Digital Nomad

1 Year Ed Visa: Hand to Hand Combat

1 Year Ed Visa: Hand to Hand Combat 150 150 cmbadmin

How To Get a 12 Month Education Visa Without Studying Thai

Digital Nomads, Expats and Visitors that want to stay and live in Chiang Mai for 12 Months without having to learn Thai!

It happens all the time. People come to visit Chiang Mai, fall in love with the place, then want to stay much longer than first anticipated.

Not long ago you could get a 12-month Education Visa to “study” the Thai language which included an exemption from the 90-day reporting to immigration. How quickly things change. Not only has length of stay for this visa been slashed to 6 months, Thai Immigration now wants to see you every 90 days for that legendary reporting process that takes 3-5 hours and can add years to your life. If that wasn’t bad enough, Immigration is actually now spot testing Thai language proficiency and rejecting visa extensions for those who fail. To top it all off, class times have also increased.

So where does this leave you if you want to stay as a Digital Nomad serving your clients from afar or as a semi-retired individual not old (or rich) enough to qualify for a Retirement Visa.

What if I were to Tell You There is a Way?

What if you could obtain a 1 year ED Visa without learning Thai or having to attend as much school time? You can get the one year visa for a total cost of 35,000 baht. No more hassle waiting 5 hours at Immigration every 90 days for your Education Visa. No need to spend hours a week studying to ensure you pass the Immigration spot tests. And a whole year not just the new 6 months on the typical Thai Language ED Visa

The school will arrange to take you to Immigration (they queue in the morning and call you in) and make sure everything goes well.

AND

Your trainers are Military Police!  It’s not Immigration you have to worry about—it is the Army. Imagine having connections with the people who can really help you?

Additional Information

Retirement Visa
All Types of Visa’s

 

 

Here is the short and sweet of the 1 year ED Visa

bullet-greenED Visa for 12 Months
bullet-greenHand to Hand and Body Guard Training
bullet-greenNo More Immigration Problems

bullet-greenNo More Study of Thai Language
bullet-greenOnly 35,000 Baht

bullet-greenThai Military Police
Instructor
bullet-greenTrainer is a VIP Bodyguard in Chiang Mai
bullet-greenSchool arranges all Immigration Visits and 90-Day Reporting
bullet-greenLow Commitment of Time Compared to ED Visa
(Learning Thai)
bullet-greenAmazing Contacts in the Military Police
bullet-greenLearn a Skill that will Benefit you the Rest of your Life

 

You get to Stay 12 Months in Thailand!

PLUS – You get to make a friend of a high-ranking official of the Military Police

How to get a Self Defense Hand-to-Hand Combat Visa and Live in Chiang Mai for One Year

This is a self defense training school that is suitable for all ages and all fitness levels.  You are learning self defense and combat which does not require a high level of personal fitness.  Not only that, this is cool stuff. You learn to take care of yourself and how to defend yourself.

Thai Ed Visa Combat School

If you are traveling the world you should
be able to take care of your personal safety.

 

Click Here to Learn More!


[blog_posts count=”5″ post_category=”Visa Services” title=”Further Details: Our Articles on Visa Topics” link_text=”Read More” character_count=”115″ layout=”default” excluded_cat=””]

Six Month Tourist Visa for Thailand

Six Month Tourist Visa for Thailand cmbadmin

The Six Month Tourist Visa for Thailand might soon become a reality. The Visa will cost 5000 baht and allow multiply entries and may soon be followed by a 12 month Tourist Visa.

The Minister for Tourism, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has given the go ahead for the proposal early August 2015. It is expected to come into effect within 60 days of cabinet approval and publication.  BUT! This Visa has been talked about and speculated upon for many years and in particular in the last 6 months.

Current Status of 6 Month Tourist Visa:  Not yet Available

Citizens from over 30 countries can currently enter the kingdom without a visa for up to 30 days, but some nationalities are required to pay around 1,000 Baht for a single entry 30 day visa.  The new 6 month Tourist Visa is expected to be available for all countries at a cost of 5,000 baht (but as of yet this is speculation)

[hr]

What does the 6 Month Tourist Visa mean for Digital Nomads?

Talk among Digital Nomads about a special Nomad Visa has been rife for the last year or so. Nomad communities will insist that they contribute to the Thai economy and how the country should make things easier for them – being able to live and work here.  The reality is this Visa has been created for the growing number of Chinese tourists, in an attempt to have them come multiply times to Thailand and increase their spending.  Compared to the Chinese Tourist, the contribution of a few Digital Nomads is insignificant.  While this Visa will allow people to come and set up a base in Thailand with the ability to spend a few weeks to a month or so out of the country – you will still be classified as a Tourist.

This means, limited access to opening a Thai Bank Account, an inability to get a Thai Drivers license and all the usual lack of advantages of being in the Tourist Status. It will still be illegal for you to openly work here in Thailand

The Good News

It will make using Thailand (especially Chiang Mai) a base for your South Asia travels.  You will be able to secure a 6 month lease on a condo (making for cheaper living with a kitchen), obtain a Bank Account and really have time to commit to your projects with the ability to exit the country and return.

