Arrived in Bangkok yesterday and it’s always crazy to think that there’s this massive city of over 10 million people and countless skyscrapers just an hour’s flight away from Chiang Mai — It’s a $40 flight with no checked luggage, and with all the backpackers in Chiang Mai, airlines are pretty lenient with what counts as a carry on.

I’ll be here for eight days, doing some shopping, trying to find left-handed golf clubs, and just getting away from the northern smog for a bit. Which city is better? It’s difficult to say. Comparing Chiang Mai and Bangkok feels like juxtaposing a serene watercolor painting with an electrifying neon sign.