I’m embarrassed to say that we are a kind of fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants kind of magazine when it comes to content, rarely planning more than a month in advance. I would like to say that this is part of our strategy to provide you with only the most up to date and topical of contents, but that would be nonsense.

The gee-gees, the Sport of Kings or simply the races; there is no better way to waste a lazy Saturday afternoon in Chiang Mai than to pack a picnic, gather up some chums and head down to the Nong Hor Racing Track to bet your shirt on a filly named Potato.

Si Satchanalai is heart. It is the heart of Thailand on the map. The heart of food that feeds more than just a rumbling belly; it nourishes a hungry soul too. The heart created by generous people that truly envelope the sabai sabai lifestyle. Si Satchanalai is love and life twisted and bundled into one tight ball of yarn sitting smack dab in the middle of the country.

Reggae, Rasmee, Soul…What’s not to like about the new single released last month by the Srirajah Rockers? From humble beginnings in her hometown as a young girl to now appearing on almost every entertainment news channel and being booked up for months in advance by those craving her Isaan soul vibes, Rasmee has been taking Thailand’s alternative music scene by storm.

Over the past few months Citylife has received numerous emails, and even had personal visits, from expatriates who have expressed frustrations over the ongoing problems at Chiang Mai Immigration Office. Online forums and social media groups have been overflowing with criticism of the department, which so many rely on. We have heard of long queues, all-night vigils, allegations of corruption, overworked staff and a mounting number of people given wrong (or not being given) information, causing them to go to great expense to pay overstay fines or having to leave the country to redo their visas, and these are just some of the more frequent gripes.

The Chiang Mai Grand Canyon has for many years been a not-so-secret watering hole jealously guarded by many of us here in Chiang Mai. This dramatic looking man-made canyon was created when land was quarried to extend the Chiang Mai International Airport runway. Sheer cliffs of up to fifteen metres, off which truanting kids used to enjoy heady afternoons jumping into the azure deep waters which now filled the old quarry. As it became better known and more popular, accidents and deaths have led to frequent headlines, just in the past few years alone, there have been six reported deaths. So, Citylife was highly sceptical when invited by the new Grand Canyon Water Park to review its new facilities.

With so many new restaurants opening up all over the city, we sometimes forget that time tried and tested restaurants are still here for a reason — quality. Le Crystal has been one of the city’s finest restaurants since it opened its doors nearly a decade ago.

Lovers of art will be pleased to hear that Chiang Mai’s most exciting art venue will be holding a new exhibition by famous local artist Kamin Lertchaiprasert, ‘Timeless Present Moment’.

Drinking in Chiang Mai is a must, whether it be cold bubble tea in the morning, hot coffees to stay awake after a big lunch or a lazy Sunday brunch with bloody Marys.

Healthy? Check. Tasty? Check. Cheap and cheerful? Check. Check.

Organic lifestyles are all the rage these days, and where better to go than a hidden farm tucked away somewhere in the foothills of the mountains. Get to know the locals, experience new craft and farming techniques and stay away from the city for a few days at these super cool farmstays.

To paraphrase Monty Python’s question of the Romans, ‘What has the army ever done for us?’ With 20 coups under their belts since the start of constitutional monarchy in 1932, endless meddling in politics, massive (and controversial) spending on military equipment and regular posturing over border issues, we often forget that the Royal Thai Army does in fact do a lot of work, especially in times of disaster and for those most in need for rural areas.