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• What is a good time to visit Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand?

  First published: 25 Mar 2011
  

  When should I visit northern Thailand and Chiang Mai is a very FAQ; there are pros and cons for each period of the year but before we go into that, let’s address a couple of common climate misconceptions, namely: 1. Chiang Mai and northern Thailand are cool (temperature-wise) and 2. The rainy season is a … read the full post

• Buying a book in Chiang Mai? Sounds straightforward but…

  First published: 23 Mar 2011
  

  I often get asked by visitors about bookstores in Chiang Mai, perhaps because a) it’s hard to choose from among the bewildering number of secondhand bookshops, b) it’s hard to find the decent new book shops or c) they’re looking for books in obscure, minority languages like French. Thailand is not like Vietnam or Cambodia, … read the full post

• Huay Tung Tao: Where to hang out in Chiang Mai on a sunny afternoon

  First published: 21 Mar 2011
  

  Huay Tung Tao — much loved by Chiang Mai locals and expats and regrettably little known by visitors — is a small artificial lake at the foot of Doi Suthep. The shallow lake’s good for swimming and the grassy banks are packed with picnic areas, drink and food stalls plus the views… are awesome. And … read the full post

• Chiang Mai’s famed khao soi: Where is the best bowl?

  First published: 17 Mar 2011
  

  One of Chiang Mai’s most famous contributions to Thai cuisine is khao soi, (or soy), noodle soup. The classic version combines two noodle varieties: flat wheat noodles, (tagliatelli-ish in form) and deep-fried crispy noodles, in a spicy coconut chicken curry. The soup is served with a slice of lime, roast chilli paste and pickled cabbage. … read the full post

• Chiang Mai daytrip: Wiang Khum Kham ancient city

  First published: 08 Mar 2011
  

  Just outside of downtown Chiang Mai, on the edge of the ‘super highway’, lie the recently excavated ruins of the ancient city of Wiang Khum Kham. The ruins themselves aren’t exactly spectacular – several brick temples and pagodas in fairly ruinous states – but it is a historically important site and a visit is made … read the full post

• Chiang Mai’s Saturday Walking Street market

  First published: 03 Mar 2011
  

  Although Chiang Mai’s Saturday Walking Street Market started up around the same period as the Sunday one, for some reason it’s never really caught on in the same way. The Sunday one down Ratchadamnoen Rd is laid out right through the centre of the old town, within spitting distance of most hotels and guesthouses and connecting … read the full post

• Eat & meet: Pasta Cafe

  First published: 24 Feb 2011
  

  Update January 2012: Taking over a successful restaurant, keeping the exact same menu, increasing prices and employing totally new kitchen and waiting staff doesn’t sound common business sense to us and the cliche ‘recipe for disaster’ springs to mind. Logically you keep at least a couple of key staff members to smooth over transition but … read the full post

• Wat Umong: A forest temple in the suburbs

  First published: 22 Feb 2011
  

  Definitely one of Chiang Mai’s most unusual and interesting temples, Wat Umong, (or ‘tunnel temple’ – umong meaning tunnel in Thai), is set in forested grounds near the foot of Doi Suthep. An artificial earth mound in the temple grounds covers a series of underground passageways whose purpose has never really been explained but which … read the full post

• Public transport in Chiang Mai

  First published: 22 Feb 2011
  

  Every Thai town has its public transport idiosyncrasies and Thailand’s northern capital of Chiang Mai, is no exception. Firstly, despite being one of the kingdom’s larger towns, there is no public bus service — well, there are a few buses, but not much of a service. Probably under pressure from the songthaew and tuk tuk … read the full post

• Chiang Mai Sunday Walking Street market

  First published: 22 Feb 2011
  

  There isn’t actually an official ‘walking street’ in Chiang Mai, but every Sunday the whole length of Ratchadamnoen and Pra Singh Roads, the old city’s principal east/west axis (see map), plus several side streets, are closed to traffic and become one long street bazaar, stretching all the way from Wat Pra Singh down to and … read the full post