Monday, December 31, 2018
Day 35
The final day of 2018. I decided to walk back to the old city in the early evening because the streets for the Sunday night market were going to be closed again for the holiday. It was another pleasant walk and I bought street food along the way and ate pad thai while watching traditional Thai dancing at the Chiang Mai Arts and Culture Square. On the walk back I began to see the lanterns being released, and now as I write this many hundreds are floating peacefully in the sky. My view from the condo for the coming fireworks is superb, a clear panoramic of this mountain city.
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Day 34
Because yesterday I cut my run to only 1 mile, I decided to run this morning, and for the first time I ran to the track, rather than walking to it. Getting older I can feel my body giving way to slowness and I prefer walking in public places not meant for running because who wants to see an old man running down the street. But today I was bold and felt pretty good as I wended through the narrow streets and when I reached the track I ran 9 laps, for a total run of 3.25 miles. Not much, but enough to keep my fitness moving in the right direction.
In the evening I had good energy so I decided to walk the old part of the city and visit the night market. Not being too hot it was a pleasant walk and I felt much pleasure walking the streets which were closed to car and scooter traffic. I thought back to a time before 1930 when walking streets must have been quiet and peaceful, but I quickly got out of that sentimental mode of thought and reminded myself that everything is in flux, and it is easy to see that humanity, animals, plants, and the earth itself, are at the end point of existence. Why fret, just keep living until it is time to die.
As I was leaving on my walk the owner of the condo hung on my door a gift of cookies and a note wishing me a happy new year. In return I bought a small ceramic elephant at the night market and placed it at their door along with a note.
In the evening I had good energy so I decided to walk the old part of the city and visit the night market. Not being too hot it was a pleasant walk and I felt much pleasure walking the streets which were closed to car and scooter traffic. I thought back to a time before 1930 when walking streets must have been quiet and peaceful, but I quickly got out of that sentimental mode of thought and reminded myself that everything is in flux, and it is easy to see that humanity, animals, plants, and the earth itself, are at the end point of existence. Why fret, just keep living until it is time to die.
As I was leaving on my walk the owner of the condo hung on my door a gift of cookies and a note wishing me a happy new year. In return I bought a small ceramic elephant at the night market and placed it at their door along with a note.
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Day 33
Got out the door at 7:30am with fresh legs, but after 1 mile decided to end the run, just not into it, did a few exercises then walked back to the condo.
Spent most of the day napping, reading, and analyzing chess games.
Gray sky all day, a bit of rain.
Spent most of the day napping, reading, and analyzing chess games.
Gray sky all day, a bit of rain.
Friday, December 28, 2018
Day 32
Got up this morning and felt the need for a resting day, so I did not go to the Gardens for a run, I will plan to do one tomorrow morning.
At 10:30am I walked to the ceramics shop and it was open and I found a decent vase for 30b, hopefully the condo owner's will think it a good enough replacement for the one I shattered.
As I read through the initial chapters of The Wanderer, the scenes of building a well are familiar to me, and I recall that I read this book in the late 90's. No big deal, good books are worth reading a second time, especially when at least 10 years have passed.
At 10:30am I walked to the ceramics shop and it was open and I found a decent vase for 30b, hopefully the condo owner's will think it a good enough replacement for the one I shattered.
As I read through the initial chapters of The Wanderer, the scenes of building a well are familiar to me, and I recall that I read this book in the late 90's. No big deal, good books are worth reading a second time, especially when at least 10 years have passed.
Was under budget for the week, it looks like giving myself $90 to spend is more than sufficient for the things which I like to do - eat, sleep, walk, run, read, study chess.
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Day 31
Easy day of exercise at the Gardens, a few sets of pullups/pushups, and a walk back to the condo.
Last night I knocked over a small vase and it shattered, so today I went in search of an approximate replacement. I found a ceramics shop but it was closed even though the hours stated it would be open, so I will head back there soon and try to get a vase for under 100b.
