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Chiang Mai is the first place I’ve ever stayed in a foreign country for longer than a couple of weeks. During my two months in this city in Northern Thailand I realised the benefits of an extended stay in one place. Once I had seen all of the popular tourist attractions, temples and markets, I had time to venture out into the city itself. I got to know my local neighbourhood, and nearly everyday I would head out of my apartment to explore the streets of Chiang Mai. What I found is a big city that really doesn’t feel like a big city at all; in fact it often feels more like a country town. You can be walking along a crazy traffic clogged main road and turn down a little soi or alleyway to find yourself in a peaceful, quiet neighbourhood.
I stayed in the heart of the Old City of Chiang Mai, and my walks around its maze of little streets and alleys became my favourite thing to do in the city. Here are some of my photos from my walks in the quiet backstreets of Chiang Mai’s Old City.
Have you ever stayed in a foreign city for an extended time? What did you like about it?
These photos bring back good memories of my time in Chiang Mai. It’s surprising how quiet the back streets can be and meanwhile traffic is down to a crawl around the moat!
Glad to bring back some memories, Audrey. Sounds like you enjoyed Chiang Mai as much as I did 🙂