Cyn needs help!
 

We arrived in Luang Prabang, and find that the air quality here is just as bad Chiang Mai. We're thinking we need to get out of this, but don't have a clue where we should go.

Looking at the most recent NASA map i could find shows fires throughout SEA, so I don't know if going south to Phuket would help, or if Cambodia would be any better?

Yikes, this is such a shame for these people that live here - at least we have to option of getting out to somewhere...

Help!

<font color="green">Cyn</font>

In Siem Riep, you can smell burning trash continuously. Some places are better than others, but it is omnipresent.

When I was in Lijiang 2 weeks ago, the air was absolutely pristine. Lijiang is actually fairly close to CM -- Thai has 2x/week flights from CM to Kunming, and there are frequent and inexpensive flights from Kunming to Lijiang.

We returned from Phi Phi six days ago. No problems with air quality anywhere in the Phuket area.

Cyn I'm so sorry to read of your hazy travails! I hope you get at least some leisure/enjoyment during the remainder of your trip.

I leave for the area in just over a week. Hopefully, by the time I reach Chiang Mai on the 7th te air quality will have improved.

Sorry hear that you are still having problems. We are off to the Anantara @ Chiang Saen at the end of the month and then downriver to LP so I checked out the current situation with the manager at the Anatara and got the following reply:

I have been following CNN and other media channels talking about the smoky atmosphere. Actually it’s the same here most years when the farmers burn the rice stubble before planting again.

The haze was worst last Sunday 11 and the visibility has improved considerably every day since, the visibility is now about 2 KM. The haze will clear totally as soon as here has been a good downpour of rain which is due anytime now. The rain normally starts between now to mid April.


It sounds as though things are improving but probably not quickly enough for you - I have been in Northern Laos before at this time of year and there is usually a smokey smell in the air but this is obviously much worse than usual - a good downpour of rain will really make a difference v. quickly.

Good luck!

Thanks for the suggestions everybody.

We were in China a few years back, so we certainly expected to be dealing with the air pollution, but this goes so far beyond that. It appears to be getting worse here as well, if that's possible. Yesterday from our hotel we could see (through haze) the temple on the hill - today it's gone.

crellston - I would keep a close eye on it - everyone is saying it is much worse than ever before, and in the Bangkok post for yesterday, they are talking of declaring the Chiang Rai province a disaster area.

Rain would really help!

<font color="green">Cyn</font>