Chiang Mai
Nine years after my first one-week trip to Chiang Mai I was eager to revisit some of my favorite places, connect with the lively expat and digital nomad community, uncover new hidden treasures in the city, evaluate the air quality situation for a potential longer visit next time, and find out how easy it would be to find a Chinese tutor. But it was NOT my plan to replace most of these fun activities with a firsthand experience as a patient in the local health care system. Spoiler alert: I was always in good hands.
On my first evening I joined a language exchange group. We put stickers with a list of the languages we speak on our shirts, and about 40 expats and locals of all ages were instantly immersed in great conversations. Many participants were regulars. It's a great way to meet interesting people from all over the world and chat about diverse experiences and dreams.
I had reached out to other meet-up groups who seemed equally welcoming. Unfortunately, the next day I started to feel sick and couldn't participate in social activities anymore. But for a few days, I still walked around and snapped some pictures. Not much has changed in the old part of the city as far as I remember it.
Bitten by a Parasite tells the final part of my journey.
Let's start with a few impressions from my usual walks. A temple picture collection follows in a separate section.
The Tha Phae Gate, located on the eastern wall of the city, dates back to 1296 when Chiang Mai was founded. Although it looks ancient and the huge pigeon population could raise concerns, the present gate isn't old but rebuilt in 1985-1986 based on historical evidence.
I've never seen so many temples concentrated in such a small area. According to this site, there are 75 temples in Chiang Mai's old town, all very different. Below, I picked some unique features that stood out for me.
