Another Digital Nomad Goes to Chiang Mai
by Christy on November 22, 2011
We’re now in the world’s biggest digital nomad Mecca… Chiang Mai, Thailand!
And if you think the whole “Mecca” proclamation is a bit of an exaggeration, then perhaps you’re not aware that EVERY SINGLE PERSON of the location-independent persuasion will make a pilgrimage to Chiang Mai at some point in their lives. I know that’s true, ’cause the interwebz told me so.
We wanted to see what all the fuss is about, and we’re in desperate need of some downtime to catch up on work projects (and watch all five seasons of Dexter), so we’re spending the next three months chillaxin’ in Chiang Mai with all our digital nomad brethren.
I know, I know, you’re thinking we’re just easily-convinced conformists following the herd… but they have smoothies!
And edible goodness justifies anything.
Since it’s such a popular destination, we weren’t anticipating any issues finding a cozy little place to hibernate for the winter. *sigh* You’d think we’d know better by now than to take accommodations for granted. We’re currently waiting to hear back from an annoying gentleman who owns a fabulous apartment we’d like to rent… but who also seems to enjoy yanking our chain.
Now, I don’t particularly like having my chain yanked, but this apartment makes us weep with longing.
I’m pretty sure when we saw the view from the eighth-floor wrap-around balcony we heard angels singing… although that may have been from the temple next door.
Along with our various failed attempts at finding a place to live, we’ve also spent quite a bit of time navigating Chiang Mai’s seedy electronics underbelly in our efforts to fix Kali’s dying computer.
Yep, Minerva has crashed. AGAIN.
Which just goes to show that while a 17-inch MacBook Pro may look like the stud of the laptop world, sometimes that pretty wrapping is just covering up a heap ‘o trouble inside. I’m sensing a life lesson here somewhere.
Anyway, after hours of working his voodoo computer magic Kali finally conceded that Minerva needs a new hard drive. Which may not sound like too daunting a task, but finding a hard drive in Chiang Mai is easier said than done.
It’s actually not all that easily said, either. It’s very difficult to convey the exact rotational disc speed you need when you’re not speaking the same language, and Kali’s attempts at using hand gestures started to look a little graphic, if you know what I mean.
We finally found the one hard drive in all of Prathip Plaza that would work, but it was waaaaay more expensive than it should have been. Apparently due to the flooding throughout Thailand, which has completely inundated many major electronics manufacturing facilities, the price for hard drives has skyrocketed in the past few months.
We have such good timing.
But at least we have our smoothies.
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
Welcome to Chiang Mai! I feel your pain with the apartment hunt – hope it gets sorted soon.
This afternoon as I was enjoying a huge mango and passionfruit shake for under a pound it reminded me how much I love this town! It turns out there is a reason why all the digital nomads head here – and tasty fruit drinks is just one of them. It’s growing on us every day.
Erin recently posted: Off the Beaten Track in Northern Laos
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I’m so glad you two wrote that post about your experience apartment hunting in Chiang Mai – it gave us a ton of ideas and helped keep our expectations realistic. And we actually ended up going through Chiang Mai Properties as well! They’ve been great about helping us work with this guy, so I’m optimistic (ok, mainly just hopeful) it’ll work out.
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Have fun! Say hi to…well, everyone…for us!
Dalene recently posted: The Eurail Blog Trail Adventure Begins!
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Ha, will do, Dalene!
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mmm smoothies! I hope you get the apartment you want. I am no stranger to the woes of searching for an apartment in a foreign country. It is truly terrible.
Rease recently posted: Becoming a Travel Writer: Get Paid to Travel
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Apartment hunting is always a pain, but being in a foreign country makes it so much more difficult! Up until now we’ve been using sites like Airbnb and Roomorama, but there aren’t really any good options in Chiang Mai on those sites. Thankfully there are a lot of options here, but most of the time the location isn’t optimal if you choose not to rent a motorbike… and we are definitely not renting one! Quickest way to a fiery death in my opinion, lol.
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Looking forward to hearing about your Thailand adventures, hopefully from an eighth floor wrap around balcony.
Those smoothies don’t look too smooth. When do they add the ice cream?
