Good day,

Above is a video that recently came my way from the fine people at Jet Set Zero. It’s episode three of season eight and filmed in Chiang Mai, Thailand. They were filming and I happened to show up in the same guesthouse as themselves. Suffice to say we ended up hanging out and I make a brief cameo at 1:27 and tell these guys they need to start hustling over street food.

Jet Set Zero is a cool concept and glad to have met them.

Tips hat,

Took the bus from Chiang Mai to Koh Chang.

Here is a break down of costs.

Red truck to bus station – 40 baht

VIP Bus from station to Mochit in Bangkok- 450baht

Bus Mochit – Trat – 250 baht

2 Ferry Tickets + 2 Taxi back to where we get dropped = 220 baht

Taxi to Lonley Beach – 100 baht.

If you take a local bus, it drops you off at some dude who obviously gets a kick back, but whatever. You can go direct from Koh Chang to Khao San Road at noon daily for 250 baht. Yes. Took the bus so I could immediately catch another, worked well. Got in at 6am, was out of there at 7:30 am. Round trip was ~19-20 hours.

Koh Chang is very picturesque and relaxed, really relaxed. Up there with Koh Lanta on my “chill scale”. The scale does not exist, however if it did, it would rank well. The bungalows are now 150 baht but area also sold out. Had a headache but thought this place is too cool to sleep. Ran into this Rasta going fishing. I like fishing, we went fishing. Caught some squid.

All that sucks about fishing was with no flip flops, butchered my feet on these random ocean rocks. When getting out it was dark, went one way, then another. No flip flops on these rocks was ridiculously uncomfortable. Then was eaten alive by mosquito.  There will be no swimming at dusk in Tanzania.

One of better travel moments yet occurred here.  Out there fishing with the waves pushing you around, looking back on a nice beach with a solid beat being pumped from the speakers. Looking around and being reminded of how magical islands in this part of the world are. At night, lots to do  for the number of people here. Met many nice people already and enjoying the stay here.

My bungalow is the most basic I’ve ever had, just a room, mosquito net and fan. The bathrooms are outside like no roof made from these rock enclosures with a cold shower. That said, it’s very warm here so not so bad, still a fan of the warm / hot shower.

I’d update more but I’m here and have much better things to be doing. Very cool and peaceful way of life here. Koh Chang is large, we’re in the Lonely Beach area. Oh yeah, there is this bar that was condemned for being too close to the ocean. You can still go out on its massive patio and just relax. Like having your own massive beach front villa really.

Tips hat,

Greetings,

I’m outta Chiang Mai today. Instead of getting all emo and telling you about how I loved it and hated it. My highs, my lows and other stuff like that, let us just talk about the future, shall we? Yes, that is a brilliant idea, we shall.

Okay okay, this is a blog so let us get a bit emo. Had a good night last night. Met a lady for dinner and had a hilarious conversation. After that said farewell to my bartender friends and made my way home. Today woke up and got some stuff done. Also gave my fan to the security guards, wish I had still had it though as I’m sweating bullets right now. You don’t know how many people you actually know until you start saying goodbyes.

I hate goodbyes, especially when you may never return.

Back to the future, shall we?

Off to Bangkok then Koh Chang. Most likely taking a bus or train to BKK.  If I take a plane, I’ll get in late at night and have to wake up early to catch an 8 am to Koh Chang. It’s a 6 hour trip. Koh Chang is one of the largest islands of Thailand in the gulf. Meeting a large crew of Finnish guys at lonely beach.  Supposedly they are kicking back in $3 a night bungalows that are steps away from the ocean, sounds tight?

After that, who cares. I’d continue writing but I just feel like I need to pack everything and pretend to leave. That way I will know that I’m missing things and rectify the problem. I have a horrible habit of doing pointless stuff up until it’s so late I have no choice then being madder than the mad hatter himself and trying to get everything in while hustling to a train or bus station.

Chiang Mai was nice and the community of bloggers / expats is quite large. If settling in Thailand and thinking Bangkok, consider here as well. It’s a decent size city with a small town feel if that makes sense. It’s also insanely affordable and the people are really friendly. Thailand truly is the “Land of  Smiles”.

If you’re visiting here, join Team Chiang Mai on facebook.

