"Don't tell yourself you need to do something and don't do it. 'Wake up at this time', and I didn't wake up. 'Need to train', and I didn't train. 'Don't eat that', and I ate that. And these all just infiltrate my mental strength. Little defeats instead of wins . I'm just figuring myself out like I've never figured myself out before." -Connor McGregor ⌨️ Typing Away... ...writing advice to myself hoping that it will help someone else as well. Sometimes I find advice from classics, ancient texts, fables, but today the advice came from a modern fighter. Say what you will, Connor McGregor is certainly a success in his own right. This quote about little defeats really hit me as I was scrolling on my phone late at night. Self-critical I know that I'm hard on myself but the feeling of all those "little defeats" really is true. Explaining that feeling is hard as for some it is regret but for me it is disappointment. I know the "little defeats" happen due to my own laziness, me being undisciplined, or my unfocused mind. Distractions or unneeded pleasures always drive me away from my goals. So What? What is good is that I know what the problem is. I just need to find out some methods or mental tricks that work for me. To stay focused. To stay motivated. No, to stay disciplined. It is ridiculous how I'm still figuring myself out. But, one thing I need to do is accept that there is a reason I'm still a white belt after two years. There is a reason why I don't have the splits yet. There is a reason I've lost all those amateur fights. The Solution The solution for me is hard work. You could say consistency. You can word it however you want. But accepting your faults, having a plan, and acting on that plan are the ways to change, improve, and become the person that you want to become. I'm acting on my plan right now by writing this blog post late at night. Reflecting on the Brighter Side At least the weather is nice. I have been able to train these few weeks I've been in Minnesota. There is just a weird feeling of being back. There was so much momentum being in Thailand, I felt good and I felt like I was making progress. Hopefully I can continue to make that progress. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"

"What if you did it? What if you actually did it? How do you think you would feel? Just think about what your life would look like, if you went out and hit every goal that you have. If you actually, went out and did everything you said you were going to do." -Unknown Wanting to Improve Back to Minnesota which means I'm back to being hard on myself. Back to working on goals that should've been accomplished a while ago. Back to finding out the next steps needed to continue my adventure. What I want... ...is to return to Thailand with a focus on the "warrior" side of my plan. Train in Muay Thai with the goal to compete, train in BJJ with the goal of improving my skill. One or two years will be spent doing that. That is what I want to focus on right now. My brain immediately starts thinking about what I want to do after Thailand. That is too far away, don't get distracted. How will I prepare? Well, there are a few things I need to do in order to prepare. During the four months of training, my body sustained quite a beating. So, I'm fixing some imbalances caused by that. The language is a puzzle, so I'm slowly learning that. A little bit each day, consistently. Physically, I'm going back to strength, flexibility, and cardio training. This means running, stretching, and lifting kettlebells a few times each week. Starting off slow, just to build a habit. I've learned from the past not to over do it. Direction? Many people ask me where do I want to be? What is all of this for? I don't really have an answer to that. I'm 24 which seems to be a bit late to hop into this martial arts game but I want to try. Like a compass without it's arrow, I'm going somewhere but not sure where. The quote above really resonated with me. As it is what I'm trying to do. Do everything I said I would do. Get the splits. Fight. Travel. Learn languages. Be the crazy traveler in the family. It comes with it's costs but I think it is worth it. Reflecting over a Dirty Keyboard The click clack of my laptop's flat keyboard is the only friend I have on the night's I write these posts. I am nervous about where this journey leads. Sometimes I wish I just chose an easier path like college or the military. But, all the adventure stories I read as a kid spoke of unknown journeys with unforeseen endings. No matter the ending, the middle part was always interesting. Hopefully I'll do some good in the middle part. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey" …or support my buddy's clothing brand "Canine Clothing - For Those on a Journey"

