The Ada House journal
Stories from Chiang Mai
Local culture, hidden corners and practical tips — from the people who actually live here.
The Inthakhin: Chiang Mai's sacred city pillar and the spirits who guard it
Somewhere beneath modern Chiang Mai runs an older operating system, and at its centre stands a pillar said to be a gift from a god.
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International Schools in Chiang Mai: A Calm Guide for Relocating Families
Moving to Chiang Mai with children? Here's a calm, honest look at the schools, the choices and the small practicalities — so you can decide at your own pace.
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Having a Baby in Chiang Mai: a calm guide for expat parents
Expecting, or quietly hoping to be? Plenty of expat couples welcome their babies here and look back on it fondly. Here is the gentle, practical version.
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Chiang Mai Flower Festival: the city in full bloom
On the first weekend of February, Chiang Mai dresses its streets in chrysanthemums and roses and throws a parade. It's one of our favourite mornings of the year.
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Eating well in Chiang Mai on a budget
One of the quiet joys of living here: you can eat superbly for the price of a coffee back home. Here's how the Ada House team does it, every single day.
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The white elephant that chose the mountain
Long before there was a road or a staircase, the story goes, a sacred white elephant climbed the mountain to choose the holiest ground in Chiang Mai. This is where it knelt.
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Dangerous Animals in Chiang Mai: A Calm Guide to Snakes, Stings and Bites
Chiang Mai's snakes, centipedes, scorpions and mosquitoes look scarier than they are. A calm field guide to what is genuinely risky, what is not, and exactly what to do if something bites or stings you.
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Cosmetic surgery in Chiang Mai: a sensible medical-tourism guide
Aesthetic work abroad can go well — if you slow down, do your homework and let yourself heal. Here's our honest, non-salesy take on doing it sensibly.
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Common scams in Chiang Mai (and how to sidestep them)
Good news first: Chiang Mai is gentle, and the handful of scams here are mild and easy to dodge. A little awareness is genuinely all it takes — here's the lot.
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Chinese New Year in Chiang Mai: lions, lanterns and the Warorot streets
When the red lanterns go up over Kad Luang and the drums start, Chiang Mai's old Chinatown throws one of the warmest parties of the cool season. Here's how to join in.
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Chiang Mai University and the student-area vibe
There's a reason Chiang Mai feels so young, creative and caffeinated — a big leafy university at the foot of Doi Suthep. Here's how to enjoy it, student or not.
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Can Foreigners Buy Property in Chiang Mai? An Honest Guide
Thinking of putting down roots in Chiang Mai? Before you fall for a view, here is the honest, jargon-free picture of what foreigners really can and cannot buy.
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