I wrote previously that my fifth month was all about slowing down, relaxing, remaining in one place and getting lots of work done.
The sixth month of “travel” was about slowing down even more and doing absolutely nothing at all.
Seriously.
I spent nearly every day inside working, only leaving to get food and to meet up with friends.
I took five photos this month.
During the past month I celebrated Christmas away from home, which was a bizarre experience.
I’m used to spending Christmas being wrapped up warm inside, eating heaps of food, having family arguments and watching TV all day.
This year, Dave and I rode our scooter over to a small restaurant to meet up with a load of travel bloggers and eat turkey and mashed potato that tasted like porridge while listening to Frosty the Snowman.
It was definitely different.
After our Christmas lunch I Skyped my family back home and got to watch them open Christmas presents before falling asleep and napping for the rest of the day.
It’s a hard life.
We celebrated New Years Eve with a few drinks with friends at a Pink Floyd themed bar, before going up to the rooftop pool of our apartment block and watching the lanterns and fireworks at midnight.
Other than those two celebrations the month has been really uneventful, just lots of work, food and friends. Next month promises to be a little more exciting though…
So, as usual, onto my statistics for the month!
Except… I spent the entire month in Chiang Mai, so instead of the usual round-up, here is what it will cost you to live in Chiang Mai for a month and do nothing except work and eat!
Rent: 4000 baht
Scooter Rental: 1250 baht
Food & Drink: 10,703 baht
Total = 15,953 baht = £326.
That’s it! I can’t believe just how little I spent this month!
The next month:
I’m leaving tomorrow for an epic scooter ride for a week – heading north towards the Burma border and then east towards the Laos border, before circling back around to Chiang Mai.
I’m planning on using this week to have a 7 day internet detox, which will definitely be interesting – I don’t think I’ve had more than a day away from the internet since I was 12 years old!
Upon returning, I’ll have just a few weeks left in Chiang Mai and then I’ll be heading to Bali to squeeze in some beach time! I’ll be sad to leave Chiang Mai, as it’s really started to feel like home, but I’ve been getting itchy feet so I’m looking forward to moving on to somewhere else.
Looking to follow along with my travels through my monthly summaries? You can read the previous month’s summary here, the next month’s summary here, or head on over to the monthly summary page to read from the very beginning!
Congrats on the milestone…I’ve considered a “detox” myself but haven’t worked up the nerve…
Thanks, Deej!
Hard life indeed. But congrats on the awesome low budget. Why am I not living in Chiang Mai right now?
Thanks, Kim! Yes, why aren’t you? It’s so awesome here!
Love the idea of your epic scooter ride. Cant wait to read about it.
Are you renting an apartment or just in a hostel?
I rent an apartment in Chiang Mai with my boyfriend, so that helps as we can split rent between us :)
Love a good internet detox. Besides, we all know when your get your butt back online you’re going to have some tragically cringeworthy stories to tell us ;)
The scooter ride sounds so fun, Can’t wait to hear all about it! xx
I can’t believe it’s so cheap to live in Chiang Mai for one month?!? That’s incredible! Internet detox…I don’t know how I’d possibly cope with that, at least not whilst being in the UK waiting for my next job in Korea to start…maybe all-day TV instead?!
Congratulations on month six – and try and get the photos in double digits next month, I wanna see more! :P
Good luck on your internet detox. You really need it sometimes. I hate to think of how much time I spend directly in front of my computer screen these days.
It’s amazing to see the difference between your rent and food & drink spending…I see where your priorities are!
Sometimes its best to stay still for a while in order to rest your mind and absorb in all the exoeriences u had in order to be ready for new ones
goodluck on your scooter adventure ;)
Lauren I love this weekly reports! Making it very tempting for me to jump ship and abort my Spanish mission early to hotfoot it into Chang Mai. It’s too chilly here for me in Granada.
You my friend, are AMBITIOUS.
7 days without the internet? Good luck!
It does seem totally worth it what with that scooter ride and all…
I guess there were no any Roger on your way, so it had to be Dave, right? I’m very happy for you enjoying your time in Asia. What about Christmas presents, were there any for you?
Koh Lanta was my favourite Thai Island, make sure you stay at Lanta New Beach Bungalows – lovely bungalows and a swimming pool and bar that over looks the sea (and free wifi!) Koh Lanta is also stunning to moped round. Enjoy! xx
Wow, awesome budgeting. I’ve often found that just pausing for a while to gather myself does wonders for enjoying the next phase of the adventure (whilst also being very cheap). Find a nice long beach.. camp next to it for a month or so.. and just chill out!
It can be good to take some time out from everything. Hopefully the next six months will be as fun as the first six.
We’re coming up on six months and can totally relate to the need to slow it down a bit. I wonder if everyone hits the wall at about this point.
Ceers!
Larissa and Michael
Wow, and I thought I lived cheap down here in Koh Tao! My rent is nearly twice that. I guess that’s the cost of living on an island…
Congrats on traveling for 6 months and enjoying your unique Christmas. When you say “working” were you working on your blog or a another gig?