Sitting in my Phuket home, I was looking at agoda.com , a travel website which lists hotels for Chiang Mai. Each hotel has a ranking. The highest ranking is “Superb” which indicates that virtually everyone who has visited the hotel has given it the highest ranking possible. I spent half an hour looking at about one hundred hotel options in the Night Bazaar section of Chiang Mai. I wanted a hotel that was budget friendly at $20 or less per night, and was also highly ranked. But how high can a $20 a night hotel really be ranked?
I came across a hotel called ZZ House. At $15 per night, the price was right. With a top rating of Superb, this seemed a perfect match for me, a great hotel to spend my first week in Chiang Mai while I explored and discovered the area I would like to spend most of the time during my 3 month stay. I paid my money and booked my room. Good-bye Phuket, and hello Chiang Mai.
Meet Boyd. Boyd is the proprietor of the ZZ House. Boyd is 40 years old, a true professional, and as nice as a guy can be. He doesn’t see his patrons as dollar signs, but rather as human beings who just want to have a great time while visiting his hotel and beautiful Thai city. The second night I was there in Chiang Mai, Boyd took all his patrons to a Buddhist Lantern Festival. He drove us one hour out of town to the venue, pointed us in the right direction, met us afterwards for the drive back, and insured that we had the time of our lives. That night was as glorious as an experience as I have had. Most any other hotels may have told me about the event, but how would I know how to get there, where to park, what to bring, etc. I am, after all, an American who is visiting Thailand. With Boyd going well above and beyond the call of duty, I had an evening I will never forget.
Doing anything with excellence has its own rewards. The pride of creating a product or service that powerfully rings of excellence is profound. Seeing others experience excellence is equally empowering. Knowing that you did the best you could, to create something that potently and positively impacts others, allows you to sleep better at night. I did my best. That is all I can do. I did not take any shortcuts. I did not cheat anyone. I did not make a few extra bucks by omitting this or that. No, I went for it 100% and let the chips fall where they may.
Here is another way this paid off for Boyd. I submitted this review to Agoda and Trip Advisor:
“ZZ House: Great Location. Great Value. Great Host 10
I arrived at the ZZ House and was met by Boyd. I was very early, so I took an hour to look around while the room was prepared. The small room was clean, cool, had very hot water, a good sized bed and a refrigerator with water and drinks. Great location. Not far from Loi Kroh Road, the Night Bazaar, really nice supermarket, loads of restaurants, massages, coffee shops, everything I need. The best part of the experience is Boyd, the host. On my second day, he took all of us to a Buddhist Lantern Festival. It was amazing and ranks as one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. Boyd drove us there, hung out with us, and brought us back. It is rare to have a host who really cares about his patrons. Boyd was there to help in any way he could, with recommendations, connections, and quick response to requests. What a great stay. ZZ House gets an A+.”
When I think about taking a short cut, or doing it the easy way, or settling for good enough rather than great, I will remember my Thai friend Boyd and his approach to life and work. Always give them more than they expect. And expect nothing in return. That sounds like a fantastic recipe for life. It is simple and profound and surprisingly uncommon.
About the Author
Jay Cradeur is an author, blogger, internet marketer, world traveler, and coach. Jay has helped thousands to achieve their dreams of financial independence. As an internet marketing coach with a focus on personal development, Jay may be able to assist you in reaching your goals. You can work with Jay for a 100% refundable fee of $49 by clicking on this link and committing to your future. Work with Coach Jay.
“This is a snakeskin jacket! And for me it’s a symbol of my individuality, and my belief… in personal freedom.”
Sailor Ripley (Wild At Heart)
On Friday and Saturday nights here in Chiang Mai, there is a big ritual they call the Night Bazaar. Several streets are turned into a spacious open air market, with food, clothes, scarves, Buddhas, Ganeshas, little wooden frogs, which when rubbed with a stick, sound exactly like frogs. I have not purchased a frog yet, but every time I hear it, I start looking for a real frog. Duh!
About a week ago, I was looking around the market, in need of some new shorts. Thailand apparently agrees with my waistline, as I have gone from a 38” waist to a 36”. I thought it would be great to have a pair of shorts that I didn’t need to cinch up with my belt. As I walked the stalls, not finding any shorts, I came upon a stall that sold t-shirts. There was Bob Dylan on a blue t-shirt. When I hear Bob Dylan’s music, I marvel at the talent, the consistency, the lyrics, the brilliance, the genius (repetitive adjective I know, but he does deserve it), and the prodigious nature of his entire body of work. But more than any of that, Bob represents freedom. He made a life on his own terms. Much like Mohammed Ali lived life on his own terms, Bob Dylan went against the crowd and did his life his way. While Ali rejected the Vietnam War, Bob embraced his electric guitar when no one wanted to hear it. Damned the critics.
