What's Chiang Mai like these days?

[extronaut]

Last time I was there was December 14.

Back then it was pretty chilled. I could see then that tourism was taking over though.

Used to be able to get 1 hour Traditional Thai Massage for 200 baht, which I did most days. A decent serve of Street food would be 100-200 baht. There were lots of bars, many of them made of corrugated iron.

I imagine if I were to go back nowadays, I'd find much more stuff made of concrete. I expect I'd also find that most things are a bit more expensive now.

Am I wrong?

[kjun12]

The problem in Chiang Mai these days is air pollution. This has been a serious crisis for some time now and as usual the Thais refuse to seriously deal with it. The pollution is caused by burning of plant material left after harvest and clearing Forrest for more crops. The absolute stupidity of Thai people rages on.

[extronaut]

Kjun12 the burning season is over, isn't it?

[Manforallseasons]

The problem with CM is that it’s rather vibrant gay scene has become quite dismal to say the least, it has become a favorite of Chinese tour groups not much else except for the temples now.

[Brad the Impala]

The problem with CM is that it’s rather vibrant gay scene has become quite dismal to say the least, it has become a favorite of Chinese tour groups not much else except for the temples now.

According to you all gay night life in Thailand has become dismal, to say the least!

[Patanawet]

The problem in Chiang Mai these days is air pollution.

We have just returned from the first two Songkran days in Chiang Mai.
Absolutely NO PROBLEM of pollution in the town. Very few people using smog masks.
In the far distance the mountains looked misty.
We went to the Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens in the foothills -- again no problem with pollution.
At the gardens, there was no problem with dual pricing for us -- the cashier at the entrance said "you two are so old you can go in for free!"
The only charge was 100 Baht for the car and driver.
Our only problem was the lack of gay bars without spending 300 Baht in a Tuk Tuk.
We spent every night in RAM BAR with it's fabulous shows and then next door to secrets Bar for a later drink.
Temperature at the moment reported to be 41. Yes it was bleedin' hot.
Are you speaking from personal observation kjun12?

[Manforallseasons]

According to you all gay night life in Thailand has become dismal, to say the least!

Not true! Only CM & BKK.......You are always quick to comment but actually when was your last visit here? A bit like Scottish me thinks!

[Oliver2]

Chiang Mai as a gay destination died for me with the demise of the old Adam's Apple. When was that? 2003? The arrival of a Certain Person on the scene in 2004, however, re-invented it as a delightful place to visit....mountains, river trips and, for P, market and temple trips. We are encouraged by decent, well-priced hotels, interesting restaurants and numerous and cheap flights on Air Asia. We now visit annually.
I wouldn't go alone.

[Manforallseasons]

Chiang Mai as a gay destination died for me with the demise of the old Adam's Apple.

I agree 100% the original Adam’s Apple for me was Thailand’s best GoGo and though the bars behind the Night Bazaar moved a few times they were fun while they lasted however, a bit seedy.

[Oliver2]

Adam's Apple wouldn't pass Health and Safety regulations now- even Thai ones- and was something of a dump. But what it had in abundance were a host- often fifty plus- of cute guys, predominantly twinks. There was no Burmese hill-tribe influx by then I assume.
Not only that, but it attracted CMU students who were frequently as good looking as the dancers.
The only minus for me were the performances of three khatoeys from a local show... I would itch for their acts to end so that the gogo dancers could continue their amateurish (and charming) shows.
Add to this winning combination a gay hotel ten metres away and you had, for me, a gay venue second to none. None of the other gay bars - and I tried them all- could match it.

[Nirish guy]

On the plus side I'm guessing the queue for the Flight of the Gibbon Slide is very short these days !

[Brad the Impala]

Not true! Only CM & BKK.......You are always quick to comment but actually when was your last visit here? A bit like Scottish me thinks!

I thought you were always forecasting the imminent end of Sunee Plaza as well. Change happens, but it needn't always be assumed that it is for the worst.

I was in the Chiang Mai area two years ago for a month, and posted afterwards recommending accommodation and a massage venue. The demise of Adam's Apple is also exaggerated, it may not be as good as at it's peak, but it was still a fun place to visit. No khatoey show when I was there. As posted above, the newish Ram Bar and the adjacent Secrets were always entertaining.

To write that all Chiang Mai has going for it is the temples is just silly! When were you last there?

You also never responded to the poster who asked how current your visit was, on which you based your assessment of the failing Bangkok gay scene.

[Manforallseasons]

Hi Brad, thanks for your ongoing concern, as for BKK last visit was about the time the New Jupiter was having it’s one year anniversary as for Sunee it’s demise appears at least for the moment to be on hold however, my only concern for Sunee is that Nice Boys continues to thrive.

[BonTong]

Our only problem was the lack of gay bars without spending 300 Baht in a Tuk Tuk.
We spent every night in RAM BAR with it's fabulous shows and then next door to secrets Bar for a later drink.

Depends where you were staying of course, but 300 Bt fr a Tuk Tuk in and around the city is very excessive, even with today's inflated prices.

