Salutations one and all, and allow me first to say welcome to the year 2026.
As you may have gleaned, this post comes to you on 02/01/2026 — because I have already managed to mess up my plan of action for the year. Nevertheless, I shall power through and talk about how 2025 ended, and my hopes for the year ahead.
When I set up this website, I had made one of the biggest — and scariest — decisions of my life: quit my job, go travelling, attend a fitness camp, and grow as a person.
Thankfully, that time became the greatest period of my life, and one I will never regret. However… it was also short.
To anyone I meet, I tell them they need to do something like that at some point in their life. However, as I sit here and contemplate my own journey, I sometimes wonder — is it fair to say that when I cut mine short because a work opportunity I couldn’t pass up landed in my lap?
The answer to that question, for me at least, is no.
And that’s exactly why I appreciate those moments so deeply.
That journey awakened new feelings and new aspects of myself. It created a hunger to continue growing, continue improving, and continue being healthy — in both body and mind.
Although there were setbacks to those goals in 2025, I want to continue them and expand my horizons in 2026. That includes exploring more of myself, my beliefs, my surroundings, my country — and, if time permits, the world.
One thing I know for certain is that I plan to attend the WWE event in Turin, Italy — my first time ever visiting Italy. I want to come back here and tell you about the experience, good or bad, and reflect on the impact it had on me.
In 2025, I attended Clash in Paris — and while I was there, I focused too much on maximising the time rather than enjoying it. Maybe someday I’ll write about the journey itself: walking the streets of Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower, and everything in between. But that’s for future Craic.
For now, I want to say this:
To anyone who read any of the 12 posts from 2025, I truly appreciate you. Writing them made me feel more — more creative, more inspired — and I hope to continue that throughout 2026, even if it’s just a single paragraph or a quote that felt right on a given day.
I plan to continue with the support of the great Gavin Meenan (Instagram link) and the awesome facilities of ROM (Range Of Motion Sligo) (Instagram link) and hopefully share the positive steps along the way.
Ah — There’s my quote for the day.
You Had A Good Year – Craic Attack
Slán go fóill! And Póg mo Thóin! My Craic Addicts!
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For those of you who don’t know, I’m a gamer. It’s one of my deepest passions—right up there with anime and wrestling (specifically WWE, yes I’m a mark!). These things didn’t just entertain me; they shaped who I am. Maybe it’s unfair to put that weight on them, but it’s the truth. It’s funny how the things we love, even when they’re objectively mediocre, can become so integral to how we think.
Take Crash Bandicoot: Twinsanity, one of my all-time favourite games. I might even review it someday. But there’s one line from the game that stuck with me for no real reason: “The rats are leaving the sinking ship.” It’s an old idiom, meaning people abandon a failing situation—whether it’s a business, a project, or something more personal—before it completely collapses.
So why am I starting this post with that line? Because since I returned home, I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve caught myself wondering if all the effort I’m putting into maintaining my progress—the training, the discipline, the momentum—is a waste of time. That maybe I should just let the rats leave.
But why? Why was a month back in Ireland enough for doubt and negativity to creep in? Why does fitness feel different when I’m traveling versus when I’m just… living?
Ironically, the answer might lie in structure. While I was away, I had freedom. I wasn’t working. No one relied on me. I wasn’t important. Now, you could argue two of those three things still apply (fair point), but the weight of responsibility hits differently when you’re home. And like many adults, I’ve found it all too easy to be smothered under that weight.
What’s funny, though, is that responsibility wasn’t totally absent in Thailand either. I often felt like I could have—and should have—done more classes, pushed harder. I wasn’t totally comfortable there either. In a weird way, discomfort followed me both places, just in different forms. And honestly, I wonder: if I had stayed even one more week after the camp, would these feelings have caught up to me there too?
Here in Ireland, thanks to the support of the great Gavin Meenan (Instagram link) and the awesome facilities of ROM (Range Of Motion Sligo) (Instagram link), I’ve got a new program, a plan, and structure again. Gavin’s kept me on track, helped me keep building on what I gained at camp, and reminded me that the journey doesn’t end just because the setting changes. ROM, for its part, has become one of the few safe havens I have when it feels like the boat is sinking faster.