邯郸学步 "Learning the Handan Walk" It is foolhardy to try and mimic a way of doing things that is foreign to one's own circumstances. -Chinese Proverb Preparing for a New Career If over thinking was the sport, I'd be in the Olympics of it. As I've settled back into Minnesota, I immediately started my job search. While in Thailand, I made the mental decision to find a job that works well with my training. Being back in the states has made me realize how hard that is. I still want a job that makes good money; but also a job that gives me the time to train. The first few days looking, I was determined to find a job that was in some sort of gym/health/fitness role. Eventually, I compromised after not hearing replies and started applying for security jobs in the area. Today, I compromised further by applying to a factory job. The one place I don't want to return to work. Side Hustles That's not to say I'm only relying on a job. I've also been looking at part time options or little "side hustle" options. I've already started donating plasma and even considered being a sperm donor or lab rat. But, I'm not that desperate yet. I still have a part time job editing/making Tiktok videos for a company... my gut tells me I won't have that job for long though. Hopefully I'll find something stable as the main goal is... Training It has been hard finding a gym. You'd think it would be easy. Just go back to Savage Top Team and start training again. Honestly, I don't want to go back there due. Too many days I'd leave class feeling like garbage. I'm not sure if it was due to me or the gym, but my low feeling has stuck with my memories at that gym. Goals? Now, training is preparing me for a few things. The closest goal is visiting my buddy down in Missouri who just started BJJ. I need to be prepared for when we train together. The other thing I'm training for is preparing me to get "Thailand Ready". I've now experienced a little bit of what Thailand training is like but I know I haven't gotten the full taste yet. So I need to push myself now so that it will be easier later. The final thing I might be training for is Sanda Worlds. It all depends on what job I get. That determines what kind of gym I can train at and for how long. Watching my Reflection As I wait for things to fall into place, I'm simply enjoying my hobbies. Editing videos, taking photos, hiking, and studying languages. My mind is already preparing my body for all the work it is about to do. Once December comes, I'm going to put it all on the line for this adventure that has been brewing in my head way too long. Hopefully, something will come out of all of this. Maybe some championships. Maybe new friends. Maybe nothing. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey"

"Breathing concentration is one of the best subjects upon which to meditate, which appeals equally to all." -Buddha Abhidhamma: Forty Meditations, Kaysorn Suttajit Chunprapaph Two Days in Bangkok The two days in Bangkok went by fast. After a twelve hour train ride from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, I stepped off the train realizing I didn't book a hotel for myself. Low on cash and nowhere to go, I was able to book a cheap place near the airport. Little did I know, finding the way to the hotel would be an adventure. Long story short, just use the metro/trains that run through Bangkok for transport. It is simple, easy, and cheap. I ended up riding on the back of a bike with my luggage which dropped me off at a random location in the city, nabbing my 300 Baht, and leaving me to my own demise. Luckily, I was near the city trains and took that to the station closest to my hotel. Ignoring the local drivers, I ordered a car on Bolt (Thailand's Uber) to take me the rest of the way for 50 Baht. Hotel Na Siri The area around BKK airport is pretty dead. That is due to the fact that BKK airport is on the edge of Bangkok City. The hotel is run by a few old Thai folks and has a restaurant on the first floor. It was pretty good and pretty comfortable for the price that I paid. (around 1500 Baht for three nights) Even with this part of town being pretty dead, I found some places to take photos and eat. The local Amazon Cafe and 7-Eleven became the spots for me to get snacks and drinks. I ordered rice, grilled pork, and veggies from the local street vendors... who were nice enough to understand my broken Thai. Besides eating simple snacks and street meat, I did manage to edit some videos for my Youtube which were scheduled to upload. I slept well at the hotel. The feeling of adventure was slowly fading as it sunk in... I'd be going home. Long Flight Home I could complain about having to repack my luggage in the airport due to Qatar's strict rules. Or complain about how I had to rush from flight to flight. But, I won't. I'll simply say it was an exhausting 40 hour adventure in the air. Bangkok. Doha. JFK. LGA. Minnesota. What a pain. Arrival Thankfully, my mom picked me up for the airport and took me home. Minnesota. A place I never thought I'd call home. I don't even know where I'll call home next. Jet Lagged. Sleep Deprived. Body Aching from travel and lugging around three bags by myself. I stayed up as long as I could before passing out at 6:00 pm. It was good to get some sleep that wasn't in a sitting position. Exhausted as I may be. My dreaming mind already began to think about my next moves. Find a job. Find a gym. Train. Work. Save money. Study new skills. In order to pull off the life that I wanted, I'll need some new talents in order to get money while living abroad. So, that is the plan for the next few months. I have so many goals that I want to work on. My more intelligent self now realizes that I can't work on everything all at once. I can only prioritize a few things at a time and conquer those. Relaxing would be what a normal person would do after such a grand adventure; but I have to get back training and to work. Time doesn't stop and I have a lot of things I want to do. Reflecting on Everything Even though I make my