L M
@phoenixglobal.bsky.social
The personal updates of an ex-corporate, sometime traveler, now teacher, citizen of the world. Currently based in Bangkok 🇹🇭.
Tech, science, travel, philosophy, humanism, education and societal improvement are my things. Expand my horizons.
Tech, science, travel, philosophy, humanism, education and societal improvement are my things. Expand my horizons.
Oh boy, Facebook is really doing a nostalgia trip for me today! Seven years ago, we were sharing a co-living penthouse with a bunch of other digital nomads in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Met so many great people there! ❤️
March 30, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Oh boy, Facebook is really doing a nostalgia trip for me today! Seven years ago, we were sharing a co-living penthouse with a bunch of other digital nomads in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Met so many great people there! ❤️
Ten years ago I was in Vancouver for a work trip from London. Today, I'm living and working in Bangkok. In the meantime I've been all the way around the world. I am a lucky man. I need to remember that more often.
March 30, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Ten years ago I was in Vancouver for a work trip from London. Today, I'm living and working in Bangkok. In the meantime I've been all the way around the world. I am a lucky man. I need to remember that more often.
Bangkok suffered an earthquake today. Everyone I know was uninjured, apart from minor sunburn and one student who had a panic attack. Others weren't so fortunate. We have been lucky today, again. Hug the people who matter to you every day. You never know when it will be your turn to be unlucky.
March 28, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Bangkok suffered an earthquake today. Everyone I know was uninjured, apart from minor sunburn and one student who had a panic attack. Others weren't so fortunate. We have been lucky today, again. Hug the people who matter to you every day. You never know when it will be your turn to be unlucky.
Visiting the MahaNakhon in Bangkok. The views were limited by the poor air quality, but there's a decent restaurant up there and an entertaining laser show.
Also, now I'm a Skywalker, I want a lightsaber! 🗡️
Also, now I'm a Skywalker, I want a lightsaber! 🗡️
March 22, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Visiting the MahaNakhon in Bangkok. The views were limited by the poor air quality, but there's a decent restaurant up there and an entertaining laser show.
Also, now I'm a Skywalker, I want a lightsaber! 🗡️
Also, now I'm a Skywalker, I want a lightsaber! 🗡️
Had a pleasant evening at the Goethe Institute enjoying an opera gala.
March 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Had a pleasant evening at the Goethe Institute enjoying an opera gala.
Having a leisurely Saturday lunch...
March 15, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Having a leisurely Saturday lunch...
Nice to be going to work with light in the sky again...
March 4, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Nice to be going to work with light in the sky again...
In the domestic departures lounge at Chiang Rai airport, an incongruous, yet familiar sight.
February 21, 2025 at 4:07 AM
In the domestic departures lounge at Chiang Rai airport, an incongruous, yet familiar sight.
That said, it is definitely worth a visit if you are in town. It is beautiful, impressive architecture and I particularly enjoyed the elephant symbolism in the attached golden temple.
February 20, 2025 at 7:23 AM
That said, it is definitely worth a visit if you are in town. It is beautiful, impressive architecture and I particularly enjoyed the elephant symbolism in the attached golden temple.
However, it has been designed for mass tourism. Wide paths, rope lines, cafes, toilets, gift counters everywhere. Don't come expecting a spiritual experience, come expecting a theme park. The site has the immaculate, manicured feeling of Disneyland. The golden building pictured is a toilet block...
February 20, 2025 at 7:23 AM
However, it has been designed for mass tourism. Wide paths, rope lines, cafes, toilets, gift counters everywhere. Don't come expecting a spiritual experience, come expecting a theme park. The site has the immaculate, manicured feeling of Disneyland. The golden building pictured is a toilet block...
Today we visited Chiang Rai's top attraction; Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple. It's a new-build (1996) on an older site and the architecture, finish and symbolism are all beautiful. The surfaces are finished in opalescent white and decorated with mirror mosaic tiles. It literally glows and gleams.