I bought the t-shirt for a negotiated price of 200 Bhat ($6 USD). I put it on and it felt good. The shirt, no kidding, felt like freedom. I have a few other items that feel like freedom. My silver and jade ring which I purchased in Bali has been on my finger for the past 10 years, and it represents my vagabond spirit. I also purchased a leather bracelet during my first week in Thailand from a local artisan on Surin Beach. It reminds me of the power of having a vision and taking action to make it happen. I believe items carry energy and we can use that energy to empower us in our lives. I encourage you to think about and feel into what you have, or what you might want to purchase, which will serve as a constant reminder, and powerful motivator as you pursue a life of more and more personal freedom.
Another cool thing I like to do is imbue energy into my “power” objects. During my many personal development retreat weekends, there is usually an altar of some type, a place where we can place objects and pictures and honor and bless our loved ones. I put certain items on the altar with the intention that the power of the weekend flows into those objects. For years I had stone from the cave of Mary Magdalena in France. That stone attended every weekend event I attended. Most people could feel the energy of that stone as I placed it in their palm. These items also serve as powerful gifts to others who may need a bit of energetic nudging to get through a challenging impasse. My stone isn’t my stone any longer. It is now serving another.
My blue Bob Dylan shirt is a symbol of my belief in personal freedom. It represents Thailand, a new life, a powerful spirit and a newfound joy recently discovered. I will wear my shirt, with my jade ring and leather bracelet, and walk around Chiang Mai, feeling free. I will think of things to write about, and images to capture in a video, and create a life full of stories to share with my friends and family. For it is true what Bob says, I know what it feels like to be on my own, with no direction home, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone.
About the Author
Jay Cradeur is an author, blogger, internet marketer, world traveler, and coach. Jay has helped thousands to achieve their dreams of financial independence. As an internet marketing coach with a focus on personal development, Jay may be able to assist you in reaching your goals. You can work with Jay for a 100% refundable fee of $49 by clicking on this link and committing to your future. Work with Coach Jay.
I admit it. I am hung-over. Sunday night, which is my Saturday night in terms of my Thai workweek, is a good night for me to drink a bit and let the young man rumble. Rumble young man rumble. It is not as crazy around here on a Sunday night, as say a Friday or Saturday night. It is still festive, and there is a very big open-air market nearby on Sunday night. We are now in high season, which officially started on November 1st, so everyday is festive around here for the next 6 months. If there is any form of entertainment you desire, you can find it here.
I started off my night with a tuk tuk (open air motorized cart) ride to the north side of the Old City for a dinner of stewed pork leg. I then walked back, about 2 miles, to work off the meal and see the sights. Upon returning to my neighborhood, I went to my first bar in Chiang Mai. For the first two weeks here, I had not sat down at a drinking establishment (too busy working, eating and getting massages!). I sat down at a place called Wayne’s World Bar, named after Australian Wayne who bought the place some four months ago. I spent 3 hours on that bar stool, drinking beers, playing a game called Get Four and flirting with the bartender Mon. I was pretty chill after that, and wandered down the street to my favorite massage shop just a block from my hotel where I got a relaxing massage from a tiny bit of a Thai girl name Cathy while I slipped in and out of consciousness, in that kind of wonderful place between being asleep and being awake. Afterwards, I put on my shorts and shirt, grabbed my shoes and walked home barefoot to crash hard on my bed. I laughed all the way home.
I got up early today. I always get up early. My body is wired that way. I took some Advil, drank lots of water and coffee, and starting doing some work while watching the San Francisco 49er game on my computer. My day has been one of work, shopping, and catching up on some Sunday evening TV programs. Before heading out for dinner, I wanted to watch the most recent episode of Homeland. I would have to say it was one of the best episodes of what has turned out to be one of the best programs of the past few years. Wow. What an episode! It left me quite shaken as I headed out for my evening meal.
I ended up at a food cart. I am not sure why I stopped other than I was tired and did not walk to far. I also had a certain curiosity about the type of food this older Thai woman prepares. As you walk the streets here, you see lots of food carts. Some make food I recognize, and others cater completely to local Thai people. This cart was one of the latter, and I suppose I wanted to know what I was missing. As it turns out, I have been missing quite a bit. I approached the cart with a childlike curiosity. Imagine looking at your Grandma, and wondering what she is cooking up in the kitchen.
