Chiang Mai Attractions Travel Guide

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From a history dating back hundreds of years to modern shopping centres displaying the latest in electronics and couture, and a lifestyle suspended somewhere in between, sightseeing in Chiang Mai is a feast for the senses, and I mean all six of them. Whether you come under the Marco Polo club of traveller or the Phileas Fogg variety, Chiang Mai will get under your skin in a pleasant sort of way. You simply can't escape it. [more]

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Once you're there, you learn to let go a tiny bit of the original you and acquire a little bit of something new, that redefines and sends you back where you came from , a little calmer, wiser, happier, and if it's not a bad airline, not too tired either. To fully appreciate this experience it would be a good idea to read up a bit on the amazing history of Chiang Mai before you actually get here. It would make for good in-flight reading on your way. Of course, this is not mandatory because this place gives you the feeling that you have all the time in the world to slowly acclimatize, rejuvenate, absorb, and cherish the Thai life.

Tourist Information

It might come as something of a surprise to those of you who immediately associate Thailand with seks (misspelt to avoid unwanted cyber attention) tourism, that the Thai culture is basically conservative and traditional to the point of prudishness. While I would not go so far as to say that all that fabulous frivolity associated with certain aspects of tourism is unwarranted, or that it is restricted to the beaches of Phuket or Pattaya, generalisations of any sort would be as skewed as saying they have weapons of mass destruction.

The point is merely this: decorum is called for-in speech, dress, and manners. Thais have an intrinsic class system which may not be apparent to an outsider. You will be weighed in and labelled according to your appearance and the company you keep. What's worse is that you will not have an inkling of what they really think of you because it's their culture to be nice; to smile and smile and still think you're a villain. So if you're seen escorting a go-go girl while trying to ink a deal, it's no go with your Thai business counterpart. On the other hand, if it's merely a pleasure trip with no one to please but yourself, you can be as hedonistic as you want; just don't let the very low wais or the total lack of it bother you.

While entering places of worship remember to be fully clothed and to take off your footwear. All statues of Buddha, even the broken down ones, are considered sacred; so don't climb on one for a fantastic photo. Women are not supposed to touch or even make eye contact with monks. Don't even think of hugging one however adorable he looks. Don't touch anyone's head or point your foot at them unless you intend to show disrespect. Losing your temper in a show of machismo is actually considered weak. Remember this when you're bargaining ferociously with a song thaew driver, and smile, even if it's through gritted teeth. This probably explains the phenomenon of a lot of tourists coming to the Orient in search of affordable dentistry.

The emergency number you'd need to call for help is 199, 191. The IDD dialling code is 66, and the area code for Chiang Mai is 53. Tipping is an accepted way of showing appreciation for good service whether it be a good driver or a bell boy. A 10-15% tipping is customary in restaurants.

You can reach the British Council at 053-242103, the US Consulate at 053-252629, the Canadian Honorary Consulate at 053-850147, and the Australian Consulate at 053-225975-6.