Product of ND: Settling In

Well, it has been about three weeks since I have been in Thailand and I am slowly getting used to it. I am still living with a host family until the end of the week and then I am moving into an apartment south of Chiang Mai Gate, which is close to the market and work. Next week will be my last week of intensive Thai language lessons, which is good and bad. Bad in the sense that it will be over but good in the sense that I will be able to work full time at the shop and actually get out into the field. Next on the to do list is buy a scooter and a cheap guitar.

Moo young (translates to shredded pork), the family dog

Intensive Thai with Ajan Dear

Old Payap

I realized the other day that I had not put up any pictures of the shop or of Chiang Mai in general. That damn camera just seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But I plan on remedying that in the upcoming weeks. Here are a few photos from the last couple days:

Bouldering wall

The shop

I have also decided that my favorite part of everyday hits around 6 pm when the light is amazing, the sun is sinking low, and the temperature cools. Don't think I will ever get sick of it.

Wat Phra Singh

This is going to sound pretty strange but there is a fixed geared bicycle revolution happening here in Chiang Mai. I thought I escaped this fad when I left the upper Midwest (yeah I am talking to all you Minneapolis and Fargo hipsters) I was recently telling this to my buddy Andrew Haak, owner of North Coast Bicycle Restorations in Ann Arbor, MI, and he couldn't believe it. I had to document this and the pictures don't lie. Never been into fixed geared bikes much, namely because I have heard horror stories of guys going down hills and their chains falling off (crash), but whatever floats your boat I guess. If you get a chance check out Andys' website http://northcoastbikerestore.com/ (the website is still under construction but it will be done soon). He is doing some pretty sweet stuff over there. Great classic bikes in original condition at a very reasonable prices.