It was just over a generation ago when the mountains of the north of Thailand were peppered with opium fields. The efforts to eradicate opium growth by not just Thai, but international groups, have shaped much of the growth and development of the region.

It is that terrible time of the month for me called ‘deadline’, and, once again, I have nothing. Dreadful word deadline, because it’s, well, got the word dead in it. Dead is never particularly positive. Deadbeat, deadlock, deadwood.

Christmas in the tropics can be an odd experience for many people used to snowy window ledges, steaming mulled wine, last minute Christmas shopping in the cold and constant in-your-face Christmas songs and décor. So this year we help you to get into the Christmas spirit with all things Christmassy in Chiang Mai so that you are not rushing around on Christmas morning begging for spare crackers from your friends. Whether it’s where to find the perfectly festive wrapping paper, ideas for stocking fillers, where to get a turkey, who makes the best chestnut puree or where to get a Christmas tree…we’ve got you.

Lovers of bikes will know that while the thrill of the sport is in the riding of the bike itself, the moment of purchase of a new bike comes pretty close!

Our office is half way from town to Mae Rim and we have been having a ball discovering new places to explore. Our latest favourite place is Mae Rim Plaza, packed with splendid shops and services, a delicious range of food options and much more.

One of Thailand’s most beautiful school campuses is a portrait in serenity – teachers cycling down shaded paths wending their way lazily through school buildings, play grounds, sports halls and flower gardens. The odd butterfly flutters between lotuses blooming in fountained ponds and tropical trees swaying in the early winter breeze, the occasional sounds of laughter spilling out of classrooms.

The Visionary, a book by a project called Fulfilling Father’s Legacy, revealed that there were a total of 4,685 projects under the royal initiative throughout the 70 years of King Rama IX’s reign. Over 2,000 of those projects involved the management of water.

When I arrived at the lab, the smell of chocolate filled my nostrils and my blood pressure grew, anticipating that next coco hit. A machine whirred in the corner and pure 100% chocolate was churning away — conching is the official term — and I couldn’t help but just stare at the silky dark chocolaty mass as I anticipated my first taste.

If you love food, whether it’s cooking it, eating it or nibbling it while enjoying a good pint, we have a few new places to recommend to you.

Unknown to most residents of Chiang Mai, the 1981 backpacking adventures of an unassuming young Englishman hailing from Prestbury, Cheshire would go on to immortalise our fair province as part of a worldwide publishing phenomenon and international ‘playground craze’ of the early-to-mid-1980s.

December 1st is World Aids Day and Citylife is pleased to say that we will be donating part of our fundraising this year from the Citylife Garden Fair event to the Love Foundation in support of their efforts to help raise awareness about AIDS and offer support for those affected.

Get sweaty and juiced up on adrenaline as you visit one of these gyms in Chiang Mai. Whether you are looking for some cardio, endurance or just to lift something heavy, we’ve got you covered.

Troops of perfect condition Tetsujin 28 robots line the walls as original Japanese versions of Power Rangers sit in corners — some caught in a permanent state of mid-transformation, just like the cartoons. This bizarre shop is the only place in Chiang Mai that both collectors and toy enthusiasts can now come and experience some of the region’s rarest toys.

Chiang Mai is metastasising. The city is expanding in all directions and the population is bursting at the city-seams. Our industries are spouting noxious fumes and our investors are building towering condos. Our roads are congested and congealed and our cityscape is morphing into something unrecognisable. For the first time we are facing urban issues and challenges that are common to many cities around the world — traffic, pollution, waste, lack of resource management…the list goes on.

Obesity may not have been an obvious health concern for Thai people in the past, but with a growing (in all senses of the word) population, it has become obvious that there is a need to start paying attention to it.

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