The Ada House journal
Stories from Chiang Mai
Local culture, hidden corners and practical tips — from the people who actually live here.
Thai public holidays: what closes, the alcohol ban, and how to plan around it
Most days the city hums along as normal — but a handful of holidays close the banks, shut immigration and stop the shops selling beer. Here's how to plan around them.
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LGBTQ+ Chiang Mai: A Welcoming, Practical Guide
Thailand is one of the most accepting countries in Asia, and Chiang Mai carries that spirit in its own gentle, friendly way. Here's an honest look at the culture, the scene and what's worth knowing — as a visitor or a future resident.
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Getting Married in Thailand: A Foreigner's Honest Guide
A temple wedding is the romance; a small district office is what makes it legal. Here is the honest, step-by-step picture for foreigners marrying in Thailand.
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Detox, fasting and wellness retreats in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has quietly become a hub for detox, fasting and wellness retreats. Here's an honest look at the types on offer, and how to approach one sensibly.
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A Guide to Chiang Mai's Neighbourhoods: Where to Live
Each of Chiang Mai's neighbourhoods keeps its own rhythm. Here's how to find the one that fits the life you actually want to live here — not just visit.
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Travel Vaccinations in Chiang Mai: A Calm Guide to Jabs and Clinics
Wondering which jabs you actually need before settling into Chiang Mai? Here's a calm, honest look at the usual vaccines and where to sort them out locally.
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Tipping and Bargaining in Chiang Mai: How It Actually Works
Neither tipping nor haggling is the minefield first-timers fear. Here's how both really work in Chiang Mai — relaxed, modest and always with a smile.
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Cha Yen, Oliang and the Blue One: A Guide to Thai Drinks
Beer's fine and the coffee scene is booming, but Thailand's real everyday refreshment lives on the market cart: sweet orange tea, midnight-black oliang, bright pink milk and a tea that changes colour. Here's how to drink your way through it.
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Royal Park Rajapruek: Chiang Mai's Garden of Gold and Flowers
A grand golden Lanna pavilion, gardens from a dozen countries and an orchid house, all on the leafy south-western edge of town. Here's how to make a relaxed half-day of it.
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Ride and Delivery Apps in Chiang Mai: Your Survival Guide
A handful of apps quietly run daily life in Chiang Mai — summoning a car, delivering dinner, restocking the fridge. Here's how to use them from day one, and where the old red trucks still win.
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Glasses in Chiang Mai: Eye Tests, Frames and Why Expats Stock Up Here
Sharp eyes, kind prices. Here's how to get an eye test, new frames or contact lenses sorted in Chiang Mai — often the same day.
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Mon Cham: Strawberry Farms and Ridge-Top Views Above Mae Rim
An hour north-west of the city, a Hmong farming ridge has traded its opium past for strawberry rows, flower terraces and one of the finest views in the north.
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