Welcome to
www.chiangmai-thai.com
Your Complete Website All About Chiang
Mai, Thailand
Introduction :
"Sawatdi Jao" is what you will
hear when coming to Chiangmai, the old capital city of the
Lanna Kingdom. Dating back more than 700 years, Chiangmai, the
second largest metropolitan, next to Bangkok was originally
name "Nopburi Srinakornping Chiangmai"
meaning the new city. Chiangmai is not one stop town. Once
experience its charm, many will definitely want to have a
second stay or perhaps even settle down here. Chiangmai is a
city of distinct beauty that has its own cultural heritage.
Known also as the "ROSE OF THE NORTH" Its alone draw much
tourist attention. Along with its numerous ancient temples and
building, Chiang Mai is also famous for its handicrafts.
Nature has made it stand out, thanks to the majestic mountains
and valleys and its beautiful scenery: hills, mountain
streams, lakes, field, waterfalls, caves, hill tribe villages,
orchid, butterfly farms, elephant camps & trekking tours and
river rafting expeditions. Chiangmai also offers a good base
to visit Chiangrai, which like Chiangmai derives its beauty
from its majestic mountains and hill tribe culture. There is
also a National museum in Chiangmai. Mysteries are here
waiting for your discovery. No Wonder tourists keep coming...
What are those people
comment about their experiences in Chiang mai, Thailand. Here are
some of the them:
I've
been to your lovely country many times and as my wife is Thai we
can't wait until we move back for good to live up north in Chiang
Mai. Your country is full of very friendly smiling people, beautiful
scenery, great temples and the food, wow!! Love everything about
Thai culture and Thailand.
I spent
my childhood in Mae Sarieng. I attended the local school for four
years. Later my wife and I lived and worked in Chiang Mai for
several years. There is nothing like the night train from Bangkok
and waking up in the northern misty morning. The night market and
the honey chicken restaurant were always favorites for us. I plan to
take my family back someday!
Chiang
Mai is exciting, with many things to do and experience. I stayed
there for 3 months during which I met some of the most interesting
people, and saw some beautiful sights. I'm 19 years old and the trip
really opened up my eyes, I'll be going back there soon.
I been
to chiang mai on my own in November 2000 ,where I met my fellow
country man opening a orphanage there with his family. It was near
loy kratong when I last visited C.M.i also saw people buying huge
lantern (kohm) to fired up to the sky and sometime it almost hit
the plane going to land in the airport.
I also visited doi inthanon ,there were some hill tribe living there
working for the government .I headed to Mae Sai to look for my
friend after that Mae Sai ,a busy amphoe or town with a gems market
and also get to see Burmese crossing border all day coming to trade
or do business. my friend than brought me to several places on her
Honda dream. we travel to sop ruak in Chiang Saen (golden triangle)
but it turn out to be a tourist zone with souvenir stall or around.
also been to doi tung where beautiful flower of different colors
grow together. there are still place I yet to go like Mae Hon son,
pai, nan, prae, umphang (tee-lor su water fall) other place I been
to were kanchanaburi, ayuthaya, burirum, chanthanaburi, khorat,
chiang rai
Wat
Phra That Doi Suthep This temple is Chiang Mai's most important and
visible landmark, and overlooks the city from its forested mountain
backdrop. It is 15 kilometers from town, 3,520 feet above sea level,
and dates from 1383. The temple is approached on foot by climbing a
steep staircase comprising 290 steps. The less energetic may ascend
by funicular rail cars. The temple's golden pagoda contains holy
Buddha relics, and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from all over the
world throughout the year.
I
enjoy reading about Nakhonsawan, I have never read anything negative
about this wonderful and quiet part of Thailand. My wife is from the
Chumsaeng area, and I enjoy going to what I think is the most
peaceful place on earth.
Nongkrajao is like going back in time, where you can wake up in the
morning and besides the birds and the buffalo making noise, you hear
nothing. I am reminded of going to the field in the military, then
the first engine starts up and you are back in reality. In
Nongkrajao, there is no engine starting and you just remain at pea
Chiang
Mai is certainly my favorite city in Thailand. I lived there for
over three years, studying ไทย and then teaching English at various
language schools. It was such a joy to get to know many people so
well. Not having been to Chiang Mai for 2 years now, I wonder how
their lives have changed.
I'm planning to return to Thailand soon and I hope to see many
friends again at that time. I've traveled to most parts of
Thailand, but I have to say that คนเชียงใหม่ are the friendliest.
The
mountains were a great escaper from the heat of the city. The
people were so friendly in the hilltribe villages I visited. Do your
best to move away from the usual tourist trail.
In the
summer months, northern Thailand is the best place to head to escape
the heat of the central plains. The landscape and people in the
north are so different to the rest of Thailand that I would suggest
everyone should include time for Chiang Mai as well as Bangkok on
their holiday in Thailand
My 14
days in Chiang mai were really fun. I found a 7 Eleven everywhere.
