Day 44

One week left in Chiang Mai, it is hard not to feel disappointment because leaving the first time in 2012 was difficult, and a second time is not any easier because I know I may not return for a long while.

Inspired by time, I desired to see the Ping River, and also the beautiful Wat Umong Temple which is a few miles SW of the condo. But first I wanted to walk to On The Road Books and exchange The Wanderer, which I finished last night, for a new book. With under 1 minute of browsing I found a well worn copy of Somerset Maugham's short story collection, which was only 120b, and after giving back The Wanderer, had to pay only 20b.

As I began walking away from the bookstore I remembered that Nong Buak Hard Park was not too far away, so I decided to visit the park today, and visit the river and the temple later in the week. I ended up finding the route I took 7 years ago, which I found to be unusually exotic, with most of the interesting things being on Ratchamanka Road Soi 7. Along the way I saw a fruit juice stand and I decided to buy a passion fruit smoothie for 30b. The last 200m to the park made me smile because I had to walk through a small alley adjacent a temple, and then the park magically appears. I bought fish food for 10b (when doing my budget before writing this entry I was 10b short and I could not recall where I had spent it - mystery solved!) and fed the pond fish, and the pigeons were trying their best to get some of the food, but numerous park signs warned not to feed the birds so I reluctantly had to ignore them and they appeared to be offended by my rudeness. I then sat on a bench and read the first Maugham story, Rain.

 

Day 43

Woke up earlier than normal, 5:30am, walked to the Pharmacy Gardens before the sun rose, but 1/4 mile before arriving I felt sick to my stomach, I decided to turn around and head back to the condo so that I could relieve myself - it worked, nausea gone but instead of returning to the Gardens I walked in the opposite direction to the track - if fate wanted me to turn around, it is best to go along. When I arrived at the track it started to rain, and by lap 4 it was a deluge - nothing like running in hot weather and simultaneously being cooled down with water. Ran 8 laps, and with the 1 mile run to the track, a three miler seems fine because my legs were still on the mend.

Day 42

Got up very early to listen to the Bears/Eagles playoff game, which had a momentous and odd ending for the Bears and their kicker.

Because my legs are still a bit sore I decided to do a rest day and did not do much, stayed in the condo and read, only time I went out was to buy food at Tops. Plan to get up early tomorrow and do a slow short run.

Day 41

Exercised in the morning, legs a bit stiff from yesterday's speed workout, then decided to eat Indian food for dinner, quite expensive (375b) but still within reason of my budget.

Planning to get up at 4:30am to watch the Bears Playoff game.

Day 40

Third consecutive day with high energy, so I ran to the municipal stadium and did my first "speed' workout of the year - 100m sprints followed by 100m walking, did 8-10, not sure of exact amount, then I did 7 sets on the bars and walked back to the condo, stopping at the 7/11 for a chocolate milk, always the highlight of the day.

Took a nap in the afternoon and decided to walk to the night bazaar in the evening, did not like it as much as the Sunday market because the streets are open to traffic.

The past 2 days have been full sky white out caused by geo-engineering operations (filling the sky with toxic micro metals in order to reflect sunlight away from the earth). I believe that 2018 was the turning point for humans, animals, plants, and the totality of earth life. From my own direct observations added to what climate scientists are predicting, within a decade everything will be dead. The sky, which only 10 years ago was filled with soothing blue space and clouds, today are poisoned with the ideas of man. At my age it seems logical to be contemplating a personal death, but everyone on earth in this era also needs to contemplate the death of everything within a very short time. Of course, since 1945 and the threat of nuclear war  devastation, every one does indeed have a need to think about complete annihilation, but now with the dual threat of nuclear war and climate catastrophe, there appears to be a near certainty that everything will be gone within a short time, and so everyday I reflect on what this means. I can't say I know what it means, it is an overwhelming prospect to face up to, and if there is anything good to come from those dreaded toxic skies which so often blot out the sun, it is that it reminds me that death has arrived, and it is time to prepare for the journey away from earth.

