Falling in Love with Chiang Mai

by Kevin Butters
(Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep - our favourite place in the city.

My wife & I visited Chiang Mai back in late 2006 purely for a business trip on behalf of a client of mine, we were at that time living on Koh Samui, but had grown tired of "island life"!.

We were only in Chiang Mai for just two days, but even in that time the "Chiang Mai Effect" had cast a spell over us, we absolutely loved the city, not just the stunning beauty of the Northern Thailand landscape, or the incredible Wats(Temples) that are literally on every street corner, or the lovely, friendly "locals".

Everywhere we went there was an overwhelming feeling that this was as close to heaven as you could find on earth, it was that profound!.

Having taken the decision, we drove all the way back to Chiang Mai from Koh Samui a week later (1,500kms),the car completely loaded with our personal possessions, found a house to rent and moved a week later.

It's been the best decision I've probably ever made, we are completely happy here, and life has never been better.

Our favorite place in Chiang Mai?, without doubt it is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, it is such a marvelous temple, perched high on a mountain overlooking the city.