Nomads, Ladyboys, Massages and iWauLai

Judy. On our flight into Chiang Mai, Thailand, we met and got into conversations with two young couples, Tyler and Kayla from Canada, and Stefanny and Giovanni from Brazil. Unfortunately, our short stays and different plans kept us from meeting up with Tyler and Kayla again, but in Stefanny and Gio we met fellow nomads and spent some time together. 

Canadians Kayla & Tyler

Giovanni and Stefanny

Our Brazilian buddies are digital nomads—Stefanny teaches Chinese (!) online, and Gio is a graphic designer. The bad news is that they have to work Brazilian time, which means 3:30 PM till late night, but they do have days off, and we hassled them to get up and meet us for lunch and a visit to a Wat one day. We got so involved in our conversations that they nearly missed getting home in time for work! Despite the age difference, we found we had a great deal in common, and we hope to meet up with them in Hanoi in a few weeks. 

The 4 nomads at Wat Phra Singh

We had all heard about the Ram Bar, a “straight-friendly gay bar,” as they advertise. Our digital nomad friend Sonya had made us promise to go there, and it was well worth it! Gio had to work, but Stefanny was game! We met at the main night market, then walked to the Ram Bar. Evidently, my darling husband is a big tipper, so we got tons of attention from the ladyboys, even winding up onstage for the curtain call! If you come to Chiang Mai, this is not to be missed. “Madonna” and I got up close and personal! When the show was over, the hostess said, “Stay! There’s a second show!” But Ted grabbed us —“I’m outta tip money, we gotta go!” We put Stefanny on a Grab (Asia’s Lyft or Uber) motor scooter and caught our own ride back to our hotel. 

It was a wild night!

Part of the audience & part of the curtain call!

A quick ride home--for young people

One of the best parts of Chiang Mai was the Women’s Massage Center. There are several branches throughout the city, and they are very popular. The masseuses are all ex-prisoners. The story is that women who got out of prison couldn’t get work, so Thierry Gallo got the idea to train them as massage therapists, then open their own centers, giving them the work they needed to get started again. My Thai massage cost about $12 American (including aromatherapy) plus a tip. My therapist was outstanding, and I much preferred giving my money to these women rather than the ubiquitous shops on every street. 

Trip Advisor and even the UN have recommended the Women's Massage Center

We spent one week at the iWauLai Hotel, which almost became home. I don’t know why we never got any photos, but Max and his warm crew chatted with us every day, offering suggestions, listening to our adventures, and wishing us safe travels and hopes to come back. (“In April! There’s a big festival then!”) One woman even came over on her day off to say goodbye. They were wonderful. It all was. 

But Singapore calls….