Day 39

Another week under budget -

12/28	weekly start - 3000b
	flower vase - 30b = $.91
	food stall - 50b = $1.52
	Tops - 163b = $4.94
	Total - 243b = $7.36
	3000 - 243 = 2757b

12/29	7/11 - 12b = $.45	12/30	Tops - 280b = $8.48
	food stall - 35b = $1.06		musician - 15b = $.45
	food stall - 41b = $1.24		smoothie - 30b = $.91
	Tops 154b = $4.67		Elephant - 30b - $.91
	Total - 242b = $7.33		Food stall - 50b = $1.52
	2757 - 242 = 2515b		Total - 405b = $12.27
			2515 - 405 = 2110b

12/31	7/11 - 10b = $.45	1/1	7/11 - 13b = $.39
	Tops - 50b - $1.52		Tops - 114b = $3.45
	Tops Cafe - 50b - $1.52		Food stall - 85b = $2.57
	Food stall 115b		Green Store - 25b = $.76
	musician - 10b = $.30		Total - 237b = $7.18
	Total - 235b = $7.12		1875 - 237 = 1638b
	2110 - 235 = 1875b

1/2	7/11 = 77b = $2.33	1/3	7/11 - 13b = $.39
	Indian Food - 210b = $6.36		food stall - 110b = $3.33
	Total - 287b = $8.70		Tops - 205b = $6.21
	1638 - 287 = 1351b		Total - 328b = $9.94
			1351 -328 = 1023b
			weekly spent = 1977b = $59.91

Day 38

Had good energy for the second consecutive day, which does not happen all that often at my age. I ran 8 loops at the Gardens, then did 4 sets of muscle exercises. I figure I have lost 5 pounds in 5 weeks, which is encouraging. I don't have a scale, but I can make a somewhat accurate estimate based on how many pull ups I can do in a set, and how difficult it feels on any given day.

The sky was filled with toxic material today, a typical white-out which happens frequently, but did not exist a decade ago. In 2012 I spent 3 months in Chiang Mai and I did not witness a single white-out, but with the world governments shitting bricks due to accelerated climate change, they hit the panic button and have decided to geo-engineer the skies, which means filling it on a daily basis with tons of toxic micro dust in order to reflect sunlight. It is easy to see that this is the beginning of the end not only of human civilization, but of all life on earth. Scientists vary in their estimates of when things will begin to collapse, anywhere from 3 to 30 years, which is such a short period of time that anyone with the least bit of awareness should begin preparing for death. 401k's, retirement, having kids, etc, is complete idiocy - time to do what you want and need to do with the little time which is left. Good luck.

Day 37

Walked to the Municipal Stadium this morning using a new route, which happens to be more pleasant than my original route due to the streets being not as congested. I ended up doing 8 sets of muscle exercises, I had a nice energy flow which does not happen often due to age, so when it happens I make sure to enjoy it.

In the afternoon I decided to give Indian food a try because I read a good review of a restaurant not too far from the condo. The meal surely beat my two experiences with 2012 Chiang Mai Indian fare, the chicken biryani and samosas were decent, although the naan was poorly made.

Day 36

A new year, with 2018 possibly being the final year of normalcy for life on earth, with many of the best and most informed minds predicting climate catastrophe in 2019 - melted arctic ice equaling a fast moving erosion of the weather systems which create the wonderful habitat which earth was, but is now, due to human activity, merely a soon-to-be lifeless hot rock floating in space.

On a more positive note, I ran 4 laps at the gardens today, not much, but it will keep my fitness going in the right direction (what is the point of being fit if 2019 is going to be the year everyone dies? Have to do something, may as well keep it upbeat and strive for excellence in the face of certain death).

At midnight I watched 11 simultaneous fireworks shows from the condo windows - east to west splattered with colored lights, and the floating lanterns a soothing background to bring in 2019.

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.

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.