Last night I knocked over a small vase and it shattered, so today I went in search of an approximate replacement. I found a ceramics shop but it was closed even though the hours stated it would be open, so I will head back there soon and try to get a vase for under 100b.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Day 30
Ran 10 laps today and this was the first time I finished a run strong - final 400m at a quick pace and then a quick recovery. My favorite part of the workout is when I walk back to the condo and on the way I stop at the 7/11 and buy a chocolate milk and drink it on the steps outside the store - such a feeling of health and satisfaction!
Moved out of #1724 at 1:00pm today and moved into #1714. 1724 has a mountain view, and 1714 has a panaromic view of the city - both are exceptional and create a beautiful atmosphere. After settling in I walked to On the Road books and sold back The Luzshin Defense, and bought Knut Hamsun's The Wanderer.
Moved out of #1724 at 1:00pm today and moved into #1714. 1724 has a mountain view, and 1714 has a panaromic view of the city - both are exceptional and create a beautiful atmosphere. After settling in I walked to On the Road books and sold back The Luzshin Defense, and bought Knut Hamsun's The Wanderer.
#1714
View from #1714
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Day 29
Walked to the Municipal Stadium this Christmas morning and found it to be empty of students. Worked out on the bars and then walked back to the condo, on the way noticing the library was open, so ended up collecting my chess pieces and board and stopped at the library in the late morning, but the few tables which are big enough to hold the board were being used, so I read a bit of the Da Vinci Notebooks and then walked outside and found a group of tables beside the building, one having an inlaid chessboard, so I was able to study chess after all at the library. I was concerned about mosquitoes or ants, but no insects were around to interupt my studies. Unlike my visit in 2012, Chiang Mai has been devoid of mosquitoes, I can open the condo windows and not have to worry about bites.
Tomorrow I am to move to another condo unit within the building, from #1724 to #1714. I will miss my sunset views of the mountain, as I believe the new unit is facing another direction. I will be staying in #1714 until January 16th, on that day I will fly to Bangkok and living in an AirBnb near Lumpini park for ten days.
Tomorrow I am to move to another condo unit within the building, from #1724 to #1714. I will miss my sunset views of the mountain, as I believe the new unit is facing another direction. I will be staying in #1714 until January 16th, on that day I will fly to Bangkok and living in an AirBnb near Lumpini park for ten days.
Monday, December 24, 2018
Day 28
I contemplated taking a day off of running, but I was intrigued by the image of myself running in the empty farm field across the street from the Gardens, so I ran 2 laps around the field for a short run. It felt nice to run on grass and dirt roads, so I will probably run there again at some point before leaving Chiang Mai.
I stopped at the library today to check out the book collection, since the last time I was there all I did was inquire if they had printers available to the public (no). Most of the books are in Thai, but there is a small section of English language books, I found Davinci's Notebooks, sat down at a table and read a few pages of his ideas on the scientific method. I decided that instead of studying chess in the condo in the evenings, I would be more productive if I were to bring my set and pieces to the library in the afternoons and study the Zurich games there. I find I work with more discipline and energy if I am not working inside my home, because I consider home to be a place for rest and relaxation. I would not be a good candidate for the "work from home" type.
I stopped at the library today to check out the book collection, since the last time I was there all I did was inquire if they had printers available to the public (no). Most of the books are in Thai, but there is a small section of English language books, I found Davinci's Notebooks, sat down at a table and read a few pages of his ideas on the scientific method. I decided that instead of studying chess in the condo in the evenings, I would be more productive if I were to bring my set and pieces to the library in the afternoons and study the Zurich games there. I find I work with more discipline and energy if I am not working inside my home, because I consider home to be a place for rest and relaxation. I would not be a good candidate for the "work from home" type.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Day 27
Woke at 11:30pm and left the condo at 12:30am, ran to Tha Phae Gate and arrived 2 minutes before the start of the Chiang Mai Marathon. I entered the fray 400m from the start and ran 1 loop of the city walls/mote, total distance 6 miles, which is an upgrade of my current fitness/running levels. I stopped at a 7/11 and bought food and drink, returned to the condo at 2:30, ate, and fell asleep by 3:30am.
