3.17.25: Pollution in CM

Pollution is back in Chiang Mai. It’s official—smoky season has arrived. The mountains? Gone. The air? Feels like breathing through a campfire. Every year, I tell myself I’ll escape before it gets bad, yet here I am, watching my air purifier struggle for its life. Outdoor plans? Canceled. Windows? Sealed. It’s that time of year when the city feels like a dystopian movie set, and everyone debates whether to tough it out or flee to the beach. Classic Chiang Mai. Guess it’s time to stock up on masks, check AQI obsessively, and pretend this isn’t my fault for staying.