Well, I'm now a farang (foreigner) in Thailand, and I must say that I'm enjoying it. Chiang Mai is everything that you'd expect from an Asian city; polluted, crowded, noisy. So how can it be enjoyable you might ask. Well that is due largely to two main things; the cost and, more importantly, the people. In this city you can get 150 baht/hr massages, 10 baht/hr internet (although reliable internet will cost you 20 baht), full meals at a restaurant (2 dishes and a 630 mL Singha) for 120 baht, fresh mango for 45 baht/kg and a 1L bottle of water for 6 baht, which you can get refilled for 1 baht. At the current exchange rate of 1 CAD = 30 Thai Baht, these prices work out to $5/hr, $0.33/hr, $4, $1.50/kg, and $0.20, respectively.
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