To an extent, everyday life is the same no matter where you go. You (and the people who live there) need to eat, wash clothes, access money, get around, communicate… it just happens in different ways depending on where you are.

This is a little slice of our everyday life in different places we’ve stayed around the world. Our needs and preferences may be different than the locals’ (and yours), but the way we do things is inevitably influenced by our surroundings, which makes for an interesting round-up!

 

Water and Food

In Langkawi, Malaysia, we boiled our own drinking water and cooked on a one-burner hot plate or stocked up on local treats at the night market (the photo above shows our tasty haul from the market one night).

In Chiang Mai, Thailand, we filled our water bottles at self-service drinking-water stations and ate dinner almost every day at the night market.

In Udaipur, India, we had to buy water at the guesthouse or a little market down the street, and we just had to go up two flights of stairs to a rooftop restaurant with amazing food.

In San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, we had 20-liter bottles of water delivered for our dispenser and we went to the market stalls every day to eat tortas with the locals or bought fresh tortillas and salsa and tons of avocados to eat at home.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, you can drink the tap water, and we had delicious ice cream delivered and enjoyed lots of red wine and yerba mate.

 

Laundry

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, we dropped off a huge load with the laundry service in the building of our Airbnb apartment without asking the price, and ended up paying US$20.

In Chiang Mai, Thailand, we hoarded coins so we could use the machine at the end of the hall in our apartment building and then hung everything to dry on our balcony.

In Udaipur, India, we left our dirty clothes with the guy at the reception desk of our guesthouse and they magically reappeared, clean and folded (I often wondered if they were being washed in the lake, where I saw so many locals washing clothes…).

In Portland, Oregon, I enjoyed having our very own washer and dryer to use anytime.

 

Money

In Bali, Indonesia (and everywhere else we went in Asia) there were plenty of ATMs where I could pick up some rupiah (and instantly become a millionaire).

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, I transferred money to myself online with Xoom.com* and went to an office to pick it up.

In the U.S., I went to my bank, where they were surprised to see me back in town for once.

 

Transportation

In Bali, Indonesia, we walked almost everywhere and avoided the incessant taxi touts.

In Jaipur, India, we hired a rickshaw and driver for the day to take us all over town.

In Langkawi, Malaysia, we rode bikes to the beach.

In Mexico City, we flagged a cab on the street (which many say is a bad idea) and ended up with the sweetest driver ever.

In the United States, we road-tripped from New Jersey to Florida with my parents in their car.

 

Communication and Technology

In Udaipur, India, I had to hand over lots of paperwork to get a local SIM card.

In Jakarta, Indonesia, I easily bought a SIM at the airport, although it was a challenge to communicate with the salesgirl.

In the U.S., my SIM card had expired, so I had to get a new one (and this time put on enough credit to keep it active for a year).

In Bali, Indonesia, it took hours and hours of troubleshooting to figure out why we couldn’t connect to the Wi-Fi at our new apartment.

In San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, we had to turn down a free place to stay because the Wi-Fi connection wasn’t strong enough in the guestroom.

 

Workspaces

In Chiang Mai, Thailand, I rode my scooter to Coffee Monster to work with the other digital nomads.

In Portland, Oregon, I had my very own home office.

In Bali, Indonesia, several of our favorite cafes became our offices for the day.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, we usually worked from home.

 

Personal Care

In Langkawi, Malaysia, it was so hot we took multiple showers a day and rarely turned on the hot water.

In San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, we took super-hot showers to stay warm!

In Bali, Indonesia, I took yoga classes nearly every day for two months.

In Portland, Oregon, I had an amazing massage at a place recommended by our housesitting hosts.

 

Sounds

In Langkawi, Malaysia, the call to prayer echoed across the rice paddies several times a day.

In San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a guy passed by nearly every day at the same time, singing out to hawk his snacks to the neighbors.

In Chiang Mai, Thailand, trucks loaded up with huge speakers would roll by, blasting the latest promotions.

In Bali, Indonesia, the geckos and other insects created a symphony every night.

 

Making Friends

In Penang, Malaysia, we met a fellow Trailblazer (Jonathan Mead’s online program) and an online friend of one of my classmates from elementary school, both of whom took us out for amazing local food.

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, we had dinner with a fellow WDS attendee.

In Singapore, I had drinks with a diverse group from my online coaching training.

In Chiang Mai, Thailand, we had breakfast with one of Roberto’s clients from Singapore (another WDSer!).

In Langkawi, Malaysia, we found a place to stay with a lovely couple from the mainland, thanks to our new friend in Penang.

In Durham, North Carolina, we brought a small group together for a Nomadtopia meet-up.