life sound super busy; I still have lots of time to do my favorite pass time... think. Right before I left Chiang Mai, I was able to meet up with two Kung Fu buddies from Maling. JD and Terina (thanks for visiting me!) had just started their travels in Thailand as I was getting ready to leave. Talking with them made me realize how interesting life really is. Everyone from the "Cripple Crew" that trained in Maling during 2020 had gone off on their own path. JD and Terina went together to Spain. I went home and worked but my passion never died. Most of the others just went home back to normal life... while some were like me. Pursing their passions. Maling might have taught us all Kung Fu; but through that training we were led to the next steps in our lives. From what I hear, most of us have stopped our Kung Fu practice... but have picked up other passions. Warrior Maling Mountain brought out this passion for travel and training. I originally wanted to train hard and become a Warrior Monk of Shaolin. As I've learned and experienced more, Becoming my own kind of Warrior is the goal. My love of Kung Fu still lies within my heart; but I've learned what it takes to be a real warrior. For me, part of my "warrior path" is through Muay Thai and Grappling. Competition. The daily grind of training and life. Not letting the obstacles you face dampen your spirit. Making the difficult choices needed to continue along your path. This is all apart of my own "warrior path". One day, I'll return to China in order to complete my Kung Fu training. Now, my eyes are set on Thailand... the place where competition and challenge await. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey" …or support my buddy's clothing brand "Canine Clothing - For Those on a Journey"

"Meditation is medicine for the mind" -Phra KK, Wat Suan Dok Preparing to Meditate With a sore knee, I woke up early this morning to shave and wash up for the retreat. You see, one of my early goals with coming to Thailand was to learn about Meditation a bit more. While in Phuket, that goal seemed to fade to the back of my mind as training took over. Now that I'm in Chiang Mai, I remembered this goal and began looking. I found that the temple I've been living next to this whole time has meditation programs running all week! (You can see these programs on their website) I felt a bit dumb as I could've been partaking in these programs the whole time! They have 1/2 Day, 1 Day, and 2 Day retreats as well as a 3 Day retreat once a month. There is even a 10 Day retreat run by the same monks at a different temple in Chiang Mai. So, I signed up for the 1 Day retreat! Thinking I would be sitting on the floor for 8 hours. Learning for Eight Hours The Morning The program started at 9:30 am at Wat Suan Dok. I lived right next door to one of the entrances and yet... all this time I had never visited the actual temple itself. It was interesting to finally walk in and see what it looked like. Within the white arches of Wat Suan Dok is a high school, monk halls, retreat center, and even a coffee shop! The temple is very active part of Chiang Mai. There is also a lot of history about it. What I think was cool about my experience with Wat Suan Dok is that I've gotten to see the Stupa refurbished while I was here. When I got here it was white, now it is golden with a nice glass central piece. Meeting the Monk My view on monks changed in China, and while in Thailand the view continues to change. When I found the small building with the "Meditation Retreat" sign hung on the wall, I gingerly took off my shoes and went inside. Luckily, I had found the right place. About twenty to thirty other people sat in chairs in a room decorated with statues of Buddha. Sitting in front of the statues was a cheerful and soft looking man in dark maroon robes. This man was our teacher today. His name was Phrat K K (pronounced Kay Kay). Phrat, refers to him being a fully ordained monk. He talked with an accented english, made even more unique with a lisp on 'th' and 'p'. A monk for more than 20 years, Phrat KK had come up with this retreat program on his own. With the donations from those who attend, he is able to keep it going while also being able to fund his other projects like an orphanage. What I found surprising was that I had already "met" this monk at a Nepalese Restaurant near the temple. I don't think he realized it, but I later learned that some former students of his had opened the restaurant that I had frequented a few times. Also, the restaurant's name written on the wall was written by Phrat KK. "Meditate without expectations." -Phra KK, Wat Suan Dok The Retreat So, what was the actual retreat like? Well, not at all like I had expected. What I expected was some basic introduction to what meditation is and then just meditating for hours with some breaks in between. What I got was a history lesson on Buddhism and some in depth explanation on what meditation is and the methods of meditation out there. In total, I think we meditated for 2-3 hours out of the 8 hour retreat. Phrat KK will take you through a simple history of Buddha's life and then talk about what Buddha taught. The Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, the Middle Way. After that, you'll get an explanation about meditation, it's goal, and the different ways to meditate. Only then, will you actually sit down and meditate for 20 - 30 