After Koh Chang I will be flying to Sri Lanka for 3 weeks on my way to Africa.

This adventure is just getting started, props to those of you who have stuck with SHABL through our most boring photo of the day because SHABL has nothing fun to write about stage. Believe it or not, this place is still growing. If we were an American teen, we’d have stretch marks.

Tips hat,

P.S: Nothing.

Search Du Jour? “Good life in Chiang Mai“.

Special Notice: ~1 month left to possibly win a free 1st class Eurail pass from SHABL.

What a splendid occasion it is today, it’s November 5th, 2010. Apart from that floods of tourists, trollops and troglodytes are mixing in with the locals, travelers and transvestites walking around the streets of Chiang Mai. It’s like someone just flicked a switch and out of nowhere floods of cool people are showing up, by the bus load.

Hit up my favorite place to get a cocktail last night with my Finnish friend and met our German friend. The place was more packed at 10pm on a Thursday then it typically was at 12:30 on a Saturday night. This is awesome as yours truly has been finding Chiang Mai very relaxing but too relaxing.

If you go to Zoe & Yellow’s or Babylon or Reggae Bar, whatever… Near the bathroom there is this dude who has his little 15baht “Thai Whiskey Shop”. Take a shot of that stuff. I should make a vlog and would if my friend was still around. This Thai whiskey looks like motor oil and I”d rather drink the cobra whiskey over this stuff any day. If you’re in town, try it, trust me.

Am I the only person who gets stressed out when you’re supposed to relaxing? I find too much relaxing to be a stressful occurrence as though there is life to be living and one is missing out on it. It feels really good being able to walk down the streets and meet randoms once again. I don’t care about seeing the world, I just like meeting the interesting people in it.

Today was very relaxed so that means a bit stressful.  Woke up at 10am and made my way to the Free Bird Cafe for a travel blogger “tweet up” of sorts, yeah I go to events called Tweet Up’s, never been? You should try some time. Anyways after eating a delicious lunch that was for a good cause I just lay on the floor for about 2 hours after everyone left talking with the lady who works there.

After that, strolled around and eat random food from the streets without much a care in the world. Looking into flights to Bangkok then off to Koh Chang. Ever been to Sri Lanka? I go ta proposition to go on a trip there, considering it, indeed. That reminds me, should get teeth cleaned once more, how can you say no to a $17.50US teeth cleaning? You only have one set you know…

Side note, looking forward to ending this whole “Chiang Mai” chapter of SHABL. Just living in a strange city away from friends and family makes me wonder WTF I am doing with my life. Traveling the world in search of whatever it is that you’re searching is one thing. Killing time somewhere waiting to see if you got an instant payment via paypal is another. Everyone is searching for something FYI whether they realize it / will admit it or not.

Being in Pai sort of got the ball rolling again. It’s so easy to get “stuck somewhere”.

Oh yeah, life is short. Forget off season, if you have the time and coin, just hang out places during high season, what a different feel. This is like a new city but still glad to be making my way onward, somewhere.

Tips hat,

P.S: Lots of people like to get all snobby about how places are “ruined by tourists”. I’m the opposite, every tourist there is somewhat similar to you because they spent the time and money to get there…  Also if you don’t like tourists, you probably don’t like yourself because regardless of how “integrated” you get, you’re still a foreigner and always will be.

Greetings,

Took another mini bus home from Pai. This one was way larger but arrived in the same amount of time. Not sure how that works but it did. Pai was great fun but it feels good to be back in Chiang Mai. Well it did feel good to be back. The sights and sounds of a busy city excite me. I was thrilled until I said hello to the security guards and felt as though I had just walked into some retirement home.

First gents I saw looked not long for this world. This brings me to the point of this update. If you’re living abroad, make sure you live somewhere with a good community around it. Chiang Mai has that in the form of expats but I’m talking about in regards to your daily “good day list”. The people you see when you’re doing nothing are as important as the people you see when you make a plan.

Supposedly Koh Chang is flooded from what report. Alright by others. This apartment is valid until the 10th of November. Only makes sense to let a friend going there regardless check it out and then come down if it is worthwhile. Africa is approaching, types of malaria pills are now being considered. Not sure which to take really, whichever one is strongest one believes.

