Merry Christmas!

Sunset at Melia Skybar

I initially visited the Intercontinental, which has recently completed its construction. However, their rooftop is still under construction, so I went over to Melia, another hotel, to check out the view from there.

Chiang Mai Night Safari

Chiang Mai Night Safari, located in Northern Thailand, is a distinctive wildlife park that operates primarily at night. Covering over 300 acres, it's segmented into three zones: Savanna Safari, Predator Prowl, and Jaguar Trail. The Savanna Safari and Predator Prowl offer guided tram tours, allowing visitors to observe nocturnal animals like lions, tigers, and giraffes in an environment resembling their natural habitat. The Jaguar Trail, a walking path around Swan Lake, provides a closer look at animals such as jaguars and flamingos.

The safari emphasizes educational and interactive experiences, featuring shows like the Night Predators and Tiger Show, which illuminate the behaviors of these animals. Chiang Mai Night Safari focuses on both conservation and visitor engagement, making it an informative and exciting experience for wildlife enthusiasts and tourists.

This Past Weekend

2nd Bathroom Partial Remodel

The original bathroom setup had the waterworks shoved way off to stage left of the mirror, which, let's be honest, was a bit of an eyesore. The last owner tried to pull a fast one with a wonky, triangular countertop to hide the mess — I finally got tired of dealing with it. I decided to call in the cavalry and had a guy shift the pipes to where they made sense, right smack under where the new mirror would go.

I hit up HomePro, Thailand's answer to Home Depot, for some new white tiles to match the rest, but they were fresh out. Instead of playing Tile Matchmaker, I thought, why not switch gears and slap on some black tiles? And there you have it: moved pipes, snazzy black tiles, a sleek counter, and a new mirror.

If you’re looking at the picture closely, one of the tiles in between the black tiles is an extra blue flower tile that was used in the shower. I only bought 10 black tiles, and since you won’t be able to see it anyway, I thought it would be a fun surprise if someone decides to remodel in the future.

The whole shebang—demolition, new tiles, sweet-talking the handyman, the vanity unit, hot & cold faucet, and the mirror—set me back around $500. All in all, for a bathroom that doesn't look like a jigsaw puzzle gone wrong, I'd say it's a steal.

Loy Krathong 2023 (Part 2)

The twin elements of water lanterns (krathongs) and sky lanterns (khom loi) during the Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festivals in Thailand carry deep symbolic and cultural significance:

Water Lanterns (Krathongs):

• Spiritual Cleansing and Renewal: The act of releasing krathongs on water bodies is an emblematic gesture of letting go of negativity, anger, and misfortunes. It's a symbolic cleansing of the soul, allowing for a fresh start.

• Honor to the Water Goddess: Traditionally, this practice is also a way of paying respects to Phra Mae Khongkha, the Thai goddess of water. It's a gesture of gratitude for the life-sustaining water and an apology for polluting it.

• Reflection and Meditation: The gentle floating away of krathongs encourages a reflective state, where individuals ponder upon their actions, thoughts, and the transitory nature of life.

Sky Lanterns (Khom Loi):

• Aspirations and Prayers to the Heavens: Releasing lanterns into the sky symbolizes sending prayers and wishes upwards, closer to the divine. It's believed that as the lanterns ascend, they take worries and problems away with them.

• Illuminating the Darkness: The sky lanterns, lighting up the night, represent knowledge, enlightenment, and the dispelling of ignorance. It's a beautiful metaphor for the light of wisdom overcoming the darkness of folly.

• Community and Unity: The collective release of lanterns creates a sense of community and shared experience. It's a visually stunning moment that unites participants in awe and joy.

Both rituals, deeply entrenched in Thai culture, exemplify a blend of animism, Buddhism, and local customs. They offer a profound experience where physical actions – releasing the lanterns on water and into the sky – are intertwined with spiritual and emotional journeys of letting go, honoring nature, seeking blessings, and fostering communal harmony.

Loy Krathong 2023 (Part 1)

Loy Krathong, a significant festival in Thailand, holds a special charm in Chiang Mai. Celebrated on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month (usually in November), it's a time when Thai people pay respects to the water spirits, thanking them for their bounty and seeking forgiveness for any pollution.

Historical Significance: The festival, with its roots in ancient Brahmin rituals, was later integrated with Buddhist traditions. It symbolizes letting go of grudges, anger, and impurities, allowing one to start afresh.

The Krathongs: Central to the festival are the 'krathongs' – small floating offerings traditionally made from banana leaves and decorated with flowers, incense, and candles. People release these on rivers, canals, and lakes, creating a mesmerizing sight as they drift away carrying wishes and prayers.

