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, but she couldn’t. She delegated the airport ride to her sister Ice, and because of a miscommunication, Ice was also not available. So Poppy arranged an airport taxi, and she paid for it, too. I did not expect that-a very kind gesture. The airport taxi got me to the airport at 8:30 PM.

The first flight, Korean Air flight KE684 from Chiang Mai to Incheon (Seoul, S.Korea) is scheduled to leave at 12:15 AM. Check-in starts at 9:15 PM, and there was already a line forming. I got in line, and promptly at 9:15, check-in started. After checking in and dropping my checked luggage, I headed upstairs to security and Immigration at 9:30. Once upstairs, I saw the longest security line I have ever seen. After an hour in line, I made it through security.

I have been in the Kingdom of Thailand for exactly 90 days. When entering, people from many countries get a 60-day tourist visa exemption, meaning you are exempt from needing a visa and you can stay for 60 days. That can be extended for an additional 30 days at an immigration office, which is what I did. Today, February 11 is the last day I can be in the Kingdom. I thought the immigration officer would make a comment that I barely made it with only an hour until the deadline, or at least raise an eyebrow, but there was no reaction, only an exit stamp in my passport. In the photo, you can see that I entered the Kingdom on November 14, my extension last day is February 11, and my departure stamp shows February 11.

Boarding started a little early. Korean Air flight KE684 on an Airbus A330-300 left very close to the scheduled time of 12:15 AM. The pilot announced that the estimated flight time was 4-1/2 hours, less than the previously scheduled 5 hours.

We arrived at Incheon and I could see from the windows that there was no snow on the ground. The temperature was -6C (21F). so I’m very happy I am staying inside. I went through international transfer security and then made my way to the Terminal 2 Transit Hotel. I seldom sleep well or even at all during flights, and the next flight is 11 or 12 hours after an 8-hour layover. So I was able to get a room in the transit hotel ensuring that I could get some sleep—I have basically been up all night. Here is a photo of me at the transit hotel last year. It is the same this year (but I’m wearing a different shirt). [Also in that post last year, I added photos of the small room. <https://james-intrepid-pilgrim.blog/2025/02/20/traveling-home-and-reflections-3/]

I was in the room and asleep by 8 AM, slept soundly, and woke to my alarm at 1 PM. Showered, checked-out, and headed to Gate 231 for flight KE017 to Los Angeles.

For the longer flights, Korean Air has continued to use its Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380 aircraft. Most airlines are phasing out the 4-engine aircraft (i.e. Airbus A380, Airbus A340, Boeing 747) because of the high operating and maintenance expenses, instead using two-engine aircraft, i.e. Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Airbus A330, Airbus A350, etc. But when there is a demand for larger capacity, the larger aircraft work well.

And this 747 was almost full. I lucked-out with an empty seat beside me, giving me the opportunity to stretch out a little more. The pilot announced that the expected flight time would be 10-1/2 hours, less than the scheduled 11 hours.

Traveling west, Los Angeles to Incheon is 13-1/2 hours, and a day is lost crossing the international date line. Traveling east, Incheon to Los Angeles, that lost day comes back: we left Incheon at 2:30 PM Thursday, February 12, and arrived at Los Angeles at 8:15 AM Thursday, February 12 – six hours before we left.

Because we were early, and Immigration with Global Entry is so fast, after retreiving my luggage, I had to wait almost 3 hours for the ReLAXsan shuttle to take me to Sorrento Vally, near my home. The shuttle arrived at Sorrento Valley on time, and my neighbor picked me up and drove me home. It has been 33 hours since I left my room at See You Soon, and I am tired. What a great winter!

Reflections on My 13th Winter in Chiang Mai 2025-2026

I have made yoga-focused, month-long, or longer visits to Chiang Mai thirteen times. I stay at the same places (The 3-Sis, See You Soon), practice yoga at the same place (Wild Rose Yoga) with many of the same teachers (Annie, May, Chayada), eat at many of the same places (Aroy Dee, La Casita, Bella Madra Pizza, La Fontana, Street Pizza, The Dukes, Choquette, Blue Diamond, etc.), see many of the same temples and sights, and make the hikes up the mountain to Wat Phalad and beyond. And while there is much similarity, every one of the thirteen visits has been distinct and different. I’m reminded of a quote from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus (approximately 500 BC):

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.

Chiang Mai, as everywhere, evolves constantly, and I too have changed over the years. Consequently, I see things differently, through a fresh lens so to speak, with a different perspetive, and notice new details. This perpetual state of change makes it impossible for any encounter to be replicated exactly. Yet, despite this ever‑changing backdrop, this thirteenth winter in Chiang Mai feels distinctly different—not merely because of changes in the city’s infrastructure or in my own perspective, but for two different experiences.

First, I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with my friend Esther, who visited Chiang Mai for the first time. She is a lovely lady, a delightful companion, and I loved the opportunity to share the historical insights I have gathered and to show her some of the city’s memorable sights.

Second, I ventured to Thai Mueang—also known as Turtle Beach—a tiny coastal village north of Phuket on the Andaman Sea. The quietness of that secluded shoreline was very relaxing and calming, adding another layer to an already unforgettable visit to Thailand. Here is a link to one of my posts from the Thai Mueang visit: https://james-intrepid-pilgrim.blog/2025/12/11/thai-mueang-turtle-beach-day-1/

Finally, even though I have said this in the past, this winter in Chiang Mai was even more chill than any of the previous winters. I just never felt in a hurry or rushed to do anything – just very “chill.”

Every year, as I plan my next trip to Chiang Mai—and even in hindsight—it seems as if I would have too much free time. And I wonder, “what am I going to do with all the time?” Yet once I arrive, each day becomes busy, almost from sunrise to sunset. My routine typically unfolds as follows:

• Morning: I enjoy breakfast while updating my travel journal, followed by a yoga session or a workout at the Pump Fitness gym with my trainer Ning.
• Midday: Lunch at Choquette, Blue Diamond, or somewhere, then catching up on my blog at the Story 106 coffee‑shop and co‑working space, exploring the city, learning about its history, or a hike up the nearby mountain.
• Evening: Dinner at a favorite place, followed by a post‑dinner stroll, sometimes more blog catch-up before the night ends.

The days are full, interesting, engaging, uplifting, and energizing – even on this more mellow visit.

The end of my 90-day stay in Chiang Mai was, as always, quite anti-climatic. After thirteen visits to Chiang Mai, I am comfortable here—comfortable with the food, the people, and the culture. It is a journey, a journey seeing and learning more about Chiang Mai, the food, culture, and history; and a daily journey practicing yoga or working out, seeing friends, enjoying sights and meals. I enjoy that journey—there is no particular destination other than just being in Chiang Mai. So I thought of one of my favorite quotes I have posted before, and I’ll post it here again, because it is so apropos, the last sentence in the book “Up Country” by Nelson DeMille:

The journey home is never a direct route; it is, in fact, always circuitous, and somewhere along the way, we discover that the journey is more significant than the destination and that the people we meet along the way will be the traveling companions of our memories forever.

It has been said many times: “The journey is more significant than the destination…” Absolutely! What a great journey I have been on! I am so grateful for the journey, and the people I have met all along the way.

I am looking forward to returning to Chiang Mai in November for possibly a longer visit.