[hr]

What does the 6 Month Tourist Visa mean for Retirees?

This is great news for people wanting to retire in Thailand.  Six months will give you the ability to travel around the country and spend a month or so in each of the locations you are considering.  You will be able to obtain a Bank Account, and have it ready for the required Funds (800,000 Baht) for the last two months required to obtain a Non O Retirement Visa.

This gives you the ability now to come and visit and make sure you really want to live here in Thailand and the time to make it happen from within the country.

Final Thoughts

At the moment all that has happened is the Prime Minister has approved the idea of this Tourist Visa.  It still needs to be passed through the system and made into Law.  Then it is expected within 60 days of this happening, the Visa will be available. No amount of publicity or blog posts or newspaper articles telling what we ‘hope’ will happen makes it a reality.  Check back to this article every now and again to see the status of progress at the top.  This will be updated as events unfold towards the reality of the Six Month Tourist Visa.

[hr]

end

 

 

 

 

Why Chiang Mai is Number 1 for Digital Nomads

24 Reasons Chiang Mai is the Best Place for Digital Nomads

24 Reasons Chiang Mai is the Best Place for Digital Nomads 538 218 cmbadmin

Why is Chiang Mai the best place for Digital Nomads?

Being a digital nomad allows the total freedom pack your belongings get in a plane and work wherever you want. Why then are so many (possibly over 3000) digital nomads choosing to live and work for extended periods in Chiang Mai City Thailand?

I myself, have done the working online and traveling since 2002, long before Tim Ferris and the 4 Hour Work Week, gave me a job title, I could use to explain myself to others.  Back in the early days, I traveled the United States in an RV, paying US$500 a month just for satellite dial-up internet connection.  In 2 years of RV’ing  I only ever meet one other person you could call a digital nomad.  Twelve years later, after many countries and scores of cities, I found myself returning to Chiang Mai so often, I decided there was no longer any point going anywhere else. In Chiang Mai hardly an hour goes by without meeting another nomad sitting in a cafe, a coworking place, a meetup and even just walking down the street.

So what makes Chiang Mai so appealing to the Digital Nomad?

I am going to bet, this is not the first blog post you have read about Chiang Mai right?  It seems that now, there is not a travel blogger worth their salt who has not been or lived here and written about this beautiful Northern Thailand city.  In fact there are social groups here in Chiang Mai just for travel bloggers to get together and hang out.  Chiang Mai is home to thousands of Nomads, from all categories of online business. Already Digital Nomads know that Chiang Mai is the number one city, and there are hundreds of reasons we keep coming and returning.

Chiang Mai Buddy was created and set up due to the increasing number of digital nomads who began discovering what Expats knew years ago; That Chiang Mai ROCKS!  Our focus is of course to help prepare you to make coming to Chiang Mai a stress free and as inexpensive as you can.  Because despite all the amazing benefits of this city, packing up and moving to a new country is a huge life decision.  Having a friend already in the city helps makes the transition easier.  But enough of the sales talk.  lets look at why you should make the decision to put Chiang Mai at the top of your list.

[hr]

1) Chiang Mai Digital Nomad Community

Digital Nomads having a ball in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Digital Nomads have an active and strong social network

Chiang Mai has an incredible amount of open social network groups that are constantly providing training seminars, dinners, social outings, meetups and networking opportunities.  Gone are the day’s where networking in Chiang Mai required joining private membership clubs such as the Tropical MBA Podcasts ‘Dynamite Circle. ($588 per year) or the more recent Nomads List (one off $49).  In fact the free and open social networking groups in Chiang Mai, Thailand have memberships that exceeds these world-wide communities several times over.

The social communities in Chiang Mai, provide information on “how to…”, “where to…” and “when to…”; along with opportunities for hiring and selling the services of each other within the local environment.  Least not, the constant social events, training seminars by visiting experts and free workshops put on by locals wanting to network and promote their services. – And that is just the Nomad Groups!

Long before discovered by Digital Nomads, Chiang Mai was (and still is) a retirement haven for many Expats from  around the world.  They have over years built social and entertainment networks that exceed many times over the specialty digital nomad communities.  Lana Cricket have used the Gymkhana sports grounds for over 50 years, ranging a wide variety of tennis, golf, cricket and other sporting and social events.

“Wait a Minute”, I hear some of the readers say, “This is about Digital Nomads, why are you telling me about the other stuff”?.  Here’s the bottom line ….  So many Nomads who make Chiang Mai their home, never extend their social networks outside of the digital community.  BIG MISTAKE!.  The stories you will hear from retired English MI6, as they argue with retired American Intelligence agents over a beer are far more interesting than Joe Nomads latest SEO budget expenditure and the results.  The amount of information you will gleam at the Chiang Mai Expats club breakfast or one of their scheduled events, is an incredible wealth of information and resources.  If you are going to live in Chiang Mai for an extended period of time – do not make the mistake of burying your head in the silicon sand of exclusively Nomad world..

Some of the Many Social Networks available in Chiang Mai
For more check out our Resources

I Love Chiang Mai – We all love Chiang Mai – there is a great files section with loads of information. This is a secret group, you will need a friend who is a member add you

Chiang Mai Events  – it’s usually here if it is happening in Chiang Mai.