~2 hours pass

Alright, just showered and it’s COLD when you get out. That is not cool and not acceptable. Aren’t we in Thailand? My North Face jacket from Sapa is moldy as well, find this most perplexing. If one is coming up here, pack warm clothes. Seems like everything changed in 1 day and despite being in Thailand, are reminded of how far north one is.

Pai was a really great place. Was sad to leave but that is a good sign that you left while the going is good and will forever have great memories of a place. The scenery was out of this world, the food great, the people incredibly friendly. Despite only being there ~1 week we had regular hang out spots with regular friends we’d see there.

Pai is a great little town if you let yourself get involved.

Here for a few more days before migrating south then off to Africa.

Greetings!!

I feel full of life for getting out of the coma inducing retiree zone of Chiang Mai. Took a mini-bus to Pai from Chiang Mai for 150baht aka $5us. The normal bus is 72 baht and goes every hour on the hour until 2pm. This decision was last minute and all that was left was the mini-bus. Common complaints are it goes too fast and people get nauseous.

This one lady began puking when we hit the first rest stop so rest assured, it does happen. If you take a red taxi truck to the bus station don’t let them hustle you. It’s 20baht the guy wanted 80, kept saying hand it over until he left only paying 20b. It’s the principle people!

The Chiang Mai bus terminal was just like I remembered it from February, who would have thought!? We(myself and a Finnish friend) caught the 5:30 bus and got in at about 8:30. Do not opt for the back. One had grandiose plans of taking photos not calculating the time of day. Before we even got out of town it was getting dark and and the Thai guy next to me had already passed out on my arm, ahhh the life of riding the bus in Thailand. You want the seat near the door as it has way more leg room, that or any seat with isle space.

Pai has a very chilled out vibe to it.

Before that we hit up the immigration office, it was painless. I extended my visa for 30 days. It’s brain dead simple if you have 1,900 baht. You need a photo and all that jazz but they know you’ll forget so have all the equipment there. It was like 100 baht for the photos. Whole process took about 20 minutes.

Tips hat,

I have about 2 weeks to a month left in Thailand and 2 weeks until my lease is up. If I did not suffer from “trench throat” not seen in a case this bad since World War I, I’d be tempted to go. As fate would have it, no dice. Since having a 60 day tourist visa, an automatic 30 day is available for ~2,000 baht or ~$60US.

Here are some photos from the last few days which just scream Thailand.

1) Manual Ball Retrievers = I have no clue how this even passes for “safe” in Thailand. Do these guys have health insurance? Picking up balls with a sign that says “don’t hit us” isn’t my idea of safe. I didn’t even like driving balls with these guys around. Ever been hit with a golf ball? I got hit in the side of the head once from close range but it was an easy shot and it hurt, a lot.

2) Village Girls & Doi Suthep. Little girls like such could be in Vietnam or any other SE Asian country but not these two. Snapped these two on one of the many 309 steps to the temple. Was there the other day, may write about it some other time.

3) Ginger, Garlic, Basil stir fried chicken with an egg for $1.15US. The food is something I love here more than ever. The variety is unreal and the price is even better. After spending time in Thailand, “The food” is something I am sure all travelers and residence alike miss. What does $1.15us get you back home?

4) Super shady squat toilet: This squat toilet is super shady and again could be found elsewhere but… For some reason or another Thailand, which is more developed than many of its neighbors still loves the squat toilet. Personally, I detest the squat toilet like I”m sure most tourists and locals a like do.

My lease expires on the 10th and I’m in no rush to leave until then, despite part of me wanting to have hit the road a month ago. May go direct to Tanzania, not sure to be frank. Either way need to get those anti-malaria pills, pronto. A friend of mine who lives there got it after 3 years of living there… That said statistics are totally random so it could be your 100,000th bite or your 1st, why risk it?

Cordially,

Good day,

Don’t mind me as I smile and stroll around my room wearing a sweater vest with a swagger while swigging on a cold glass of club soda and enjoying a smoke. What I am about to tell you is no joke, about a place near impossible to go broke.

That has nothing to do with Chiang Mai by the way but I’m just in a pretty good mood, let us say that, shall we? So back to the main point of this here bloggery. Supposedly according to “Travel and Leisure”, Chiang Mai was voted the 2nd best city in the world to live, indeed?