I woke at 8:30am and walked to the gardens and felt surprisingly refreshed, not sore, and my ability to do pull-ups was increased, I felt quite strong, most likely due to increased energy and weight loss. The Convention Center located in the Gardens had a festival going on, so I stopped inside and bought food and a bag of tea. Having just brewed a cup as I write this, it has an unpleasant odor, yet the taste is not too bad.
Waiting for the elevator as I was leaving the condo this morning for the Gardens, a man waiting along beside me said "running or walking today?" I told him how I had run 6 miles along the marathon course just a few hours before, and so was walking the Gardens. I asked him if he knew of it and he said yes. An hour later while I was walking the exercise loop at the Gardens I saw the man and we both smiled at the odd synchronicity.
I woke at 8:30am and walked to the gardens and felt surprisingly refreshed, not sore, and my ability to do pull-ups was increased, I felt quite strong, most likely due to increased energy and weight loss. The Convention Center located in the Gardens had a festival going on, so I stopped inside and bought food and a bag of tea. Having just brewed a cup as I write this, it has an unpleasant odor, yet the taste is not too bad.
Waiting for the elevator as I was leaving the condo this morning for the Gardens, a man waiting along beside me said "running or walking today?" I told him how I had run 6 miles along the marathon course just a few hours before, and so was walking the Gardens. I asked him if he knew of it and he said yes. An hour later while I was walking the exercise loop at the Gardens I saw the man and we both smiled at the odd synchronicity.
Day 26
Today is a run day, however the Chiang Mai Marathon is tonight, start time 1:00am, so not wanting to do a double run, I decided to spend my day hiking the Monk's Trail. I had not been on the trail before today and so I drew a map of how to get there, deciding on a route which took me past the Pharmacy Gardens, through the CMU campus, and then past the zoo entrance. I had a bit of a hitch when I reached the end of Chiang Rai rd I was supposed to turn left, but there was only one way to go, which was right, so I went that way and after a 1/4 mile decided I was on the wrong road, turned around and looked at the dead end, which was a locked gate, however, the gate could be pushed wide enough for a person to squeeze through, so I entered and turned left, passed some food stalls which appeared to be in the middle of nowhere, then saw a road leading up the mountain, but I was unsure if that was the correct way because my map ended after the gate. I stopped to ponder, and saw two westerners on bikes stopped 20m away. I thought about approaching to ask, but decided against it. But then one of the bikers started pedaling towards me and then slowed down to a stop a few feet away from me, so I figured it was correct to ask and he directed me to the zoo, up the mountain, and to "look for the parking lot with lots of cars". After a very steep hike up the road, I reached the parking lot and then the fun began -
After resting a bit at the forest temple, I headed down the mountain and did not reach home until 2:00pm. Total hike distance appeared to be 7-8 miles. I was famished, ate a lunch, and then fell asleep from 7:00pm-11:30pm.
Friday, December 21, 2018
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Day 24
A productive day - ran 8 loops at the Garden, and because it was cleaning day I had to be out of the condo from 11:00am-1:00pm, so I walked to the Free Bird Cafe planning to work on my laptop. Fortunately I also brought along Luzhin's Defense because there were signs posted in the cafe - "Please no computer use in the cafe". I have not seen a sign like that before in any cafe or restaurant, and I thought back to my visits to Free Bird in 2012 when I would eat a good meal while editing pictures. I tried to think of a reason for the ban on computers, and the only idea I have is Lisa, the owner, does not want the the place to turn into a haven for "digital nomads", although seeing the place was fairly empty, I don't see how having the place crawling with bearded hipsters would be a bad thing. So I read a few pages of Luzhin and drank a passion fruit smoothie, this time opting not to order food because I still had a bitter taste in my mouth from the No-Curry Curry dish which I ate the last time I visited.
