It's been quite a while since I last visited Chiang Mai.  There was a time when I was visiting the "Rose of the North" more or less monthly to work on some projects, so after they ended I felt I'd had a bit too much of the place and haven't been back for nearly two years.  After such a long absense, I decided it was time to return to see what had changed.

For this trip, I decided to stay at Tri Yaan Na Ros cottages, a small 'boutique' style place I'd spotted on one of my earlier trips.  It's one of a growing number of small hotels in Chiang Mai built to reflect local styles.  Tri Yaan Na Ros consists of only eight rooms, built to reflect the period around the turn of the twentieth century.  My second floor room has hardwood floors and furniture, a huge four poster bed and bathroom with a very large tub.  All is accented with locally made hand-worked silver.  The room is rather small, but it's cosy rather than cramped.  The hotel is in the middle of the silver-making area just outside the Chiang Mai Gate on the south side of the old city.  Wualai Road in front of the hotel is closed on Saturday nights for a local street bazaar similar to the one taking place in the center of the city on Sunday nights.

In the evening, on my way to the night bazaar, I stopped in at the "new" D2 hotel.  The D2 is Dusit group's resurrection of the old Chiang Inn, which had become quite decrepit by the time it closed in 2004.  It looks much the same from the outside, although a lot cleaner than it ever was when the old group ran the hotel.  However, the difference on the inside is quite stunning for anyone who knew the old hotel.  Where the old lobby was a bit claustrophobic, owing to a very low ceiling, the new lobby is quite spacious.  Half of the mezzanine that created that cramped feeling has been ripped out.  In addition, just about every surface has been painted or tiled in white.  Earth tone rugs and furniture with some accents of orange, keep things from looking too sterile.  While most hotels in Chiang Mai have gone for the traditional look, D2 has gone completely in the opposite direction, towards urban chic.  It's very cool and quite different for Chiang Mai.

More about Chiang Mai tomorrow.

Posted by michael under Just back from...

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