Home Citylife CityNews CityNow!
CityLife Logo
Spoon and Fork Logo

A Divided Perspective

Mahawon Kawang is an outspoken, passionate man; thick gold chain around his neck, large ring on his finger depicting a dragon’s head. He has a tough demeanour, and comes across as someone who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. He sits down with us at the Yupparat Alumni Association, a surprisingly large and busy office, of which he is the president. Mahawon pulls out his phone and flicks through his pho … Continued

What’s Happening?

ARTS & EXHIBITIONS   Chiang Mai Fest 1st – 2nd March @ Promenada Resort Mall Chiang Mai www.chiangmaifest.com Don’t miss this huge arts and music festival performed by international and Thai bands and artists. Free admission. Thailand International Dog Show Now – 2nd March @ Chiang Mai Hall, Central Plaza Chiang Mai Airport 02 833 5349 See many lovely dogs in competitions, shows and exhibition … Continued

Dirty Litter Secrets Chiang Mai’s Garbage Problem

Standing amidst mountains of garbage on a hot day, I wonder to myself, “How green is Chiang Mai?” I am at a cleaning and sorting centre in Sansai, just a short ten minute drive out of Chiang Mai’s old city, where I stand beneath chaotic stacks of beer boxes piled up to the warehouse ceiling. Strewn around me in every direction are tonnes of garbage: bottles, containers, tyres, pipes, wires and eve … Continued

Pictures Worth a Thousand Words

Ryan Libre is a gentle, calming presence with blue eyes and a soft voice. A bee lands on his lap and stays there for the duration of our interview and he just lets it hang out. That’s how calm and gentle we’re talking here.  He’s also the founder and director of the wildly popular Documentary Arts Asia (DAA), and one of the hardest-working expats in Chiang Mai. Twelve years ago, after dropping out … Continued

Music Box

Yellow Fang – The Greatest Guitarist and vocalist Pimporn Metchanun, bassist Piyamas Muenprasartdee, and drummer Praewa Chirapravati Na Ayudhya make up one of Bangkok’s most loved indie rock bands of the last several years, but if you’ve never heard of them, it may be because this is their first full-length album. All of the tracks within have actually been previously released one-by-one online si … Continued

It’s Easy Being Green

The word “green” can mean something different to everyone. For some, it’s a badge of environmental friendliness, eating a vegetarian diet or just being generally healthy. For others, it conjures up images of trees, jungles or anything else with an abundance of chlorophyll. Or perhaps the sight of a lush field for sport or leisure? Those descended from the Emerald Isle or those who enjoy a good pin … Continued

This is Thailand

  For those of you with questions regarding Thailand, Thai culture, history, tourism, laws, rules, food, nightlife, subculture, dating, or generally anything as long as it is relevant, we have a panel of experts ready to respond to your enquiries. Email: hilary@chiangmaicitylife.com I think I got attacked by bed bugs at my guesthouse! What should I do? Garance (intern): If you wake up itchy a … Continued

Editorial

Where’s the love? There is so much hate-talk espoused in and by the media these days, both traditional and social. Only this week, I had someone send a message to me and all of her Facebook ‘friends’ saying, “If you don’t declare yourself a red or a PDRC (anti-government movement) then you are nothing and have no opinion, so I will delete you as a friend.” I preempted her and we are now officially … Continued

City7: Coffee Shops

Many people in Chiang Mai stick to cafes they know for fear of the unknown (or bad coffee), but while no one can deny the awesomeness of Ristr8to or Akha Ama, local javaficionado Laura Gibbs is here to present you with seven great new cafes worth checking out this year. Visit Laura at Chiang Mai Coffee Culture Review (www.chiangmaicoffeeculture.blogspot.com) and check out her new coffee blog on Ci … Continued

Clients’ Spot

Tichaa Tearoom by Harnn This new addition to the Nimman neighbourhood has already garnered quite a bit of attention for its gorgeous, Silk Road-inspired architecture and décor, organic teas, yummy food and fabulous health and beauty products. Enter the shop and you’ll immediately be enveloped in rich and delicious scents as you browse the offerings on hand, from body lotions to soaps to prettily p … Continued

City Buzz

Lan Laow Pub & Restaurant What is better than delicious spicy Thai food, booze and live music? Not much, and you can find it all and more at this laid-back new Santitham gem, perfect for large groups. Settle down inside the spacious teak house, the open-air patio or the side garden with pretty greenery and fairy lights and enjoy the live guitar duo that plays Thai classic rock and western oldi … Continued

