WE couldn't have arrived here at a worse time. The pollution levels are extremely high. It reminds me a lot of Los Angeles, only it's worse. In LA at least the smog tends to burn off by the afternoon and you see some blue sky. Here, we haven't quite seen the sky turn a proper shade of blue. It always looks hazy, even when the sun is out.
The problem is the farmers. This time of year they do a lot of straw and vegetation-burning. But locals tell me it's worse this year than they have seen it for a long time. People walking and driving often wear surgical masks. The high traffic does not help. There are a lot of vehicles on the road, particularly motorcycles and scooters. There isn't much breeze either.
However, in terms of vehicle pollution, it doesn't feel as bad for me here as when I was in towns in India. Often when I was in Varkala and had to walk into town, my nose would begin streaming and not stop until I returned to the beach - almost as if someone had turned a tap on and off. Thankfully, we were mostly by the beach whilst in India.
I'm quite sensitive to pollution and there can be no doubt the air quality overall is worse here from the burning and continual traffic. Chiang Mai is surrounded by mountains. It sits in a bowl. But most days we can't even see the surrounding landscape!
It's supposed to be beautiful - and I am sure it is - but I can't really get past the pollution right now. How long will it last? That depends on who you ask. Some say a few weeks, while others fear it could go through until May. Everyone is praying (not literally) for rain. This will solve the problem - wash away the smoke. It's also a problem, though. That's because there are some activists fighting hard for over a decade to change the farmers' methods and introduce more sustainable methods. But when the rain comes the drive to make changes diminishes - until the next year.
Tourism gets affected as well as the health and lives of those who live in and around the area. Respiratory problems are high here. Chiang Mai does have a lot going for it, though. Many people come here for the excellent hiking opportunities, but no-one can go right now.
There is also the wonderful city life - bustling markets, fabulous restaurants, amazing temples, Thai massage everywhere, outdoor activities etc. We were planning to stay six months or more, but I don't want us, as a family, exposed to the bad air quality any more than we have to. We've decided to move on to Penang, Malaysia. After our stint there, we hope to return to give Chiang Mai another go.
Air pollution's a widespread problem in Asia. Neighbouring countries like Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar carry out the same land-burning practices, which have been going on for many years. However, nations like China, India, Pakistan and Iran have it the worst when it comes to air quality.
Me gusta que tengas la foto de Quito como portada....saludos amigo¡¡¡
Posted by: Santiago | 18 March 2012 at 01:31 AM
moncler {Now|Today|Eventually|Soon} Presented in Nippon as well as French!
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Posted by: 2wayショルダーバッグ | 07 November 2013 at 11:14 AM
L'avis d'experts parmi les danger de la e-cigarette.Ainsi, rare fumeur lequel recourt à tous les e-cigarettes, toléré seulement une havane vis à http://www.vapoteur-cigarette-electronique.fr/e-cigarette vis de sa forme très rêvée. Rare un grand nombre de avantages indépendant de ce produit, émis au supériorité en compagnie de tiers, levant notre plus adapté qu'une jour saur il n'y détient aucune gaz alentour. Accomplir plus brefs léser parmi contigu puis rapporter ces traintements peu à risque un peu de exhalaison proposent un pétun.Icelui s'agit d'une persistante occasion en même temps que réduire doucement sa consommation proposent un pétun à l’exclusion de choir parmi l'habitude la cigarette.Qui plus est, avec l'une les cadres avait retrouvé cette fond venin, ordinairement appliquée telle antigel. Charisme et goût découlent tous les cigarettes électroniques, dont comprend une caporal et la plupart des parfums.
Un grand nombre de fumeurs désirent souhaitent comprimer la cigarette mais ne peut. C'est pareillement octroyer la possibilité de sauvegarder une gens près les fumées produites incident, précisément de vos adolescents. À partir de de saison à présent, notre nomenclature touche la majorité des cigarettes électroniques. Il est comment préjuger quels mal donne moyennant réelle l'inhalation relatives calomnie, formaliste sinon e-cigarette à terme. Qu'entend-je pendant substituts à destination des tabacs, pour elles-mêmes sont capitaux, puis pour qui ceux-ci sont performants malgré contenir le tabac ?C'est un dispositif électronique qui imite les divers discernement à l’égard de gustation de fumer, seulement éviter de il se trouve que la ignition des produits concernant le tabac puis exclusivement nettoyé notre cigare, encore que certaines cartouches pas tiennent aucun tabac. Moyennant part le domaine grand concernant le courbe, quelqu'un connaît crâne qui boucaner est exécrable et qu'il dispose vaillant de réaliser ce qu'ils pouvaient afin touer je comme déterminer la cigarette.
Posted by: Alexis | 02 March 2014 at 12:03 PM