Chiang Mai’s Unique Celebration: Chiang Mai's celebrations are particularly enchanting, given its rich Lanna culture. The city's Ping River becomes a focal point, lined with thousands of candlelit krathongs. Moreover, the Yi Peng festival coincides with Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai, where thousands of paper lanterns (khom loi) are released into the night sky, creating an unforgettable visual spectacle.

Cultural Events: The festivities in Chiang Mai include parades, beauty contests, lantern displays, and traditional Lanna dances. Temples and public spaces are ornately decorated, and there's a pervasive sense of joy and unity.

Environmental Consciousness: In recent years, there's been a growing awareness of the environmental impact of the festival. Efforts are made to use biodegradable materials for krathongs and lanterns, and campaigns are run to clean up waterways post-celebration.

Experience for Visitors: For tourists, Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai is an opportunity to immerse in Thai culture and witness a blend of spiritual reverence, traditional practices, and communal celebration. It's advisable to respect local customs and participate responsibly in the festivities.

Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai exemplifies the harmonious blend of spiritual, cultural, and environmental consciousness, making it a unique and must-experience event.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nothing fancy, just went out with my friend to a restaurant for a full Thanksgiving meal. We had pumpkin soup, white wine, stuffing, turkey, green beans, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and finally, pumpkin pie. Left feeling stuffed, just as one should after Thanksgiving.

Beach Pro Tour 2023 — Chiang Mai, Thailand

The 2023 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour is the second edition of the prestigious global professional beach volleyball circuit. It is organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB).

The tour for 2023 has been planned to travel across four continents, visiting new, familiar, and iconic locations. The season kicked off with the Elite16 event in Doha, Qatar, on February 1​​. Some notable events include the Elite16 tournaments in Tepic, Mexico, and Uberlandia, Brazil​​. The season will culminate with the 2023 World Tour Finals, again in Doha, Qatar, from December 7-10​​.

Significantly, 2023 also sees the addition of four new events in Europe - specifically in Switzerland, Finland, Italy, and France. This expansion is particularly beneficial for elite and emerging beach volleyball players, offering them more opportunities to compete internationally.

Overall, the 2023 Beach Pro Tour represents an exciting opportunity for the world's top beach volleyball teams to compete at various international venues, further elevating the sport's profile and providing a platform for both established and up-and-coming athletes.

Life Update

I've recently passed the CAPM exam and am back to my regular work routine, though I have a hunch that the startup I'm working for might not last much longer. I'm mentally preparing myself for a potential job hunt once that happens. In the meantime, my days are filled with work, workouts at the gym, and finding decor like wooden bowls and wicker baskets to add some warmth to my condo.

I'm also planning a travel adventure for almost the entire month of December. Phuket and Koh Samui are on my radar, but I haven't finalized anything yet. I'm still deciding where to spend Christmas and New Year's. So, there haven't been many photos from Chiang Mai as I'm spending most of my time in my condo, but I'll try to share more soon.

Sunrise & Sunset

Turning 34 brings a deep sense of fulfillment, like a book brimming with chapters of laughter, growth, and hard-won wisdom. It's a testament to the journey thus far, a collection of moments that are as precious as they are profound. Yet, there's a stirring, a gentle yet insistent whisper of 'more' that lingers at the edge of consciousness. Life is good—there's no doubting that—with its steady rhythm of contentment and achievement. But the heart knows, in its infinite capacity for dreams, that good can become great. This year is about unlocking that potential, about turning the whisper into a roar. It's about charting the unexplored territories within and without, and figuring out the steps that lead to a reality even more vibrant and fulfilling. There's a world of possibilities waiting to be seized, and at 34, the adventure to grasp them is just beginning.

Took and Passed CAPM

Studying for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam was a grind. Every evening after work, my desk was buried under practice test printouts, highlighter-streaked PMBOK pages, and a laptop queued up with the next project management tutorial on YouTube. With each practice test, my confidence ebbed and flowed, but the relentless routine continued until the calendar marked the day of reckoning: a Saturday afternoon exam slot. Sitting in the sterile quiet of my condo, constantly on camera to ensure the integrity of the exam process, I clicked through the questions with a growing knot in my stomach, unsure if my efforts had measured up.

When I finished the exam, I was stunned to see the screen flash “Congratulations”—though the detailed scores were not yet available. A few hours later, an email arrived confirming I’d passed—all scores 'Above Target.' All the stress and self-doubt from those endless study sessions melted away.

