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Chiang Mai is the safeties t city in Thailand and it is one of the supper affordable city in The WorldÂ’s Top Retirement Havens For 2011

[color=#4A43BC]http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/On-Retirement/2010/11/15/the-worlds-top-retirement-havens-for-2011[/color]

Hope this helps.

Rasgeoff wrote:

I read about in Wikipedia and else where
How bad is it?  I have other possibilities to live in, Phichit and Issan but they are really small compared to Chang Mai and I think the opportunities to be a teacher are limited.
Last question-computer and internet capability in Chang Mai - is it good, expensive, etc could I get by with a Ipad?

I would appreciate any reponse  Thanks in advance
email. geoff.taylor#verizon.com -Currently live in California USA

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The 'burning season' in Chiang Mai normally runs from +/- mid-February to +/- mid-April/late April.

I say normally, because this year ('11), the 'DRY season' was un-seasonably WET; and as you can imagine, it's a bitch to start a fire, and keep it going, in the rain.

However, the previous four-years, the air-quality was absolutely TERRIBLE!!!

I, like MANY other expats, chose to get out of Dodge during the 'season'.

That what we heard about the air in CM.  We're very concern because
my Husband has asthma. 

We love to move to CM for our retirement, but still worry about the Air Polution.

Please advise if you have had some experience.  Many thanks.

You better prepare for it, just in case. Mostly we leave for vacation if there is the pollution.  We are very lucky this year though. Hopefully no pollution next years

i believe if you choose a spot close to the stadium 700, near canal road would be perfect for u as we always enjoy the fresh mountain air and the accessibility for the local community utilities is very convenient, and much less car access around some of the houses and serviced apartments there....add the peace and quitness while u enjoy natures sound from over looking a mountain view close by, feeling that ur in the forest already...

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kindest regards,
Hugh

Hi Hugh,

Thank you very much for your detail, informative advice.

We've just learned that the polution is bad by mid Feb. & getting worse or worst in March.  Unfortunately, that's the time we plan to come!  We plan to be there for about 1 month, 2/15 - 3/15 to check things out.  If everything is ok, then we'll resettle in CM, to enjoy our (early) retirement.

We have friend who introduced us to Father Vinai Boonlue in CM.  He said that we may stay at the Seven Fountains Center (SFC)for days/weeks while looking for a rental place.

We're not sure where the SFC is located.  We hope that the air there is not too bad.

However, we'll go to the place that you advised.  It seems very much what we have in mind, the fresh air with the mountain view.  We like it already!

Once again, thank you very much for your advice.  Your time and kindness are greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Hello Boong,

Thanks for your kind advice.

Yes, we'll bring some medication with us, just in case.

Worst comes to worst, we'll see a doctor or coming to the clinic.

BTW, do you know how much a month the Medical/Health will cost a couple with age between 55 - 60 years old?  We would like to have the full coverage which will cover the fees:  doctors, hospital, medication, etc...

We hope to see you when we get to CM.

Best regards,

Tina Tinh

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but ...

There are two primary sources of smoke during the 'burning season'.

1. The farmers use this time to burn the rice fields in prepartion for the next harvest.

2. Loggers use this time to 'slash burn' teak and other timber; yes up in the mountains. Quite often the fires get out of control, resuting in forest fires; yes again, up in the mountains.

In Chaing Mai and the surrounding mountains, there's very little in way of 'fresh air' from mid-February until the start of the rainy season mid to late April.

There's a Air Quality site available from the Thai government, which shows the worse air, is the first two-weeks of March.

====
note: Last year was in fact very good, because it was an usually wet 'dry season'.

However, several times in recent years, both Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai had to use the runway lights during the middle of the day.

A blog I wrote last March about the smog up North has worsened in recent years.

It contains a Nation newspaper article, and the air quality website.

well. i have been living for a year here in chiang mai, and as you may be right in all the above, it does not include plenty natural peaceful pleasent fesh air spots around chiang mai, especially around of the 'countless hills and mountains' of chiang mai, i may also remind you that Chiang Mai city is the second largest city in thailand, surly other people like me were lucky enough to find a perfect spot like me with all that fresh mountain air, peace and quietness while maintaining the lifestyle you like with minimum budget.

otherwise, i would be pleased to offer a lot of suggestions once you;re in chiang mai 'free of charge' as a fellow lover of nature.

i can assure you, you will be surprised how many people living here for 10 years or more, and still didnt even discover the many hidden gems and spots spread all around chiang mai and as long as you have a bike or car, there is literally anything you can desire in terms of atmosphere you may require or need....

cheers ;-)

Hugh, could you give coordonates for Google earth about where you are talking about for this hidden treasure of an area, just as a frame of referance please.

Thanks.

yes let us see your place and we will come alltogether to see you !! Why not create an NGO for this action : No pollution in Chiang Mai !!

There are already many groups of people who work about pollution in Chiang Mai. You can visit ourchiangmai.com by Kum Hug Doi Suthep. Everyone is welcome to join the activities.

is there a polution if you living outside CM? Like san sai or hang dong.Or samething everywhere.  THANKS

The 'Smokey Season', mid-February through mid-April, is a result of 1) agricultural burning; and, 2) timber slash burning.

YES, it is also a problem in Hang Dong and San Sai.

You can avoid much of the burning and smoke, too, by moving southwest a few miles from Chiang Mai.