The taxi rides were cool, but the tuk tuk rides were better. They
drive so crazy. Lots of fresh air
The
Doi Tung Royal Villa (It's also titled the Mae Fah Luang Foundation,
am I right?) in Mae Sai was one the most beautiful places I've
visited. Although cameras are prohibited and you have to adhere to
strict dress codes, (yes, I wore a baseball hat but had to take it
off just to enter the palace...out of respect for the late Princess
Mother I suppose...) but believe me, it's worth it just to drool
over the glamorous interiors of the palace as well as the gorgeous
gardens surrounding it. It's very much like a Swiss winter-ski kind
of resort, the only thing lacking are the Alps I guess...Plus
there's a gigantic Thai alphabet wood-carving on one of the walls,
so that visitors can pick up a bit of Thai there as well, I
reckon...
In
1999 I went to Thailand with a friend for a roundtrip trough the
middle and north off Thailand with a group. I have experienced the
country and the people as very friendly and beautiful. In Chiang mai
I felt comfortable. So in 2001 I went to Chiang mai for 4 months. It
had a tremendous impact on my being. I went to a school to learn
Thai language and met Thai people. Now I am again studying on this
website and want to well prepared when I go to Thailand (Chiang mai)
again. Thailand has so much to offer that I will probably go there,
whenever possible, and explore Thailand from north to south and from
west to east.
Early
this year, on our fourth visit to Chaing Mai, we went up into the
mountains to see the Mhong tribe New Year festival and wooden cart
racing. Six thousand people there and just eleven Europeans and
Australians. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. One of the
highlights of my life!!
I am
particularly fond of Chiang Mai and its surrounding area which I
last visited earlier this year. It is a region of great beauty with
especially warm and friendly people. While I could mention many
highlights from my visits, on this post I’ll just share the
following experience as being among the more unusual and
unforgettable for an ole’ guy from the USA.
After a full day of activity my Thai companions from the local area
and I relaxed for a while viewing some beautiful gardens and then
stopping for dinner at a roadside open-air restaurant along the
waterway near the university. At that restaurant I had the most
unique experience of catching and eating live shrimp as they jumped
out of a bowl which was placed on the table. The shrimp were soaking
in a kind of cold brine with fresh herbs which they obviously didn’t
like very much since they did their best to jump out of the bowl
whenever the top was removed. My companions took real delight in
watching this farang attempt for the first time to enjoy this local
delicacy, among the other food served that evening. To tell the
truth, the shrimp were fairly tasty, once I got the hang of catching
them as they “flew” by. We all had a lot of laughs during a most
enjoyable evening!
The
annual boat races in Nan in October are an unusually interesting
event, and there are very few foreign tourists present. There are a
couple of very adequate hotels, and plenty of nice restaurants.
I
married a Chiengmai girl forty years ago, and unfortunately lost her
to cancer twenty years ago, but Chiengmai is still very close to my
heart, and I have visited as often as I have been able, at least
once a year. I am now of an age where I begin to wonder how many
times more will I make the journey to the place I hold so dear, and
the friends and family I have there, now spanning three generations.
I am particularly fond of Doi Intanon and it's environs, and usually
try to visit around Songkran for the fun and games and for the
festivals that follow Songkran in Chomtong. I love Chiengmai, I love
the people that live there
My
mum is from Chiang Mai. People they are awesome! Friendly and kind.
I miss Chiang Mai so much!
I
have been to Chiang Mai for 2 weeks (October. 2004) and I have to
say only that: -fantastic!!!!!!!
I'm listening to Thai radio stations -on line, every day.
------------
Chiang Mai is my home, I love living here. I also love getting to
the places overlooked by the tourists.
1. If you are reasonably fit then take a bike tour down the back of
Doi Pui with Chiang Mai Mountain Biking Adventures, they supply all
the kit but (apart from this unintentional plug) it is a brilliant
experience to be truly in the jungle careering down the mountain for
20kms winding through plantations, splashing through rivers and
enjoying brilliant views. I do this route at least once a month and
seldom see anyone else up there and remind myself how much everyone
is missing out.
2. Another great trip is to hire a motorbike and head out to the Mae
SA Valley, but (get a map - the GT Riders Mae Hong Son Loop map is
best) and head for Tad Mork Waterfall - it's a brilliant ride
through rural lands, not busy and after the falls continue on a loop
up to the hill tribe villages and down the other side to the Mae Sa
valley and Botanical gardens (another good tip).
For sundowners, head to the Blue Bat bar on the 22nd floor of the
Porn Ping Hotel, this is the best view in the city.
----------
3.
Another oft overlooked site which makes a great photo is the giant
Buddha on a hill southwest of the city at Wat Doi Kham. Soon the
Night Safari will be opening near it's base and you can follow the
signs there.