Couch surfing in Chiang Mai – Couch surfing in the international free accommodation and travel group.

Whats Happening Chang MaiThe primary focus of ‘What’s happening in Chiang Mai’ is to provide to voice to those connected to Burma and social justice issues generally. We welcome posts that are of value to the audience advertising events, and important news affecting our community.

What, Where, When Chiang Mai – A page for people, event organizers, promoters, bar owners, club owners to let everyone know what’s happening in Chiang Mai. Feel free to add people to the group, the more people on here the more we’ll know what’s happening in and around Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai – For people wanting to come to or already living or just interested in Chiang Mai

Digital Nomads in Chiang Mai  – Over 3000 digital nomads make Chiang Mai their home.  Most of them share ideas and events in this group

Chiang Mai Happy Hour Nomads – Looking for a new place to get together with friends? New in town and looking for a group to join n for drinks? Keep an eye on our group for our weekly meetups… We will explore new bars, return to old favorites and share our experiences along the way.

TEDx Chiang Mai – Chiang Mai’s affiliated TEDx talks

Farang Community Chiang Mai – An ask and you shall receive group for foreign nations in Chiang Mai.

Teachers of Chiang Mai – If you have questions about teaching vacancies, necessary teaching credentials, professional development ideas or just need some ideas for teaching activities post your comments here!

Teachers in Thailand: Agarn –  The Ajarn school forum and Facebook page

Thailand Foreign English Teachers Network – Support group for Foreign Teachers in Thailand.
Job postings, visa issues, agents issues, Classified advertising, Group trips and more

2) Cost of Living in Chiang Mai

Cost of living in Chiang Mai Thailand

Front page of the Nomad List website .. says it all

One of the biggest attractions of Chiang Mai, Thailand is the cost of living.  The Nomad List website, which compares the cost of living in cities around the world, rank Chiang Mai as one of the cheapest places to live.  This is supported by the Digital Nomad Community forum and website, as well as International Living, a subscription based retirement community.

You can live here on an extreme budget, choosing accommodation like Siriruk Apartment for less than $100 a month.  Or for $500 stay in a fully serviced Hotel like the Victoria.  If you are staying here longer, you are able to lease a condo (usually 6 months minimum but can sometimes you can find one for 3 months) and save even more.

A Motorbike rental can start as low as $60 a month, but beware, this will be a low quality bike.  Most likely older, 100 cc manual motorcycle.  You are much better off spending $90-100 and get a newer 125cc bike large enough and with enough power for the western frame. Newer motorbikes not only pack more power and acceleration (which might save your life) they are easier on the fuel as well.  Better bikes will end up alost as cheap to run as the cheaper older ones.

Food in a Thai Thai (the word to explain a typical local place) restaurant starts at 25 baht and seldom goes past 40 (US 75 cents to $1.20). Most people tend to go to the local places in more urban areas where you are looking at US$1-2 for a meal.  Western food usually cost more, but still much cheaper than is typical in your home country.  Although you will generally find eating out is cheaper than cooking food yourself at home.

You can live in Chiang Mai for about $500 a month.  You will live very well for $1000

3) Availability of Accommodation

Chiang Mai city is growing.  From almost any view in any Condo or monthly rental accommodation you will see new accommodation buildings going up. Long term condo leasing (6-12 months) is easily found, shorter term (3 months) more difficult but not impossible.  Monthly accommodation is readily available in the low seasons, but during high seasons you should book ahead of time.

Chiang Mai is not just a popular destination for online entrepreneurs, it is popular with tourists from all around Asia and Thais from other parts of the country.  The city is taking advantage of the increased tourist and short term visitors and building accommodation to satisfy the need.   This means that rental prices are going to remain low for years to come. There are buildings that are popular with the Chinese, with Japanese, with western Expats and some even fill of digital nomads.  So while accommodation is available – knowing where to live so that you are with people like you, is the biggest consideration

N.B.  On many websites and blogs people will say “Accommodation is easy, just turn up and look around”.  This used to be the case.  Since we founded Chiang Mai Buddy, 80% of our customers have come from street walk-in’s after they found that finding accommodation was much more difficult than they read online. I strongly suggest you do not take the risk during peak season of hoping for the best. Book a place and then look around.

4) Digital Nomad Hotspot

Now the most popular location in the world, Chiang Mai is full of digital nomads.  If you are starting out on your nomadic adventure, you will meet more of your future companions, friends, competitors and collaborators in Chiang Mai than anywhere else in the world.  You can find people who are here for a short time and want to travel, making it the best destination to find new friends to plan your future adventures with.

For those who want to stay longer, making Chiang Mai their hub for slow travel, there are many ex nomads (or nomads on a break) who have made this city their home.  In addition there are people who make their money online who do not consider themselves part of the digital nomad community.

Whatever your purpose for coming, be it short-term stay to start your career, bootstrapping, or because you have found yourself getting tired of living out of a suitcase. Chiang Mai has experienced and successful online entrepreneurial and newbies bootstrapping their dreams.  And the community shares information and helps each other with an openness and willingness to share.

