Swammerdami
Squadron Leader
I recently moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand. This is a major tourist destination; so Infidels may visit often. Message me and we'll meet for coffee, lunch or beer.
It might be fun to have a thread for questions and comments about Chiang Mai. But first: What is Chiang Mai? Chiang Mai Province is the largest in area of Thailand's 77 provinces — it's about the size of New Jersey — but I'm speaking of Chiang Mai City. The Province is divided into 25 districts, one of which is called, variously, Central District, Chiang Mai District, or Chiang Mai City District. The Chiang Mai municipality is a subset of that District. At List of municipalities in Thailand see that Chiang Mai city is shown with 122,000 population and ranks only #8 among the Kingdom's cities. WHAT? Chiang Mai is called Thailand's second-largest city — what's the #8 ranking with only 122,000 people?? Another webpage shows Chiang Mai as #7 with 200,000 population. What's the deal? Don't the Thais do censuses?
The Chiang Mai "urban area" includes parts of several other districts, for a total population of 1.2 million. We live in Chiang Mai City District itself but still wouldn't be counted in the city population for three reasons:
Anyway, the parts of the City closest to the center may be most interesting. I've attached a map of the Old City of Chiang Mai, official population about 14,000 within the central square. Chiang Mai means "New City", and "Old City" refers to the original "New City" built 730 years ago.
With some cities you might want to avoid the center when driving from one side of the city to the other, but I usually just head for the clockwise road which circumnavigates the Old City. That road has a west-bound segment to the South almost exactly one mile long; a north-bound segment to the West also a mile long, and east-bound and south-bound segments, a mile each. Just inside the clockwise road is a moat, dredged 700 years ago to keep the Burmese out; then a wall (mostly missing now), then a counter-clockwise road, each segment about 0.95 miles. Those roads have no traffic lights (except for pedestrian assistance)and I find them very convenient: Going to the Night Bazaar from the SW corner of the Old City, head north on Clockwise road, make a U-turn to the counterclockwise road, follow it until you're northbound on the East segment, then make another U-turn onto clockwise road.
Driving in Chiang Mai is an experience. Give a big round of applause to Chiang Mai drivers — I find it amazing there are so few accident.s.
I'll write more if there's interest.
Google said:Chiang Mai in northern Thailand is a popular location for expats, retirees, and digital nomads, who are tempted by the ease of living and the blend of familiar and exotic. It has everything you need, from cinemas and shopping malls to international cuisine, but it's not a bland Westernised city.
It might be fun to have a thread for questions and comments about Chiang Mai. But first: What is Chiang Mai? Chiang Mai Province is the largest in area of Thailand's 77 provinces — it's about the size of New Jersey — but I'm speaking of Chiang Mai City. The Province is divided into 25 districts, one of which is called, variously, Central District, Chiang Mai District, or Chiang Mai City District. The Chiang Mai municipality is a subset of that District. At List of municipalities in Thailand see that Chiang Mai city is shown with 122,000 population and ranks only #8 among the Kingdom's cities. WHAT? Chiang Mai is called Thailand's second-largest city — what's the #8 ranking with only 122,000 people?? Another webpage shows Chiang Mai as #7 with 200,000 population. What's the deal? Don't the Thais do censuses?
The Chiang Mai "urban area" includes parts of several other districts, for a total population of 1.2 million. We live in Chiang Mai City District itself but still wouldn't be counted in the city population for three reasons:
- That district contains ten other municipalities distinct from Chiang Mai; we live in one of those.
- My family is still registered in our old Province. Many Thais stay in a new province for many years without ever changing their address registration. This may be especially true for renters, for whom the re-registration paperwork might be very tedious.
- I don't think I would appear in ANY official population counts anyway, because I am an alien.
Anyway, the parts of the City closest to the center may be most interesting. I've attached a map of the Old City of Chiang Mai, official population about 14,000 within the central square. Chiang Mai means "New City", and "Old City" refers to the original "New City" built 730 years ago.
With some cities you might want to avoid the center when driving from one side of the city to the other, but I usually just head for the clockwise road which circumnavigates the Old City. That road has a west-bound segment to the South almost exactly one mile long; a north-bound segment to the West also a mile long, and east-bound and south-bound segments, a mile each. Just inside the clockwise road is a moat, dredged 700 years ago to keep the Burmese out; then a wall (mostly missing now), then a counter-clockwise road, each segment about 0.95 miles. Those roads have no traffic lights (except for pedestrian assistance)and I find them very convenient: Going to the Night Bazaar from the SW corner of the Old City, head north on Clockwise road, make a U-turn to the counterclockwise road, follow it until you're northbound on the East segment, then make another U-turn onto clockwise road.
Driving in Chiang Mai is an experience. Give a big round of applause to Chiang Mai drivers — I find it amazing there are so few accident.s.
I'll write more if there's interest.