This morning I woke with the chickens. The chickens and my friends Nee and Mint on our pallet bed, beneath a crisp new red mosquito net. Rays of sunshine eagerly peaked through the cracks in the wooden walls, accompanied by the sounds of the morning. Slow footsteps. Chirping birds. Clanging dishes. I can’t remember the… Continue reading My Stay at a Karen Village in Northern Thailand (with Video)
Tag: 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
The View from Here
My high school art teacher, the lovely and wise Mrs. Juliana Comer, used to say, “When you start to feel frustrated with your artwork, walk away from it. When you come back to it after a little while, you’ll be able to see what needs to be fixed.” This was great advice. Great because it… Continue reading The View from Here
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
For my Mother, “Susie”
“There’s no love like first love,” my mother likes to say… I picture her in dirty cut-off shorts on her front porch, 16, coal black hair and big blue eyes, waiting on my dad to pick her up. First love. It’s a biased thing to say when you’ve only had one, mom! I know she… Continue reading For my Mother, “Susie”
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
5 Reasons Not to Take Buses in Thailand
1. The Toilets. Yes, I’m starting here! If you like to pee as much as I do, buses are not for you. While most buses have a small toilet, it’s usually something resembling a horror scene from Candy Man (kudos if you get the reference). There is no small water basin to wash your hands.… Continue reading 5 Reasons Not to Take Buses in Thailand
Amanda in Asia 