I’ve been training regularly—at a pace that’s sustainable—and managing my food. Gavin’s helped me pinpoint what’s working, what could be improved, and how to keep making progress. And I’m proud to say that I haven’t just maintained what I achieved in Thailand—I’ve made small improvements since returning.
But that’s the thing—they’ve only been small.
In Thailand, I went from 17st 12lb to 17st 2lb. Here in Ireland, I’ve dropped just 5lb in the same timeframe—down to 16st 11lb. Stats. Relentless little buggers, aren’t they?. Gotta love them.
A long way to go but the little things stack up too.
In Thailand, if you walked into a 7-Eleven, the sweets were tucked away at the back. You had to choose to go there. Still annoying (they were near the protein shakes), but less in-your-face.
In Ireland? You’re greeted by temptation at the door. Sweets. Newspapers screaming doom. Prices that make your stomach turn. And staff who—through no real fault of their own—often seem just as beaten down as the customers.
I always try to be kind to anyone working in service—I know what they deal with. But in Thailand, even when people didn’t understand what I was saying, they smiled, laughed, engaged. Here? Flip a coin. Maybe they ignore you. Maybe they pretend not to hear you (that’s the worst one). Or maybe they try until another customer or manager kills the vibe.
Anyway—rant over. 😅
Another difference I’ve noticed—and this one stings a bit—is how cliquey things feel here compared to Thailand.
Back at camp, everyone was on the same journey. Different backgrounds. Different goals. But the energy was shared. You could chat with anyone, partner up with anyone, and no one looked at you sideways for trying. It felt like a team effort, even if we were all on our own paths.
Back in Ireland, I can’t help but feel like the walls are back up. Whether it’s at the gym, in a class, or just walking around town, there’s this sense of social territory. Like if you weren’t already part of a group, you’re probably not getting in now.
ROM has introduced something that could help with that—a communal coffee zone and a sauna (coming soon). It’s a beautiful idea, and I really hope it breaks down some of those invisible walls. For me I look forward to giving it a go, so if you ever spot me there pull me aside and say hello
Maybe it’s just me. But it does make you long for a change of setting—somewhere like the pub, where people are more open, more free. But of course, with alcohol comes chaos: louder crowds, more aggression, more questionable decisions. I haven’t had a pint since I got back, but resisting the temptation hasn’t exactly been easy.
So yeah—these pressures have made me question things. The worth of the work. The why behind the grind.
So why am I really feeling this way?
I’m not entirely sure yet. But I do know I plan to figure it out.
Once I settle into the new job and adjust to being truly back in Ireland, I want to keep expanding my horizons. Visit more of Ireland. See more of Europe. Take on new challenges. Try the things I’ve always said I would but never followed through on.
Maybe I’ll finally do the skydiving I promised myself 15 years ago—despite the fear of heights.
All I know is this: Looking back at the difference in atmosphere, camaraderie, and joy between this past month in Ireland and the one I spent in Thailand… it’s clear something changed in me.
That’s why I genuinely believe every young person should have a travel fund waiting for them on their 19th birthday.
One month away changed me. Maybe it could change them too.
I’ll leave you with the final image of the main meal I have been forcing onto myself almost everyday. Yes not having change in meals is boring but what can I say I am a creature of habit but it fuels the mission. (Still waiting on Gordon Ramsay’s review).
Two breasts of chicken with salt and pepper in a shallow fry with rapeseed oil and Balsamic Rice with salt, pepper, ground turmeric, smoked paprika and plenty of stirring
Oh and since no one have yet to complain the new closing line from my twitch streams (link here and below shameless plug) will stick around for now…
Slán go fóill! And Póg mo Thóin! My Craic Addicts!
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After messing up and accidentally having a free weekend, I was hyped and ready to get down to business. I woke up to see the newly updated class schedule posted in the WhatsApp group chat. Knowing I had a Personal Training (PT) session included for the day, I was determined to do at least three classes on my first day.
