Back Living In Chiang Mai, Thailand - a much different place then 15 years ago

Renting a nice condo at the base of Suthep mountain for $130 a month.  Rent here is still unbelievably but $130 is even inexpensive by Chiang Mai standards.   A clean simple room overlooking a large pool and at the base of the Doi Suthep preserve which greatly reduces the development which is out of hand in the city.

I wanted to escape the booming economies in Asia and relax with the option to enjoy city life when in the mood.  Been doing just that for 2 months now and learned how to adapt to the realities of the new Chiang Mai.

 First rule, never drive a car if you want to keep your sanity or actually accomplish anything.  New York is heaven compared to the stress of driving here with all the cars and many of the roads not much bigger than a sidewalk.  It is standard practice to ignore "all" laws of the road because if they were obeyed driving a mile would take half the day.  I drive on both sides of the road, pull out in front of fast moving traffic, park in the driving lanes, pass on blind corners, and merge directly into cars which always scramble to get out of my way.  Everybody on the road just shrugs off my driving as I theirs because it is accepted anything goes and it is their responsibility to avoid me.

Looking back now, all the other changes were only small inconveniences.  My days now are stress minimal and enjoyable.  For an outdoor enthusiast, it doesn't get better than Chiang Mai.  Sure the pollution is horrendous during the burning season but this only lasts a couple months and the air is fine outside the city center 10 months a year.  Within a one mile radius of my place are incredible biking routes, scenic hiking trails, and the 700 year stadium with a gym, Olympic size pool, and velodrome.

Generally I wake up at 6 am, have a couple cups of coffee and head up into the hills on my bike .  Chiang Mai is becoming Asia's cycling Mecca.  The climbs are epic and plentiful with incredible scenery to take in if you aren't killing yourself to keep in sight the young semi-pro cyclist.  My rides rides begin in tropical surroundings and within one hour, I'm in the pines and chilly air.

Incredible what the cycling comunity spends on bikes and the upscale shops in town are overwhelmed with customers.  I get the impression all would be happy with fewer customers.  15 years ago the prices were double the USA but now with all the trade agreements, are about the same.  I picked up an entry to mid-level bike for $1,500.  Many of the Thais are on much more expensive bikes with cool accessories and the sponsored riders are on $8,0000+ bikes.

Road biking is a new hobby but already infatuated with it and climbing the ranks.  Actually  am as fast or nearly as fast as the top Thai and foreign riders.  Most Stava ( my favorite web site - a competitive fools dream) segments I ride will rank me in the top 5 and am the top rider on a few tough 3,000+ feet climbs.  Problem with running is that I'm fast but my body falls apart.  Not an issue with biking other than the occasional sore back.

I'll attach some pictures of the rides, hikes, and scooter rides near my place.