I also recalled from 2012 that I was able to make a printout using Free Bird's printer, thanks to the lovely waitress and teacher Maria, who I was on friendly terms with. However, I have not spoken to anyone at the Free Bird in 2018, and so I could not request use of their computer and printer. I thought back to the times when I would need some odd supply or piece of equipment, and my mind, in possession of the shocking gift of Materialization, would focus on the thing needed, and within a few days the thing would appear, usually through an unexpected source. The past 2 days I have been focusing on materializing a computer hooked up to a printer, and after reading at the Free Bird it materialized. I was walking to the CMU campus to see if I could find the university stadium, because I wanted to check out the running track. A few blocks before finding the stadium I was walking down a street filled with scooter traffic and I was passing a row of shops which had their doors open, and inside these shops were computers and printers, turned on and ready to be used. I was not thinking of my evisa so I passed a couple of the shops without realizing that my mind had materialized what I was in need of. When it finally struck me that I could print my visa on this street, I stepped into one of the shops and not bothering to ask the rates or if I needed a reservation (I was so confident that I was going to get what I needed that the thought of a negative outcome was far away), I sat down at a computer desk, plugged in my disk, opened the file, and pressed print. I watched the printer produce the visa, I pulled out my disk, and with visa in hand sought out the owner of the shop to pay up. When she saw me she smiled and I asked how much for 1 printout. "1 baht" she said, giggling. "1 bhat, oh I can give you more than that, you saved me a lot of trouble", and I handed her a 10b coin and left.
I also recalled from 2012 that I was able to make a printout using Free Bird's printer, thanks to the lovely waitress and teacher Maria, who I was on friendly terms with. However, I have not spoken to anyone at the Free Bird in 2018, and so I could not request use of their computer and printer. I thought back to the times when I would need some odd supply or piece of equipment, and my mind, in possession of the shocking gift of Materialization, would focus on the thing needed, and within a few days the thing would appear, usually through an unexpected source. The past 2 days I have been focusing on materializing a computer hooked up to a printer, and after reading at the Free Bird it materialized. I was walking to the CMU campus to see if I could find the university stadium, because I wanted to check out the running track. A few blocks before finding the stadium I was walking down a street filled with scooter traffic and I was passing a row of shops which had their doors open, and inside these shops were computers and printers, turned on and ready to be used. I was not thinking of my evisa so I passed a couple of the shops without realizing that my mind had materialized what I was in need of. When it finally struck me that I could print my visa on this street, I stepped into one of the shops and not bothering to ask the rates or if I needed a reservation (I was so confident that I was going to get what I needed that the thought of a negative outcome was far away), I sat down at a computer desk, plugged in my disk, opened the file, and pressed print. I watched the printer produce the visa, I pulled out my disk, and with visa in hand sought out the owner of the shop to pay up. When she saw me she smiled and I asked how much for 1 printout. "1 baht" she said, giggling. "1 bhat, oh I can give you more than that, you saved me a lot of trouble", and I handed her a 10b coin and left.
Materialization Street
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Day 23
I walked to the Chiang Mai library today, which I found was only a few blocks from where I am staying. Seems like a nice place, but the reason I stopped in was I was hoping their public computers would be connected to a printer, but the library has no public printer, so I will need to find some place in Chiang Mai which offers access to printing a pdf file. I will check a couple of internet cafes near the municipal stadium over the next few weeks.
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Day 22
Ran 8 loops at the gardens, which is ~4 miles. After the run I was doing the exercise circuit and the pagoda where I do my pull ups was occupied by a female westerner practicing yoga with the aid of a harness attached to one of roof poles. This is the second time I have seen her and I am impressed with the imagination needed to think up such an exercise. While I appear to be the only person who uses the pagoda roof poles for pull ups, she by far has me beat for creative use of an exercise space.
