EXTRACT FOR
Screw Chiang Mai
(Lorenzo Enz)
Chiang Mai is one of the biggest cities in Thailand. The mountain city in the north of the country is also a mecca for tourists from around the world. One reason for that is the mountains I just mentioned. Another is that the place is incredibly cheap.
Chiang Mai is so cheap in fact that it has become a sort of cheap charlie paradise. For those who don't know a cheap charlie is a guy who spends as little as possible when on the road. Like a penny pincher with a travel itch.
Thai people usually scorn the cheap charlies. When they come with white skin and long noses they are even referred to in local parlance as "farang ki nook" which literally means "bird shit westerners." You know, because bird shit dries on the hot surfaces in Thailand and messes everything up. Plus it's hard to get rid of. Ever try to peal seagull dung off the top of a sun baked car? It ain't fun.
Anyway even though a lot of Thais are quick to voice their displeasure with cheapskates, at least in their native language and to each other, they keep on inviting tourists to their country.
There has been a lot of talk in recent years about aiming towards a higher class of tourist but so far the backpackers in elephant pants and flip flops are still pouring in by the plane load.
Chiang Mai is set up for them too. The city is filled with hostels and hotels that don't cost much to stay in at all.
What Chiang Mai doesn't attract is a lot of guys looking to score with local chicks. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of guys in town and all men are looking for pussy deep down. But unlike Pattaya or Bangkok, Chiang Mai is not looked at as a sexual hot spot by most.
In fact, a lot of guys actually complain about Chiang Mai. The pick up artists bemoan the lack of English speaking chicks looking for foreign dick and the pay for play dudes whine about the lack of go go bars.
In reality there are plenty of bars, massage parlors and more filled with women looking for money and lots of horny regular chicks too!