Springtime on the Camino de Santiago

Tuesday, February 1, 2022Reflecting on My Visit to Chiang Mai I have been home for almost a week. Getting back into my routine at home and work has left me little time for reflection on my recent winter in Chiang Mai. Most apparent is that the visit was far too short. Because of the need for a second PCR test after 6 days, I kept to myself for that first week, leaving only three weeks […]

Monday, January 24, 2022Traveling Home Travel Day 1: Chiang Mai to Bangkok Fern Forest Café I finished packing everything and late morning John came by and we went to coffee at the Fern Forest Café, a place I have walked by in the past, recognized, but never tried. Here are two pictures I grabbed from Google Maps – I did not bring my camera. It is outdoor seating in this almost forest-like setting (hence the […]

Sunday, January 23, 2022Return to Wat Chedi Luang and Dinner with Poppy Wat Chedi Luang I have written much about Wat Chedi Luang in past posts. This is my favorite temple in Chiang Mai, and where I sit for my morning meditation almost every morning of every visit to Chiang Mai. Wat Chedi Luang is on every map and every guidebook of Chiang Mai. “Chedi” means pagoda, and “Luang” means “really big” or “royal”, so […]

Friday, January 21, 2022Return to Dash with Friends Chang Phuak Gate Walking home from my lunch at Khao Soi Khun Yai, I almost immediately came upon parts of the old city wall and the gate on the north, Chang Phuak Gate, or as it is in Thai, Pratu Chang Phuak. The original name of the northern gate in the city wall was Hua Wiang, because according to traditional belief, the head (hua) of the city […]

Friday, January 21, 2022Khao Soi Khun Yai, Finally Today the sore muscle in my upper-left abdomen is healing gradually, more slowly than I had hoped, so I am opting out of yoga practice to avoid making it worse. I am certain I caused the injury myself. In yoga, there are many twists to improve the flexibility of the upper body, the core, hips, and other structures. Standing twists, seated twists, lying twists. In a standing […]

Wednesday, January 19, 2022Another Tok Sen session and a western dinner Today was another routine day in Chiang Mai. I say “routine” and I really mean routine for my days here in Chiang Mai – it is very different being here than at home, and in comparison, almost nothing here is what would be called routine. After breakfast, then yoga practice with Annie teaching, I walked with Rudy to Khun Kae’s Juice for a fruit […]

Sunday, January 16, 2022Another Bowl of Khao Soi Started the day hosting a Zoom meeting of the San Diego Chapter of American Pilgrims on the Camino. This a local branch of American Pilgrims on the Camino, whose charter is to promote and provide information to people interested in the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where at the cathedral there the remains of Saint James the Greater are said to be interred. This pilgrimage […]

Thursday, January 13, 2022Mae Wang and the Flower Gardens After coming down the mountain from Wat Luang Khun Win, we drove for another 30-40 minutes farther up into the mountains to Khun Wang at 1400 meters elevation and the Agriculture Research Center. As we approached, we were again in the mountains, and I got this fairly hazy-looking photo of the mountains in the distance: Khun Wang The Chiang Mai Royal Agricultural Research Centre known as […]

Thursday, January 13, 2022Mae Wang and Wat Luang Khun Win Note: this will be long post in two parts with many pictures, less narrative. After practicing yoga almost every day and walking or hiking around Chiang Mai every day, I took a day off from yoga today to spend some time with Nam, my long-time foot-massage friend. Nam (pronounced with an up tone, like you are asking a question) is a Thai lady I met […]

Wednesday, January 12, 2022Exploring Southwest of the Old City Today was a fairly typical routine day. I had not intended on exploring today. After breakfast, I went to yoga practice at Wild Rose Yoga for a graceful, yet intense class with Annie. Rudy and I went to Khun Kae’s Juice for a smoothie bowl after yoga, and that really hits the spot. After a cleanup, rest, and e-mail catch-up back at See You Soon it […]