The
Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens are really beautiful! I've
just been there recently, taking many picture. For nature-lovers,
one day is not even enough to explore it all! We spent all day in
the glasshouse section, marveling over rainforests, lotus ponds, and
amazing displays of orchids, lilies, ferns and cactus plants. Can't
miss this one!
How about the San Kamphaeng Hot Springs? Have you been there
yet? It's very nice too. There are a couple of hot geysers; a bit
smaller than the ones in Yellowstone in California, but still
impressive - and more "faithful", lol. There
is also foot massage and a small garden on the premises.
The Chiang Dao National Park is also worth a visit - or more,
if you are a naturalist or scientist. The
large waterfall is the main attraction of the park, but I also liked
the teeming wildlife that's not easily found at other such places.
The above information and
comment are extracted from some the forum on Chiang Mai, Thailand.
DOS:
>Do get used to Thais arriving for their appointments half an hour
late, most of the country’s watches are ‘defunct’.
>Do tuck your feet in, the person sat opposite does not need to view
what you have just been treading in.
>Do understand that Thais have a tender fondness for uniforms, they
just love getting dressed up.
>Do realize that Thais just adore receiving awards, they are even
given for just being born.
>Do have patience, the Thais don’t exactly enjoy having to listen to
your waffling complaints all day long.
>Do take off your shoes when entering a house, unlike in the west;
the Thais don’t need to see the remains of dog waste all over their
floors.
>Do, as a Farang girl, wear a bra, the Thai women are a little
sensitive about having to see such things ‘wobble’ about.
>Do, as a paying customer, understand that sales-girls prefer doing
their make-up to serving you, beauty is of the upmost importance
here, unlike 'you'.
>Do, as a foreign man looking for a Thai girlfriend, take your time
and find a ‘decent’ one, Thais think us Farang guys have an awful
sense of taste.
>Do, as a Farang baby, get used to having your cheek pinched 1,000
times a day and being told “Such a cutey little baby”, most of the
girls would like to have one – just like you!
>Do understand that Thais have an infatuation for plastic bags, the
sales-girls will even give you one for putting your chewing gum in.
>Do get used to Thais ‘jumping the queue’, they can wait 3 years for
the first kiss from their boyfriends, but having to wait just 30
seconds in a queue at 7-11 is just unbearable.
>Do get used to using straws, after you have seen the state of most
of bottle tops you will understand why.
>Do give up your seat to a schoolkid on the bus, as for the old man,
just let him stand.
>And finally, do learn a few words of Thai, how would you feel if a
Chinese guy did nothing but waffle on to you in ‘his’ own lingo in
your home country.
Dont’s:
>Don’t go smooching your loved one in the middle of the street,
Thais prefer performing such personal 'activity' in the privacy of
ones room.
>Don’t use a fork to stick plain rice in your mouth, would your
mother enjoy having to witness a foreigner use a knife to eat a
potato in her country?
>Don’t even bother complaining about the daily noise pollution, if
you like a bit of peace and quiet you may as well stay at home.
>Don’t go patting you friend on the head, Thais are a little
sensitive about such things.
>Don't even begin thinking of discussing literary classics with the
locals, the whole country is only besotted by cartoon books.
>Don’t, as a Farang employer, bother screaming at your office girls
for eating 'khanom' and chatting on MSN all day, anyway what can you
expect on their miserly salaries?
>Don’t, as a Farang guy on wanting to marry a Thai misunderstand
Thai tradition, do instead understand that a dowry or at least just
showing one is part of the culture, no need to feel that you are
always being ‘ripped-off’.
>Don’t, as a Farang girl, wear hotpants to the temple, you don’t
need the monks breaking out in a sweat
>Don’t, as a Farang wanting to live here, even bother complaining to
the officials in charge about the endless paperwork, they just love
collecting forms and looking at them a thousand times.
>Don’t bother telling any of your ‘mother-in-law’ to the locals,
Thais prefer comedy to the likes of a ladyboy falling off a chair.
>Don’t get paranoid at being cheated all the time, not all the Thais
are out to ‘scam’ the Farang tourist of his dollars.
>And finally, don't feel insulted at having to hear the likes of
"Hey you" and "Where you go man" from the nation's tuk-tuk and taxi
drivers, do understand they've never learnt English at school.
Again ( for the seventh time) all is just a bit of fun and not to be
taken too seriously. Can you think of anymore?
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For
further information all about Chiang Mai Thailand, kindly
contact:
TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND (TAT) Northern Office: Region One
105/1 Chiangmai - Lamphun Road, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai 50000
Tel: (66 53) 248 604, 248 607 and 241 466. Fax: (66 53) 248 605
Email: tatcnx@samart.co.th
Website:
www.tat.or.th :
www.tourismthailand.org
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