Winter 2015-2016 Chiang Mai, Thailand
Reflections and Impressions on my 4th Winter in Chiang Mai I have been home for exactly three weeks now and as I reflect on my winter in Chiang Mai, the first thoughts are very similar to those I had after returning a year ago, that (1) it was very different than I had expected, and (2) unexpected things occurred that changed things; not making it better or worse, just presenting different experiences. Going to Thailand, […]
January 26, 2016 I started this blog with one of my favorite quotes about the journey, and I’m reminded of it today as I contemplate my journey home, one of my favorite quotations, the last sentence in a book named “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 […]
January 25, 2016 After the rain on Sunday, a cold front moved in overnight, and it is cold today – unusually cold and rainy. The staff at 3-Sis put me in touch with a woman from Bulgaria who wanted information on meditation. Since they see me going over to Wat Chedi Luang for my morning meditation, they thought me to be something of an expert. I am flattered, but consider myself a relative beginner. I […]
January 23-24, 2016 On the flight from Los Angeles to SE Asia, I reflected a bit on my goals for the month in Thailand. One wish was that I have some time to work on inversions, headstand (sirsasana), forearm stand (pincha-mayurasana), and handstand (ado mukha vrksasana) maybe before or after yoga classes. During my short time in Bangkok, the highly-touted yoga studio near my hotel was closed for the holidays, so I only did a […]
January 21, 2016 Today is Thursday, and my last Thursday in Chiang Mai this winter. After a fun day of shopping with Jo yesterday, I went back to my familiar routine today: early morning meditation at Wat Chedi Luang, breakfast at 3-Sis, 10 AM yoga at Wild Rose Yoga. Then I spent a few hours managing a problem with the backups on the computer systems I manage in Southern California. Managing in this case translates […]
January 20, 2016 Shopping at Jolie Femme Silk Today is lunch and shopping with my Thai friend, Jo Sugunasil. Jo was raised in Chiang Mai, lived much of her adult life in the U.S., and returned to Chiang Mai in her retirement. Jo has a busy life, so we rarely see each other when I am in Chiang Mai. Jo has a car, so we are going out east of the old city to a […]
January 18, 2016 A Low Key Day Today was a low key day. I started the day with my normal routine, morning meditation at Wat Chedi Luang, breakfast at 3-Sis, yoga at Wild Rose Yoga, followed by lunch at See You Soon and some more computer catch-up. See You Soon is a new coffee shop / restaurant / guest house a short block away from 3-Sis. It is owned by Ice and her husband Bon. […]
January 17, 2016 Wat Phra That Doi Suthep This temple is often called “Doi Suthep,” although that is the name of the mountain on which it is located. Doi means mountain, and Suthep is the name of the mountain. And I think “Phra That” in the name means that the temple houses some important relic of the Buddha. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a Royal Temple of the Second Class. There is much mythology […]
January 17, 2016 The Hike Up Doi Suthep Another start to the day with my now familiar and usual routine – a morning meditation, breakfast, and 10:00 yoga at Wild Rose Yoga. Tom from Australia was heading directly from yoga to the airport to return home to Sydney. After a short good-bye, I decided to make the long hike all the way to the temple near the top of Doi Suthep, something I have never […]
January 16, 2016 Temples in the Old City Once again my daily and familiar routine set the day forth: Morning meditation, 6:30 AM at the foot of the large chedi at Wat Chedi Luang Breakfast at 3-Sis E-mail review and catch-up Yoga, 10:00 AM at Wild Rose Yoga After yoga, I walked around the west half of the old city, from Suan Dok gate north to Hua Lin corner, and then east to Chang Puak […]
January 15, 2016 Wat Jed Yod Friday morning started with what has become my normal and familiar routine: Morning meditation, 6:30 AM at the foot of the large chedi at Wat Chedi Luang Breakfast at 3-Sis A little e-mail catch-up Yoga, 10:00 AM at Wild Rose Yoga Tom from Australia had expressed some interest in seeing a couple of my favorite temples that are difficult to get to by walking – not close, not terribly […]
January 14, 2016 Wat Buppharam and Street Pizza (or the reverse order) After yoga, catching up on some work, and a brief walk about part of the old city, I headed down Tha Phae Road away from the old walled city, down towards the Mae Ping River for an early dinner at Street Pizza, yes, again. The food at Street Pizza is good, and it is a perfectly sized meal after a day of yoga, […]
James the Intrepid Pilgrim 