It started with just one. But then I liked it, so the next day I had three. Then four. It seemed harmless. I was lonely and these people were becoming like my family. But then something awful happened. They left me. I was alone again. I finished the series…. Today I want to tell you… Continue reading Grounded in Reality
Category: Living in Chiang Mai
Being an Expat in Chiang Mai is Easier than you Think
I think it’s time I set the record straight about just how “different” life is living in Thailand as an expat. Some friends have shared with me their notions that I live in a bamboo hut near the sea with no electricity. While secretly I like the romance of this idea (and I’ve met a… Continue reading Being an Expat in Chiang Mai is Easier than you Think
5 Reasons to Learn Thai While Living in Thailand
If you plan to stay in Thailand for any extended period of time, I recommend taking Thai language classes – for a few very good reasons (that I’ve conveniently numbered for you below ☺). 1. Time-Saving Communication 2. Better Deals $$$ 3. Less Stress 4. “VIP Status” 5. One-year Thai Visa 1. Communication. Even if… Continue reading 5 Reasons to Learn Thai While Living in Thailand
Learning Reiki
My first four months in Asia were spent with the wide eyes of a meandering backpacker. Everything was new and fresh, like ripe fruit oozing in my hands… But, as those of you who have moved to a new city know, your lens changes after a few months of residing in the same place. Famous… Continue reading Learning Reiki
Chapter 2: Settling In
I used the wire hangers already there. Last week, I moved into a studio apartment in Chiang Mai where some things had been left behind by the previous tenant. The “American me” would have bought new hangers — the fancy kind with the little grooves for strappy shirts. The new me doesn’t want to spend… Continue reading Chapter 2: Settling In
Chiang Mai: A Little Slice of California in Thailand
Chiang Mai is really not so different than San Francisco. For starters, there’s a lot of great Thai food. (It just happens to be significantly cheaper and spicier here!) But ethnic food aside, the cultural shocks and adjustments are very limited. Chiang Mai is a modern city. The second largest in the country. It’s a… Continue reading Chiang Mai: A Little Slice of California in Thailand
Saturation: A Traveler’s Decision to Stick Around
Living in the present. Easier said than done when you’re on a 12 hour bus ride! With my curtain pulled back, I can see every market we pass between Bangkok and Chumphon Pier. So many mangos… I could eat one everyday. (Oh wait, I do ☺). Why do we travel? On the bus today I… Continue reading Saturation: A Traveler’s Decision to Stick Around
Amanda in Asia 