This was where I learned the truly horrifying home truth that I was brutely unfit and that my dreams would remain that a dream. I went to the crosstraining class at 8.15am where I was met with nothing but infinite kindness by all of my fellow participants and the trainer for that class, Coach Dino (Instagram link) and Coach Lewis (Instagram link).
They explained the type of work we would be doing, demonstrated the proper technique for each task, and boosted our confidence every step of the way—something I desperately needed. I started out feeling pretty unsure, but we were matched into groups of three, and I was lucky that the two gentlemen I was paired with had similar strength profiles to mine.
For the warm-up portion, I was able to keep pace with my teammates and hit my workout targets at the same speed. There were a few instances where Dino needed to come over to correct my form. However, he did note that for the most part, my form was almost perfect, especially during the deadlift exercises like the kettlebell deadlift and later, a deadlift using a bench press bar, courtesy of the great Gavin Meenan (Instagram link).
It was in the last 15 minutes, during the partner “As Many Rounds (or Reps) As Possible” (AMRAP) Workout of the Day (WOD), that things took a turn for the worse for me. I had completely run out of energy, and what made it worse was that I was using weights much lighter than what I was previously lifting in Ireland before I left.
Now, there’s a caveat to this: in Ireland, I was using a Triangle Bar for deadlifts, and the weights would range from:
5 x 52.5kg (15kg each)
5 x 92.5kg (35kg each)
5 x 122.5kg (50kg each)
5 x 142.5kg (60kg each)
Here in this class, we had 100kg on the bench press bar, and my ability to move it was severely impaired. This crushed my soul, motivation, and desire. What was worse was that, looking around, I was the only one on my team who had to tap out—and the only one in the class to boot. And to make matters worse, I tapped out just 5 minutes into the 15-minute session, which meant I had to sit on the sidelines, watching as the others finished the workout, drowning in my self-loathing.
Now, my teammates didn’t mind at all that I tapped out. They understood and supported me, giving me pep talks and congratulatory slaps on the back for what I had managed to do. But for me, it meant nothing. I was glad I did the class, but the thought of team-based challenges became a sticking point for me. Unfortunately, until the last week of the retreat, I did everything I could to avoid them.
After this, I had breakfast and met with the shining light of the trip. For privacy reasons, I’m not sure she wants to be named, but I met a woman named S. Irish, like me. She understood exactly how I was feeling and had a way about her that made me smile at my own self-loathing. She helped me reflect on my difficulties and gave me the strength to get back up after my “arse was thoroughly smacked.” In an incredible twist of fate, we discovered that we were next-door neighbors at the hotel, so we became buddies and talked throughout the retreat. She truly made the experience beautiful for me, and I thanked her galore for that honor.
Anyway, after she set me right, I decided to partake in one of the extra elements included in my package: one of the three Ice Baths and Saunas a week. These took place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 12 and 2 pm for a period of one hour. Back in Ireland, the wonderful Hot Box Saunas (Website) were a true joy of mine, so I was really looking forward to this experience. However, once again, I would be met with slight disappointment. Much to my chagrin, the maximum temperature of the saunas was 72°C, and with the sauna I used in Ireland often reaching between 90-100°C, I found it lacking.
However, the same could not be said for the ice baths. Throughout the entire experience, I missed only two attempts at the ice bath. It became one of the most enjoyable tasks of the camp, which is certifiably insane, as many of the other camp attendees kept telling me. It got to the point that before I left, one or two people referred to me as the “Lord of the Ice Bath.” On one particular day, I managed to last 45 minutes in the ice water without leaving it for a second. I’ll admit, I did cheat a little—my arms remained above the water for that period. With my arms in the water, I lasted 15 minutes, which I’m still impressed with today.
After the ice, I then met with my PT for the first of 20 sessions we would have throughout this experience—the incredible Aof (Instagram link). Immediately, he noticed a few issues I had never taken notice of. My posture was unacceptable, lurching too far forward, which artificially showcased my, as an incredibly kind nurse once put it, “rotund frame.”
He stated that I had a good amount of definition in the front regions of my chest and shoulders; however, the same couldn’t be said for my rear shoulders and back. This was fascinating to me, because based on this observation, he was able to deduce that before I came to the camp, I had spent several years in a job that required me to sit at a desk for long periods of time. I had always thought I was doing enough to avoid any issues with my body because of that fact. I worked out daily, pushed myself to my limits, started walking more—including doing a number of mountain walks (foreshadowing! in a future post) in my local area—and made an effort to move every hour on the hour.
