The Ada House journal

Stories from Chiang Mai

Local culture, hidden corners and practical tips — from the people who actually live here.

A warm Lanna-style illustration of people ducking under teak shophouse awnings during a golden afternoon downpour in Chiang Mai, a glowing mall and steamy café behind them, paper umbrellas bobbing along a rain-shined lane

Things to do · July 12, 2026

What to do in Chiang Mai when it rains

Rainy-season rain here comes in short afternoon bursts, not all-day washouts. Here's how we plan around the rhythm — and the best of indoor Chiang Mai when the sky opens.

A warm Lanna-style illustration of five songbirds perched at different heights on a temple rooftop at sunrise, musical notes drifting over the old city of Chiang Mai

Local culture · July 5, 2026

Thai tones explained without tears

Thai has five tones, and every one of them changes a word's meaning — not its mood. Here's how to hear them, why you'll get them wrong at first, and why that's absolutely fine.

A warm Lanna-style illustration of a bright, airy Chiang Mai room with a HEPA air purifier by the window, potted plants, and hazy blue mountains softened by seasonal smoke in the distance.

Health & wellness · July 5, 2026

Seasonal allergies, dust and air quality in Chiang Mai

Worried about how your allergies will fare in Chiang Mai? Here's an honest look at the seasons, the real triggers, and a simple toolkit for breathing easier.

A warm Lanna-style illustration of a lone runner on a misty lakeside path at first light, golden temple rooftops and the forested ridge of Doi Suthep rising behind

Things to do · July 5, 2026

Running in Chiang Mai: where, when and how to beat the heat

Chiang Mai rewards runners who learn its rhythm: dawn starts, lake loops and a mountain climb most cities would envy. Here's where we run, when we run, and how we handle the heat, the smoke and the dogs.

A warm Lanna-style illustration of climbers on a golden limestone crag above a green valley, one on the rope mid-climb and a belayer watching from below

Things to do · July 5, 2026

Rock climbing in Chiang Mai: limestone, caves and first climbs

Forty minutes east of the city, Crazy Horse Buttress offers some of Thailand's friendliest limestone climbing. Here's how to plan a first day on real rock — plus the gyms in town and the season to aim for.

A warm Lanna-style illustration of a monsoon downpour over Chiang Mai's Old City, rain streaking past teak rooftops and glistening lantern-lit streets, with lush emerald mountains and dramatic grey-gold storm clouds behind

Practical tips · July 5, 2026

Rainy season in Chiang Mai: the survival guide (and the case for it)

Everyone asks whether they should avoid the rainy season. Our honest, slightly heretical answer: it might be Chiang Mai at its best — if you know how it works.

A warm Lanna-style illustration of friends playing pickleball and badminton on sunlit courts framed by teak pavilions, tropical plants and mountain views

Things to do · July 5, 2026

Racquet sports in Chiang Mai: pickleball, tennis and badminton

Chiang Mai's courts cost pocket money and the players are friendly. Our guide to the pickleball boom, stadium tennis, badminton halls and where squash is hiding.

A warm Lanna-style illustration of a peaceful Chiang Mai street at dusk where a church spire, a mosque minaret, a gurdwara dome and tiered temple roofs share one gentle skyline

Practical tips · July 5, 2026

Beyond the temples: places of worship for every faith in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is famous for its Buddhist temples, but churches, mosques, a synagogue, a gurdwara and Hindu shrines have quietly thrived here for over 150 years. Here is where to find your community.

A warm Lanna-style illustration of a lively Chiang Mai morning market, vendors and visitors chatting across baskets of fruit while speech drifts between the stalls like ribbons beneath hanging lanterns

Local culture · July 5, 2026

Kham mueang: the northern Thai language all around you

That lilting speech at the market isn't Central Thai — it's kham mueang, the north's own language. Here's what you're hearing, and the few words worth learning.

A warm Lanna-style illustration of a Chiang Mai market stall piled with rice noodles, woven sticky-rice baskets, grilled chicken skewers and fresh herbs under a striped awning

Food & coffee · July 5, 2026

Eating gluten-free in Chiang Mai: rice paradise, hidden wheat

Thailand runs on rice, which makes Chiang Mai look like a gluten-free dream — until the soy sauce shows up. Here's how to eat well here, whether you're strictly coeliac or simply skipping wheat.

A warm Lanna-style illustration of a traveller showing a written allergy card to a smiling cook at a Chiang Mai market food stall, with steaming pots, fresh herbs and sauce bottles around them

Practical tips · July 5, 2026

Travelling in Chiang Mai with food allergies

Thai food and food allergies can coexist — with honest preparation. Where shellfish and peanuts really hide, how allergy cards work, and what to do in an emergency.

A warm Lanna-style illustration of a traveller greeting a smiling market vendor with a wai among morning fruit stalls in Chiang Mai's Old City

Practical tips · July 5, 2026

Essential Thai phrases for Chiang Mai: a survival kit that makes people smile

You don't need fluent Thai to thrive in Chiang Mai — you need about ten phrases and the courage to use them. Here's the survival kit that opens doors, softens prices and makes vendors beam.