5) Internet and WiFi

I am not going to lie, in your accommodation if you are sharing the internet it can be slow (2-10 mbps down and .5-2 mbps up).  But getting your own internet is easy and cheap.  Unlimited 10 Down and one up plans start at 550 baht per month. At Chiang Mai Buddy office we have 30 Down and 10 up, 112 TV Stations and a cell phone with more data than we need for a grand total of 799 Baht (Less tan $30 a month).

Cafes and Coworking spaces offer much faster internet speeds, and with a phone plan of $10 a month or more you have access the the massive amount of Phone provider WiFi hotspots all around the city.  Free WiFi is everywhere, paid internet is extremely cheap.  In my early days living here I visited so many cafes and eateries (each with free WiFi) that I could walk around and almost always be connected automatically on my phone.  But then I discovered how to get prepaid phone services and never had to worry about looking for free wIFi again.

6) Coworking Spaces and Cafes

In Chiang Mai you can not throw a stone without hitting 1) a Temple, 2) a 7/11 and 3) a place for the digital nomad to work from.  There are now 5 or 6 major coworking spaces, several smaller ones and new places opening all the time.  Every cafe offers free WiFi and has no problems with customers spending hours at a time sitting and working from within.  It is good manners to make a purchase every hour or so, but you are seldom approached or requested to.

You can be assured that at almost every cafe in town (and there are 1000’s of them) your fellow Nomad will be there working away, and often eager to spend some time chatting and making new friends.  You can check out the most popular coworking spaces in this article

7) Working Productivity

nomadbullshit

When you think of how the Digital Nomad lifestyle is presented to people before they start what do you think?  It’s the laptop at the beach right? Drinking coconuts! This is in reality – marketing bullshit.  Unless you have incredible time management and conditioned yourself with a disciplined work effort – if you are at a beach you are much more likely to be unproductive.

In Chiang Mai there is amazing support networks and social outlets, mastermind groups and more important you are surrounded by people being productive.  You are much more likely to get inspired here to work (and make money), if you are the some result of the 5 people you hang out with most – Chiang Mai is the place to find those type of people and mentors.

8) Chiang Mai Coffee

Chiang Mai Coffee

Chiang Mai Coffee Farmer explains bean flavors

Do you like Coffee?  People in Chiang Mai do!.  Here many of the thousands of cafes will have their own coffee farms and provide coffee that is some of the highest quality in the world.  The coffee here is what is known as the top 1% by those who spend time slurping and spitting it out. The Chiang Mai region grows Coffee –  It is 100% organic, grown under natural shade at high attitudes and hand picked, wet processed and dried in the sun, and packaged with single source beans.

If you compare this with the media attention grabbing Colombian coffee, which is often grown in fields, harvested with tractors and mixed with beans from other locations – Chiang Mai coffee ROCKS!

9) No Horns, Hustlers, Poverty & Ripoffs

Reasons to Live in Chiang Mai

In Chiang Mai, you are NOT constantly asked to buy things

For the beginner starting to travel around Asia, something they do not tell you in the guide books, or often mention online .. is the Bustle.  In many parts of Asia (Philippines, Saigon, Cambodia, South Thailand) the poverty is overwhelming.  You are confronted by beggars on the streets consistently asking for money.  For the new Nomad, trying to enjoy a beer at 3 am in a nice (or not so nice) bar to be interrupted by a naked 3 year old child with their hands out, is heart breaking (and then often gets annoying).

Touts, Salespeople, Tuk Tuk drivers, Prostitutes, consistently and persistently harass you.  In the Philippines along some of the most happening beaches, you will say no to someone trying to sell you fake sunglasses, and the next walking sales person will hear you say “No” but still approach you.  This type of constant harassment gets old really fast.    In Cambodia you will be offered a ride, then weed, and then a lady, and then 2 minutes later the cycle is repeated.

Horns are used in Asia, to let someone know they are 100 meters from them and approaching, that they are behind them, passing them, have past them, are in front of them, and just because they have not used the horn in the last 30 seconds.  The noise pollution is incredible.  Now some people find this last point “vibrant’ and actually enjoy the massive speed at which the world passes by them and the noise it makes. In Saigon, you are constantly being abused with this type of noise pollution.

This stuff does not happen in Chiang Mai

Yes a Tuk Tuk driver will slow down and ask you if you want a ride, a wave “No” of the hand and they move on.  You are not followed and repeatedly asked to buy things from touts on the streets.   Chiang Mai is a relaxed and layed back city that does not harass the tourists or westerners who live here. So if you need to work, if you need to focus, and you prefer an environment that is not consistently bombarding you with noise and harassment – Chiang Mai is your city.

10) Fantastic Weather

Press image to enlarge

Press image to enlarge

From November to February the weather in Chiang Mai is perfect.  Clear blue skies with 30°C temperatures and low humidity during the day and lower temperatures at night. Around March the temperature starts to get hotter, but Chiang Mai being located in the mountains is always a few degrees C lower than anywhere else in Thailand and most places in Asia.

