Romane and I celebrating our motorcycle course completion
I have absolutely fallen in love with Chiang Mai. I have rented an apartment at the Chiang Mai Riverside Condominiums for 2 months and settling in nicely. It has been great to stop jumping from country to country for a bit.
View from my balcony
My apartment is a single bedsit with its own kitchenette, bathroom and lots of space to dance around if I should so desire. I have a lovely view overlooking the Ping River from my balcony.
My little bedsit
Bathroom
Another view
An old family friend, Bob, has been living here in Chiang Mai for many years now and has been very generous with his time and help as I have settled in here.
I must admit that I can see myself settling here for quite a while. Maybe next year when I start my online travel business.
As you all already know, I took a 3 day motorcycle license course with the Chiang Mai Honda Riding School. The classes were a lot of fun and there is nothing more free than cruising around on a bike. The process of getting my Thai motorcycle license was a bit protracted - I had to get a form from my condo and have it processed into a Residency Certificate, and also needed to get a doctor's certificate.
Working hard
The Riding School has an arrangement with the Department of Land Transport that those of us who completed the riding school course can present to the Licensing office before 8am, when the department opens of a morning, and be processed ahead of the daily queue. I can't explain the feeling of finally getting my license.
A Russian lady, Olga, from the course was at the licensing centre when I went and we were both over the moon to have our license. We decided to go for a coffee to celebrate afterwards and before I knew it, she was passengering on my bike. I didn't have the language to say that this was scary, but we only travelled about a klm up the road together.
Olga and I
My bad boy
I have been spending my days exploring my new home town. It's so amazing cruising around on the bike. The road can radiate quite a bit of heat on the heatwave days but it can be quite refreshing to have the wind against you.
Titi and I...after 20 years
I made the discovery that a friend I had made in Myanmar back in 2004/5 has recently moved to Chiang Mai and we took the opportunity to catch up. Titi and her friend took me for a delicious Burmese meal and then a wander around a mall. I don't think either of us have changed all that much!
Time is flying past. I cant believe that I have already been travelling for over 2 months. I have booked myself a boat down the Mekong River tomorrow and will visit Laos for a few days (my last unvisited country in this region).
I have started swimming each day in the condo pool. I picked up a kickboard from Decathelon and am working on my fitness while I am in Thailand.
I am so grateful that I am able to travel this year xx
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