February 20, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Today we visited Chiang Rai's top attraction; Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple. It's a new-build (1996) on an older site and the architecture, finish and symbolism are all beautiful. The surfaces are finished in opalescent white and decorated with mirror mosaic tiles. It literally glows and gleams.
As well as all the ancient Lanna teak carving, there were some modern artworks on display which were quite attractive.
I'd recommend this as a place worth visiting, for both the tranquility and the art.
I'd recommend this as a place worth visiting, for both the tranquility and the art.
February 19, 2025 at 4:55 AM
As well as all the ancient Lanna teak carving, there were some modern artworks on display which were quite attractive.
I'd recommend this as a place worth visiting, for both the tranquility and the art.
I'd recommend this as a place worth visiting, for both the tranquility and the art.
We spent a while under a shaded area enjoying a gentle breeze and the symphony of bird calls, while watching the dragonflies play over the lake.
February 19, 2025 at 4:55 AM
We spent a while under a shaded area enjoying a gentle breeze and the symphony of bird calls, while watching the dragonflies play over the lake.
I found the detail on much of the ancient carving awe-inspiring; looking at the amount of detail and imagining how many hundreds of hours had been spent creating each piece. Even the little shrines in the gardens were works of art.
February 19, 2025 at 4:55 AM
I found the detail on much of the ancient carving awe-inspiring; looking at the amount of detail and imagining how many hundreds of hours had been spent creating each piece. Even the little shrines in the gardens were works of art.
We spent the morning at the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park today. We pretty much had the place to ourselves, which was lovely. It is mostly a museum of the Lanna kingdom (one of the precursors of Siam) with some more recent art thrown in.
February 19, 2025 at 4:55 AM
We spent the morning at the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park today. We pretty much had the place to ourselves, which was lovely. It is mostly a museum of the Lanna kingdom (one of the precursors of Siam) with some more recent art thrown in.
Finally, we called in at Wat Phra Sing Chiang Rai, where Google Maps told us we could find a purple jade statue of the Buddha. Alas, this one eluded is, but was still another lovely temple complex.
... And all before lunch!
... And all before lunch!
February 18, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Finally, we called in at Wat Phra Sing Chiang Rai, where Google Maps told us we could find a purple jade statue of the Buddha. Alas, this one eluded is, but was still another lovely temple complex.
... And all before lunch!
... And all before lunch!
From there, we carried on to Wat Phra Kaew Chiang Rai (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), where the famous emerald Buddha statue was rediscovered in 1434. Wikipedia describes it as a third-common-class royal temple, which I suppose is like the Christian distinction between chapels, churches & cathedrals
February 18, 2025 at 5:14 AM
From there, we carried on to Wat Phra Kaew Chiang Rai (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), where the famous emerald Buddha statue was rediscovered in 1434. Wikipedia describes it as a third-common-class royal temple, which I suppose is like the Christian distinction between chapels, churches & cathedrals
Spent the morning checking out temples in our area. Wat Ming Muang is just around the corner from the hotel; a peaceful oasis from the hustle of the city, and very beautiful.
February 18, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Spent the morning checking out temples in our area. Wat Ming Muang is just around the corner from the hotel; a peaceful oasis from the hustle of the city, and very beautiful.
Loving the indoor-outdoor feel of our hotel.
February 18, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Loving the indoor-outdoor feel of our hotel.
Joe joined us for a lovely afternoon at Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple, of Chiang Rai. A bit like an aquatic version of the Emerald City: everything was blue - even the ice cream. Quite a modern construction and beautifully done.
February 17, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Joe joined us for a lovely afternoon at Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple, of Chiang Rai. A bit like an aquatic version of the Emerald City: everything was blue - even the ice cream. Quite a modern construction and beautifully done.
Great to catch up with Joe on his way back to Berlin. Dinner in the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar food court, watching Thai dancing. Lovely way to spend the evening.
February 16, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Great to catch up with Joe on his way back to Berlin. Dinner in the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar food court, watching Thai dancing. Lovely way to spend the evening.