Chiang Mai – another visit

It has been a busy few months and I have not posted anything on this blog for awhile. Our days in China are coming to an end with only four months to go before we move on to our new city of Chiang Mai in Thailand. I guess I might have to change the name of this site!

This week, we headed for Bangkok and then up to Chiang Mai, where we are staying for the month of February. The 16 hour train ride was longer than expected but we survived, barely. With food hawkers marching up and down the aisles on a regular basis, yelling out what they were selling, and the non-stop stops, sleeping was next to impossible. I think I will suck it up the next time and just fly! The sleepers are great but were filled up for the days we needed to travel.

Chiang Mai is a great place and we have really enjoyed our first few days here. It is a wonderful mixture of locals and tourists, along with 30,000 expat residents, but much more laid back then the bustling beach scenes in the south of the country. English abounds everywhere and there are countless western restaurants along with a great selection of international ones. Prices are pretty similar to China except we need to get used to the 7% tax and tipping again (no tax and no tipping in China). Everyone we have run into has been really friendly…the country is known as the “Land of Smiles” and it always lives up to its reputation.

One of the drawing points of Thailand for retirees is the great medical system and its low cost. My teeth are suffering after six years in China so I booked a couple of appointments with the dentist across the street. The total cost for my appointment, including X-ray, check-up, cleaning and one tooth extraction was $30. A visit with a doctor at one of the local hospitals for a check-up and three prescriptions…also $30. We have been battling coughs and colds for the last couple of weeks.

Coming up this week in the city, the Chiang Mai Flower Festival and an International Jazz Festival. Stay tuned for more photos.