerant of the problems and setbacks associated with such places. So I am in Chiang Mai and I’m still hot but I’m not disgruntled.

When I started checking out places to move to in 2010 this is one of the places that were on the short list. I opted for Cuenca due to the climate and the proximity to the United States but now that I have spent some time here I see that it has its own charm that transcends weather and location.

The city, which is over 700 years old, has everything an expat could want……good food, culture, history, good medical facilities, easy access to all of Asia, beautiful scenery and lovely people. Because of its location in the Northern Highlands it is cooler than Bangkok and less humid.  Located 435 miles north of Bangkok it is situated in a scenic valley surrounded by mountains.  Small villages surrounding the city still produce arts and crafts…… weaving, pottery, wood carving, furniture making, paper umbrellas and clothing are but a few of the many traditional crafts still produced.

I will post regularly, both photographs and writings, to share with you what I discover. Together we can explore life in Chiang Mai and the surrounding towns in Northern Thailand. I will also be traveling to the neighboring countries in the months to come……so come along for the journey.