I’m proud of having accomplished this, as it certainly wasn’t easy. The CAPM exam, with its formidable array of 150 multiple-choice questions, is a rigorous assessment that tests a candidate's breadth and depth of understanding of project management principles. Candidates are allocated 3 hours to navigate through these questions, which not only cover the fundamental knowledge, terminology, and processes described in the PMBOK Guide but also delve into:

• Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts

• Agile Frameworks/Methodologies

• Business Analysis Frameworks

• Predictive Plan-Based Methodologies

Passing this exam was no small feat, and achieving scores 'Above Target' in every category was the icing on the cake.

All Over Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is slowly doing the same thing Beijing did when I was there — putting all the telecom/internet cables underground. It's an ongoing process, and they're proceeding at a measured pace, but it will be nice when it's finished. As much as the tangle of cables has become a staple of Thailand, I'm glad to see they recognize it's also an eyesore and a potential fire hazard.

Halloween in Your 30s

Call up some friends to see what they're up to. Head to a friend's condo with me, two other guys, and another guy with his girlfriend. Guess who were the only two in matching costumes? Sip on a tequila & tonic. Play Gin Rummy and watch New Zealand vs. Australia in the Cricket World Cup. Decide it's time to venture out. Head to a Halloween party at a co-working space, complete with a pool. One guy's taking a swim. There’s a giant inflatable alien in the pool, and the party is now engaged watching the guy swimming try to get on top of the alien while holding a beer. After several failed attempts, he swims to the edge of the pool, like he didn’t just spend 10 minutes failing to get on top of the inflatable. Grab another drink. Look around and reminisce about when Halloween used to be something I looked forward to. Chat with a guy. Ask what he does. He says "SEO." When probed, he elaborates: "Search Engine Optimization". Real helpful, bud. Book a taxi — home before 11 pm.

Nice to Be Back in Chiangmai

Not a lot has been going on lately. I've been busy with the gym, work, and studying for an upcoming exam. I won't share details until after I pass, but that's where most of my focus has been these days. The test is scheduled for November 4th. I will update once I have the results.

Last Day in Bangkok

Bangkok is an exhilarating city, known for its vibrant street life and cultural landmarks. It's a place where the traditional and modern coexist, offering a stimulating mix of lively markets, serene temples, and bustling nightlife. The city buzzes with a unique energy, from the aromatic street food stalls to the colorful tuk-tuks zipping through its arteries. While the dynamic and spirited environment makes Bangkok a thrilling destination for visitors, the incessant noise and perpetual motion can be overwhelming for daily living, making it a place more suited for adventure than residence for some.

Week in BKK

For the longest time, I was under the impression that Lululemon was exclusively a brand tailored for women. Their marketing seemed to lean heavily towards yoga enthusiasts and athleisure aficionados, predominantly of the feminine sort. However, upon discovering their men's collection, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only does Lululemon cater to the male demographic, but their offerings rank among some of the best clothing I've ever purchased. The quality, comfort, and style effortlessly bridge the gap between athletic wear and daily essentials, making it a versatile choice for various occasions. Loaded up on gym shorts and everyday casual chinos. Couldn’t be happier.

Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque)

The Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, commonly known as the Red Mosque, stands not just as an architectural marvel but as a beacon of faith and artistry in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Erected in 1908, its red-and-white candy-cane façade is a confluence of Indo-Saracenic design, making it as much a visual treat as it is a spiritual haven. Nestled in the vibrant Pettah district, the mosque once whispered directions to sailors, its minarets serving as nautical signposts for ships entering Colombo Harbor. Today, it stands tall, intertwining history with spirituality, and beckoning both the devout and the curious to bask in its storied elegance.

It was closed for cleaning on Sunday, so I didn’t get a chance to go inside. Maybe I’ll do that later this week. Maybe not. We’ll see.

Jerseys Framed

I’ve been waiting to have my own place so I can get stuff framed — first was diplomas, and now, signed jerseys. These 3 are to compliment the blue Buriram United jersey I got in the ever-so exciting of Buriram last month.

Tyreek Hill from Mialmi Dolphins

Beijing Guoan F.C. (green)

Shandong Taishan F.C. (orange)

Update

These days are a mix of routine and anticipation. I am quietly gearing up for a trip to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, set to kick off on the 22nd with an 8-day exploration of Colombo.

When I'm not working or hitting the gym, I find solace in a good book or a Netflix binge, all while nurturing a quiet excitement for the adventure that lies ahead. It's a simple life, punctuated with preparation for the upcoming journey and a conscious effort to steer clear of existential crises. It's all about balance — and the knowledge that soon, new experiences will pepper my daily routine with unexpected joys and discoveries.