Chiang Mai Adventures: Round 1

Street art. I have an upcoming post about an artist I follow who is active in this region.

Following our time in Laos, we headed to Chiang Mai—a place I had been researching for the better part of a year. This was the destination I had been dreaming about all along, and luckily for me, my “tour guide” was ready to show me all the incredible places I could explore. I had watched countless YouTube videos of travel influencers showing off the city, learning about the cost of hotels and apartments, and even thoroughly looking into the retirement visa I could qualify for this year. That is, if I can land some form of income.

Being in hospitality or, in my last job, a warehouse employee, means I have to be on-site—there are no work-from-home opportunities. But that’s a problem for another day.

For now, we arrive!

I’m still pretty worn out from getting sick in Laos. In a groggy, pre-coffee state one morning, I accidentally drank tap water—my brain didn’t kick in fast enough to stop me. That mistake cost me a rough 24 hours of being sick.

We checked into the hotel, but the room wasn’t suitable for two friends to share. It was small—better suited for a solo traveler or a couple. The villa itself was in a prime location, and one of John’s friends worked there. He decided to find another hotel while I stayed put. This was my first real test run as a solo traveler.

We did a quick walk around the area so I could get my bearings, but my body wanted nothing to do with walking. Completely wiped out, I grabbed some coconut water and a few other fluids, hit up a pharmacy for tummy troubles, and crashed back at the hotel.

Finding My Feet in Chiang Mai

The next day, we explored a little more, though I was still in rough shape. I had to feed myself, so I stopped at a small corner food stall and got a simple bowl of chicken and rice porridge. Turns out, this was exactly what my body needed—I finally started feeling human again. Another slow day, another good night’s sleep, and by the following morning, I was ready to explore.

I decided to pin my hotel’s location and then just… get lost. No maps, no plans—just me, wandering through the streets, embracing my pre-smartphone life. I stumbled upon hidden gems tucked away in quiet alleys, practiced the art of crossing busy streets (a necessary skill in Southeast Asia!), and started to feel more at home in the city.

This tactic—pin home, wander aimlessly, find my way back—became my go-to for the following weeks.

This is also the moment I decide to chop off all my hair. Ever since Bangkok, I’ve been battling the shoulder-length mess I created, and it’s started to take a toll on my self-esteem. My hair grows fast, so I’ve never kept it short—maintaining it is a luxury I can’t afford back home. I rarely wear it down because I hate it in my face, but I do love coloring it in every shade of the rainbow, which has always been a confidence booster. Unfortunately, I over-processed it right before leaving the U.S., and it was time for a fresh start. A new friend at the villa recommends a nearby salon, and I eagerly head over. The stylist gives me my first glimpse into personal care here, spending an incredible amount of time washing and massaging my hair before even starting the cut. The result is perfect, and just in time—because feeling lighter and more confident, I soon have an unforgettable street encounter.

I also spent a lot of time by the pool, chatting with fellow travelers at the villa and getting to know the staff. We shared social media to stay connected, forming small bonds over our shared adventures.

The Next Chapter

After a few days as a solo trainee, our traveling companions reunited, and we moved into an Airbnb. This is where my dislike for stairs officially began.

Between a motorcycle accident in my 20s, years of roller derby, and now being in my late 40s, my hips and knees are not in great shape. Working in hospitality rarely comes with insurance, and even if it did, I couldn’t afford to fix anything. But whatever—I make it work.

Our new place was tucked into an alley, and I quickly found my favorite spot: the “stoop.” I spent hours sitting there, just watching the world go by. Exploring and seeing new sights is amazing, but there’s something deeply comforting about simply observing people as they go about their daily lives. No matter where you are in the world, we’re all just trying to get by the best we can.

A YouTube Dream Come True

Remember when I said I spent hours watching YouTube videos about Chiang Mai? Now, imagine my pure excitement when I actually ran into the YouTubers I had been following religiously for the past year—in the very city they inspired me to visit!

During one of my aimless "getting lost" wanderings, I looked up and saw them walking out of a building. My brain instantly went into overdrive. Do I say something? Do I just let them go about their day? I didn’t want to bother them, but I also knew I’d regret it if I didn’t at least say hello.

Summoning my courage, I asked if they were who I thought they were—and sure enough, it was them! I had an actual conversation with the people whose videos helped shape my travel dreams. It was surreal. You spend so much time watching someone online that you feel like you know them, but in reality, you’re just strangers meeting for the first time.

They were incredibly kind and even asked me about my own travels so far. Of course, in my head, we’re best friends now—but that’s just my delulu moment. I still watch every video they release, and now I have my own personal story connected to Chiang Mai. Even as I write this, I can’t help but smile.

I truly hope knowing they inspired me to make this trip happen keeps them motivated to continue their journeys while it’s still fun for them. If you’re looking for some great travel adventures, check out Flora and Note on YouTube! And a huge shout-out to John for introducing me to their channel when he first planted the idea of this Southeast Asia trip in my head so long ago.

100% Being a fan-girl, turns out age has nothing to do with the feeling of meeting people who inspire you.

This first round in Chiang Mai was mostly about gathering, regrouping, and settling in—because we had something big planned for the December holidays! An adventure that would put John (my tour guide) and Brian (member of our traveling crew) in the spotlight while my introverted self found a comfortable balance… but not as comfortably as my years in the dish pit skills I am about to slay.

Come back for some Holiday Pai—see what I did there? Heh. Look at me, trying to be clever.

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All photos are taken with my Google Pixel 7. Later in the journey I try to embrace my photographer skills. For now I am 100% in "oh look a cat, and another Spirit House" mode.