minutes. The first meditation exercise is sitting meditation. For the first few minutes, Phra KK is guiding you on what to focus on but at one point it will be just you and your body. Hopefully, you're trying to use what you learned to meditate. The second meditation exercise is walking meditation. This one made me feel silly but, I was in a room full of people doing the same thing so the feeling was lessened a bit. It took us thirty minutes to walk about 12 meters. The final meditation exercise that you will learn is movement meditation. Using movement to build up your concentration. I'm not talking Tai Chi, Yoga, or Qi Gong. What we did here was simple hand movements with our eyes closed. We were lucky with the fact that some Tibetian Monks had come for the "First International Kagyu Monlam in Thailand". What it meant was we got a tour of Wat Suan Dok and we got to sit in the main hall to listen to the monks chant for a bit. I'd like to say I felt something or was moved as I sat eyes closed... but it just didn't happen. It was a cool experience though and I'm glad we got to do it. To close the retreat, we did one more movement meditation and then had a Q&A session with Phra KK. I didn't ask any questions, but I did take notes on his responses. Oh, I took a lot of notes throughout the whole experience... too many to put down here. I was intrigued with his view on topics as well as the misconceptions there are about Buddhism. His explanations on topics I already have studied were different as well. "If there is one thing I want to tell students it is: 'Practice the training of Buddha, avoid the culture of Buddhism'. That way there will be less confusion." -Phra KK, Wat Suan Dok Reflecting on the Experience This whole retreat was free. The only thing spent is your time. I donated some money and bought a little book that they had. For those wondering if they should go to an experience like this then I say go for it. If you don't like it then just leave! There were five people that left early. I will say, just have an open mind, ask questions, and don't be afraid of feeling a little silly... because everyone else is there doing the same thing you are. Plus, there is a shorter 1/2 Day retreat program that they run. It seems like they have it made so that you can slowly build up to longer and longer retreats as you get more "into" meditation. This retreat is very light hearted, no oaths of silence or restrictive rules. Just conversation, discussion, and meditation. My next time in Chiang Mai, I'll probably take the time to do the whole series of retreats just to see how they are. "Get the full experience". Honestly, this was a nice break from training and café hopping around Chiang Mai. So... as this adventure comes to a close. I'll see you in the next location! 📿Johnny Want to check out the retreat for yourself? Then click below! Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey" …or support my buddy's clothing brand "Canine Clothing - For Those on a Journey"

Preparing Videos and Photos With this final week, I've been in a bit of a motivation slump to write or post. Videos are being edited. I'm trying to not rush them. Subtitles, color correction, audio editing. I'm researching them all trying to make better videos than before. On top of creating these next couple videos, I've been busy training. Been Busy Training One thing I haven't documented has been my Muay Thai training in Chiang Mai. For me, I think it is a bit odd to film my training and make a video about it. When training, I just want to focus on training. Or, just staying on my two feet when it comes to training with those at Dang! Muay Thai. This final week has been a rough push for me. I'm having to finish up my final classes in a short amount of time... so it has been tiring. Getting home, all I want to do is eat food, drink tea, and rest between training sessions. Writing, studying, reading, and editing videos has not been on my mind. Reflecting on the Week As I write this, it is Thursday night. Tomorrow I have training, a meditation retreat... and maybe BJJ training if my knee holds up. Four months have gone by so fast and all that i can think of is... what am I going to do now? I've learned that I really enjoy Chiang Mai (way more that Phuket) and that this study, train, work lifestyle seems to make me happy. Choices need to be thought about and actions need to be taken. Crazy to think I'll be in Bangkok soon. Hope your weekend goes well! 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey" …or support my buddy's clothing brand "Canine Clothing - For Those on a Journey"