“Kun chi ari?” That is how you say, “what is your name?” “Nit.” Her name was Nit. “Pom chu Jay.” That is how I say, “I am Jay.” She wanted to know what I wanted to eat. I had no idea. I pointed at a bit piece of pork and said “same same.” She then said something, and I gave her the thumbs up. I had no idea what I ordered. It did not matter. Nit would take care of me. That much was clear. I also used my fingers to indicate very little spice. If I get too much spice, the pain ruins the meal for me, and I suffer terribly the next day. I learned that lesson eating a papaya salad last week. I saw that Nit has a mat placed on the curb of the street for patrons who wanted to eat there near the cart. I thought, how perfect, and sat down while Nit became a whirling dervish of activity. Within 15 minutes, Nit presented me with a bowl of fresh soup and sticky rice on a platter to place on my lap.
If you look up perfection in the dictionary, this soup would be in there. The brown broth was multi layered, with just enough spice to tantalize my palate without punishing it. In the soup I found cabbage, tomato, basil leaves, pork and quite a few mushrooms, which were chewier than most, and very tasty. I began to realize Nit is a wise old Yoda in the kitchen, especially in the way she knew how to mix all these ingredients into a powerfully enticing bowl of soup without even thinking. The force is with her all the way.
From the street, Nit’s stand is non descript, and most people walked by me on the ground there eating my soup, not giving Nit and her particular brand of genius a second thought. This experience reminds me of what a judgmental self-righteous jackass I can be at times. How many Nits do I walk by and miss out on their genius, on their gifts? How much do I miss because I often think I know it all? How much richer can my life be if I remain open to life, rather than closed down? Tonight, being hung-over and a bit slow and lethargic, I was not inclined to travel far for a meal, and felt like sitting on the ground, and there was Nit. The universe resplendently provides: grace, synchronicity, divine guidance and utter joy.
I am humble and grateful once again. Thank you Nit.
About the Author
Jay Cradeur is an author, blogger, internet marketer, world traveler, and coach. Jay has helped thousands to achieve their dreams of financial independence. As an internet marketing coach with a focus on personal development, Jay may be able to assist you in reaching your goals. You can work with Jay for a 100% refundable fee of $49 by clicking on this link and committing to your future. Work with Coach Jay.
Traveling through Southeast Asia has completely shifted my thinking about retirement. My plan has always been to be in a position to retire at the age of 65. I have a plan to have so much money tucked away at that time so that if I wanted to stop working, I could. I don’t think I will ever want to stop doing what I am doing, but at 65, I will have the choice.
One thing I have noticed here in Thailand is a growing number of retired men hailing from other countries (Japan, China, Europe, Australia, not many Americans), who have chosen Thailand as the place where they want to spend their final days. During my last week in Phuket, while I was eating lunch, a man named Peter approached me and sat down at my table. Peter asked me if I played Backgammon. I told him No.
Well, Peter is 55 and had the good fortune to retire at the age of 38. Peter has traveled the world unlike anyone I have ever met. He was born in Germany, and has lived in France, Argentina, America, China, and about a dozen other places across the globe. And after all that traveling, he had determined that Phuket, Thailand was the place for him to settle down. Now 17 years later, he has a Thai wife, a 13-year-old son, and a relaxed lifestyle revolving around his family, backgammon, meals and napping.
After Peter was through asking me about my life, where had I traveled, how many kids, number of wives, Internet Marketing ( “you really make money doing that?”), and my diet, I had a few questions for him. First I asked, Why Phuket? He said there were many factors: weather, beaches, personal freedoms, beauty of the women, friendliness of the people, and the cost of living. I told him I agreed with him on all counts.
Peter went on to observe how many freedoms have been taken away in other cultures, and in particular, in America. As he lit a cigarette from his $2 USD pack, he exclaimed “You can’t even smoke there any more!” I told him that when I told people I was heading out for a long-term trip to Southeast Asia, most people thought it sounded pretty crazy. Who would leave America to live in Thailand? Well as it turns out, quite a few people from all over the globe do exactly that for the exact reasons expressed by Peter.
There are options. I suppose that is the lesson from my chat with Peter. In my role as an Internet marketing coach, I speak to many men and women who are reaching their retirement years and are not able to retire. Statistics show that only 4% of Americans can retire and maintain their current lifestyle. Those are alarming figures. So what do you do? You can find some line of work to pursue to make some extra money. Many people are investing in Internet marketing for this reason. You can also reduce your financial demands aka live on less. And we have all seen the elderly greeters at Walmart who serve as an example of retirement gone wrong. Then there is the Thailand option. If you do have some money coming in through an IRA and/or social security, why not live in another country where the cost of living is low and you can live like a king in the best year around climate on the globe?