Grab is the way to go in Chiang Mai. Much cheaper, efficient and modern air con cars. You can usually get a car within a few minutes, even late at night, including from more out of the way places like Adam's Apple. Just don't book to or from somewhere where a load of tuk tuks hang out ;)

Even if the farang/tourist gay scene is not what it was 15 years ago, Chiang Mai still has a lot going on, especially online via the apps. Just avoid late Feb to Late April when the pollution is terrible and it's ridiculously hot. Things start to improve after the Mango rains in May.

[Patanawet]

Grab is the way to go in Chiang Mai. Much cheaper, efficient and modern air con cars. You can usually get a car within a few minutes, even late at night, including from more out of the way places like Adam's Apple.
Thanks BonTong for the GRAB tip.
We were staying within metres of RAM so that was very handy.
I really miss the bars in 'Sleaze Alley' and by the climbing frame and before that when they were downstairs in the Night Bazaar.
Here in Bangkok we are chasing your temperatures with today's forecast being 38!

[christianpfc]

Last time I was there was December 14.

A decent serve of Street food would be 100-200 baht.
December 2014? I have been more recent, but only short stays, as CM is not my cup of tea (the problem is abysmal public transport for a city of that size).

That sounds awfully expensive for street food. In Bangkok and in Pattaya I pay between 40 and 60 THB for a meal. The prices you quote are for Phuket, or we are talking about different things.

[lukylok]

Street food in Chiang Mai is excellent. The price vary between 35 and 45 bahts, shrimp or not or talay food, with an extra 5 bahts for an egg. and usually very good quality.

Transport has been resolved by Grab, cheap, fast , clean, AC and reliable.

[lonelywombat]

Over Xmas I tried to persuade friends planning to visit Chiang Mai late March the weather was shocking , Pattaya and Bangkok in Jan both had cloudy skies with sunlight getting through in patches .Things did not seem to be improving Clear sky was seen for maybe a few hours daily and probably Jomtien Beach was perhaps the clearest weather. I had heard that things had not improved much
My friend staying on the beach reported that even the sky over the Jomtien beach was becoming cloudy towards the end of January.
Did not hear from my friends, but they had decided to go to CM anyway and have been there for 10 days.
Today they have moved out of CM losing the balance of rent paid in advance, as their health was starting to be impacted.
They are looking at staying the balance of their trip on an island, yet to be decided on.
I have heard nothing about Bangkok weather maybe it has improved but CM is really bad.

The weather in Chiang Mai is still poor. Not mentioned by posters so maybe they are talking of past visits.

[Brad the Impala]

The weather in Chiang Mai is still poor. Not mentioned by posters so maybe they are talking of past visits.

Obviously! Unless they are psychic. As Bontong, who lives there, wrote, avoid late February until late April. Do you know more than that?!

Does Lupins have a branch there giving you the updates?

[frequent]

Does Lupins have a branch there giving you the updates? What's a dedicated pattayaphile doing in Chiang Mai? On his way to visit the cave?

[extronaut]

Thanks for your input, guys.

On past holidays, I've gone for big odysseys through multiple countries. This year I just want to go somewhere where I can just lounge around and relax for a couple weeks. Somewhere relaxing, with a bit of Nightlife but not too much, where I can get a cheap (clean) massage, plenty of cheap beer, and the occasional money boy for the night (if I feel like it).

[Nirish guy]

So, you're off to Bali then eh !? :)

[Oliver2]

Bali? beautiful island, beautiful people but those roads....."relaxing" is not a word that comes to mind!

[Nirish guy]

Ha that IS a fair point !

Thankfully I tend to keep my journeys fairly short when there and only make them on my own motorbike so it's just bearable as I'm quite happy nipping about like that, but yes between potholes, other crazy drivers, lack of much moving and finally police men jumping out from behind trees to fine me for forgetting / not bothering to wear my helmet yes I have to agree that "relaxing' Bali's roads are not ! Still, at least I always feel like I've been away when I get back from there as travelling on their roads IS a whole other experience I guess.

[Oliver2]

Yes...P and I love Bali but our last visit (eighteen months ago) was seriously disrupted by the fact that our taxi (booked with a guide for the duration) was forever locked into jams, narrow roads and congestion. We reckoned that it took an hour to get from Seminyak to the more open roads which led to our chosen destinations.
I can well understand that the motor-cys represent a more effective way of getting around.

[poshglasgow]

According to you all gay night life in Thailand has become dismal, to say the least!

So where do you suggest we start digging?

Many of us love Pattaya, but I bet that there are many, like me, who are convinced that there are parts of the world, hitherto unexplored by us, where all that we held dear about the old days in Pattaya flourishes to this day. Eh, how many islands make up the Philipines (answer 7,641) and we only hear of Cebu and Boracay?

The world is full of hidden gems; the problem is that they are too well hidden! Like a good game of hide and seek, hiding is no match for discovering.

[frequent]

The world is full of hidden gems; the problem is that they are too well hidden! Like a good game of hide and seek, hiding is no match for discovering.How many queens do you know who can keep their mouths shut?