First off I’m a skeptic. Who voted? How many people voted? Who reads this website? What is the demographic of the people who voted? Anyways I am also suspicious as Bangkok came in #1. Now that my skepticism is out of the way yeah, supposedly it is.

Back to more skepticism, shall we?  I contacted a newspaper about writing a story for free. They said they have a big backlog but if I want to I have to write about (insert popular locations from N. America here) as it’s vacation season soon and those are the only ones getting published. Ever wonder why so many places get so much coverage? NOW YOU KNOW.

FYI if somewhere is “paradise” in a newspaper, it’s not unspoiled paradise, ok?

Back to Chiang Mai, shall we? It’s cheap as all h3ll, quite safe as the only “violent crime” I have ever heard of here was a lady having her purse snagged. It’s also quite clean with lots of culture, amazing dining options, great wilderness near by, a long history and tones of golf courses. Supposedly per capita it has more “foreign owned restaurants” than anywhere else. I heard some old dude saying that so it may be total sh!te.

This link here is the official results. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. For the most part travelers and people going about their lives don’t read travel blogs, nope, not at all. Therefor I thank you for taking the time to read this most informative and at times ridiculous blog.

I make this point to stress that I don’t trust these results but they are results no less so… So that is most certainly that. I don’t trust the results in many elections but someone still gets to take the thrown, right?

Then again, maybe it is the 2nd best city in the world to live? I know countless people who came here for a month and never left. It also ranges all ages. Remember I paid $208.xxUS last month for rent, A/c, internet, water, utils… EVERYTHING. I’m also not living in some dump. There are plenty of Mercedes and BMW’s in the parking lot and it has a great location.

All that said, if you wanted to save serious coin, I’m sure you could live here on a fraction of that as most who live and work here don’t earn much at all a month. Not sure why you’d want to but hey, some people like that kinda thing, I think!?

Enough of this potentially ludicrous survey.

Back to swinging my cane around and using it for gregarious yet at times nefarious purposes.

Yes, that is what I shall do.

Tips hat,

P.S: It’s the weekend, go nuts or eat some nuts or lay in the sack with a bottle of jack. That or jump in your car in a pair of slacks and get a Big Mac, whatever.

Random Search: “Singapore club attire“

Greetings,

Looks like SHABL will be taking another month of R&R in Chiang Mai, Thailand. You see, I packed everything and was “ready to go physically but not mentally. They informed me I had to check out at noon latest… 4PM came around and I told them I was still thinking of going and they said to call before 5. I called them at 5 but then never showed up until 5:30.

When I showed up at 5:30 I asked how much the hydro was, not that I cared but for some reason just didn’t want to leave. The front desk said just check out tomorrow before noon, how nice. I met some other gents who weren’t of the nicest demeanor who complained about the staff where I’m staying, I have nothing but good things to say about these gregarious people.

Suffice to say it’s important to be excited about what you’re doing. Hitting the road for no other reason then being a drifter is well very driftesque, I thought maybe I was turning into a drifter but now am glad to know I’m not. Are there still travel plans? Absolutely. Do they need to be executed immediately? Absolutely not.

When one has time on their hands what is the rush? Ya ya you could say “get on with your life”. Last I checked I made a decision and am sticking with it. Besides some remote islands without electricity I’ve seen a ridiculous portion of this fine country called Thailand with only Pai and Chiang Rai left on my “go check it out list” of sorts that exists nowhere but in my mind.

The living here is easy and I just paid a full months rent, air con, high speed internet, water, utils EVERYTHING for $208.xxUS… What? I live near a mall with more food options than you can shake a stick at (not sure where that expression comes from or what it really means, fyi). It has a gym and its a $0.66 ride to the “tourist area” should one be so inclined.

I have started working on something which will take a long time to finish and I’m in no rush. Finding coders for another job has been a long slow tedious process, whatever. As a result bought an English breakfast, did some work, talked to some friends, hit the gym and am now writing this.