Alas, I had done some good, but not enough. So, we decided to focus more on strengthening those underdeveloped areas, rather than focusing on a program that would maximize my weight loss, which, as you can see from the images below, was badly needed. We took no quarter and immediately dove into our first workout: Chest and Triceps. What made this particularly grueling was that I had informed Aof about my experience in the Crosstraining class, and he used it as a challenge, targeting the exact areas that had failed me during that session. Truthfully, I believe it was a happy coincidence, but alas, we went for it anyway.
With that, I was satisfied and ready to continue improving in the upcoming days. Before I left, one of the things Aof recommended I pick up was a canister of protein powder to ensure I was getting enough to burn throughout my time at the camp. After a good workout, I wanted to get this out of the way immediately, so I went up the street and checked out a couple of sports shops. After about 30 minutes of going between the stores, I still hadn’t found the specific brand of protein powder Aof had recommended. And then, the last horrible experience of this truly unique first proper day happened.
Let me set the scene. I was on one side of the road and needed to cross to reach the last potential supplement shop on the street. There wasn’t a zebra crossing in sight. Like everywhere else in Thailand, if there isn’t a crossing, your only option is to make a break for it when you get the best chance. Don’t beat me to the punchline… I looked left—nothing. I looked right, and there was a van and a bike on the way up. They were slow, and I had enough distance to cross before they got to me. So, I made the dash.
I crossed in front of the van with plenty of space, crossed in front of the bike with plenty of space, and then, out of nowhere, another bike attempted to overtake the two vehicles at an alarming speed. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do anything, and the bike ran right into me. I was lucky I saw it just in time. I quickly turned my body to roll on top of the front of the bike, which I managed to do. I landed flat on my stomach after rolling off the bike. The only damage was a bruised leg and a sore elbow. In fact, as I write this post, it’s still an annoyance to me, but thankfully nothing worse.
The driver checked to see if I was bleeding or dead, and when he confirmed I wasn’t, he went on his merry way. I got up sore and bruised, but alive and well. This put a stop to my plans for doing more classes that day, but to be fair, I was probably going to skip them anyway. For the next few days, I went to maybe one class and worked with my PT, but it was all good. I healed fairly well and prepared for the other challenges that would appear the following week, but that’s a discussion for next time. I leave you with this image of me at the end of that Monday, and yes, it’s a mix of exhaustion, pain, and disbelief. And why disbelief? Because would you believe the last supplement shop didn’t have the protein powder either?
Until next time, my friends! Be sure to keep your craic at 90! Slán go fóill!
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It’s quite fascinating how much things can change in as little as 4 weeks. As you may or may not have noticed, I haven’t posted anything since I joined the fitness camp of Titan Fitness Phuket. There are a few reasons for that, but the main one was that I simply didn’t have the time to focus on it, and I wanted to put as much of myself as possible into enjoying the experience without having to feel like I needed to do something, take photos of something, or just fake the enjoyment of what I was at.
Thankfully, this never became an issue because the second of many home truths that came out of me doing this experience is the fact that I was insanely underprepared, a notion I will get to in the near future. However, what does that mean for these blogs? Well, now that they are done, I will reflect back on the weeks I had and discuss week by week my feelings, and by the end, hopefully you will feel how I felt and know if it’s something you’d ever consider.
Now, what was the first home truth? Be more cognizant of what exactly I am paying for. After finishing the last blog on the night of Friday the 24th, I went straight to bed, excited to start strong in classes the next day. Thusly, I arrived at the Titan camp at precisely 8am on Saturday the 25th. Why does this matter? Well, on a Saturday in Titan, there are a whopping 2 classes: Saturday morning Beach Training [7am] and a Body 360 class [10:15am]. Both are extremely fun classes worth their weight to go to; however, due to my arrival, one of those classes was null and void, and I had administrative necessities to get done, so it just so happened I missed the 360 too.