"What mother or father cannot do, Or any other kin, A rightly directed mind will do better for you than that" -Dhammapada 3.11 Working as a Traveler This article took way longer to write than it should have. One thing I've realized along this journey is that; in order for you to have those cool adventures you hear about, you have to make it happen. The adventure rarely just comes to you. Hence the quote above; I can't rely on my parents, girlfriend, or friends to bring adventure into my life. I have to make it happen. Which has made me become a bit more independent. But, when the reigns to my life are given to me; I end up spending most of my time training, eating, and sleeping.I'm getting better at finding balance. Studying Thai and finding a job forces me to focus on other things than training. This helps me not get burnt out or injured. Studying and working in this situation is a bit different than back home. I study for 2-4 hours a day, instead of 6-8 like my friends in college. For work... well I have none right now. My "work" is this blog and Youtube, which I only spend a couple hours a day writing, filming or editing. not 8-12 hours like in the factory. Everything is a happy medium, which allows me to rest well, eat well, and even play a little bit. Current Challenges Balancing Priorities Balancing priorities is something that everyone unconsciously does. You determine what is important to you at every second of the day. Jujimufu released a video a long time ago talking about life priorities, and many people now reference this video as its a good method. But, I think people enjoy this method because it is very real and very flexible. Using martial arts as an example, you see videos about a day in the life of UFC fighters or So and So's training regiment. They way these videos portray these lifestyles as very rigid and unchanging. You'll often here, "I do this everyday", in those videos. Yet, they never talk about what these athletes do to handle unexpected events or how they balance the other aspects of their life. Nobody has the same schedule every day, 24/7 365. I believe that in simply acknowledging how you spend your time and what is most important for you on that day; you will see a big change in yourself. Some days, I have to spend more time studying or editing videos so training will get pushed aside for that day. Meaning, that the next day I will make training the priority. This way I can keep doing the things I need to do and want to do. Note! I said pushed aside for that day... not forever. Training Another challenge for me is training. Training Martial Arts (currently Muay Thai and BJJ) is now a part of my life. I accept that fact now. For me, it is challenging and rewarding. Man, does it take a toll mentally and physically. Training 1-3 hours is doable for me, I will feel tired throughout the day but I can still manage. On days that I train more than that, any free time is spent either sleeping or eating. Which effects my budget (see later). Even with the added difficulty that training brings, I feel empty without it. I believe that everyone should find that something that makes you feel this way. Call it your hobby, passion, ikigai, or whatever. I think it is necessary. Video Editing & Photography Adding on to the challenges is "work". Since I don't have a job right now, I'm simply working on the skills needed to get the jobs that I want. Staying disciplined towards learning new things is pretty hard in the long run. Just like training, consistency pays off as the little bit of time I spend each day writing, reading, filming, and editing improves the content that I create. There was an article I read that said something like, "if you spend 15 minutes a day learning a skill every day for a year, you'll be better at that skill than most of the population"... or something like that. This article also talks about taking a little bit of time each day towards learning the skill. Honestly, I think this idea works. Not only is it easier to be consistent with 5-25 minutes a day... but if you're truly laser focused during those 5-25 minutes; you will get a lot out of it. Budgeting Money, money, money. It seems to always be the final challenge. The two years I spent working in Minnesota were for building a solid foundation. This foundation obviously shrinks a little bit everyday; but I'm able to control how much it shrinks by being aware of what I'm spending. Above is how I schedule my week and budget. I keep track of a lot, its honestly very similar to a spreadsheet that my previous job used. It's almost like my life is my company. I don't mark everything I do on it but I do try to keep track of everything I buy on it. As I've said before, it is really easy to spent a lot while traveling. So being as mindful as a monk is key to traveling long term. Budgeting is also hard to balance as you have to think of the pros and cons. For me, investing in equipment to improve my photography might cost a lot but there is a small chance that it would also pay off. Training costs and food are the same way. I could eat super cheap; then how would that effect my training or my studies? Luckily, I'm at the point where I can sometimes get better gear or eat slightly expensive food without worrying too much. I just can't go overboard. Reflecting Over a Cup of Tea Jasmine Dragon Pearl Tea During fight week, a fighter simply relaxes. The training intensity is turned down, and more focus is on their weight and mental state. Making sure they are 100% ready for the challenge ahead. I think everyone needs to take the time to reflect on their mental state. A little bit of time at the beginning or end... or shoot even in the middle of the day. To make sure that the actions you're taking are getting you closer to where you want to be. Working the factory, I did this a lot... constantly reminding myself of what I was working towards. It took a while. It worked. Call it manifesting, hard work, luck, whatever it may be. Working towards a goal will always have progress, even if you fail you'll be in a different place than you were before. Hope this helps! 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey" …or support my buddy's clothing brand "Canine Clothing - For Those on a Journey"