I have done a little bit of research to get the lay of the land here in Thailand. The average person earns 13237.76 THB per month, which translates to $427 USD per month. I prepared a video showing how I have been able to live very comfortably on $1,500 per month. You don’t need much. Again, it is always good to have options.
I have only been here in Thailand for a few months. I will be venturing to Vietnam and Cambodia and then coming back to Thailand before returning to California in the spring. I need some time to let the newness wear off. My time here to date has been glorious. Running across guys like Peter, who have seen even more of the world than me, always opens my eyes a little bit further, and expands my horizons. Hopefully sharing these experiences on the blog opens your eyes a bit more too. Options. Not being stuck. The freedom to chose. It feels good, doesn’t it?
About the Author
Jay Cradeur is an author, blogger, internet marketer, world traveler, and coach. Jay has helped thousands to achieve their dreams of financial independence. As an internet marketing coach with a focus on personal development, Jay may be able to assist you in reaching your goals. You can work with Jay for a 100% refundable fee of $49 by clicking on this link and committing to your future. Work with Coach Jay.
Last night I had an unexpected awakening. I had just arrived in Chiang Mai last Friday (five days prior) and I will be here for approximately one month. Even though I am in about as “chill” of a personal headspace as I have ever been, I still have some of that “gotta do this, and gotta do that!” energy flowing through me. Also, I have been sick for the past 6 days. The night before I left Phuket for Chiang Mai, I started to feel a sore throat coming on. Two days into my Chiang Mai visit, I was decimated by a full blown cold, with the fever, sweats, sore throat, and exhaustion. Consequently, I haven’t done much since my arrival in Chiang Mai.
Last night I left my hotel after a long day of work, feeling content with my accomplishments, and ready to explore the city. I walked a few blocks, and soon realized I wasn’t all that hungry, even though it was my normal eating time. What to do? I walked a bit more. Then I saw a stand making mango yogurt shakes. The Danish guy drinking one looked at me and made a face that said “this is the best thing in the world!” I bit, I ordered, and for that moment, my Danish friend was right. I had discovered a new and unknown decadent treat just 2 blocks from my hotel.
Still feeling listless, perhaps I am not as recovered as I had first thought, I wandered a block down Loi Kroh Road, and landed next to my new friend Tip, at the outdoor foot massage place. There is a row of reclining chairs set up outside the shop, facing the street. It is quite wonderful to sit back, relax, people watch, and get your feet and legs worked on. Within minutes, young, diminutive, yet remarkable strong Sah was getting started on my massage. So there I was, talking to Tip, an older Tai women who understood about half of what I said, and I understood about half of what she said, and I shared about all of my children and showed pics on my Iphone. Soon I had to close my eyes and enjoy the massage, and work the energy from my feet throughout my body. It was a very healing experience as I continue to discover how much of my energy had been locked into my feet. These nightly massages are quite a lesson in energy flow, meridians, and force.
After a glorious hour, Sah had finished her work, and I said goodbye to Tip and her protégé. After a massage, I rarely feel like doing much of anything except heading back to my room for a nap or to go to bed for the night. I headed home, feeling content, healed, whole, and still wanting something sweet to wrap up the night. There, like a beacon in the night, was a rottee cart. Rottee is what Thais call a crepe. Here the crepes are made with banana and either honey or chocolate, or both. I ordered banana and honey. The crepes are cooked, and then cut into 16 pieces and served in a small paper dish with a sharp stick. Poke and eat, which is what I did all the way to my room.
After completing my pre sleep ritual, I was tucked in, and that is all I remember until I woke up 8 hours later. So what is the awakening? I don’t have to do anything in particular to have each moment ring with truth and joy and purity and presence. Each moment is just like another moment. The belief that some things are better than others is an illusion, a story I have been telling myself for quite a while. There is another lie I am now ready to let go. Be gone lie. Welcome truth and more of the freedom to be just as I am in this moment with whatever is in my consciousness now. And with that said, I can’t help but look forward to tonight’s Chiang Mai explorations. Thanks for reading.
About the Author
Jay Cradeur is an author, blogger, internet marketer, world traveler, and coach. Jay has helped thousands to achieve their dreams of financial independence. As an internet marketing coach with a focus on personal development, Jay may be able to assist you in reaching your goals. You can work with Jay for a 100% refundable fee of $49 by clicking on this link and committing to your future. Work with Coach Jay.
