I’m about to head down and get a 2-hour Thai massage from one of the teachers at the massage school across the street from my condo in Chiang Mai. It will cost 400 Bhat. That’s about $12 US. This is on the high-end of what I usually pay for a massage here. The delicious green curry meal that I ate for lunch cost 40 Bhat ($1.33 US). I love it here!
A few things are actually more expensive. For example, I like to make a protein shake in the morning. Protein powder costs about 4 times what it costs in the states. That’s because they just don’t manufacture very many supplements here like they do in the US and they have to be imported. Probably only the “farang”, foreigners, would buy them.
---Ryan Eliason is a professional life and business coach. You are reading his personal blog. Subscribe here. Also, see his professional blog for bite-sized business building tips and lifestyle design strategies. Download your FREE audio seminar and workbook on How To Have The Best Year of Your Business and Your Life.
Here’s a quick update on my transition into living in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The plane ride was pleasant and exhausting. I spent the first 3 days looking for an apartment. Nok and I drove all over the city on her motorbike, looking at condos and apartments in the best neighborhoods. We looked at more than 30 places and it was exhausting. While rents are very reasonable here, there isn’t much selection in the mid to upper range type of place that I was looking for. However, all the hard work paid off and I found a nice, clean condo, in a great neighborhood, with a kitchen, that would allow me to do month to month.
The next set of challenges revolved around getting office supplies, home supplies, and electronics to set up my living and working environments. What would have been a simple straightforward task in the US was quite an adventure here in Thailand. Fortunately, I had Nok to translate for me with all of the sales-people.
Finally, I landed and was beginning to set up a comfortable home base. If you really knew me you’d know that my “space” has always been very important to me. If my parents were reading this, they would nod their heads in agreement. I can handle a lot of stress and challenge in my life, but I need to have a home base that is quiet, clutter-free, and organized to back me up.
The next challenge was a blow to my health. I came down with the classic, acute, traveler’s type sickness. I’ll spare you the details of symptoms. Let’s just say it involved a multiple-day fever, among other things. Fortunately, I’m on day-4 now and I’m feeling much better.
I’ve been driving Nok’s motorbike so I can get used to the extremely different traffic patterns here, as well as learn how to get around in this city which feels about the size of SF. I’ll be renting my own motorbike tomorrow for only $75 per month. Don’t worry about me. I’ve been riding motorcycles since I was six years old when I had my first off-road mini-bike.
Now that most of my basic survival and operational needs (home, office, internet, transportation, telecommunications, etc) are getting met, I can begin to focus the upper level needs in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: fun, recreation, making new friends, finding a gym so I can stay in shape, etc.
Nok and I attended a fundraising event for a non-profit that rehabilitates psychologically injured elephants. Sadly, there are a lot of those here in Thailand. We will be attending their elephant camp soon.
We went to a beautiful waterfall today and I fell asleep on a rock near the base. The vendors were selling all kinds of snacks, including fried worms and bugs. I wasn’t feeling quite that adventurous today.
Ryan Eliason is a professional life and business coach. You are reading his personal blog. Subscribe here. Also, see his professional blog for bite-sized business building tips and lifestyle design strategies. Download your FREE audio seminar and workbook on How To Have The Best Year of Your Business and Your Life.