The rainy season starts around May and sometimes goes until October.  The rain usually happens once or twice a day for 30-60 minutes.  And it is a downpour!.  You will have about 30 minutes warning as the dark clouds roll in and 10 minutes before it starts the wind picks up.  If you are under cover the refreshing breeze and cooler temps are a welcome visitor.

During the rainy seasons (really it should be referred to as the daily hour of rain) the surrounding area of Chiang Mai is beautiful.  Day trips, and rides to see the tourists spots or just to go on an adventure, will offer some of the best photos you will ever have the privileged of taking.  Worse case (because you do not want to ride in the rain) is that for 30-60 minutes you will have to stop off and sit back and relax at a cafe along your trip.

11) Worlds Best Food

Chiang Mai Street Food

Thai food is amazing, and here in Chiang Mai it is at least 1/10th of the price you would pay back home.   Food stalls and markets are found all over the city where you can sample local dishes for $1 a meal.

Well known Thai favorites like pad Thai and green curry are readily available, and Chiang Mai is famous for its local specialty Khao Soi. If you decide to attend a cooking school (around $30 for a half to full day) you will discover the secret to Khao Soi (OK, OK it is a Thai red curry with Indian curry powder mixed in)

Vegetarians and Paleo are extremely well catered for (Thais often go meatless in their meals for special Buddha events). When you tire of Thai food, there are hundreds of restaurants that cater for every other taste.  Indian, Mexican, Greek – you name it, Chiang Mai has an expat who has decided to open it.  For more details  Where to find Western Food in Chiang Mai

12) Cheap Fresh Produce

If you decide you want to cook for yourself (and most people give up on this idea after a week or two of living here because it IS cheaper to eat out) then the local markets in Chiang Mai are for you.  Lower prices than the supermarkets and full of local and imported from other regions of Thailand – the local markets are a busy and popular place with the locals.

The Markets can be slightly overwhelming for the new arrival, (we offer a quick lesson on how to go and purchase produce included with the Digital Nomad Start Up Tour) – but you will soon get the hang of it.

One of the Kings projects was to help the farmers convert from growing drugs to growing food. Farmers where taught how to grow particular crops and shown how to do it well.  If you are American – forget asking for organic, This is Thailand, almost all the food here is organic.

13) Relaxed, Non Sex-Tourist Atmosphere

Chiang Mai is a traditional city, populated with many migrants from the rural areas of Thailand.  These people have traditional and high values, and Chiang Mai is NOT what you might expect about Thailand from watching movies.  Here (unlike other parts of Thailand and Asia) you will not see the 90 year old man holding hands with his young beautiful play thing.  Yes this is Thailand, and there are parts of the city you can visit if you are feeling ‘lonely’ – but for the most part the people that stay here in Thailand have higher morals and codes of behaviors from the usual tourist.

Chiang Mai is also a relaxed city.  Things happen here at a slower pace, and no one is really in a hurry.  The city is big enough and caters for most people and most tastes, but lacks the zoom zoom speed of other Asian cities.  Some people find this slower pace is not for them

14) Fantastic People

Thailand is promoted as the land of smiles, and never more than in Chiang Mai.  The people are friendly and helpful and honest!  The locals here are not (unlike other parts of Asia) always looking for a way to get something from the tourist.  Locals will help you in times of need, and some of the sweetest natures in the world are possessed by the women here.

Because Chiang Mai is a relaxed and non sex tourist destination, many of the local expats are pleasant to know and engage with. As well Chiang Mai has 3 major Universities so the locals are youthful and educated.  One of the greatest things about being in Chiang Mai is that you do not have to always be on guard that your wallet is about to be taken advantage of.

15) Safety

Chiang Mai is rated as one of the safest cities in the world.  Crime against foreigners is extremely rare, and apart from riding a motorcycle, you will never feel intimidated or afraid for your safety.  You can freely and comfortably walk around either during the day or the small hours of the night and feel totally safe even if you are a single women alone.

The scams that fill the headlines in western media about Thailand and Asia just do not happen here in Chiang Mai – or at least are very very rare.  The one exception to this is the Mob run Karaoke Bars along Chang Klan road.  Here you can go in for an hour, have a few drinks with a few ladies and come out with a 30,000 baht bill.  Many (often drunk and loud) westerners do not understand how a few drinks and a couple of ladies flirting with them can cost $1000. The answer is simple – it is a scam – just don’t go there!

16) The Temples & Culture

things to know coming to Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai has Temples!  If taking photos of golden laced statues surrounded by orange and red clothed monks of all ages is your thing – you could spend months and months going to different places everyday.  If you are up in the early hours you will frequently see monks collecting elms along the side of the roads, monks traveling in public transport … monks monk monks!

Thai culture is valued very highly here in Chiang Mai, with a mixture of both rural and urban important events and traditions being celebrated.  Thailand and indeed Chiang Mai is relatively free from western religion, instead the vast majority of people (99%) are Buddhist and this culture is loudly and proudly displayed during the day to day activities of the people.  A few weeks before I wrote this post, myself and a friend where walking at night, and he collapsed and went unconscious.  Luckily we were outside of a medical clinic and the Doctor and nurses came to his aid, but the staff also immediately lite incense to appeal to the house spirit that controlled the area as well.