"The purpose of today's training is to defeat yesterday's understanding." -Miyamoto Musashi Technique, Technique, Technique I'm not sure if I've mentioned this on the blog or not; One thing I learned at Tiger Muay Thai was that if you wanted to really improve, then you need to do a combination of private classes, group classes, as well as Strength & Conditioning training. Privates being the most important class. Private Classes - Technique In privates you build a relationship with the coach and gym. If you consistently show up to train, the coach will slowly understand you and you understand the coach. During privates, you usually focus on learning the technical side of your martial art. Combinations, basics, and tricks to build up your game. Some sparring might be included with the coach, but it is very technical/fun sparring. Group Classes - Conditioning & Sparring Since group classes are usually longer than privates, you get some conditioning. While in Thailand, group classes had sparring or clinch sparring every single session. You can use this time to try out the techniques practiced in your private classes. Another benefit of group training is you build a relationship with the gym's other coaches and students. Strength & Conditioning - The Part No One Likes The last part is Strength & Conditioning, this is usually done on your own at the amateur level. Where as the semi-pro, professionals have coaches, programs, and nutritionists to help them. This includes getting those miles in running, stretching, lifting weights, and more. This one varies the most, as everyone has their own things they need or want to work on. Just remember, train like an athlete not a body builder when doing S&C for martial arts. Sprints, Jump Ropes, Kettlebells, Slam Balls, Battle Ropes, and Plyometrics are some of the exercises included within a martial artists' S&C program. Reflecting on Your Own Training When looking at your own training, you also have to look at why you are training martial arts. If you're wanting to be a professional and are only doing group classes, you might have to rethink your training. Or, if you're already fighting actively and you feel like something is missing from your training; maybe you need S&C or maybe you need more technical training? Your reason for training might change throughout your time in martial arts. Someone who has just fought might lessen their training for a few weeks. While a hobbyist might suddenly want to take their martial art more seriously. So make sure your training intensity aligns with your why. Taking time to reflect after every "milestone" in training will help you avoid burnout and keep the enjoyment. Hope this helps. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey" …or support my buddy's clothing brand "Canine Clothing - For Those on a Journey"

ca·fe, noun, a small restaurant selling light meals and drinks. -Oxford Languages Heat and Rain Chiang Mai has turned into the "City of Cafés" for me. I've asked many locals what there is to do around here and they all reply with the same thing; relax. It seems that seeing temples or drinking tea at a local café is the big pass here. With wide selection of cafés, I'm not surprised! Take Your Pick 🧋 Not only do the cafés have good food and drinks. They also have some great internet, allowing those digital nomads to get some work done in a chill environment. Each cafe has it's own theme! So, whether you're checking out the ever popular Amazon Café or visiting some of the more niche Japanese style ones; you'll be able to get work done while sipping on your favorite drink. I've seen Star Wars themes, Witches, Tokyo, Barn Style, and even retro style Cafés in the streets of Chiang Mai. Getting Around 🛵 Getting around Chiang Mai is something I don't see many people talking about. In Phuket, you need a scooter if you're wanting to go anywhere. Walking just isn't convenient and the roads are too packed for a proper bicycle. In Chiang Mai, that is not the case! For the first five days I've been here, I've been using Bolt and my two feet to go where I need. Since I'm here for a month, renting a scooter is a bit costly. For short term travel, renting a scooter is perfect! 250 Baht a day seems to be the common price. If you're wanting to rent a normal bicycle, then its anywhere from 50-150 Baht. Now that I'm reaching the two week mark, I'm wanting to explore more of the town and I've started pricing bicycles. For the price of renting a scooter for a week, I could simply buy a bicycle and have it the whole month I'm here! Chiang Mai, although surrounded by mountains, is a pretty flat and small city. So for inter-city travel, a bike with a small basket is perfect. As long as you're not in a rush. (Why are you in a rush? You're in Chiang Mai!) Other Activites If the cafés get old you could always visit some temples or travel to the nearby Pai, Chiang Rai, and other towns to see what they have to offer. Persoanlly, I'm enjoying trying out the local street food, training, and studying Thai while I'm in Chiang Mai. If any of that sounds good to you, then try it! You can eat at a thousand cafés and see a hundred temples but actually immersing yourself in cultural activities like cooking, language learning or local sports is a much more fulfilling experience. Plus, you get to meet others with the same interest! Hope you're having a good week! 