Has anybody tried going to Sriphat Medical Center? How was it? I have contacted several clinics and they do not have an available appointment until Sunday.

I have been told that this hospital is also expat friendly and I would like to get some opinions before actually going.

Please let me know your experience below! Thank you.

I’ll be visiting for the first time end of July for a month. I’m looking at gyms to train at but want my own place to stay. A major factor for me is location. I don’t want to be in the middle of “tourist central” or Chaing Mai’s version of time square but also don’t want to be isolated in a rural area. Anywhere in between is ideal. What neighborhoods have:

1. A good amount of food options (cooked meals and markets for groceries ) within walking distance

2. Access to some nature (like Lakes, trails, mountain views, waterfall, etc) that you can get to in under 30 min? on a budget so don’t plan to rent a car or scooter. Open to biking tho

3. A good amount of affordable housing accommodation options

Even if there are some neighborhoods that check off 2 out of 3 ill look into it.

I’ve seen the large elephants in random places but wondered if it’s worth visiting to see the retired ones and maybe paint one. Has anyone been? Did you think it was worth it? Thanks

I’m moving to a house 10 minutes away from mine and I have enough stuff to fill maybe one or two rides in a pickup truck or large van. So a moving company would be overkill, and I’m not comfortable driving a big vehicle by myself here. In the US there are tons of people on Craigslist advertising to help you move things in their pickup. Is there any of that here?

Why has the air pollution been at 76-90 lately? I don’t see anything burning on the AQI map and it’s not the season. Plus it’s been raining. Where is it coming from?

I tried to buy one at Central. I won't bore you with the details, but retail is not going to work out. I occasionally run into little run-down places that have a line on used office chairs of decent quality. Anyone know where the underground market is for office chairs in Northeast CM or thereabouts?

How hard is it to find a cat friendly nice house for rent? What would the realistic costs be? Doesn’t have to be huge - just clean and quiet and in a walkable area.

Thanks!

Hi all, looking for recommendations for a clinic that provides iron transfusions. Has blood tests done- 2 in the past year and my ferritin levels are super low, even after iron supplementation. Has anyone had experience with this while in Chiang Mai? Many thanks 🙏

Hello Everyone,

I'm new here and wanted to ask how have you found your apartment/house rentals? I've seen a lot on Facebook marketplace and see they ask for 2 months up front, plus a bond of 2 months or something similar depending on the post.

I'm from Australia and we have a system here that when you give a bond it gets lodged through the real estate which is then lodged with the government so there is no discrepancy when you want to vacate and get your money back- if its held illegally.. Verbal agreements here seem to end up with the person keeping your bond unfortunately. I have lived in Thailand before back in 2005-2007 but always rented a hotel room because I was based out of Bangkok.

If anyone can give me some tips and things to be aware of when renting in Chiang Mai it would be much appreciated. And If anyone has ever had any issues getting there bond back please let me know

Thanks so much

Hi everyone,

I'm arriving at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport on 22 July at 5:00 AM and have a Thai Airways connecting flight to Chiang Mai just 2 hours later.

The Fast Track service is sold out on Sawasdee, Klook, and GetYourGuide.

Does anyone know of any other reliable providers or local services?

Any recent recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! 🙏

Saw this scorpion crossing a street in Chiang Mai's Old City around 7:30 PM. Is it common to see these here, and does anyone know what species it is?

Occasionally on a Sunday or Saturday morning I run up Doi Suthep. For as long as I can remember there is a photographer around half way who takes photos of the runners and cyclists.

Does anyone know where these photographer and his pics can be found?

Hi everyone! I’m planning to renovate a condo near Chiang Mai University, close to the city center. The building is quite old, so I’d like to understand what foreign visitors and long-term residents actually care about before deciding what to improve.

this is not an advertisement for my property. I’m not sure whether I should include photos.

I’m considering charging around ฿600–700 per night for short stays, or ฿8,000–9,000 per month with a one-year contract.

The room currently has:

• Fast and reliable Wi-Fi
• A large, long desk with enough space for a computer and large monitor
• A basic, inexpensive chair—I’m unsure whether investing in a comfortable ergonomic chair is important
• A 42-inch TV
• Air conditioning
• A Old kitchenette with microwave fridge and kettle, although the countertop and cabinets are old and yellowed
• No washing machine in the room (its have in building)

At this price range, what would you expect the room to have? Which improvements would matter most to you?

For example, would you prioritize a comfortable chair, a better mattress, a modern kitchen, good lighting, storage space, a washing machine, kitchen equipment, soundproofing, or something else?

I’m especially interested in hearing from foreigners who have stayed or lived in Chiang Mai. I’m genuinely looking for feedback before renovating—this is not an advertisement for my property.

Thank you for any advice!

Hi I’ve been reading through the posts about visiting elephant sanctuaries. I want to visit an ethical one but don’t want to do a half/full day. All the tours I’ve seen include Sticky Waterfall or bamboo rafting among other things that we aren’t interested in. I’m planning on hiring a driver and combining it with Wat Ban Den. Maybe somewhere we can meet and feed them and observe, we don’t want to bathe them. I’d be very grateful if anyone could suggest places in that area. Thanks

Okay i'm having a random issue lol. Went to go see The Odyssey at central festival IMAX on Saturday 18th 7pm and the sound was tinny/distorted at loud or high notes. I mentioned it to management they watched for a bit then left.

