Wendy's in Chiang Mai!

At my company, employees with over three years of service are given a two-week reward vacation as a refresh. I’ve worked here for 3 years and 9 months now, so this October, I headed to Chiang Mai(10/4-10/22). Honestly, I was feeling so burned out from everything that I didn’t even know what was in Chiang Mai. I just randomly booked the flight earlier this year.

During my trip, I spent about 10 days with three different friends (*their trips didn’t overlap), and the remaining week was planned for some solo time. Now that all my friends have left and I’m completely on my own, I thought I’d feel excited and free, but I haven’t quite felt that way.

 

Perfect weather in the midst of it all (looks like princess Jasmine lol)

Back in Korea, I had all these ideas about what I’d do in Chiang Mai, but even now that I’m here, I’m just as lazy as ever. I feel like I’m spending way too much time on my phone, just like I did in Korea. With only a few days left, I’ve decided to challenge myself with things I’ve never tried before. Here’s what I’m thinking:

 

• Go to the movies alone
• Try indoor climbing
• Visit an elephant sanctuary
• Have dinner with a Thai friend I made here
• Try the Khao Soi restaurant recommended by my Thai friend

Actually, I’ve never really tried indoor climbing, so it might be a bit risky. I’ll have to think about that more.

But there are a few things I’ve done well so far:

 

• Getting a massage every day (haha)
• Writing a blog post every day since I’ve been alone
• Swimming in the mornings if I feel good
• Talking to people in English without hesitation when approached
• Visiting a jazz bar (with my friend)
• Finding unexpected joy in random places (local restaurants, cafés, etc.)

In the end, I realized that where I am doesn’t really matter. What’s truly important is living passionately and without regrets, wherever I go. There are moments when I hesitate, but I’m determined to overcome those obstacles one by one. I also realized again that I find great joy in interacting with others. While solo time here isn’t bad, it’s enjoyable because there’s an end to it, like a passing shower. If this were to go on indefinitely, I’d definitely feel down. I’ve promised myself to take better care of the precious friends I have around me now. 💖

 

Another day of painting with my own colors