I like to talk about slow and simple life in my channel.
And today's video is not any different - I'll share our simple life in Thailand and some challenges we deal around here.
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:53 Diversity of Thailand
02:25 Where to live
04:57 Life in the city
06:37 Slow activities
07:47 Exploring
09:09 Workshops & Communities
10:23 Dealing with problems
A Simple Life In Thailand
Today's topic is not that much different except I'll share some tidbits on where we live, what it's like around here, and how we deal with some challenges that come our way, especially in a couple of months when things get a bit unpleasant around here in terms of the seasonal, large-scale smog.
So if you're curious about traveling here one day to maybe check out the nature I feature in many of my videos, or if you plan on pursuing a life in this part of the world, you might find this video interesting.
A simple life in the city
Thailand is geographically diverse, with beaches in the south and mountains in the north. We live in the northern region of the country, in Chiang Mai province, also known as the Rose of the North. From above, it looks so lush with ricefields, forests, and rich natural landscapes.
Choosing where to live
The rental cost here is lower than in the West but pretty much similar to its neighboring countries. Housing options vary from condo units to serviced apartments, houses in gated communities, and those in local villages.
We live closer to the countryside, which is what we like. Although the downside is not having easy access to public transport as when you're in the city center. So we invested in our own vehicle and there's also ride sharing options if need be.
Our city life before moving to our home
Before we settled here, we stayed for a month in the city while scouting for a home in the countryside.
While it's not our preference long term, it's convenient to be just a short walk or ride to cafes, restaurants and shops… which can both be a blessing and a curse.
Convenient as it may be, city living also comes with more traffic, not close to the countryside and there's city pollution even outside of the smoky season (more on that in a bit), so that's something to think about.
Slow and simple activities
On weekends, we enjoy going to some cafes and there are so many around here, you'll never run out of a cafe to visit. We're not coffee connoisseurs but we simply enjoy slowing down, savoring our drink and soaking in the beautiful ambience at some of our favorite cafes in town
Exploring
Motorcycle trips are another one of our favorite activities here as Thailand has good roads overall.
It may not be as comfortable as driving a car but our motorcycle rides led us to some of the most amazing hikes, trails and viewpoints in and around the province.
You would need an international driver's permit or get a Thai drivers license to drive here. In the city, there are a few checkpoint areas where cops pull you over to check your license. If you don't have any, you need to pay a fine.
Also, if on a motorcycle, be sure to wear your helmet. I've witnessed a few horrible road accidents here so it's best to stay proactive at all times.
Workshops
What I like about living in Chiang Mai is there's never a shortage of activities to do. If you're into arts and crafts, there's weaving classes, pottery, kintsugi, painting, silversmithing, cooking classes, natural tie dyeing and many of these are daily or weekly workshops.
If you like yoga, qi Cong, Tai chi, plant medicine, meditation, spiritual retreats and the like, there's plenty here too.
Or if you like sports, there are groups you can join for pickleball, disc golf, badminton, soccer, kayaking, or if you like to do play mini golf, that's an option too
Dealing with problems
Our life in chiang Mai is generally good - we have friends here, we love the nature, cafes, hikes, the people, and we feel safe and content here. But that doesn't mean there aren't any problems once in a while.
After living here for 5 years, we have found a way to make it more bearable by either leaving the country during peak smoky season from March to April, or we just stay indoors with an air purifier running 24/7.
Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoyed this video. Let me know what you think of today's topic and as I mentioned, I created a 34-page pdf with pictures, links, and information relevant to those looking to visit or live in Chiang Mai Thailand. Check it out in the link below if you're interested.