March Wrap Up

Expenses in March were $120 more than in February. I had to pay for a visa extension ($65), a bus ticket for a future visa run ($12), and electric ($30), so basic day to day expenses remained at $10 per day. Below is the breakdown :

Daily Average of money Spent - March
	10.75
	10.12
	6.74
	8.14
	4.74
	7.57
	12.02
	0.00
	18.77
	7.27
	12.55
	1.80
	16.20
	7.65
	9.22
	10.45
	7.49
	11.10
	8.05
	6.52
	8.04
$65 - Visa Extension	71.73
	11.21
	18.03
	15.53
	9.32
	10.95
	11.50
	0.00
$12.22 - Bus Ticket for Visa Run	28.49
	6.97
Total Daily Money Spent in March -	$368.92
Daily Average from March 1 - 31
368.92/31 = $11.90 per day
Rent for March - $281.38 (paid on 3/2/12)
Total Money Spent in March - $281.38 + 368.92 = $650.30 My overall experience for the month was positive, as I am getting into better physical condition as I train for the run up Doi Suthep. I am becoming more comfortable in Chiang Mai and I have forged small, but meaningful connections with people and places - the two women at Tops Cafe who make my $1 pad thai lunch; the street side cobbler who I say hello to on occasion; the fruit vendor one block from the Dome where I buy fresh cut pineapple for 30 cents; the people I meet at the fitness park; and hanging out at the Free Bird once or twice a week where I eat a good meal and sometimes speak with Maria. As I read through Nausea, and all of the other books since arriving in Thailand, the events and ideas in my own life are reflected in the stories, giving me an odd sense of synchronicity, but synchronized with what? My ideas about the purpose and reasons for coming to Thailand have become more solid, giving me the confidence to continue. Traveling to places is secondary to the inner journey - wandering, observing, connecting in a way which is unique to my position in time and space. I have no interest in most of the things which tourists do when they come to Chiang Mai, and the fitness park, which is the place I go to everyday, is empty of westerners. I have created a painting of Chiang Mai and I have taken my place inside of it - I will miss it when the time comes to leave.