It’s been such a quiet week here in Chiang Mai, and I couldn’t be happier about that! After barely scraping by in last week’s check-in while feeling like I’d been shot at and missed and shit at and hit (medical term), I arrived here in the north of Thailand on Tuesday ready to re-center myself after a week of destroying my body with heavy booze and sleep deprivation.

I’ve spent most of my time in this laid-back city sitting in different cafes and coffee shops, working on the blog and figuring out the direction I want to take next as a freelance writer. I’ve recovered my health, thankfully, and I’m finally feeling focused and centered, ready to tackle some new projects.

But as you know, I couldn’t go a whole week without any adventure! So I signed up for a spiritual tour of Chiang Mai with Urban Adventures, and I had a delightful day with my guide James, exploring the city’s temples, offering alms to monks at sunrise and learning about the intricacies of Thai Buddhism from a jovial monk named Kay Kay.

I’ve also done a lot of just wandering around the streets here on my own. Chiang Mai is a great place to explore on foot – it’s safe and easy to navigate, and right now the weather is absolutely perfect at 75 degrees during the day. I can’t wait to spend another week here chatting with locals and expats, visiting temples and eating ALL the Thai food, ever.

Have a fantastic week!

Wat Monthian, not far from my AirBnB.

Monks walking through the public market at sunrise.

The dogs that hang out at the Wats (Temples) are the most well-fed in Thailand. The monks are not allowed to keep food, so they give the dogs all their leftovers after every single meal!

A monk praying at Wat Suan Dok.

Buddhas with offerings at Wat Suan Dok.