Oct 25-27th 2016 LAX to Chiang Mai, Thailand

Hey family and friends,

So I'm moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand for a few months to work on an ecommerce retail business with a successful business mentor. This city is a hotspot for people who run all types of internet based businesses. Some examples include ecommerce businesses (Amazon FBA included), freelance programmers, copywriters, designers, affiliate marketers, writers, consultants, online coaching, online course creators, youtubers, traders, and the list goes on. The quality of life compared to the cost of living is good, especially when you come from Western economies.

I went from LAX to Shianghai to Bangkok to Chiang Mai. First flight was like 13 hours. We didn't fly across the Pacific Ocean like I expected. Instead we went up California's coast, past Washington, past the southern end of Alaska, past northeast Russia and Korea, past east China and finally to Shianghai. I could see the snowy mountains of Alaska and Russia from 30,000 feet up. It was light outside the entire flight, until we landed, where it was dark and rainy in Shianghai. On China flights you aren't supposed to use your phone at all during the flight, so I watched Finding Dory and Joy on the in flight movie system (and some other random tv show episodes). The layover was kind of long, but I didn't take a nap.

On flight to BKK I got my own row and was able to sleep most of it (4.25hr flight if I remember). Landed in BKK, was a humid outside, seems like a little less than Cancun, I don't know.

(statue in the Bangkok airport)

Then I had another 3-4 hour layover in BKK and got on my 1 hour flight with vietjet air to Chiang Mai. Once I landed, I got a map which might come in handy, exchanged $20 at 33.8 exchange rate, and then went outside and tried to watch how people got a Songtao or Tuktuk from the airport. But, after about 20 minutes, I didn't see anyone do it, so I paid 150 baht ($5) to get a taxi straight to my guesthouse on the north side of Chiang Mai gate (~1 to ~2 miles away).

(Map of Chiang Mai - the square is the city center and is about 1mi by 1mi.)

This place doesn't check in until 1pm, it is about 9 am right now. So, I think I'm going to try to go walk inside the north gate (the center of Chiang Mai is the square on the map where it was designed this way hundreds of years ago with walls and a water moat for protection) into the city and explore. My bags are outside of this place though...hmm…Ended up just hanging out on the bench outside, and then the owner came outside and I talked to him and he let me know I could check in at 11 in a couple of hours. Talked to the owner who is a young guy in his 20's from Ukraine who's girlfriend is Thai; very nice guy. So, I was able to put my bags inside and then start walking around and exploring. Went to a few Buddhist temples (they are all pretty similar inside and there are tons of them). Also went to a free museum that I found walking around.

(on a small walkway bridge looking at the moat around the square Old city center)

Overall, Chiang Mai reminds me of a mix of Cancun and Los Angeles. I expected to see more cyclists, but all of the locals and many of the tourists are on motorbikes (there are a decent amount of cars too).

(Tons of motorbikes)

They drive pretty slow and safe, but on the roads that surround the Old Center city, you have to time it just right to get an opening of no traffic to cross. There aren’t any street lights on this road, so traffic just keeps coming.

It was hot out, so I went and found a lady who makes smoothies. She was really nice and made me a Pineapple Orange smoothie. Walked back to the guesthouse.

Inside the guesthouse is 3 floors of rooms with 6 bunkbeds each, some fans, and charging stations. There's two showers per floor and a bathroom. On this street, there are a lot of other guesthouses where backpacker travelers from all over the world like to come and stay. There are a few Europeans staying here now. I'm just going to stay here for a few days. I took a shower, then took a nap, and then went walking to find a restaurant around 6pm. I don’t have internet on my phone yet, so I looked up a restaurant on the guesthouse's WIFI and then started walking.

(on top of guesthouse rooftop)

Before I could get there (less than 1 mile walk), I found two other vegetarian/vegan restaurants that looked good. So, I walked in one and was handed a menu. (It was a slow night for them, there was one other couple in there, and myself). This place was a very hippie type designed venue. It had short tables on the ground with pillows for seats. There was a strong smell of incense and some trance music playing loudly. Got this plate for 130 baht ($4) and it was good.

(these 2 images from google search)

Walked back to my guesthouse and went to sleep really early probably around 9pm Chiang Mai time (it is 14 hours ahead here). My sleep schedule will be weird for awhile I'm sure. Woke up at like 4am and wrote this blog post.

(picture of a TukTuk, which is a private transport motorbike with that two wheel body added on)

Now, I need to get a SIM card for internet on my phone, get a bicycle, and find a serviced apartment.

I think I will write a blog post once a week, and then after the first month, probably just once a month until I return in February. I'll send out emails with the link to the most recent post, so stay tuned.

Preston