Walked to Maya Mall/Rinping in the evening to buy spring rolls, also planned to buy a pre-made meal but they did not look very appealing, and their sushi is over-priced in comparison to Tops, so I stopped at a food stall near the condo for a big portion size of Pad Thai for 50b. It was so large that I did not have the appetite to eat the spring rolls, so I will save them for tomorrow's lunch.
Walked to Maya Mall/Rinping in the evening to buy spring rolls, also planned to buy a pre-made meal but they did not look very appealing, and their sushi is over-priced in comparison to Tops, so I stopped at a food stall near the condo for a big portion size of Pad Thai for 50b. It was so large that I did not have the appetite to eat the spring rolls, so I will save them for tomorrow's lunch.
Monday, December 17, 2018
Day 21
First rest day, partly because I watched the Bears beat the Packers, time of game starting at 1:00am, so I ended up with only 5 hours of sleep and waking later than normal. So I decided to walk north to CMU, along the way I checked out the Maya shopping mall, which pretty much looks like any mall in the USA. The basement, though, has a nice food court along with Rimping grocery, where I bought spring rolls and rice with curry.
Tomorrow back to the fitness grind - hope to run 6 or more loops at the Gardens.
Tomorrow back to the fitness grind - hope to run 6 or more loops at the Gardens.
Day 20
Got out of bed as the sun was beginning to touch the eastern horizon, and as I walked to the Pharmacy Gardens I saw my first scooter accident spanning both of my stays in Chiang Mai. It was not at all what I was expecting, because of instead of happening in dense traffic, what I saw was an empty road and a single scooter laying on its side, with a man sprawled on the pavement 20 yards away, not moving. Whatever caused him to spill, it could not have been from another vehicle.
At the gardens I completed 7 sets of muscle exercises, my high water mark for the year.
At the gardens I completed 7 sets of muscle exercises, my high water mark for the year.
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Day 19
Ran 6 laps around the gardens today - In a couple of weeks I am hoping to lose another 3 pounds, and that should get me to the next level of fitness, running 8-10 loops per session.
I applied for a Vietnam evisa today, with the plan of flying there directly from Denpasar, arriving in Ho Chi Minh City on February 22, and planning to participate in the challenger section of the HD Bank International Chess Tournament, March 9-15th, and planning to fly back to Chicago a few days later.
Was well under budget for the week of 12/7 - 12/13 -
I applied for a Vietnam evisa today, with the plan of flying there directly from Denpasar, arriving in Ho Chi Minh City on February 22, and planning to participate in the challenger section of the HD Bank International Chess Tournament, March 9-15th, and planning to fly back to Chicago a few days later.
Was well under budget for the week of 12/7 - 12/13 -
Friday, December 14, 2018
Day 18
The skies cleared a bit today, walked at the gardens doing muscle exercises, one of the westerners who I have seen before was doing interval sprints, looked impressive, I am guessing he is gearing up for the Chiang Mai Marathon which is just a couple of weeks away. I plan to bandit run 5 or 6 miles of it, it should be fun seeing that the start time is 1:00am!
The Luzshin Defense is absorbing my attention, and I also studied 2 more games from the Zurich 1953 chess tournament, Reshvesky/Szabo,and Bronstein/Averbakh, both games from round 4.
The peculiar phenomenon of increasing fitness and decreasing appetite, causing a favorable weight reduction in fat, and an increase of muscle mass. As the days go by I feel lighter, more energetic, and most important, healthier - seeing it has been less than 20 days, this is a favorable beginning.
The Luzshin Defense is absorbing my attention, and I also studied 2 more games from the Zurich 1953 chess tournament, Reshvesky/Szabo,and Bronstein/Averbakh, both games from round 4.
The peculiar phenomenon of increasing fitness and decreasing appetite, causing a favorable weight reduction in fat, and an increase of muscle mass. As the days go by I feel lighter, more energetic, and most important, healthier - seeing it has been less than 20 days, this is a favorable beginning.
day 17
Rain all day, but it made the morning run quite enjoyable, able to do 6 laps around the gardens, so slowly increasing fitness.