📿Johnny "Fuck You Shaun White" -Dave Ode to Dave This is my Uncle Dave. For me, he passed away on a Monday morning. For everyone else, he passed away on a Sunday afternoon. From what I hear, he was sitting in his favorite chair with his phone plugged in when he left. Those that knew him, knew that he was an interesting character. He loved the chiefs, smoking, and Keystone. He also loved seeing all of us kids on the holidays and we loved seeing him. The Hotel Even with all his flaws, Dave was certainly patriotic, loyal, and consistent. He proved all of these things the night I stayed with him in a hotel room. Before we even got to the hotel, he had me buy him a 24 pack of Keystone. Then, as Dave an I got to the hotel room we saw the Winter Olympics were on. I'll never forget the sight of Dave, probably 12 Keystones deep, in his underpants singing the national anthem at the TV. It was on that night that I learned the most about Dave. How much he loved his kids, his dogs, knives, cars, the military, and... how much he hated Shuan White. Dave the Dragon It was also on this night that Dave showed me a trick that he could do; with a newly lit cigarette and one long puff, the whole thing would burn away. The amount of smoke coming from his nose, mouth and ears mixed with his red beard made him look like some kind of Dragon. I've told this story to others I've met on my travels. Some brave enough to try it never believe me because of how hard it is. But I know its possible. So the story of Dave travels around the world as well. To Conclude This isn't much, but since I won't be able to come to the funeral I thought I'd write a small piece about my uncle who left a big impression on me. I know I didn't see him much but the few times that I did... they were memorable. Hope you're having fun flirtin' with angels and yelling, "Go Chiefs" from the best Skybox there is. We'll all miss you and your super long beard. Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey" …or support my buddy's clothing brand "Canine Clothing - For Those on a Journey"

"The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them." -Miyamoto Musashi What are you doing here? Finally settled into my new home for the next 25 days. Already working on improving my video thumbnails. Videos for Shanghai and Chiang Mai are in the works. Chiangmai has already shown itself to be a relaxing and beautiful city. The people are nice, talkative, and helpful. Food definitely has been cheaper here as well. Milk Teas, meals, and more have all been around $1.00 USD. Only when you step into the cafes or restaurants do the prices get higher. As I'm getting settled in, my mind has been on a question that I've been asked. "What am I doing here?". The airport folks, taxi driver, and owner of this hotel have all asked me what I'm doing in Thailand for so long. My response to them has simply been, just traveling, but in my heart I know there is another reason. 🔭 On the Search If you've been following my journey or this blog, you will know that my plan is to maybe live in Thailand for 1-2 years. The goal is to train Muay Thai and compete. As I've made my way from Phuket, to Shanghai, and now Chiang Mai; I've realized that there are a few pieces that need to fall into place if I'm going to live in Thailand for 1-2 years. 💸Finding a source of Income 🏠Finding suitable accommodation 😎Finding a place that I enjoy A source of income has been the hardest challenge. I've applied to one remote job and have now started the search for others. Accommodation will be easy, especially if I decide Chiang Mai. There are places for $80-$100 dollars a month here. Yes, they are bare bones basic. For me, all I need is good internet and a place to sleep. 📷 Content Creation I keep creating content as it has been a hobby that I enjoy. Plus, there is the hope that it will one day be a source of money for me. I've read many articles talking about how it takes 3-4 years of solo work on Youtube in order to get some good revenue... so I will be patient. What am I doing here? There are a lot of doubts with the path that I'm taking. The content views are low, my progress in martial arts is slow, and at times I feel like I'm working towards a goal that isn't there. There is enjoyment out of what I'm doing. Each picture I edit, blog post written, video made, and day spent exploring or training is me living my life the way I want to. It's very fulfilling personally. There is always that worry of; how long will this last? I'll keep on enjoying this kind of life until it ends. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey" …or support my buddy's clothing brand "Canine Clothing - For Those on a Journey"