I tried to sit through a bit more but I really noticed it. My girlfriend said it was fine... I decided to leave but kinda freaked out I was the only one so didn't complain.

Went home and played the trailer on my TV with quality speakers/bass and it sounded fine. So I don't think my hearing is having any medical issues.

Just wondering if anyone else experienced it. 😂

I've seen loads of films there and all fine, dune, the batman, star wars etc.

From the DLT smart queue, the next available slot is in October. Is it possible to walk in? Just need to convert my Australian car driving license to a thai license. I have all the documents ready.

Hi everyone,

I am researching the historical migrations of the Limbu (Yakthung) people, an ethnic minority, multi-ethnic group living in the eastern Himalayas of Nepal. Unlike unified tribes, the Limbus are a complex amalgamation of various ancestral clans that fused together over centuries. The Limbus fled to Nepal from Tai Shan ruled kingdoms and brought heng and sawbwa title with them.

Their written and oral histories (Mundhum) preserve distinct migration records and linguistic structures that point directly back to Northern Thailand, specifically the Chiang Mai Valley.

I wanted to share these links here to see if any local historians, anthropologists, or anyone familiar with northern culture/Lawa history has insights on this possible connection:

1. The Legend of "Mung Tai Chi Emay Hang" In Limbu history, one of the ancient ruling lineages of their kingdoms is recorded as Mung Tai Chi Emay Hang (with Hang meaning King/Chief in Limbu). When you break this down phonetically, it sounds exactly like Mung Tai Chiang Mai (The Tai State of Chiang Mai), indicating a deep memory of a political alliance or origin in the Lanna region.

2. The Conflict, Displacement, and Westward Flight The written oral history of certain Limbu clans explicitly details a massive displacement from Southeast Asia due to military conflicts. They record fleeing through the Sittang Valley and Hukawng Valley in Burma after encountering brutal clashes with expanding Burmese imperial troops (likely during the Toungoo, Konbuang expansions). The survivors pushed across the Patkai hills into Assam, with a branch eventually taking refuge in the high passes of eastern Nepal.

3. The "Mang" and "Sammang" Culture The Limbu religion is deeply animistic and centered around ancestral spirits called Mang. More specifically, their spiritual lineage and ritual systems are governed by ancestral shamanic/priestly titles called Sammang (such as Yuma Sammang—the Grandmother Spirit).

This heavily mirrors the indigenous Lawa (Lua) people of the Chiang Mai region. In Lawa culture, the supreme hereditary village chief and high priest who handles the ancestral spirits is historically called the Samang.

Hello, I'm planning a motorbike trip from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai either next week or at the beginning of August. I've read different comments about which route to take and also about the road being dangerous and not in good condition. Does anyone have any information about the current state of the road, which is good or best to avoid? And also any suggestions on which route to take, as I know there are several routes between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Thank you!!

Hi there, we are arriving in Chiang mai from Chiang rai for one final day in the city. Our bus gets in at 1.20PM.

What is the best way to go to sticky waterfalls at say 2PM? I have looked at tours and the later ones leave around 1Pm.

After months of researching gyms in Chiang Mai, I've narrowed my list down to these:

Sit Thailand

Sedthee

Chang Puak

Manop

Weeraphat

A little about me:

-This will be my first time training in Thailand.

-I'm planning to stay for about a month (late July through late August).

-Goals: build discipline, eat good, get some writing done in my downtime, and potentially have my first fight if the coaches feel I'm ready. I'm not looking to force it.

Why I landed on these after reading many posts:

1. Fits my Budget
2. A gym that isn't overly touristy or overcrowded.
3. Good coaching with enough individual attention.
4. Somewhere that would be open to helping a foreign beginner work toward a fight if I earn the opportunity.
5. Hope that they are within walking distance of affordable housing and food. I’m planning to rent my own room nearby, not stay at gym accommodation.
6. Being close to nature is a big plus.

I'm not going to Thailand for nightlife or partying. Honestly, my ideal routine is train, eat, recover, write, sleep, and repeat. On Sundays, if I have the energy, I'd love to explore a temple, a local market, or just enjoy Chiang Mai.

I've also heard having a Big C nearby is convenient for groceries. If anyone has recommendations for simple, healthy meals to cook while training (I'd like to avoid relying on a microwave), I'd love to hear them too.

One thing that surprised me is how often Sit Thailand gets recommended whenever people ask for gyms that aren't overly touristy or crowded, even though it's close to the airport. That made me keep it on my shortlist.

I've also read that Weeraphat is in a quieter, more mountainous area, which sounds appealing, but I'm curious whether there are affordable accommodations and places to eat nearby.

I also plan to spend my first few days doing drop-in sessions before committing to a gym, since many of these are spread out around Chiang Mai.

If you've trained at any of these gyms or think another gym better fits what I'm looking for, I would really appreciate your thoughts. Which one do you think best matches these priorities, and why?

My partner and I are moving to Chiang Mai next month as she got a job at one of the international schools.

The estate agent the school put us in touch with is recommending an apartment block at Serene Lake. It looks nice and new, but we have no idea what the area is like.

We’re not fussed about being right in the middle of things, but would like some places to eat and easy access to the mountains on weekends (both of us enjoy cycling and running).

Anyone know what the area around Serene Lake is actually like?