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I am James Geier, the intrepid pilgrim. Intrepid means being characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance. I’m not sure I have resolute fearlessness; I do have fortitude and endurance. Pilgrim because I journey to foreign lands in seek of wisdom and enlightenment. This blog is a record of my travels over the past decade: yoga-focused winters in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and pilgrimage walks in Spain to Santiago de Compostela.

My winters in Chiang Mai are about daily yoga, meditation, and enjoying living for a short time in a very different culture with a different history.

My pilgrimage walks in Spain are on routes of the Camino de Santiago to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain where the remains of Saint James are said to be interred. In spring of 2016 and autumn of 2017 I walked 500 miles from Saint Jean Pied de Port in southwestern France to Santiago de Compostela. In spring of 2023 I walked 440 miles from Seville in the south of Spain to Granja de Moreruela where I had to stop due to an injury. In spring 2024 I completed the walk I started in 2023, 260 miles from Zamora to Santiago de Compostela.

I am a former computer system administrator in the healthcare sector in San Diego and Los Angeles. I am a road cyclist and former racer for more 50 years, and have been an avid yoga student for the past 16 years.

My Latest Posts

  • Traveling Home & Reflections
    by James Geier
    Thursday 12 February 2026 Traveling Home and Reflections on a 13th Winter in Chiang Mai The long journey home has begun. After dinner, I returned to See You Soon to get a shower, change clothes, and wait for the airport taxi. Poppy, the sister who manages 3-Sis, was going to take me to the airport,… Read more: Traveling Home & Reflections
  • Last Day in Chiang Mai
    by James Geier
    Wednesday 11 February 2026 Last day of my 13th Winter in Chiang Mai My 13th winter in Chiang Mai has come to the last day. Late tonight I leave flying from Chiang Mai to Seoul/Incheon, then to Los Angeles. Last night I had dinner with John and Rose at Bella Madre Pizza across the Ping… Read more: Last Day in Chiang Mai
  • Doi Suthep Part 2
    by James Geier
    Thursday 5 February 2026 Wat Phalad and hiking down the Monks Trail It is a hot afternoon. Temperatures in Chiang Mai gradually increase through February and March, culminating in March and April being the hottest months. Because we would be going up Doi Suthep in the afternoon, and the temperature will be over 32 C… Read more: Doi Suthep Part 2
  • Doi Suthep Part 1
    by James Geier
    Thursday 5 February 2026 Up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep There is a very important temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, on a mountain west of Chiang Mai. This temple is very important to the Thai people, and is a Royal Temple of the Second Class, of which there are only six… Read more: Doi Suthep Part 1
  • Doi Inthanon
    by James Geier
    Wednesday 4 February 2026 An excursion to Thailand’s highest mountain Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand with the peak at 2,565 meters above sea level (8,415 feet). Located southwest of Chiang Mai, the drive to get there is about 2-1/2 hours, so going there, spending time at the mountain, and coming back would… Read more: Doi Inthanon
  • Wat Sri Suphan
    by James Geier
    Monday 2 February 2026 Another visit to the so-called Silver Temple Much of my time in Chiang Mai is very solitary. I do talk to friends at the guest house where I stay, I talk to friends at Wild Rose Yoga, I talk to my trainer Ning at the gym, and occasionally share time at… Read more: Wat Sri Suphan
  • A Day in the Life – Moving Day
    by James Geier
    Friday 30 January 2026 Out and about in Chiang Mai, moving from The 3-Sis to See You Soon A few days ago, while walking down Tha Phae Road towards the Ping River, I saw this very nice display of lanterns or lamps or something above a massage spa. Very nice and colorful, so I took… Read more: A Day in the Life – Moving Day
  • Wat Ton Kwen
    by James Geier
    Thursday 29 January 2026 Revisiting an old favorite temple in Hang Dong District During my first or possibly my second winter in Chiang Mai, I got to visit a unique temple. A Thai lady who is long-time friend-of-a-friend had retired and moved back to Mae Rim where she grew up. She and I connected during… Read more: Wat Ton Kwen
  • Wat Dok Kham
    by James Geier
    Tuesday 13 January 2026 Revisiting the closest temple to Tha Phae Gate Wat Dok Kham is a small temple very close to Tha Phae Gate, so many tourists who are in the area visit the temple. I can find almost no history on the internet about this temple. The temple grounds are small. And because… Read more: Wat Dok Kham
  • Wat Sri Mueang Pong
    by James Geier
    Saturday 10 January 2026 The “White Castle” temple in the Hang Dong District of Chiang Mai Thailand has 77 provinces. Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand is relatively large, and includes 25 districts. The Hang Dong District of Chiang Mai province is a large, rural district south and west of Chiang Mai city (although there… Read more: Wat Sri Mueang Pong
  • Another Day in the Life
    by James Geier
    Thursday 15 January 2026 Another Day in the Life A few photos I took while walking in Chiang Mai over a couple of fairly routine days. First, while walking back to The 3-Sis from the French boulangerie Chouquette I passed by Sri Phum Corner, the northeast corner of the old city wall. The first photo… Read more: Another Day in the Life
  • Wat Phra Chao Mengrai
    by James Geier
    Wednesday 14 January 2026 Visiting an important but very quiet temple Walking back to The 3-Sis through the sois (a soi is a small road, smaller than a road, larger than an alley, perhaps a “lane”) after getting a haircut at Samlaan Barber (my favorite barber), I found myself on Ratchamanka Soi 6. And I… Read more: Wat Phra Chao Mengrai