As a result, I effectively made my start date of Saturday the 25th of January a rest day for the week of exploring Old Phuket I had done. Graciously, I still had access to the open gym and food aspect of the package, so I immediately availed myself of those particular options. This is also where one of my many failings rose its ugly head again, unfortunately.
During my time within Titan, I attempted four breakfasts, one of which I do not have an image for. The first was a spinach and vegetable omelette, a delight that took me 40 minutes to eat—it disagreed with me that badly, taste profile-wise.
The second, an oatmeal and yogurt bowl mixed with some almond nuts, was a surprisingly nice breakfast; however, it took me a stupidly long time to eat the full thing, and towards the end, I wanted to end it all.
So, third, I tried the scrambled eggs. In theory, this was meant to come with an attachment of vegetables to accompany it—quinoa and avocado, just to name a few. Well, why is that an issue? Well, if you haven’t noticed it, my big fat red flag with food is vegetables. I absolutely loathe them, despise them, hate their very existence, and much to my chagrin, this experience didn’t help with it, so there’s a goal for me in the future. Alas, it led to me exclusively sticking to scrambled eggs and brown rice every single day.
In order to ensure that consistency was achieved above all else, the same principle was maintained for my lunch and dinners, only being one option: chicken with brown rice or, eventually, sweet potato for every Titan meal I had, alongside the two fresh protein shakes which comprised of water, a whole banana, and vanilla protein powder. Honestly, I did not care about the lack of change—I am a creature of habit and happily kept to the same; however, it did light a fuse in me to experience more types of food, even if I loathe it, and see what I have been potentially missing. Which will be good for when I do food reviews in the future—subtle plug, sure, why not?
Anyways, back to my initial point, I should have known the schedule and not put myself in a position where I basically missed an entire day’s worth of classes. In the future, and if you’re considering it, start on the Monday and arrive as early as possible in gym clothes because, especially if you have the Titan Fitness accommodation of the Little Hills resort, they will get that ready whilst you go to your class, and happy out—bob’s your uncle.
In my case, as I was getting my body composite done between breakfast and lunch. Below is an image of said body composition, and it was via these that I learned another hard truth: I am far more feebly minded than I figured. This is something I will write about in one of the future posts; HOWEVER, purely on a mathematical level, my composite before I joined was the most equal and standard my body was through the whole process. In fact, my InBody score was the best of the whole process in this picture. That would later screw with my mindset something fierce, but even looking at the numbers on this first day gave me a beating to my pride I didn’t expect.
However, it also led to figuring out the best thing about the Titan Fitness Camp and the Fitness Street and Thailand in general: everyone is so friendly, so approachable, and so aware that they are willing and wanting to converse. For reasons that I’m not sure they want to be named, after receiving this sheet, I met with a man called T. He told me to lighten up and look at the brighter side of things. It was the beginning, so I could only improve from there. We then conversed for a nice period of time, and I was invited to my first event of the street, a fight night in the nearby Tiger Muay Thai centre.
This had me genuinely excited. I had gotten my room—luckily one became available early, and I was able to go in, get ready, and make my way to meet a collective going to the event. Then I hit my first proper wall, the first thing that actually made me consider whether or not the entirety of the trip to Thailand was worth it. The omelette and chicken I had devoured earlier twisted my stomach into knots, and I was not in a condition to be 100 percent myself. Thankfully, someone who had been there before recommended a supplement known as a charcoal tablet that would resolve it mighty quick—just not quick enough for that night’s festivities.
This led to another hard truth, one that has been made painfully apparent throughout all of these posts: I am ridiculously cheap. Throughout the night, I had drunk six two-litre bottles of water at 80 Thai Baht a piece, which was 4x that of the 7-11 not more than 4 minutes up the road, but in this case, I acquiesced and paid like a good boy. Other than that, it was a really good night. It had competent production, good matches—if not a few cases of bad matchups—and even a free BBQ for the customers, which I cannot comment on as I was barely holding it together by then. Below are a few images and a couple of videos.
