Air Pollution in Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand: I think it is time for travel websites and guide books to make known the fact that this is a "no go" area in Februay, March and early April due to extreme air pollution! Chiang Mai is now 5 times over the international "danger" level and Mae Hong Son is currently up at 9 times the "danger" level. This is due to totally illegal and unregulated slash and burn. Tourists and longterm expats alike are leaving in droves and heading to the south to escape breathing problems, asthma attacks and lung cancer.
The "mai pen rai" attitude of the government means nothing will be done til tourists start avoiding the area. Then, when it starts to hurt economically, things will begin to improve, we hope! I live about half a mile from Doi Suthep mountain....near enough to see the individual buildings and trees on a clear day. Today, I can't even see the mountain...it has totally disappeared into the smog!