A Divided Perspective

Grit Sripaurya, a 33-year-old businessman, is tall, dark and powerfully built. When he smiles, which isn’t often, it’s a wide grin, revealing a fine set of pearly white teeth. He sits across from me in his family home, a house near Wat Jed Yod replete with chandeliers, spiral staircase, towering columns in the driveway, statues, mahogany furniture, and paintings of family and royalty showcased in … Continued

CityGuide: Jed Yod

Local expert : Supang “Ploy” Ponlabute, 26  Occupation: General Manager at Sangdee Gallery & Cafe What do you like most about this neighbourhood? It’s not far from the city centre, easy to get to Maya Mall, with cheap local food and great places to hang out if you get bored of the Nimmanhaemin area. What do you like least about it? I think this area is pretty packed in the evenings and of cour … Continued

City Events

click on the images to zoom

Modern Zen in Osaka

Welcome to Osaka, the third largest city in Japan with the second largest population. Known as Japan’s trade and economic gateway to the outside world since ancient times, Osaka today is a bustling metropolis with an excellent infrastructure and lovely mild weather year-round. With a great public transportation system of subways and trams and very little traffic or pollution, it is a great destina … Continued

City Talk

Christian, 27 Teacher, Danish I think that the city should stop building all those big shopping malls and be more focused on spending the money on better preservation and maintenance of the monuments. If I was Chiang Mai’s mayor, I would invest in better infrastructure. Nicolas Gantois, 22 Citylife Intern, Belgian I would invest more money in child welfare and education. I see children begging and … Continued

Design Ideas

Grit Nijhof Owner of Gribani Luxury Leather Accessories www.gribani.com This quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery is the motto I base my work on. I seek simple but stylish and elegant designs. Having extensive travel experience for both business and leisure, it is my passion to design practical accessories which can be easily combined and fit to every outfit. 1. Home Fusion (cushion and bread basket) … Continued

Caged In

If you live in Chiang Mai, you probably already know about the Loi Kroh Boxing Stadium and the countless Muay Thai fights held there. But now, it’s not just sweaty, tattooed guys kicking the crap out of each other; it’s sweaty, tattooed guys kicking the crap out of each other INSIDE A CAGE. Welcome to Chiang Mai’s first ever MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) cage fight. No escape, no surrender. “MMA is cur … Continued

The ‘No Vote’ Perspective

The Thai national election on 2 February 2014 was a reluctant event. None of the pundits in Thai media thought it was going to go well, and they were right. People who went to vote were not entirely convinced that the election, at the time, was a relevant process in forming the next government. The media was calling it the weirdest election in Thai history. But the unofficial results tell a very i … Continued

The Adventures of Tom

Crikey, the concept of time is a tricky one. Along with quantitative easing, I think it’s one of the hardest ideas most of us will ever have to get our minds around. Philosophers, scientists and religious types still can’t actually agree on what “time” really is. I think we can, however, all agree that seconds, minutes, hours and days are pretty useful – especially if you are boiling an egg or try … Continued

Bangkok Noir: An Interview with Author Christopher G. Moore

When you talk with Christopher G. Moore about his new book, The Marriage Tree, the 14th in the popular Vincent Calvino detective series, it’s not long before he is focusing on the broader themes that are present in all of his books, the role of the novelist as social commentator, and the challenges created by an ever-changing world. Sure, you learn about the book, but, in the end, you learn more a … Continued

Your Say

Oh, Bugger!  I really enjoyed your February editorial (always the first thing I read in Citylife). Re:  Chinese Nose Pickers.  Since I first came to Chiang Mai in December ‘99, I have noticed the “Thai National Pastime” seems to also be nose picking.  I see it by massage ladies, pretty ladies putting on makeup, people preparing food, etc. And also men of course.  I’m curious why they do this…som … Continued

More From Citylife

All hands on deck to rebuild Ban Pang Ung village

Fri 5th Sep

The cleanup of residents’ homes and the entire waterway at Ban Pang Ung in Mae Chaem, after the recent flood and landslide, has made progress. Forty households in disaster-prone areas have requested relocation. The Forest Resource Management Office No. 1, Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Irrigation Office, Chiang Mai Department of Public Works and Town … Continued