Made progress on travel planning, booking a flight and lodging for 10 days in Bangkok, Jan 16-25.
After Bangkok I will be flying to Denpasar. Bali, and staying at an Airbnb in Sanur, a couple blocks from the sea.
Made progress on travel planning, booking a flight and lodging for 10 days in Bangkok, Jan 16-25.
After Bangkok I will be flying to Denpasar. Bali, and staying at an Airbnb in Sanur, a couple blocks from the sea.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Day 16
Felt a twinge of sadness when I walked to On The Road book shop to sell Sawyer's book, and then the owner of the shop showed bad judgement when he said he was not interested in buying it, although it was probably a ruse because he said if I bought a book he would knock off 30b if I gave him my book. So I browsed the shelves and bought The Luzhin Defense by Nabokov, a story about a chess master. I will read the book as slowly as possible, knowing I have more than 3 months left of wandering about with all of my possessions carried in my backpack.
Cleaning day today, and because of the fucked up state of the earth due to accelerated climate change, the skies here in Chiang Mai are no longer blue, but a smutty white caused by geo-engineering. With scientists predicting total species extinction within a decade, I am astounded how many people are not in panic mode, but I guess what can one do but continue trying to live each day as best as one can? No use crying about death, even the earth and the stars will eventually die. But yeah, the sky being gray I was spared the noon-time heavy heat which usually afflicts this part of the world, making my walk a pleasant jaunt.
Still making plans on where to go on January 16th.
Cleaning day today, and because of the fucked up state of the earth due to accelerated climate change, the skies here in Chiang Mai are no longer blue, but a smutty white caused by geo-engineering. With scientists predicting total species extinction within a decade, I am astounded how many people are not in panic mode, but I guess what can one do but continue trying to live each day as best as one can? No use crying about death, even the earth and the stars will eventually die. But yeah, the sky being gray I was spared the noon-time heavy heat which usually afflicts this part of the world, making my walk a pleasant jaunt.
Still making plans on where to go on January 16th.
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Day 15
I am reminded of Somerset Maugham's travel books, and his need to read in the midst of his long journeys. How he made sure to read each sentence thoroughly, not so much to get at its essence, but to make the book last as long as possible. I am of a similar mind, as I find that I need some kind of mental activity, such as reading a book, to eat into the rich amount of time a traveler is in possession of. When I was moving through Boulder City for a number of weeks, all I owned were a pair of shoes and clothing, I had no books, no computer, no drawing materials. I was like a man in a desert in search of water, and the only place in town which sold books was a small thrift store. Most of the books in the store were trashy romance dramas, but I remember finding a book of 2 short stories by Stephen Crane, and I recall reading through those pages extra slow so that the book would not end. The other book I bought was a desert survival guide, which seemed appropriate, because when I left Boulder City I hiked to Lake Mead through the desert and wandered about for a number of weeks living in a tent.
And so tonight I finished a self published book by Jeff Sawyer, "An Inquiry Into Living", this being the second time I have read it. I hate to sell it, but I don't want to be carrying more than one book with me at any one time. And now I have an extra gap of time which needs to be filled with something other than reading. At this point it begins to feel like I am starving in a room with no food and so the stomach stops complaining and the mind starts to find ways to occupy itself with something other than thoughts of food. I gaze at the 4 walls of the hotel and ponder who knows what - memories, thoughts of the future, wondering when and how death is going to arrive. I have now officially entered into my own personal travel adventure.
And so tonight I finished a self published book by Jeff Sawyer, "An Inquiry Into Living", this being the second time I have read it. I hate to sell it, but I don't want to be carrying more than one book with me at any one time. And now I have an extra gap of time which needs to be filled with something other than reading. At this point it begins to feel like I am starving in a room with no food and so the stomach stops complaining and the mind starts to find ways to occupy itself with something other than thoughts of food. I gaze at the 4 walls of the hotel and ponder who knows what - memories, thoughts of the future, wondering when and how death is going to arrive. I have now officially entered into my own personal travel adventure.
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