Tuesday, Jan 6

Today was mellow. I had my first in-person Thai class in the early evening, so I stayed in, worked a bit, finished a book – just enjoyed being a retired person.

I got to class early, but it was okay as there is a little coffee shop next door where I was able to kill some time enjoying iced orange espresso and the weather, which is currently perfect: blue skies, low 80s during the day, cool evenings. The kind of weather that gives me spring fever. I want to be out in it especially in the evenings, but I haven’t found exactly the place to go that doesn’t involve drinking, spending money, or a lot of walking. The search continues.

The class is held in a co-working space, and honestly I’d go just for the chairs. A real desk chair for an hour and a half. No back pain, no numb legs, no pinched nerves. What a relief to finally sit in comfort!

Class itself was good. Five students at different levels, plus a teacher who’s energetic, charming, and who believes in a lot of one-on-one speaking practice with one another. We covered a lot, and I mostly kept up. I’ll study before Friday and hope for the best.

Then home. Two pieces of toast for dinner. I already need groceries again, the lettuce froze itself to death in the fridge, and the kitchen is missing just enough basic tools to make even ramen feel nearly impossible.

Wednesday, Jan 7

Did I mention I’m doing a “Leaving the House Every Day in January” (of my own making) TikTok challenge? I scared myself a bit in Japan when I stayed inside for almost two straight weeks. That felt great but not so great. I was great, I loved it, but I also don’t want to spend the rest of my life like that.

So this morning I decided to walk. The building is on a big, ugly main road, but I’d noticed my taxis taking back streets that looked more interesting so I was hoping to walk on them to my morning’s destination, a cute little restaurant about 13 minutes away, called Gopuek Godum Chiangmai.

Except Google Maps insisted on sending me along the main road. Ugh. I walked and walked, checked the map…still 12 minutes away. Walked more. Walk walk walk. Checked again. Still 11 minutes away. How?? It ended up taking about 25 minutes total, but I made it and got the last empty seat in a very busy place. Think “fancy shack,” with “fancy” at half-strength.

Many Instagrammers. Real cameras, very intentional shots of food, people laughing, etc. I’ve seen a lot of that here I don’t really get why people are so irritated by them. They’re just doing their thing. I’m more irritated by their irritation, quite honestly. If they’re not interfering with you doing YOUR thing, just…move along.

I ordered the steamed bread with dipping custard I’d seen online (yes, I took pictures too) and a Thai coffee…black coffee with sweetened condensed milk.

I LOVE sweetened condensed milk. We always had a can on hand growing up, in case my mother wanted to make those 7 Layer Magic Bars, with the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips, and sweetened condensed milk. I would usually sneak open the can and play King of the Wind (by Marguerite Henry – if you were a horse girl you’ll know this), when Agba the stable boy was feeding the orphaned Sham as a foal. He’d mix camel’s milk with honey to make a thick, rich meal for Sham, to help give him strength so he’d survive.

I imagined the sweetened condensed milk to be similar to camel’s milk and honey (thick, syrupy, sweet) and I would play Agba, feeding Sham (also me) the lifesaving mixture.

Wow. That all just came back awfully vividly.

Coincidentally, I had Burger King for dinner, and they offered Chinese donuts with sweetened condensed milk for dipping. Ha, speak of the devil. And yes, please.

After breakfast I walked to a nearby 7-11, grabbed a few things, and called a taxi to take me home, then had a low-key afternoon of work and rest.

The pool below my balcony was lively, people talking and laughing, splashing, kids shouting…and I realized I’ll miss that when I move to the other side of the building next week.

Thursday, Jan 8

The building (condo) courtyard

Basically a peaceful day. I didn’t go anywhere but was very productive with work, blog, social media, AND I have a gecko now. He moved in this afternoon and is very cute.

Friday, Jan 9

Had my second Thai class tonight. Timed it better this time, so I got there just in time to grab a coffee from next door and be the first one in class, but not for long. We reviewed last week’s material then moved on to more more more! I can’t believe I used to do this Every Day back in Korean school. Just having class twice a week is hard enough to keep up with!

After class I finally walked to the fruit stand. It was about half a mile walk on a quiet, mostly residential street. But then you turned the corner to the stand and BAM here’s where everyone was! Anyway, the fruit lady is literally just a big fruit cart, and she had waterelon, apple, cantaloupe, mango, papaya, pineapple…others that I can’t remember. But a bag is 45 baht, which is about $1.44 US. I got 3 bags: watermelon, cantaloupe, and apple.

Such a difference from Korea, where fruit was SO Expensive!

Then I got a taxi to take me home. Goodnight.

Saturday, Jan 10

After a quiet morning at home just…being a person who lives, I headed to Old Town in the afternoon to walk around, take some street and temple photos, and grab dinner.

Old Town is a compact, very walkable square mile surrounded by old walls and a moat, full of temples, cafés, street food, and markets. It’s about 15 minutes/$5 by taxi from me, and I’ve already been a couple times and there will be many more visits, maybe even an overnight at some point so I can get to more places on my list.

I started at Phae Gate on the north side, where pigeons and photo shoots are a big thing, but there was scaffolding everywhere so I didn’t stay long. Once inside the walls, I headed for the Elephant Temple (my name), Wat Chiang Man, but managed to visit a different temple full of elephants instead. I wandered around for a while, never found the famous elephant chedi. Boo.

It wasn’t just getting to the temple that wore me out, I’d taken a lot of detours. Shiny things down alleys, side streets luring me, interesting photos to take, cats to pet…all take time and energy. I end up exhausted and sweaty before I’ve even gotten from Point A to Point B.

After leaving the not-actually-the-Elephant-Temple, I was about a 15-minute walk from dinner. The shortest route went one way, the more interesting route went the other…so of course I went the other. Eventually I spotted a tuktuk sitting idle, and before I knew it I was zipping along the moat to dinner. I handed the driver 100 baht, fully expecting change I’d tip back to him, but he just thanked me and off I awkwardly climbed, not knowing if I’d over- or underpaid. Oh well. Either way, $3.17 well spent.

Dinner was at Kat’s Kitchen, often proclaimed “the best kao soi” in Chiang Mai. Honestly, it was good but not as good as the one I had at the market last week. As a solo diner I was sequestered way in the back instead of the outdoor area, but it was fine. Kao soi, papaya salad, and a Coke: $4.92.

Taxi home, with my first chatty English-speaking driver. I asked if I could practice my (very limited) Thai, and we chatted awkwardly the whole ride. It felt good to realize I’m actually doing it and being understood. More or less 🙂

I ended the night with a long phone call to my best friend back home, then sleep.

Sunday, Jan 11

A stay-home day after all my walking yesterday…did the usual, remote work, blogging, tiktok, IG, straightened up the apartment, read. I can’t believe tomorrow I have to pack up to move to Airbnb #2 on Tuesday. I didn’t fully unpack here, just took out what I thought I’d need, but I still have to fit it all in…and the food/fridge things…and clean up. Ugh.

Oh well. See you next week!

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