Asia is well known for its rich and vibrant culture, here in Chiang Mai you will be able to view massive amounts of it, each and everyday just walking around.

17) The Holidays & Festivals

The culture in Chiang Mai is vibrant and often celebrated.  Festivals and Public Holidays are times when the Locals, Expats and tourists alike relax, take time off and enjoy the many colorful and exotic experiences.  In particular Songkran (April 13-16) and Loy Kratong (Nov 25) are two events that draw overseas tourists and Thai’s from other regions of the country. These are two events that should be on everyone bucket list!

18) Beautiful Scenery and Landscapes

Chiang Mai Scenery

Let’s get this out of the way from the get go.  Chiang Mai is located in the North of Thailand, in the Mountains.  There are no beaches here.  But what is here is lush forests, mountains, old villages, rice fields, elephants, gardens, lakes, caves, temples, national parks and more.  There is a world outside of Chiang Mai (although it is fair to say there are many worlds contained within it as well).  that are absolutely spectacular.  Many Expats regularly go on motorcycle tours around the top of Thailand, taking several days.  More locally in just a few short hours you can go to many locations that will fill your camera memory card within hours.

19) So Much to Do!!

Chiang Mai Elephant Tour

There is more to life than just working, and in Chiang Mai there’s plenty to do in your downtime. You may have seen the Elephant Painting on Youtube – here in Chiang Mai you can go and see it for real.  You could visit one of the many Wats (temples); learn to cook Thai food, or how to give a massage.  Perhaps learn a new language or get qualified to Teach English and get a Visa and make money to live here long term.

Paintball, Salsa, Rock climbing, Trekking, Sports, all the usual things you would enjoy doing at home – PLUS the additional things you can only experience in Thailand.  Get blessed by a Monk, attend a retreat, learn how to train Elephants, relax with a $5 massage.  The choices are endless.

20) Cheap Medical Treatments

Here you can have breast implants for around US$1400, get braces for your teeth for half this amount. Dental treatment, Operations, Plastic Surgery – everything here is at almost a 1/3rd what you would pay in a socialist country with subsidized health care, and a fraction of what the typical American would would pay.

Health checks for $3, eye tests, medication the list goes on and on.  Thailand is a medical holiday country and these savings and benefits extend to local services provided by the medical health professionals here in Chiang Mai

21) Transport is Cheap

You can hire a motorbike for 3000 baht a month (sometimes less and sometimes more) – but if you want to use public transport it is easily affordable.  Chiang Mai is supposed to have a public bus system but you will never see it.  The reality is the Red Truck and Tuk Tuk mafia own this town.  Taxi’s are not allowed to drive around looking for customers, and there are no Motorcycle Taxi’s.  But! You can jump on the Red Trucks and travel for just 20 baht, a Tuk Tuk will cost you between 60-100 for a 5 kilometer trip (depending on the time of day and how well you haggle).

Hiring Cars for day trips is around 800-1200 baht.  If you need to do a Visa run, or want to visit another city (or country) the Bus, Train, Tour Vans and Flights are incredibly cheap.

22) Visa’s are Easy to Get

Starting late 2014, the government has started to tighten up the relaxed way they did the visa system here in Thailand.  Gone are the days where you could come in for 30 days and do visa runs to the boarder and extend your stay for ever.  Gone are the days where you would get an ED Visa and not actually attend your class.  Now you must have a proper Visa – but they are easy to get.

Most nationalities get a 30-day visa exemption when they arrive by plane, but if you want to stay long-term it’s best to get a 60-day tourist visa available from many neighboring countries—the nearest is Vientiane in Laos. A double-entry 60-day tourist visa will allow you to stay for six months by getting a 30-day extension at the immigration office, and then doing a border run after three months to renew.

Many people choose to use Chiang Mai as a base, and then visit other countries for a period of time, knowing they can always get another Visa in the countries they are in return to Chiang Mai.

If fact you can get a work permit through Chiang Mai Buddy for 30,000 baht.  Click here to find out how

23) Everything you will need is here

Chiang Mai is small enough to easily learn your way around and become familiar with the city, and big enough to have something for everyone.  There are may reasons that Chiang Mai is the Number one spot for Nomads – they can get and do anything they need to be successful.

Computer repairs, Internet, working spaces, recreational activities, women, friends, seminars, nature tours.  This list is too long to even attempt to begin to describe.

24) Chiang Mai Buddy

Chiang Mai is the first (and only as far as we are aware) city that has a Concierge Service specific for digital nomads. We make coming and staying in Chiang Mai an easy and stress free experience. We find you the best accommodation at the same price as if you walked in off the street, knew how to negotiate and paid cash. We pick you up and take you to your new home, motorcycle ready and waiting for you and then show you the hotspots for working, shopping and playing.

Once you are here, our online service means that you can call or send a text to have us make doctors or dental appointments, arrange for bank accounts, find child care, arrange for internet and TV – and everything and anything you could ask for.  How cool is that?

