I haven’t been blogging much about Chiang Mai because frankly, there are SO many travel blogs out there covering this city. I mean, it’s no secret that Chiang Mai, with its expat comforts and low cost of living, is a favorite base for not only travel bloggers but all sorts of writers and digital nomads.
I’m planning on living in Chiang Mai until Christmas, though I will also be making a few exciting trips around Southeast Asia, the first of which is coming up really soon!
But more on that later.
Here are some snapshots from my past few weeks in Chiang Mai, which have been filled with yummy street food, a lot of reading and writing, too many soccer games, and not quite as much rain as I had expected from rainy season:
Do you have a favorite?
Meg says
I love the photo of the chillies! You and that dog are pretty adorable as well 🙂
Silvia says
I’m in love with that dog and would totally try to smuggle it with me on my travels if I could!
Rebekah says
I’m so curious about this city. It seems to be the place to be. I hope to swing by there in a couple months and might use it as a base to travel from. It certainly looks pretty grand.
Silvia says
It really does make a great base, especially since it’s so cheap and relaxed. A great place to recharge. Let me know if you do make it over here!
Jameela Deen says
First of all, i keep wandering if there are any locals in Chiang Mai, as you said so many bloggers seem to have settled over there, you must all be bumping into each other… or is it a really big city? Is there any social gathering of bloggers, did you get to meet any bloggers you actually followed?
But then everyone seem to agree this is the perfect place to live. Is that true? The picture of your house (if that’s your house) certainly make me dream of a lovely life. Hope you’re happy there. Happy travels
Silvia says
Haha it does seem like the city should be overrun by expats! But actually most foreigners keep to two areas of the city, while in the rest of Chiang Mai I mostly just see Thai people. It’s nice because I can go to the tourist areas when I want to hang out with expats, but otherwise I can be around locals. The picture is actually of my friends’ house, about twenty minutes from the city, while I live in a small apartment in the city. It is a lovely life though 🙂
Justine says
I love the photo of the chillies drying in the sun. The colors are great. I’m actually super interested in hearing about expat life in Chiang Mai!! I’d love to read more 🙂
Silvia says
In that case maybe I should write up a post about life in Chiang Mai! I can imagine people being puzzled as to why so many foreigners choose it as a base.
Jo says
Love that dog! And the chillies are cool too. I only spent 24 hours in Chiang Mai, so I didn’t really get a great feel for the place, but it seemed nice. It was definitely a nice laid back change from Vietnam and Bangkok!
Silvia says
It’s definitely very relaxed here! I probably actually prefer Bangkok, but the slow pace in Chiang Mai makes it the perfect place to recharge and get work done.
Renuka says
Hi Silvia! I have just discovered your blog! It’s cool! 🙂 Chaing Mai looks like an interesting and vibrant city. I’m so glad you are going to live there until Christmas. True, it has already been written about a lot. But, I would like to explore it on my own someday. Thanks for the inspiration.
Silvia says
I do think Chiang Mai is so popular for a reason. It’s such a relaxing, easy place to live after having spent so many months traveling.
Matt says
I didn’t think of going to a soccer game when I was in Thailand, but it looks like fun! I’ll have to check one out next time I’m there.
Silvia says
You definitely should! They’re fun even if you’re not a huge sports fan, and a great chance to see locals getting rowdy!
Catherine says
Cute photos! Can’t believe the one of ‘suburbia’ is really Thailand – not what I envision when I think of South East Asia at all!
Silvia says
Right? It’s a community set around a bunch of artificial lakes so that all the homes have lake views. My friends share an adorable house there for 8,000 baht/mo, which is laughably cheap. Oh Thailand.
Alana - Paper Planes says
I love the chilies shot! And also, after living and working in Chiang Maifor three years there are still so many things I never wrote about – there are plenty more things to share about the city!
Silvia says
Haha, you’re right Alana. I forget that everyone else probably hasn’t spent quite so much time reading through Chiang Mai blogs as I have. I think it’s just weird transitioning from writing about backpacking to expat life. I’ll have to use your blog for inspiration!
Agness says
What a great idea for a photo gallery. Beautiful photos 🙂 They make me wanna go to Chiang Mai right now!!
Silvia says
Thanks, Agness! Maybe I’ll use this format more often. 🙂 I wish you would come to Chiang Mai right now!!
Gran Canaria Local says
Amazing photos. We always make it a priority to check out the local football stadium whenever we find ourselves in a new city or town. Looks like you’re the same.
Victoria@ The British Berliner says
I like the photo of the chillis and the tiny little house on the Thai prarie LOL! Yep! Chiang Mai is a haven for young people from the Northern Hemisphere. Happy Days!
Silvia says
Lol at Thai prairie! It totally is a haven 🙂