Hey everyone, sorry for the lack of updates lately. More stuff is on the way, I promise! I’ve been busy working on another project at the moment, and I’ve also been having a lack of ideas on what to write about lately.

Songkran (the Thai New Year) is coming up on April 13th, so that is something to look forward to. Also, some of my teacher friends from the TEFL program are coming to Chiang Mai soon, so expect plenty more pictures (courtesy of their cameras) as well. Lastly, to anyone who reads the site via RSS, the feed is currently not working, and I am trying to fix it, so bear with me. Just view the site the regular way for now.

That’s all for now, I’ll check in again soon.

I’ve always found the idea of being a minimalist interesting, although “minimalist” isn’t really a term that we relate to sociologically in the present day. Nowadays, we reference the ideals of minimalism, as in, “being or providing a bare minimum of what is necessary,” through the words “frugal” and “thrifty”.

Since we are no longer primitive hunter-gatherers who live off the land, we don’t define “living on the bare minimum” in the same way. In the past, our current level of technology didn’t exist, so society had a different perspective of what was considered to be the bare minimum. Today, to not have a broadband Internet connection is considered antiquated, since such a large percentage of the population depends on that technology, and it has become a social normality. Not so long ago, most people didn’t even have personal computers, let alone any kind of Internet connection. It’s this consistent evolution of technology that continually develops our perspective of what we define as the bare minimum in society.

As a young adult, it is not uncommon for me to be practicing the art of living frugally. The art of living frugally, you say? Why, yes! Living frugally is indeed an art, let me tell you. Even though Chiang Mai, Thailand is extremely cheap compared to America, that does not negate the fact that I do not have massive amounts of money to throw around. Now, I am not poor, per se; I am just living on the bare minimum, buying only what is necessary to fulfill my immediate needs.

Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks

Just like in America, the same common snacks that a Frugal Ferguson would normally buy there, can also be purchased here, in Thailand.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

Oh, yes. PB & J. The great American favorite. All you need is:

1. One loaf of bread: $1.00
2. One small jar of peanut butter: $2.50
3. One small jar of jelly: $1.50

For only $5.00, PB & J will last you a good 7-10 days or more, depending on how much of each ingredient you use daily. You can also substitute the bread for crackers, and eliminate either the peanut butter or the jelly completely, if you’re really feeling creative.

Ramen Noodles

Oh Ramen, how I adore you. You only cost 6 baht ($0.16) per pack, and you are totally delicious and filling. You are also versatile in the time of day in which you can be eaten! It can be 12 in the afternoon or 12 at night, and you always hit the spot, either way.

Dinner

This is where Thailand really shines. Why buy expensive Western food, when you can buy cheap Thai food instead? A pizza, sub or burger here costs about $2.00-$5.00, depending on where you buy it from. A full plate of chicken fried rice costs about $1.00-$1.50 anywhere you go (in Chiang Mai). So, what would the frugal traveler choose? The latter, of course, and that extra dollar or so that you know you saved adds an extra layer of love to each meal… that makes the food taste even better!

Drink Water

Unfortunately, drinkable water is not free in Thailand, but it is still very cheap. In America, bottled water can cost up to $2.50 (or more?) depending on where you buy it from. In Thailand, bottled water is usually 5-10 baht for a small, and usually 20 or 25 baht for a large. If you strictly stick to water, your wallet will assuredly be thanking you in the long run.

You Don’t Need a TV, Private Bathroom, or Air-Conditioning

Everyone likes luxuries, but if you’re scraping by, you can definitely get by without them. You don’t need a TV because you have better things to do than watch TV all day. You don’t need a private bathroom because really, how much time do you spend in the bathroom, anyway? Lastly, you don’t need AC because keeping the windows open and a fan on will create the same effect. Ta-da!

Walk or Ride a Bicycle

In Chiang Mai, you can walk around outside and get everything you need easily. If you’re looking to do exotic things, then of course you will need some transportation. But just for your daily errands, a nice pair of tennis shoes will do the trick.

