OK, so I do now officially have a home base in Chiang Mai. It’s a nice, clean room that I can call home and be happy to come back to after trudging through Laos, Sipsongpanna in China, rural Thailand etc. The place is called “Baan Thai,” a silly and rather generic name meaning “Thai house.” It’s a place we had looked at this summer when the entire group of us was traveling around looking for a place to live. I really liked it this summer, but it is a bit more expensive and further away from the University than where I stayed this summer. Not to mention the place I stayed this summer had the most fabulous view. But now I wanted something easy, clean, convenient, and with a nice pool. I knew it pretty well also because my friend Laura did live here this summer, and I would come visit her and use her pool. It even has a TV and a fridge! The view isn’t so great, but at least I can still see Doi Suthep (the mountain I had a view of this summer). The neighborhood I live in is pretty yuppie/upscale/trendy for Chiang Mai and does have a fair number of non-Thai. But as someone living alone, it is easy to get dinner, coffee, etc. without having to try very hard, which I like. Now I am all pretty much unpacked (but not very organized) and am now going to try to sort myself out mentally, such as figuring out a rough idea of what I will be doing for the next couple of months, figuring out my path in Laos, etc. All I can do is wish myself luck and hope everyone back home is doing well. Enjoy the pictures.