Find out what we can Do for You

[hr]

What Should I Pack? A Nomad Guide

What Should I Pack? A Nomad Guide cmbadmin

What should I pack? A guide for the Digital Nomad

Deciding what to bring with you is the hardest part of going Nomad, and I know this handbook caters to a wide variety of people from young Millennials to retiring Baby Boomers. I am going to cover the bones; your travel necessities.

Do not worry about forgetting anything, and do not become overly obsessed with your packing list. Despite my own previous fascination with scouring the web for Digital Nomad packing lists, the truth is that most “must-have” travel accessories aren’t, and you could survive just as easily and affordable if you were born yesterday and sent to Thailand without anything but the clothes on your back and your passport.

I’ve been able to travel with nothing but a carry on for years, and I still re-evaluate my belongings before every relocation in a vain attempt to reduce the load.

Those wheeled suitcases don’t bode well in Southeast Asia due to high pedestrian traffic and uneven, obstacle-course like “sidewalks”. Using bulky suitcases obligate you to find a place to check-in right after your arrival, whereas a good backpack will allow you to rove around town and settle in before deciding where to hang your head for the night.

The key to remember is to disregard anything you do not need when you want to move somewhere. Less is more, and spending less on “stuff” (aka “filler”) will free up hard earned cash for select, authentic, quality items that will last longer, can be repaired, carry a lifetime warranty, leave a lasting impression, etc.

As mentioned previously, 7-Eleven carries just about every toiletry, personal care, or hygiene item you may need while in Thailand so I only included items you need during transit in this list.

And if you’re going to bring any “refillable” items –a best example being a razor– don’t. A lot of the products available back home are different from those in Thailand and may not be compatible.

Lastly, carry a nylon dry bag in case you need to carry smelly items or get caught in the rain (or a Songkran soaker parade) and keep all of your papers in an easily accessible place, separate from other belongings.

So let’s recap these packing rules:

  • Only use a carry-on, never check your luggage
  • Don’t carry items you rarely use and can acquire on the ground for cheap (ie. raincoat, basic medicines)
  • Carry a nylon water-proof bag to protect specific items from getting wet

[hr]

1) Backpack

I selected two backpacks for this line item, however I only use (and am in love with) the first option.

The second option is presented because it looks like a great product, and was actually developed by Nomads, for Nomads through a Kickstarter campaign some years ago.

Option 1: Osprey Farpoint 70
http://www.ospreypacks.com

The Osprey Farpoint 70 is a little large for my needs, and I keep it 2/3 full at all times, except for when I visit home. That 1/3 of space will be great for gifts for nieces and nephews.

This pack meets several key requirements I think all of you may need to consider when making your backpack purchase(s).

Clamshell opening

The Osprey Farpoint’s ability to open “clam shell” style allows for non-linear access to your items. Simply put, no first-in-first-out nonsense, digging through your bag at inconvenient times, etc. You can open part of the bag, or you can peel back the entire top flap of the bag for equal access to objects anywhere within it.

Detachable Day Pack

The Osprey Farpoint also comes with a detachable day pack which I use every day, only using the larger portion of the pack for relocations.

The day pack will fit a laptop (from a Mac Air to a bulky Lenovo), assorted electronics, journals, maps, books, change of clothes, shoes, etc.

You can also detach the day pack from the face of the Osprey Farpoint and strap it to the front of your body while still being connected to the central pack on your back. This is great for crowded areas when you don’t want your laptop packed out of your peripheral vision.

Warranty

Osprey packs a lifetime warranty with each of its backpack models, which to me, says a lot. It’s one less thing to worry about. They sell Osprey bags at Maya Mall in Chiang Mai, too. It’s quite likely you could arrange a swap in an emergency if you call Osprey directly. If not, ship it back and they’ll replace it.

Great Carry On

Technically, the 70 litre Osprey Farpoint shouldn’t be an acceptable carry on. Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone. However, I’ve been able to get away with it on every flight I’ve taken this bag on in over 2 years. The reason? It can transform into a duffel bag.

All of the bulky straps and be tucked away easily behind a giant flap that is hidden at the bottom of the bag. Once the straps are out of the way and you use the side handle with the flap side out, the bag appears much more streamlined and fits easily into the overhead compartment.

Your only obstacle is weight, but I’ve also been lucky in that my bag has never been weighed, and I can squeeze it into the metal cage used to determine carry-on size allowance. The trick is to act like the bag is really light and hide your wincing!

If you’re concerned about not being able to pull off using the Farpoint 70 as a carry-on, you and I could both easily get away with using a Farpoint 55.

Option 2: Minaal Carry On
http://www.minaal.com

A bag I do not use, but one I respect. The Minaal 35 litre pack is engineered to be the ultimate carry on and also looks a little more “flash packer” –meaning it’s easy on the eyes is a high quality pack.

It too is a clamshell bag, allows you to zip away straps, fits all major airline carry-on dimensions, and also comes with a slide-on rain cover. Electronics stored within it are also housed in a suspended sleeve, so not matter which way it hits the ground, your gear won’t pay the ultimate price.

No day pack though, so for now, I will stick with my Osprey.

[hr]

2) Paperwork

I keep all of my important documents inside a wallet inside a waterproof toiletry style bag. If I required any medications, I’d keep them there with copies made of their prescriptions, too.

