Anyone regretted having made the move to Chiang Mai?

[pluto]

After 14 yrs living outside Sin city(Pattaya), I feel its time for a change. Lots of ammenities, shopping, restaurants, health care, quick access to airport etc....BUT the other side wears real thin after a while, even with blinders on. I am not knocking it, had a great time and met some interesting characters but its' time to move on. I know life is a bit more laid back up North and what appeals to me is the scenery, motorcycle rides, trekking, reasonable rents and cost of living, sense of history, good infrastructure....The cons would be, far away from everything, hit and miss internet availibility, the burn/slash season, flooding(although Pattaya can hold its own on that). For those of you who have made the move and settled in CM., what are your pros and cons...any regrets ...what would you have done differently? Thanks for the input.

[sabaii sabaii]

After 14 yrs living outside Sin city(Pattaya

You mean living in Pattaya ?

Well your pro's are gonna be, No Russians, No Polluted Beach, No Crazy Expat Forum Owner with a Gun and a Drug Addled Nephew , Not so many low class scum coming there for a holiday of debauchery

Pro's- Cha Am has an airport and has a nicer climate, so I hear and some ladies

[Marmite the Dog]

Apart from the dreadful traffic and air pollution, CM is great.

[pluto]

After 14 yrs living outside Sin city(Pattaya

You mean living in Pattaya ?

Well your pro's are gonna be, No Russians, No Polluted Beach, No Crazy Expat Forum Owner with a Gun and a Drug Addled Nephew , Not so many low class scum coming there for a holiday of debauchery

Pro's- Cha Am has an airport and has a nicer climate, so I hear and some ladies

Yes but not in the city, 10km out of town....well it use to be out of town but the city has expanded.

Cha am???

[Bung]

The traffic - you just need to stay of the roads in peak hours and away from the city centre. It has a great system of ring roads to shoot away on. The air pollution? Well it is 2? months a year you want to plan your holidays / time away around then. Sorng Kran, forget that too, foking nightmare time if your are not into being a drunken juvenile.

Pro's? great countryside, great weather (apart from those 2 months) good selection of international food, nightlife, services. I've never had problem with the internet. International airport. Plenty of pretty, well educated ladies

I doubt you would miss Pattaya being here unless your a drunken whoremonger. But they cater to them here too!

[Thetyim]

what appeals to me is the scenery, motorcycle rides, trekking, reasonable rents and cost of living, sense of history,

You will find that in most northern cities.
If you need some nightlife then CM and possibly Chiangrai might suit you.
If the traffic and smoke bothers you then take a look at other cities before you make a decision.

[sabaii sabaii]

Cha am???

Sorry I meant Chiang Mai,

I've been staying in Cha Am, very quiet there, cheap to live, nice sea food, clean beach, hasn't had much rain either, nice fresh air compared to Bangkok, lots of nice expats, mostly Scandinavians. Lovely little place

[DrAndy]

what would you have done differently?

The cons would be, far away from everything, hit and miss internet availibility, the burn/slash season, flooding

yes, I would have done all those differently

dreadful traffic and air pollution

traffic is mostly no problem, country boy, but the air pollution is a big problem

it is all year round in the city, and worse when the burning starts in Feb/March

very unhealthy

[harrybarracuda]

what would you have done differently?

The cons would be, far away from everything, hit and miss internet availibility, the burn/slash season, flooding

yes, I would have done all those differently

dreadful traffic and air pollution

traffic is mostly no problem, country boy, but the air pollution is a big problem

it is all year round in the city, and worse when the burning starts in Feb/March

very unhealthy

As long as it's raining, the pollution isn't noticeable, but when it's hot in March and April, it can be acidic, throat and eye-burningly nasty!

[DrAndy]

even in December and January, the city pollution can be worse than Bangkok (official)

cycling around can be quite nasty on the bigger roads

[sabaii sabaii]

^ hmm, I didn't know that

[royston p]

lived here 7 yrs for me chiang mai has everything,bicycle tours moterbike rides all over the north,grub cheap,nightlife o.k but dont tell the mrs??

[xnazi]

its my hometown of choice now.....beats bkk

[DrAndy]

^ hmm, I didn't know that

well, even big fat hairy truckers know more than you

[sabaii sabaii]

^ haha, the Mrs is always asking to go there, for the fauna and coolish weather.

She will learn to love Pattaya one day

[DrAndy]

actually, it is quite a bit cooler, and the surrounding forests beautiful

even the city is a nice manageable size

Pattaya.....? what on earth are you doing there?

[Chairman Mao]

Moved to CM first when I moved here, then moved away. Kinda regret doing that. I'd say go for it. Tiz a great place. But then again, I can't imagine spending 14 yrs within spitting distance of Pattaya.

[pluto]

^^^Yeah, the years fly by mate!

[sabaii sabaii]

Pattaya.....? what on earth are you doing there?

Was a joke, mate

I like the quiet life nowadays, and Swedish meatballs (dont ask)

[DrAndy]

Was a joke, mate

black humour

[jizzybloke]

even in December and January, the city pollution can be worse than Bangkok FACT

Not too sure why but I had to do that!

[Stinky]

I stayed in CM for a few months and thought it to be the very nicest place I'd ever been to in Thailand, great people, pretty girls, great nightlife, easy to get up mountains on hot days. Best place in Thailand.

[DrAndy]

it is good, but if people keep saying so, it will get full of fools with no ideas

lots of other places have gone the same way

[Stinky]

Sigh, yes it'll soon be full of crass drunken Russians and chavs, it's a shame there's so fewer places for them to drown themselves in.

[BigRed]

Sorng Kran, forget that too, foking nightmare time if your are not into being a drunken juvenile.

anything has to be better than Song Kran in Pattaya