Let me start by saying that everything is astonishingly affordable in the “land of smiles”. And this fact invariably affects the spending choices you make.
For example, my little bungalow near the beach sets me back a mere $23 a night – so maybe I’ll stay longer. It’s quite basic but, clean, quiet, conveniently located – shops, restaurants, and the beach are just a short stroll away. Add three meals out (with adult drinks) plus an hour massage, and your daily total is easily under $50.
I usually start my day at the restaurant next door with local fresh fruit and yogurt. The pineapple and mango are particularly delectable! But Yesterday I choose to eat like a real local and had rice soup with minced pork (60 bhat, $1.70) and I’ve absolutely no regrets. If you long for bacon, eggs, and toast, no problem! A “western breakfast” is available for $3.40.
But keep in mind, to keep costs down when traveling to a foreign land, eat and drink like the locals. Your spirit of adventure is generally rewarded by a positive and memorable experience!
Here I swim and dry in the morning sun before it gets too high; prior to needing to apply the dreaded white cream. Today I will bring my mask and snorkel and see what I can find…
Next, I arrive at the perpetually bustling street food row. Some dozen stalls offer everything from mango crepes cooked in coconut oil, to chicken satay, to charcoal grilled squid with sticky rice ($1.40, $2.00, and $4.50 respectively) and they’re all amazingly delectable. Today I will try a banana crepe for $1.15.
Street food and side-street restaurants are the friends of value travelers. By that I mean better AND cheaper!
The restaurant on my bungalow side-street prepares an excellent seafood Pad Thai for $2.28. Enjoying this meal al fresco, watching international tourists and locals parade by, with a large bottle of beer ($2.57) is a truly an enjoyable experience.
The local beer and rum are top notch, and being local, are extremely affordable. Chang is my favorite beer among the several local varieties. SangSom rum is smooth and delightful on its own or mix it with fruit juice from one of the omnipresent 7-11’s.
I’m not suggesting conspiracy; the 7-11 corporate colors were established long before venturing overseas. But perhaps the coincidence of colors inadvertently, yet subliminally attracts customers.
Snorkeling off the mainland beach is nothing special, but there are plenty of amazing tiny islands just a half hour boat ride off the coast. A full day excursion to three islands, a buffet lunch, plus fruit and water on board costs only $23.
Yes things are quite different over here, however on my way back from the beach the other day, while feeling momentarily alone and out of place, I came upon a sidewalk cafe and stopped dead in my tracks when I heard Bob Dylan asking, “how does it feel to be on your own?” It was an aha moment that made me realize that universal constants exist in the midst of such vast differences.
OK, let’s review the routine:
This routine feels so natural and pleasantly unavoidable that resistance would surely be futile.
I happily surrender myself completely!
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Wow,Dan. You are living the right way!!!
Looking forward to your future posts
Enjoy. Heading back from sugarloaf today
where it was -30 windchill yesterday.
I bet you don't miss that
I know this part of the world so very well, a marvellous location and one that I am returning to on the 18th of next month. Thoroughly enjoyed this post, my wife would happily settle in Krabi - our dank and leaden lives here in the U.K is a very poor comparison to the Thai lifestyle - something we have enjoyed regularly since 2001 - heaven indeed. Smashing article, sensational country.