I have been back in Chiang Mai for almost 2 weeks already, time flies π I have been meaning to post more but well, it's been hard to focus on that. But here's an update for those who are interested.
I have been in Thailand for 1 1/2 months now and I'll be here in Chiang Mai for 11 more days, then I'm off to Singapore! I decided to stay in a hostel for the remaining time here in Chiang Mai (3 1/2 weeks). Before I had only stayed in private rooms but I stayed about 6 weeks in the hostel I'm now in 7 years ago. I felt it would be nice to save some money on accommodation and I guess I also came back here for nostalgia. It's the best hostel I know but even so, it took some adjustment having to share the space with other people. But it generally works rather well, I can work also from here. And I usually sleep rather well when I'm in a dorm. It felt special to return here. I thought a lot about how I and my life have changed in these 7 years.
It's not a very social hostel, and that's fine (definitely not a party hostel). There's only a female dorm and a lot of the guests come from Asia. So they tend to group together a bit, haha. But some of the women also stay rather long, like me, and of course, we talk a bit. I haven't had an issue with anyone.
The hostel is in the Old Town of Chiang Mai, with just a few minutes to a daily evening food market. I'm really enjoying the food here. I eat really well. Usually, I go to more 'expensive' restaurants for lunch where they also have Western food. I'm sorry but I just can't eat rice 3 times per day. I remember my food cravings got so bad the last time I was in Thailand, I don't want to end up there again! But I love the street food here also, don't get me wrong.
I love just walking around in the Old Town. Yes, there's traffic but you can find quiet streets.
I have my routines that are working well for me. I eat 3 times a day, work at least until lunchtime, do yoga, have a massage, meet with my friend here a couple of times a week, and I walk a lot, some days I have more of a plan to 'do' something. But it's important to me not to feel any pressure to be out exploring a lot. My focus is work and to take good care of myself.
For those of you who are not familiar with 7-Eleven in Thailand, that's the place where you find close to everything you need π
I have been visiting some of the many, many temples here in Chaing Mai, there are more than 50 just in the Old Town. But I'll save that for another post.
I feel good in general about being here. I'm meeting new people, I usually don't feel so tired, and I'm so happy to be in a warm place. Winter in Sweden has been brutal so far. My mom said it was minus 27 degrees Celsius one morning. That's unusually cold, I don't think I have ever experienced that in that part of Sweden. Here it's around 30 degrees Celsius during the day. And always sunny. I have nothing to complain about π
Thanks for reading πΈ
Wishing you a lovely day π