| Chaig Mai - Mar 02 |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Administrator | |
| Friday, 25 April 2008 15:14 | |
|
And so we have been here in Chiang Mai for 2 1/2 months now. And, judging from the number of expat residents, this is what happens to people who come to Chiang Mai: we come and we stay. The climate is pretty mild (except in April): in the winter it actually gets cool at night; now we are in a rather cool and pleasant rain season which will last till October; the town is lovely: big enough to have everything in it, and yet small enough to have no big city problems (such as crime or traffic); there are many old houses and temples; ruins; gardens; the mountains and a national park are just a few kilometers away; there are a few hot spring resorts nearby; and a few hill stations; the accomodation in and around town and restaurants are excellent, varied, and cheap; there is a large Taiwanese Chinese community and a large Japanese community; there is easy internet access, cable channels from all over the world (NHK, TV5, Deutsche Welle, BBC...), bookstores with a good selection of books and magazines from abroad; the university library has a large selection of scholarly works (big section in philosophy of mind!); in June they hold The European Film Festival; in March there is a Thai arts festival; there is a readers theater groups (in english); and Thais are friendly and non-confrontational. It is a good life. There are estimated 20,000 foreign residents in a population of 200,000: mostly retirees, but also many self-employed -- mainly in foreign trade, education, and the arts. Some of them are actually interesting people to meet. Ergo, it is a good life. And it has cost us rather less than $1,000 a month. So now you know why we all come -- and stay. I think we will be here for a while yet. Alas, visas are a problem, and we have to leave every three months. So, tomorrow we are going to Singapore for a few days, to straighten out the visa situation and see a few concerts, maybe shop for shoes. Then back to Bangkok to see Khon on June 8th and 9th. Then we come back here and try to settle in for the next three months, while yours truly thinks, reads and writes, and his wife does the former two plus takes care of her husband. I will report all when we get back. |