After the night was done, we all were ready to say goodbye before it was recommended that with our day off, which is a Sunday, maybe we could go into Old Phuket Town and go to the weekend night market. Honestly, it was one of the few elements of the Old Town I had yet to see as it was a weekend-only thing, meaning my escapades never got a chance to see it. So, we agreed we would go and see it as a group. Indeed, we might even add a few more people to the group if they’ll accept it.
Sunday was the actual day off that Titan affords all of its clients. For me, this meant getting in my 10k steps in some manner, but for this day, it was to relax at the Little Hill pool—a nice surprise as I never bothered to check and see if it had one. Sundays being the only day where Titan gave me no food meant I went up the road to a spot called Trooper Eats. If you’re ever on the Fitness Street, it gets my highest recommendation, which means nothing yet as I still need to come up with my grading mechanism—foreshadowing to the distant future of posts.
Anyways, I had improved so much from there, and we met up with everyone. We walked around it 2 or 3 times, encompassing easily 1 and a half hours of time. It was the first slight slip I had. I ordered and devoured a BBQ honey-roasted rib, and damn, did it make me nostalgic for the old times I had ribs at home. Alas, we walked around that street picking up bowls of fresh mango, a fish of some description, and a special tea. Honestly, I stopped listening after the others were convinced because I knew I was too ready to crack.
I then went home and got ready to prepare for the plethora of things that would come to me on the next day, Monday the 27th of January, my actual first proper day with Titan. However, hilariously, that will be a story for the next post coming in the next few days, as I think this post has gone on long enough. Thanks for reading and please leave a comment if you feel so inclined.
Until next time, my friends! Be sure to keep your craic at 90! Slán go fóill!
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It’s funny—after my last blog, I haven’t had a moment to sit down and reflect on everything I’ve been experiencing. Honestly, that’s the best feeling, because it means I’ve been too busy enjoying it all. That said, as my time in centre of Phuket Town wrapped up and I prepared to arrive at the Titan Fitness Centre, I managed to squeeze in a few last adventures.
First up was, by far, the best breakfast I’ve had since arriving (and yes, this is some foreshadowing for a future post). The friendly staff at this little spot had been some of the kindest I’d encountered so far, making me feel like royalty and truly elevating the experience—exactly what great hospitality is all about.
They confidently told me they served the best iced latte in all of Phuket. Now, let me tell you, their sales pitch was so good that I broke a personal vow: no milk during this trip. But they didn’t stop there—they also claimed their bacon and egg bap was divine. Like the smooth, irresistible tone of a certain Twitch streamer (if you know, you know), I can confirm they weren’t exaggerating.
Next on my list was one of the last spots Google Maps recommended to me: Art Alley. I thought, “Sure, why not? I can appreciate art as much as the next person,” and the one piece featured on Maps looked intriguing enough.
Well, would you believe it—that one piece was the entire Art Alley. After a 40-minute walk to get there, I discovered that what you see on Google Maps is exactly what you get. Unlike the Khao Rang viewpoint I mentioned in a previous post, which exceeded expectations, this was… just fine. Nice to see, sure, but nothing more than what Maps promised.
That said, I captured a little video of the whole piece—just for you!
I started wandering aimlessly for a while, earbuds in, listening to clips from The Wrestling Soup YouTube channel. That’s when I noticed a spectacular building. There were no signs or symbols to indicate what it might be, so out of sheer curiosity, I decided to take a closer look.
The grandeur only grew as I made my way up the luxurious stairs. I couldn’t tell you if they were made from anything special, but they were soft to the touch and surprisingly comfortable to sit on. Intrigued, I continued up until I reached a large wooden door.
When I stepped inside, to my amazement, I discovered… a bank. And not just any bank—this was the most extravagant, bourgeois place I had ever seen. For the first time since arriving in Thailand, I felt completely out of place.
In hindsight, my next move probably didn’t help: I pulled out my phone, snapped three quick photos (which you can see below), and left with my tail between my legs. But honestly, even now, that room was absolutely breath-taking. The wannabe architect in me was thrilled to have stumbled upon it.
From there, I decided to have a gawk at what the locals call the Super Shopping Complex, aka Central Phuket. It was a 1-hour, 40-minute walk from the bank. Surely, after my last two blog posts, where I mentioned my stubborn refusal to spend 2 euro on a taxi, you’d think I’d finally give in and just pay the 70 Thai Baht fare for a motorbike ride, right?