Steve recently posted: Rawhide Western Town – The Shotgun Wedding
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Those are smoothies in the “pre-smooth” stage, lol. You choose your cup and then they add ice (and sometimes sugar), and voila! But the real question it — who the heck puts ice cream in smoothies, Steve?! That’s a milkshake!! Which also sounds good, but I would imagine that a dragonfruit milkshake would taste a little bit… odd.
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My salivary glands are flowing with your picture. and a eighth floor wrap-around balcony, nice! Looking forward to your tales. And WHAT a bummer with Kali’s hard drive. HOPEFULLY that is the total problem!!!
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Thankfully it looks like Kali’s computer is fixed! Which is such a relief, because it’s impossible to get anything done when we share a computer. Knock on wood it was only the hard drive that had issues and we don’t face this problem again in another few months…
And you would love Thailand, Ruth – there is so much delicious fruit (in smoothies or otherwise). We’re eating an obscene amount of fruit and it’s all sooooo good!
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I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the apartment comes through for you guys! I mean, angels singing? Clearly this needs to happen!
Amanda recently posted: Help me plan the UK Leg of my European Adventure!
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Right?? Angels singing is a clear sign from the gods that we’re meant to rent this apartment. Now if only I could convince the owner of that…
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Macbooks break down?? Say it isn’t so! I’m one of Apple’s biggest fans and I hope I stay that way. Good luck on getting the apartment! It’s weird, Scott and I would probably never end up in Chiang Mai, even when we become full time digital nomads. It’s too far from the ocean.
Christy @ Ordinary Traveler recently posted: Travel Shot: San Fernando Cathedral at Night
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Well then, Christy, I’m just going to have to revoke your digital nomad status. There’s nothing else to be done.
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Wow, sounds like a great place to be for a few months! I would like to confirm that watching all 5 seasons of Dexter is a fabulous use of time. We just finished the most recent season and I was amazed that it STILL managed to suck me in and have me on the edge of my seat. I hope you manage to get your computer problems fixed up. Life as a digital nomad without a computer is pretty tricky….
Melissa recently posted: I kissed a girl (and I liked it)
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Kali’s brother thinks Dexter is the bees’ knees (though he would never be caught dead calling it that), so it’s been on our watch list for a few months now. I think Kali has finally “obtained” all the episodes, though, so we’re ready for a marathon! I’m pretty sure once we start that’s all we’ll be doing for the next few weeks.
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Wow, three months there sounds fantastic. I’m dreaming of having a distant winter residence of my own, starting next winter.
Scott – Quirky Travel Guy recently posted: The unmatched sports culture of Pittsburgh, the City of Champions
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Any idea where?? Distant winter residences are now my new favorite thing, particularly when it means I can spend my whole life avoiding snow.
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You do know Chiang Mai has an Apple Store. It’s right next to the Jamba Juice. Insider’s Travel tip: Jamba Juice makes good smoothies.
Sorry, we just drank a bottle of Prossecco so I am being a bit weird. The HD thing bites. Kent and I know just how vital a fully functional laptop is – our whole way of life falls apart without WORKING technology.
I promise not to comment tipsy next time.
BTW – Steve “when do they put the ice cream in the smoothies” is kinda rockin’ my world.
Caanan @ No Vacation Required recently posted: A Meal Deal in London
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You should make it a rule to ALWAYS comment when tipsy! Sounds like London is treating you guys well.
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Looking forward to your posts on your adventures there. This is quite an appetizer though!!!
Have fun:)
Arti recently posted: Miss You Ma…
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Thanks, Arti!
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We too are like moths to a lamp as we’ll be heading up to the blogging mecca of Chiang Mai around February 2012. We’ve been before and enjoyed our time there. While we love to travel and live this location independent lifestyle, we too need some time to chill for a month or so, get some decent work done, with a decent internet connection and some decent Pad Thai!
If you’re still there in February it would be great to meet up!
Pure travel style recently posted: Titanic Exhibition at Marina Bay Sands
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We’re leaving Chiang Mai the end of February, so we’ll still be here when you guys arrive! Definitely let us know when and we’ll make plans to get together, and I can add you to the Chiang Mai facebook group for expats/travelers. It’s a great place to ask questions and meet other folks.
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Sure, Chiang Mai may not be original, but it’s ALWAYS fun. Khao sawy, khanom krok…what else do you need? (Except maybe a new hard drive.)
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