Tourism declines in Chiang Mai, authorities prepare new campaign

Fri 5th Sep

The number of tourists in Chiang Mai has declined. From April to June 2025, the number of Chinese tourists dropped by over 30 percent, raising serious concerns within the local tourism sector. Phatthanong Na Chiang Mai, Deputy Governor for Asia and South Pacific Marketing at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, stated that approximately 6.7 million tourists visited Chiang Mai in the first six months … Continued

Artistry in bloom at Anantara Chiang Mai Resort

Fri 5th Sep

As one of the Lanna capital’s most beautiful hotels – with tranquil lawns that front the Mae Ping River, Zen courtyards, and a magnificent teak mansion that once served as the British consulate – Anantara Chiang Mai Resort is the perfect stage for artistry. On 6 and 13 September, music scholars and students from Prem International School will serenade guests at The Verandah at 1921 House. Highligh … Continued

Mandarin ducks, coy fish and Pygmy goats now added to the flock

Wed 3rd Sep

Following the success of the geese at the moat and the swans at PAO’s park, the PAO has now added ten pairs of mandarin ducks to the park. The ducks were donated by Pa Miang Sub-district in Doi Saket. Not only that the Zoo Aquarium has now donated 100 coy fish to the same lake as the mandarin ducks, in hopes of pleasing the public even further.  As to the Pygmy goats also added to the park by the … Continued

Pioneering soy bean research by Chiang Mai University picked up by anti-ageing industry  

Wed 3rd Sep

Regional Science Park North, Chiang Mai University held a press conference to announce the licensing of its soy extract tablet and skin cream to Winona International Co., Ltd. The university also signed an MOU with the company to enhance research and development of health innovations for practical use in industry and society. Assoc. Prof. Supanimit Teekachunhatean, M.D., Ph.D., Head of the Clinica … Continued

Mother seeks justice after son dies in cow-related road accident

Mon 1st Sep

Kalong Sukjui, a 56-year-old woman, is calling for accountability after her 21-year-old son was killed in a car accident involving a cow. The incident occurred when a cow suddenly ran in front of his motorcycle, causing him to fall and be struck by another vehicle. The accident happened on the Chiang Mai – Hang Dong Outer Ring Road 3, opposite the PTT gas station, at around 7.20 pm on August 26, 2 … Continued

90% of 13,698 votes say yes to the geese staying in the moat 

Mon 1st Sep

After a poll which ran for 48 hours saw 13,698 people from all over Chiang Mai and beyond vote on whether or not to keep the ten geese on the moat, following a week long experiment to house the geese moatside while they spent their days eating the overgrown duckweed, 90% said yes. As the city waited for the results of the poll, the geese have been taken away for a health check, vaccination and mic … Continued

Rescue helicopters and personnel descend to help Ban Pang Ung flood victims 

Mon 1st Sep

A flash flood and landslide occurred in Ban Pang Ung in Mae Chaem District, resulting in the deaths is currently seven people. Rescue teams continue to search for two missing 5-year-old boys. The search for the remaining two missing used a backhoe from the Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization to excavate the area where the bodies were previously found. The Department of Disaster Preve … Continued

The largest international book fair in Northern Thailand runs from 29th August – 7th September 2025 at Chiang Mai Hall, Central Chiang Mai Airport

Sat 30th Aug

Plan for Kids Co., Ltd., a leading publisher and distributor of children’s books and learning resources for families, together with Big Bad Wolf Books, the renowned international book fair organiser with a track record of hosting events across 34 cities in 13 countries, and Central Chiang Mai Airport, proudly present the “International Book Sale Featuring Big Bad Wolf 2025.” Book lovers across Chi … Continued

Monks pulled across raging river to attend funeral of flood victims in Mae Chaem 

Sat 30th Aug

Residents of Pang Oong Village in Mae Chaem District, released images showing images of a recent landslide, carrying earth and uprooted trees, which surged down into the village without warning. It has now been three days since the devastating flash floods and resulting landslides struck the area, claiming six lives. As of today, rescue teams from multiple agencies, together with local villagers a … Continued

Citylife
Chiang Mai
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Mailing List
  • Contact Us

Copyright 2019 Citylife Group .Co . Ltd. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced using any storage medium without prior written permission of the publisher.
Opinions expressed in Citylife Chiang Mai are not necessarily those of the publisher.