Thailand 🇹🇭
Touchdown Thailand: Falling in Love with Chiang Mai
From Colombia to the Land of Smiles 🇹🇭
After our whirlwind exit from Medellín, we made the bold leap across the globe and landed in none other than Thailand—our very first stop in Southeast Asia!
We flew into Bangkok, and let’s just say, the long-haul journey definitely tested our limits. But the real adventure beganwhen we hopped on what might be the dodgiest domestic plane we’ve ever flown on—a tiny budget airline to get us up north to Chiang Mai. Think wobbly windows, squeaky seats, and questioning whether your hand luggage might actually weigh more than the plane itself. 😂 But hey—it got us there safely, and that’s what counts!
Back to the Mountains (Finally!)
After soaking up so many beaches during our travels (and cutting Medellín short), I was craving mountains and cooler air, and Chiang Mai called to me—even though I knew almost nothing about it. It was a bit of a leap of faith, but something just felt right about this place.
As soon as we stepped off the plane, it hit us—warmth, smiles, calm energy. The same kind of feeling we hadn’t had since El Salvador, and oh, we’d missed it! People were smiling with their whole hearts. The vibe was peaceful. Thailand had us hooked from day one.
Living the Luxe Life – Bougie Beginnings
For our first two weeks, we treated ourselves to a bit of luxury (we earned it, right?!). We booked into a bougie hotel with a rooftop pool, gym, and even a digital nomad workspace—aka parent paradise. It felt SO good to finally slow down, recharge, and be somewhere that just worked.
And the best part? Even the “bougie” places here are super affordable. Thailand has been so gentle on our budget, which makes a huge difference when you're travelling as a family.
🧠 Fun Fact: Thailand is often called "The Land of Smiles"—not just because people smile a lot, but because smiling is deeply rooted in Thai culture and used in over 13 different social situations, from joy to empathy to politeness!
The largest rooftop pool I've ever seen (Astra Sky River)
English Speakers & Expat Vibes
One of the first things we noticed—and appreciated—was that so many people speak English here, and it makes day-to-day life SO much easier. From ordering food to chatting with locals, we felt seen and welcome, which is a big deal after months of language barriers.
There are loads of expats and digital nomads here too (many with kids!), so it’s been a beautiful mix of cultures, communities, and connections. Chiang Mai felt like a place where we could breathe, be safe, and just be us.
A Month in the Ninman Area – Our Chiang Mai Base
We fell for Chiang Mai hard. So much so, we decided to extend our stay and found a beautiful 1-month rental housejust near the trendy Ninman area. It's such a lovely part of the city—full of leafy cafés, creative spaces, yoga studios, smoothie bowls, and street food galore. It’s modern yet peaceful, and it’s got that sweet balance between local life and western comforts.
The Maya Mall at Ninnman
The area is perfect for families, and there’s just SO much to do in and around Chiang Mai—elephant sanctuaries, waterfalls, night markets, temples, jungle zip-lining… you name it. We’ve barely scratched the surface, and we’re loving every minute.
The Temples stole our hearts straight away- they are around every corner!
🐘 Fun Fact: Chiang Mai is known as the "Rose of the North" and is surrounded by over 300 Buddhist temples! It was once the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom.
Joe & Tilly Explore Bangkok
While I stayed back to get us settled, Joe and Tilly took a quick trip to Bangkok to tick it off the bucket list. They said it was busy, buzzing, and packed with cool sights, but definitely not the place to live full-time—at least not for our little family. But it’s one of those places you have to see once. I’m excited to go back with them sometime soon and explore it together.
Cheap, Cheerful, and Stomach-Friendly
One of the best parts? The cost of living here is honestly unreal—in a good way! Everything from meals to transport to massages (yes, please!) is incredibly affordable compared to the Americas. We’ve been eating like kings and queens, and no belly aches yet either, which, as any traveller knows, is a major win. 🙌
🍜 Fun Fact: Thailand’s street food is considered some of the best in the world, and Thai people eat an average of 4–5 meals a day (small, flavour-packed, and fresh!).
The famous Koh Soi!
A Place That’s Hard to Leave…
This is just the first stop on our Southeast Asia journey, and already, it’s pulling us in hard. There’s something about Thailand—the warmth, the community, the simplicity, and the smiles—that’s making it harder and harder to move on.
But we’re still on a mission to find our forever home, and we know we have to keep moving… at least for now.
Thailand, thank you for the most incredible welcome. You’ve already taken a piece of our hearts. 💛
✈️ Planning a trip to Thailand?
Here are a few family-friendly tips from us:
Start in Chiang Mai if you want calm vibes, cooler weather, and mountain views.
Skip the taxis and use Grab (Thailand’s version of Uber) or even better rent a bike- they are super cheap!
Try everything from a street cart at least once—especially Pad Thai and mango sticky rice!
Pack light—you’ll be living in linen and flip-flops its warm even in rainy season.
Get your Independence driving license before arriving if you can- less hassle!
And bring an open heart—Thailand will fill it.