In Conclusion

Living frugally really just comes down to not being lazy and making good decisions. If you’re willing to go the extra mile to get the cheaper products, it will slowly, but surely, pay off in the end. Cut down on your wants and focus purely on your needs, and you’ll end up saving more, which will allow you to stay abroad even longer!

As I was eating dinner tonight, I stopped eating for a moment and studied the scene around me. I was the only Westerner in sight, eating cheap Thai food from a street vendor, and weirdly enough, I felt completely at home.

I didn’t feel foreign or alienated, or like I was in Wonderland. I just felt like a normal person eating his dinner, and I smiled. For once, it didn’t seem like people were staring at me, or that I was the odd one out. It was just another daily routine, and it was no big deal.

It’s funny. Sometimes, I feel like a celebrity, walking down the street as every Thai person stares at me with wonderment. While other times, I feel like a total outcast, like people are purposefully ignoring me and turning the other way. I’m sure it’s all just in my head, but it’s hard not to think about it. It makes me wonder if actual celebrities feel the same way; that they just want to be treated like everyone else. Standing out and getting extra attention can be pretty cool, but it can also be daunting. It all depends on how you perceive it, I suppose.

Hey everyone, to those who are unfamiliar with Skype, it is a service that allows you to video chat online for free.

I just created an account, and my user name is sdnewman815. If you have a Skype account and would like to chat, let me know and we’ll set up a time (I think I’m 13 hours ahead of EST?). Keep in mind, in order to chat you need some kind of audio and video input device (most contemporary computers have internal devices), like a microphone and a web cam.

A couple nights ago, I met an older Canadian man named Robert. At first glance, I seriously thought I was looking at Sean Connery’s twin brother. He had the same body type and facial appearance, was the same age, and had the same kind of tough, man’s man kind of attitude that Connery commonly portrayed in his movies. Even when he spoke to me at first, I thought he had a Scottish accent (but it was just my mind playing tricks on me).

Robert, like most Western men his age in Thailand, was retired and living the good life. He had a beautiful Thai wife, a big house, a nice ride, and was living like a king. And, just like the other older Western men in Thailand, Robert was a bit of a chauvinist.

Robert and I talked for maybe an hour about various subjects, ranging from politics, to women, to Thai beers, and he definitely made for some interesting company. He was also a bit drunk, so his inhibitions weren’t exactly intact, but he made sure to apologize for his impolite behavior. At one point, we were discussing the differences between the man’s role in Thailand, and the man’s role in the West.

“Here, the man is king,” he repeated distinctively. “None of that equal rights crap, eh?” he said as he took a swig.

“So it doesn’t disturb you at all to see an old, fat European man with a young, pretty Thai girl?” I replied.

“Well, the whole scene in Pattaya, I don’t agree with.” [Side note: Pattaya is infamous for having tons of sex tourism, and a lot of Nana couples—older Western men with younger Thai girls.]

“Yeah, I think it’s pretty disgusting… but if the relationship is mutual,” I shrugged my shoulders, “then who gives a shit, eh?” finished Robert, as we both laughed.

I could tell Robert had a good heart, but I still thought some of his opinions were a bit misguided. He had been living in Thailand for over five years now, so he was pretty used to the way things were around here. I, on the other hand, was still used to Western ideals.

“Gold-diggers are nothing new,” I said. “But they are looked down upon. It’s shameful.”

“As long as the man doesn’t mind, what’s wrong with a woman wanting to be with a man who can provide security?” he replied. “It’s just the way of life, a symbiotic relationship.”

I couldn’t disagree with his view, because it all comes down to personal opinion. But that didn’t mean I was going to adopt it as my own, anytime soon.

Later on, we migrated our conversation to the subject of being American. Being Canadian, he was familiar with American culture, but he was still an outsider.

“Americans are myopic,” he said. “It’s like they all have blinders on.”

“It’s the way we’re raised. It’s drilled into our heads that everywhere besides America is dangerous,” I replied.

“And that’s ridiculous! America is just as dangerous, or even more dangerous than most other countries,” he said.

And I agreed. It is ridiculous that most Americans are afraid to travel outside of their own country.

After some more talking, Robert eventually had to go, and we parted ways. Despite our differences, I still came out with a positive perspective, and definitely some new ideas to think about.