Get this, this opened my eyes, should open yours as well… This lady I know from the UK that I met in my travels was chatting with me on facebook… She has a predicament… To travel again or take a job travel writing for some hotel chain in downtown London… If she takes the job she has to move to London and guess what? Most of her cash will be taken up just to LIVE there… If she stays home, she has no job besides random freelance things but she’ll actually be wealthier as she can save her money and go travel again…

How many people in this world are basically just working to live? If you don’t manage to put any coin aside for yourself in a given month, you’re not growing your net worth. You can drive around in a new imported car, eat at fancy restaurants but you have no wealth. Stop thinking about “income” as wealth it is NOT the same thing. Your working income is only how much you get paid for your time. Your net worth is the total of all your assets – your liabilities.

One thing I have realized is that most of North America and I’m sure Europe too is just “Show money”, you look like you got it all but your net worth is non existent. In Asia lots of people look poor but have enough to buy whatever they want under their 10 year old mattress… Just some food for thought. If you are working and “working to live” get in some real estate. Then again look at the bust that happened just recently!?

Side note, turns out the wedding is in Arusha, Tanzania. Need to figure out how long I can get a visa there for and all that jazz. Probably go directly there in late November. Yes, that sounds about right. Ran into my golfing friend, looks like we’re going tomorrow with a friend of his from Hawaii for less than the price of lunch back home.

That’s it, that’s all from SHABL as of now. The “King Cobra Video” is near completion, look for it this week. Until then enjoy your fine wine while listening to classical music donned in a tuxedo and a top hat while your maid polishes your pocket watches and you admire your cane from the Canary Islands.

Tips hat,

Random Search: Khaosan Blog -> Video bog walk through, fyi.

Greetings,

I’ve been living in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the last month as many of you know. Doing nothing touristy and not even living in a guest house, just living here like I could be anywhere in the world. I’ve learned a few things that I will share with you, now.

1) a $4 haircut is usually a $4 haircut. If the lady is the jack of all trades chances are you’ll end up looking like a jack in the box after she is done with you. Worst hair cut of my life that I can remember.

2) Street sushi is NOT your friend 8/10 times. I’ve had it countless times and have paid countless hours for the sellers crimes against proper refrigeration. Anything with mayo is a double whammy, so to speak.

3) A $17.50us teeth cleaning is a d@mn good deal, if you’re here get your teeth cleaned even if you think they are clean… Think they are clean? Take a small mirror and check behind your front top teeth. Now get your teeth cleaned.

4) Once you have an apartment this is one of the few places in the world where a cocktail at a bar will cost you more than your daily rent.

5) Never raise your voice, it’s considered very aggressive. Just smile, be polite and don’t interfere with other peoples business and you’ll basically get along with everyone you meet. Thai people are some of the friendliest I’ve met on this planet.

6) Put on mosquito repellent. A few more of my friends got Dengue fever or had it and supposedly it really sucks. Think of it as the younger brother to Malaria and Malaria is wanted on the FBI top 100 list. You’re probably fine without it but why risk it?

7) Never take a tuk tuk unless you have to, for some reason their prices are totally out of line with the cost of living here. Take the red trucks you see everywhere. Don’t worry anyone will do, none of them have a set route.

-8) Unless it is high season, do not expect the expat night clubs to be “going off”. They usually do once a week and it’s usually a Friday when all the teachers get off. That being said, any night “could be good” but if you were a betting man you’d be shorting the excitement factor 5 nights a week and winning tidy profits.

9) When buying any type of grilled meat, ensure they have a grill and it just came off the grill. If not ensure they can put it back on the grill. Only times I’ve gotten sick from skewers are when some lady is just sitting there with them, we should all know better.

10) The Night Bazaar is a rip off and is open 7 days a week. It really has very little that the Sunday Night Market doesn’t, if anything. Expect to pay more.

11) The Sunday Night market is fun once or twice, after that it’s a good place to go meet some people or get cheap food. You will pay for the food by fighting mass crowds donned in hippy attire blocking traffic by watching someone do something like balance a bottle in the middle of the street, it gets old.

12) If you live alone, there is seriously no point in doing groceries, ever.

13) This place is incredibly fun and boring wrapped into one northern Thai city.

After living here for 1 month I have concluded that “daily life” is basically the same everywhere in the world. If you think your city is boring, go stay in a hostel during high season for a week and you’ll see it in a totally different light. Living in an apartment here is a VERY different trip than living in a guest house.

Tips hat,

P.S: Here another month, stay tuned for some videos.

Random Search: “Wallpaper Cockroach” – huh?