What an adventure! I decided to go out a find some butter lamps that I have seen in Buddhist temples. Many people here in Thailand are Buddhist, so there must be someone who sells these ancient relics. I headed off to Phuket town at the advice of Aree who oversees the house in which I am living. Instead of taking a taxi, I decided to really go local and take the blue and white bus that goes from Phuket to Kamala, with stops right in front of my house. The last key ingredient to mix in to this adventure is rain, monsoon type rain, rain with thunder, rain that comes down in buckets. In fact, it is like the ice bucket challenge without the ice or bucket.
Off I went, stopping at the local cell phone place to top up my minutes. Next I swung by the grocery store to pick up a plastic covering to battle the rain. I had seen people wearing these on their scooters, and around my neighborhood, so I made my 21 Baht purchase. Next I found a nice place to wait by the side of the road to catch the bus. There aren’t any bus stops like you see in America. Instead, you have to wildly wave your arms and get the driver’s attention, or else wait another half hour or so for the next bus. I got his attention. On the bus I got, and off we went to the town of Phuket.
I got off the bus and was assaulted by taxi and tuk tuk drivers asking me if I needed a ride. I waved my hand, kept walking, and looked for a place to eat and get my bearings. I found a wonderful little café with real lattes and delectable deserts. I sat down for a while, enjoyed my latte while images of America floated through my head. The place even had a picture of John Lennon on the wall. After my montage of sepia toned memories, I was thrust back into Phuket, Thailand as thunder cracked and the heavens opened up. My goal was to aimlessly walk around, stopping in at shops in search of butter lamps, scarves, candles, incense and tingshas (Tibetan bells, which I forgot to bring to Thailand and use to begin and end my meditations).
I got so wet that no part of me was dry. Drenched. Not only is it raining, but wearing the 21 Bhat plastic cover created a sauna type environment for my body. I had buckets of rain pelting me while rivers of sweat were running down my body. All I could do was laugh, walk the streets, accept the rain and the sweat, and surrender to the elements. I walked. I got wet. I visited shops. I laughed. Others laughed with me. I did find one great shop that had some of the things on my list. I purchased a gorgeous green patterned scarf and my biggest find was a set of antique tingshas, which are at least 50 years old. What a powerful and sustained sound they have!
I had wondered about 3 miles from the bus drop off point, and I had 90 minutes to get back. I was lost, and just started walking. The rains poured down. I stopped for another latte, and this woman knew her espresso and foam stuff. Look at the pattern, the nice little cookies, and even green tea on the side. It was one of those moments, when everything tastes perfect, the environment is just right, and having endured miles of walking in the rain, I felt I deserved this special moment for myself.
Onward. Keep walking. Found a bus. Waved wildly. I had returned to the bus stop (a place on the road where the buses wait for passengers) and waited 45 minutes until we left. It was remarkable how much more, I observed, the Thai people live in the moment, not as lost in thought and opinion, as my American brothers and sisters. I admit that I was focused on the amount of time I was sitting on that bus waiting to leave. “When are we getting out of here?” I would think to myself. “I am wet, and tired, and want to get home!” Then I noticed the other people on the bus. They were talking, laughing, playing with their cell phones, and not seemingly concerned in the least about when we departed. It was an stirring reminder of not living in the past or the future, but living in the right here and right now. My life is what’s happening right now. And at that moment, I was sitting on a bus.
Got home after 45 minutes on the bus. Stopped for some milk at the grocery store. Stopped at the local food cart for some takeaway dinner. Finally got home at 6:30. Took a good long shower. Ate my dinner. Got a massage. Looked at my scarf and tingshas, and tried on my new t-shirt which I had bought in Phuket to swap out with my dripping wet button down. With a feeling of complete exhaustion, I crawled into bed. What a day! There were so many moments and memories. It was a wonderful adventure, physically challenging, emotionally satisfying and spiritual uplifting. As always, I am feeling blessed and grateful for this experience called life. And I am living it now.
About the Author
Jay Cradeur is an author, blogger, internet marketer, world traveler, and coach. Jay has helped thousands to achieve their dreams of financial independence. As an internet marketing coach with a focus on personal development, Jay may be able to assist you in reaching your goals. You can work with Jay for a 100% refundable fee of $49 by clicking on this link and committing to your future. Work with Coach Jay.
Jay Cradeur is an author, blogger, internet marketer, world traveler, and coach. Jay has helped thousands to achieve their dreams of financial independence. As an internet marketing coach with a focus on personal development, Jay may be able to assist you in reaching your goals. You can work with Jay for a 100% refundable fee of $49 by clicking on this link and committing to your future. Work with Coach Jay.
