Exploring Chiang Mai

I had no idea what to expect before I got to Chiang Mai, but I was excited for its rich history, beautiful temples and friendly people. When we arrived, the first thing I noticed was that the weather was cooler and waaay less humid than Bangkok, which was such a nice change! Along with quieter streets, different food and pretty much everything else... I decided to stop comparing the two cities altogether. I had a list of things to see and places to go, and my only problem was fitting it all in to a few days!

Part of the moat that surrounds the centre of Chiang Mai

The importance of having less

In light of the festive season, I have thought a lot about the materialistic side of Christmas and how my values of such have changed drastically since last year. I make a decent salary in Bangkok, and I go from month to month with no real worries about money. I am able to save, go out on the weekends and plan awesome holidays. Even though I stick to some sort of budget, its never really a stressful experience in terms of day to day expenses. Just recently I was thinking about how much my spending has changed when comparing 24 year old me living abroad to 22 year old me back home, that was always working (sometimes 3 jobs) but for some reason always running out of money. I figured it out... and this epiphany is something that has actually changed me in the best possible way. I don't waste my money on 'stuff' anymore.

5 Baht butterfly crumpets anyone?

Tassled bags

I am crazy about hassle bags making a comeback! It gives me the opportunity to get involved with the boho chic summer style without going too retro. I have seen them everywhere from high end stores to forever 21 and they are sticking for the next season! Bring on the 70's style tassels on everything from suede jackets to stilettos. Here are some awesome tassel bags for you to get boho.

Image from whowhatwear.com

WXYZ Bar @ Aloft Lounge

I have had the pleasure of spending a couple of evenings at WXYZ bar @ Aloft Lounge since I moved to Bangkok, most of the time being for a friends birthday event. Situated on the well-known expat road of Sukhumvit Soi 11, it is the perfect spot to have a good night out with friends after a long week. I think this has a lot to do with the drinks special that takes place every Friday and Saturday night which seems almost too good to be true: Unlimited cocktails, beers and shots from 9pm to 12am for the bargain price of 600 Baht per person.

The entrance to WXYZ bar

Thai street food favorites

When you visit Thailand, or live here like I do, you will certainly find yourself eating most kinds of Thai street food available on every corner (literally anywhere you go). After my various experiences with street food in Bangkok, I thought I would share with you my favorites, as well as some tips to remember. Don't be nervous about ordering street food and only eat western style food when you are in Thailand, it would be such an opportunity missed.

There are also many fancy Thai restaurants that offer a selection of authentic foods, but I find that you are then paying double the price for a meal that could be cooked more authentically right on the streets like the locals have it. The language barrier makes ordering food a slight challenge but just pointing to things and hoping for the best often works! Here are the Thai names and descriptions to help you out a bit. Street food is the best!

Papaya Salad (somtam thai)

Papaya salad is possibly my favorite of all the street foods! It is crispy and fresh, with the main ingredients of unripened papaya, carrots, sprouts and peanuts. Added to the mix is flavors such as garlic, palm sugar and fresh chilli (be sure to ask for 'mai pet' if you're not into too much spice). It is great for a lunch time meal with sticky marinated chicken (gai yang) added to it. You will be able to spot a somtam stand by the big piles of shredded papaya in the glass window. Make sure to specifically ask for somtam 'Thai' if you're not a fan of tiny dehydrated baby shrimp being thrown into the mix (they're kind of off-putting).

Beaching it in Ao Nang, Krabi

When deciding where to go for our upcoming long weekend, we thought to go somewhere beautiful yet slightly untamed. After countless stories and photo's of Phuket, Phuket, Phuket from fellow travelers and friends, I felt as if I had already been there. This is not to say I'll never go to Phuket but since living and teaching in Bangkok, its always a hunt for the non-touristy destinations and unusual experiences.

Postcard moment on Tub Island

A day in the life of an English teacher: BKK

I honestly have the most rewarding job as an English kindergarten teacher, and I live in the huge unpredictable city of Bangkok, Thailand. I thought I would share my typical week day in this wonderful place I call home (for now).

Its such a great feeling to wake up in the morning and not have to drag myself out of bed after hitting the snooze alarm 3 times. I splash some cold water on my face, put on my uniform of black pants and a polo shirt (a different colour for every day of the week) and do my hair and make up. In Thailand the way you present yourself is very important in terms of how others see you. Its more about the fact that you look after yourself than pure vanity, so I put a little more effort into my appearance. In the same way, the Thai teachers that I work with are some of the kindest and most genuine people I have ever met, and we are constantly laughing and joking around with each other.

Teacher A and I taking a selfie