House of the Spirits

Thailand is buddhist, but - perhaps even more - it's animistic. And in Northern Thailand, there are spirits everywhere.

You'll find far more temples than 7Elevens in Chiang Mai. If you've been to Asia, you know what that means. And with a ban on high-rise buildings closer than 90 metres to a temple, Thailand's second city has effectively stopped (almost) all construction that disturbes the conformity of its small-scale city-centre.

But outside the old centre, a new city is sprawling. Not as bustling as Bangkok, but aspiring and wealthy.

It's far from everything, but good food, excellent riverside restaurants and resorts, some truly amazing temples and an endless flower market creates a complex offering that is really appealing. Buy a house now for retirement and age close to the spirits.