This is the first installment of my Southeast Asia travel series. I’m currently moving through Thailand at an easy pace — no schedule, just following the day. I biked the ancient ruins of Sukhothai at sunrise, floated candle-lit krathongs during the Loy Krathong festival, and spent quiet mornings wandering the Blue and White Temples in Chiang Rai. Evenings have been a mix of warm monsoon rains, open-air bars, good conversations, and the ongoing quest to find decent Mexican spirits far from home. It’s the small moments that stay with you, and that’s the story I’m here to tell.
Ocean Beach – San Diego, California
It’s the witching hour—3:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 5th—and I’m wide awake, counting down the final hours before my 51-day Southeast Asia adventure really begins. My flight to the Philippines departs from LAX in just nine hours.
By this time tomorrow, I’ll be in Manila—tired, exhilarated, and officially on island time.
Now I sit here feeling that familiar mix of anxiety and excitement that always hits before a big journey.
Over the next two months, I’ll be sharing stories, photos, and moments from across the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Follow along—I’d love your company on this ride. For now, it’s back to dreaming of white sands and tropical breezes.🌴
Mike James is a writer, slow traveler, and the original “Gringo in Paradise,” dividing his time between Ocean Beach and Tijuana when he’s not somewhere on the road.