"Part of projecting your best spirit to the world depends on following good guidelines to create positive experiences for yourself and others." -A 21 Day Personal Journal Applying Myself Man, my time in Shanghai hasn't gone as planned. It has still been a good trip; I'm just surprised as what I've spent my time doing. A big part of my time has been eating different food with my girlfriend. Street food, fancy restaurants, and small dumpling shops. We've gone to so many places in such a short time but it makes me realize how much Shanghai has to offer; even though many of the shops are closed. 🍈 Fruit Full of Spirit ~ 非常灵魂 One night, we went to buy fruit. Chinese fruit sellers are some of the most convincing people you'll meet. They come up with such creative ways to describe their fruits. The one on this night described one melon as being "very spirit", meaning that simply eating the fruit is a good experience. It will make you feel good. I smiled, as I thought about how I wrote about the "Spirit of Shanghai" before. Even the fruit carries the spirit of Shanghai! 🧘 Yoga on Floor 23 Originally, I had planned on training BJJ/MMA while I was here. My priorities have changed but we did end up going to a Yoga class this weekend. The tall buildings of Shanghai have a way of hiding many things. You never know what businesses or restaurants are hidden within. So I was surprised when one of the apartment buildings held the Yoga Studio. ☯️ Yin vs Yang We trained "Yin Yoga", which is a kind of Yoga I had never tried before. The routine was comprised of holding positions for 3 minutes, then slowly changing. For my legs it was painful, but the slight pains in my lower back and shoulders were gone completely! 🎬 Movie Night On top of Yoga and eating, my girlfriend and I went to see the new "Super Mario Movie". I had forgotten that Chinese movie theaters are multi-floor. You buy the ticket on floor one, buy snacks on floor two, and then go to whatever floor your movie is playing in. Another big difference is, remember to bring your own snacks! Depending on the size of movie theater. They might only have popcorn and soda. 🍿Also, the popcorn in China is always sweet. "Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do" -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Rushed Application On top of this busy weekend, I even applied for a remote job (and will probably apply for more) over the weekend. Finding a way to keep this adventure going has been the greatest difficulty. If I keep searching, I'll find something that sticks. The Shanghai that I once knew still lives even after the rough three years of lockdown. Being in China was fun and it has left me with some thoughts on how to continue my adventure. There is still so much to see in China, and now that I'm making content... there is so much to show you guys too! Hopefully one day, I'll be able to show more pieces of China that I love. 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey" …or support my buddy's clothing brand "Canine Clothing - For Those on a Journey"

"Do you find yourself at a moment of courage? ...What requires your courage today?" -A 21 Day Personal Journal Two and a Half Years Later... I step foot back into China. Although it is the same city I once knew, it is very different. I expected the usual busy, bustling airport pack full of people. Waiting in the mile long line of people just to get through immigration. Quickly grabbing my bags from the mass of moving luggage, all to just wait as security scans our bags one last time. I expected all of this but was greeted with a quiet airport. No lines. No stores. Few people. Instead of being assaulted with many cab dealers, there were only two. Usually I wouldn't agree to go with one but by the looks of the airport, I did. After withdrawing some money and haggling a price with the guy I rushed to an empty parking garage. Him and I talked about the state of Shanghai. Everything was more expensive now. Shanghai had a lot less people. Stores and Restaurants were shut down. The three years of lock down had not just hurt Shanghai, but all of China's big cities. Many folks went elsewhere to live or work, while a few stayed in the cities hoping for it to return to normal. A lot of the large foreign companies also pulled out of the big cities too. Crippling them even more. Once the taxi arrived, I got in and had a quiet ride to Jing An district. As I looked out the car window, the tall apartment buildings stood out amongst the slightly dreary day. Thick white clouds hovered heavily over the haze covered city. The city certainly looked the same, but something did feel different. It wasn't until after we pulled off of the highway and into the main city streets did I notice a change. Many restaurants closed down or gutted. The amount of people walking around the city was definitely fewer, most wore masks while a few didn't. Even though the lock down's grip was slowly loosening on Shanghai's neck, it was still common for people to get Covid. When they got it, it was usually pretty severe. Living in the City With all of this, the normal interactions of the city felt the same. My girlfriend and I still wandered the streets freely. Going to restaurants and shops. Interacting with others. I think those that stayed in Shanghai truly loved the city. They carried with them the "Spirit of Shanghai". From the late night fried noodle chef, sweating in his small kitchen cooking up delicious meals for night owls to to the delivery men zipping around quickly on scooters, getting people their goods. There were still people here managing to make a life out of these undesirable conditions. Keeping the city alive. There is probably some lesson to be learned from this. But for now, I will just continue to explore the city and leave the lesson to be interpreted by you readers. Hope you have a good day! 📿Johnny Want to support the journey? Check out the links below! Donate to Keep the Journey going... …or check out my Dad's book "21 Day Personal Journey" …or support my buddy's clothing brand "Canine Clothing - For Those on a Journey"