ILA Magazine: Discover the Best Retirement Haven + 14 More Subscribe Now and Save 35% about subscribing to International Living Magazine Walk down any supermarket aisle in Australia and the shelves are lined with preservative-laden items marketed as ‘food’. They may be edible, but that doesn’t mean they’re good for you. I was forever scanning ingredient lists to ensure we were eating food made from natural ingredients. But it wasn’t always easy—or cheap. Here in Chiang Mai, that isn’t a problem...
One of the things I miss most about Melbourne is the coffee. The city is famous for its cafe scene; latte drinking is practically a Saturday morning sport. So when my fiancé and I made the decision to move to Chiang Mai, Thailand, earlier this year, we knew we’d have to lower our expectations when it came to all things caffeinated. Thankfully, Chiang Mai’s eclectic mix of coffee shops means we haven’t...
The Chiang Mai suburb of Nimman is fashionable and fun, without being too pretentious. And while there’s certainly a Western influence, it still retains an authentic feel. And I must admit, as a resident of Nimman, I find the easy access to coffee shops, convenience stores and pharmacies a blessing. Everything you need is right on your doorstep—whether it’s laundry detergent or an extra strong latte...
I’ve been dreaming of visiting the ancient city of Bagan ever since I saw a photo of hot air balloons floating over the thousands of temples dotted around the Bagan Archaeological Zone. Bagan was once the capital of the Pagan Kingdom, the first kingdom that unified the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar. During the kingdom’s height between the 11th and 13th centuries...
When one of my closest friends announced she was coming to visit me in Chiang Mai, I was thrilled. She was excited too, of course, but also nervous. You see, Hayley has a fructose intolerance, which means garlic, onion and honey, as well as certain fruits and vegetables, are strictly off-limits...
It’s been almost a year since Dean Kaufman retired to Chiang Mai and taking the time to visit and revisit in the run-up to his move definitely paid off. “I had previously visited Thailand but Chiang Mai was vastly different to the rest of the country. It made a strong impact on me,” says Dean, 47. “The number one thing that drew me to Chiang Mai is the people...
New Zealand is a country of incredible, unparalleled beauty. The South Island in particular is renowned for its mountains, lakes and glaciers, including New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki Mount Cook, which is almost 4,000 metres high. The South Island is the larger of the country’s two major islands—the other being the smaller but more populous North Island...
My fiancé, Jason, and I have been living in Chiang Mai just shy of two months, and continue to be enthralled by the city’s bustling vibe and seemingly never-ending beauty. When we made the decision to move here, many of our friends and family raised concerns. Was it safe? Was it clean? Would we be able to enjoy all the creature comforts we’d grown accustomed to back home...
Before moving here, I knew Chiang Mai offered low-cost living and that the savings I’d make would mean I’d be in for a nice lifestyle upgrade. But I didn’t realise just how good the value was. Now I’m settled in, I’ve a good handle on my budget and the savings I’m making run right across the board, from the essentials to the little luxuries...
When my fiance Jason and I woke up yesterday morning, we weren’t sure where we would be living beyond our two-week stay at a serviced apartment in Chiang Mai’s Old City. By midday, that had changed. We’d signed a lease on a luxury one-bedroom condo in Nimman—a trendy area full of restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and boutique hotels—for the very attractive price of 20,000 baht ($827 a month).