Worth mention is that I have two wallets; one for all of my needs on the road, and a light-weight standard wallet for when I go out.

My larger wallet is a “#balla” wallet, also designed by Nomads for Nomads. It can easily store a number of cards, currencies, passport and you can store your Departure Card without folding it.

The #balla wallet is now called the Baller wallet, and you can pick one up at http://ballerleather.com

Some items I keep together in my documents bag include;

  • Boarding pass
  • Passport
  • Copies: Passport, cards, ID, itinerary
  • Thailand Departure card
  • Cash in 2 or 3 different currencies (lately Kip, USD, and Thai baht)
  • SIM cards for every country I visit
  • Extra passport photos
  • Bank cards and credit cards Subway tokens for when in Bangkok
  • ID from home country such as Driver’s License, Health Card, etc.

[hr]

3) Toiletries

Many long-distance flights (on Etihad, for instance) will provide you with sleep masks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and so on. This list is for anyone who doesn’t want to chance it;

  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Floss
  • Eye mask
  • Inflatable neck pillow
  • Cologne
  • Anti-perspirant
  • Condoms
  • Gravol (for stomach issues or as a sleep aid)
  • Electric beard trimmer (which I tossed after 6 months in favor of a beard)
  • Earplugs
  • Travel towel (microfiber)
  • Nail clippers (once had to leave them behind at airport security)

[hr]

4) Electronics

Smart phones free up a lot of space. Travelers can eliminate additional items like a portable WIFI hotspot, MP3 player, and video player with a good smart phone.

Ensure that your smart phone is unlocked to work with any carrier and can tether its data connection to your laptop by cable or wirelessly via WIFI or Bluetooth.

It is now legal to be able to unlock your smartphone in the USA. Unlocking means allowing the phone to work with any carrier, “jail breaking” is something else entirely.

When I came to Thailand, my carrier had a steep cancellation fee so I gave my phone away to a friend and had them resume my contract. I picked up a used phone in Bangkok at MBK, but you can pick one up anywhere. They sell cheap burners at 7-Eleven, although smart phones and all other electronics are generally the same price in Thailand as they are back home.

  • Smart phone (Get your phone unlocked by your carrier in advance!)
  • Mac Air
  • External hard drive
  • USB stick
  • Portable speaker with built-in battery (also available at 7-Eleven)
  • Kindle ebook reader
  • Earphones
  • GoPro camera with watertight case
  • USB rechargeable battery pack

Special Note for Udemy Instructors, Podcasters, and other Media Producers: While there are a handful of recording studios in Chiang Mai, it might be best to pack your own additional recording gear or tablet you use as a teleprompter.

A coworking space called Coffee Monster does have a mic and a recording room that you can use, just add your laptop. I’ll get to Coffee Monster, later.

[hr]

5) Clothes

In hindsight, I learned that when it comes to clothing you could arrive with two sets of clothing and pick up the rest on arrival for the most part. Dress shirts can be custom made for cheap, and t-shirts, flip-flops, shorts, swim shorts, etc can all be purchased after you settle in on a need-to-wear basis.

However if winging it was your thing, you wouldn’t be reading this travel guide! Today, this is what I carry;

1 pair of socks
2 pairs of shorts
1 pair swim shorts for the pool or working out
1 pair pants to travel in
1 pair dress pants
5 t-shirts
1 dress shirt
3 pairs of underwear
1 leather belt
1 medium weight sweater

I strongly suggest that anything that is normally cotton –make it Merino wool. Merino wool pulls moisture away from the body in ways cotton never could, it reduces or eliminates odours naturally, regulates temperature (warms you in cold, cools you in heat), and it retains its shape much better than cotton. Merino is also stain and UV resistant, so it ages gracefully. Anything you purchase in Merino wool will outlive its cotton competitor by many, many times.

So that means Merino wool is ideal for t-shirts, socks, and underwear. Some popular Merino brands include Icebreaker, ExOfficio, Patagonia, and Ibex.

For stylish pants, I strongly recommend Bluffs by Bluffworks for similar reasons as Merino wool products. They are incredibly durable, wrinkle-free even after being balled up in a bag for 2 weeks, quick-drying, machine washable, and very breathable which makes them ideal for warmer climates. If you choose to only bring one pair of pants, these are ideal for work or pleasure.

You can find your pair of Bluffs here: http://shop.bluffworks.com

[hr]

5) Other Stuff

  • Notebooks
  • Pen
  • Pencil
  • Colored pencils
  • Pencil sharpener
  • Water canteen (for water refill stations)

[hr]

6) Footwear

I brought shoes with me, however I picked up my sandals in Pai. There’s a really great street vendor that sells flip-flops in Pai that are made completely out of comfortable yet durable rubber. Just about every vendor sells flip-flops, so you could likely skip packing them initially.

I now own three pairs of footwear;

Blundstone boots for travel or inclement weather
Jogging shoes that double as “water shoes”
Quality rubber flip-flop sandals

I love my Blundstone boots because they come with a two-year extended manufacturer’s warranty and they slip on without laces that can wear and break. The road is long and dirty; these boots are easily cleaned and more comfortable than a pair of Doc Martens.