Chiang Mai - First Few Days

I arrived in Chiang Mai on a 1-hour flight from Bangkok. The city is located at an altitude of 310 meters, which is a huge difference compared to Bangkok, which is only about 2 meters above sea level. This difference is primarily reflected in the temperature - during the day it reaches a maximum of 30 degrees, but at night it drops to a minimum of 16-17 degrees... Probably because of this, I have had a stuffy nose and a scratchy throat for a few days, or maybe I just caught a cold waiting for 3 hours in the air-conditioned airport in Bangkok :/

I am in a part of the city completely opposite the airport, about a 15-minute drive from it, and while I was driving in the taxi, I noticed that everything is much quieter compared to Bangkok and buildings with more than 5 or 6 floors are very rare - from a distance, everything looks quite flat and resembles a large village, albeit with good roads.

I settled into the apartment I am renting through Airbnb and explored the surroundings. Unfortunately, there is not much to see in the immediate vicinity because there is a highway in front of the building, but behind it is the largest and most famous shopping mall (Central Festival), just a 3-minute walk away. I went there to eat and explored a few floors where you can find many well-known clothing, jewelry, and other brands that can also be found in the West, along with many local brands.

The next day, I worked out around 7AM on the top, 26th floor with a view of the city. I was one of three people there, and the gym itself is small and adequately equipped for a light workout. Next to the gym are a pool and a sauna, with a beautiful view of the mountain... After sunset, around 6PM, I went to a famous night market (Warorot Market + Chiang Mai Night Bazaar) which is almost 2km long and has everything - from food, cheap clothes and shoes, to souvenirs and various handicrafts. I bought hiking shoes for the hikes I plan to do while I'm here, a few souvenirs, and of course, tried some food.

The day after that, I explored the city center, full of temples and interesting streets for walking. I visited some of the temples that seemed interesting to me and mostly walked around the narrow streets. After 3 hours of wandering in all directions, I stopped at a restaurant halfway to the apartment and ordered something that looked and tasted like goulash, and some fried meat (all for 6€).

I covered a few days with one text even though I could have split it into several, but this way I have more time to enjoy Chiang Mai :)