Well, then you don’t know me at all. Nope, my stubborn arse walked the entire 11 kilometers to the complex.
Hilariously, though, that walk turned out to be worth it—not for the shopping but for two unexpected discoveries along the way. Would you believe I stumbled upon a piece of street art on a random wall that, in my opinion, made Art Alley look amateur in comparison? Tell me what you think! I guess this is just more my style
As I continued walking, I passed the first overhead crossing I’d seen since arriving in town and stumbled upon the fanciest coffee shop I’ve encountered so far. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t let me post any photos of the interior, so all I have is an image of the entrance. But let me tell you, the entrance alone was something special—it featured an old-school mafia-style car with the coffee shop’s name on the license plate.
To me, that was the coolest thing ever. Maybe it’s the inner kid in me, or maybe it’s my love for the 1940s-50s era when these cars were everywhere, and everyone dressed in sharp suits. (Anyone who knows me knows I love a good suit. If I could wear one morning, noon, and night without getting strange looks—or being mistaken for a lawyer, which has happened—I absolutely would.)
This shop didn’t just have style; it offered something unique. They served tea infused with berry syrup—a simple but delightful twist I hadn’t seen anywhere else. It was, hands down, the nicest thing I’ve tasted since arriving in Thailand.
Of course, in true me fashion, I enjoyed it so much that I forgot to note the shop’s location. Maybe it’s for the best—if I kept going back, the sugar content alone might send me back to my post-COVID 24-stone days!
That concoction kept me going for a solid 30 minutes of the walk, which was exactly what I needed. But, of course, I couldn’t stay on track for long. A beautiful sound drifted down a side street, and curiosity got the better of me. I followed it and found a woman sitting gracefully on a chair, playing an instrument I couldn’t even name if I tried. The music was mesmerizing, and I stood there, completely entranced.
For a few blissful moments, nothing else mattered—until the sun reminded me that it could roast me alive if I lingered too long. With that, I reluctantly pulled myself away and got moving again.
It I found myself at the doorstep to the Central Phuket. Let me tell you, the locals weren’t lying when they called this place a super complex. Five floors, two enormous buildings connected by an overhead walkway spanning the motorway below—it was like its own little city. One side was for your regular shopping needs, while the other side screamed “I have too much money and need to spend it on something shiny.”
The place had four KFCs. Yes, four! Plus multiple other chain restaurants and shops you’d recognize from home. There were pop-up stalls on the ground floor, and every single unit was open for business. It was so massive that walking from one end to the other was nearly a 5-kilometer hike. Truly something else.
Now, here’s the thing—it was priced like something else too. Take the Nike store, for example: a single pair of sports shorts was going for 3,571 Thai Baht. That’s €100 if you don’t feel like converting. Sure, that’s about the same as Irish prices, but it still felt strange considering everything else in Thailand had been way cheaper. Even the KFC was at Irish prices! (I didn’t try it, though, so I can’t confirm if it tastes the same.)
On the fancier side, things got even wilder. Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada—they were all here, flaunting their logos. I even saw a jewelry store with a watch priced at 357,142 Thai Baht (€10,000). That’s the kind of money I’d only ever seen in Barcelona. As I walked further, I stumbled across entrances to an aquarium and a closed-for-renovation theme park, and my jaw nearly hit the floor.
Then came the funny part. Every door on the fancy side had chauffeurs waiting like it was a VIP event, and every time I exited, it was into a car park. No signs, no clear way back—just endless parking spaces. It took me 40 minutes to find an actual entrance, and by then, I’d had enough. My legendary stubbornness finally cracked. I shelled out for a motorbike taxi and zipped back to the dormitory, ready for my last night’s sleep. Below are the Images of the complex and yes I should have taken more but I was enjoying the experience!
Then Before heading to bed, I remembered I needed a bottle of water in case I got thirsty during the night. That’s when I met the first truly chatty person at the dormitory—a lovely woman from England who was in the East for a friend’s wedding. She still had remnants of the Indian wedding paint on her hands, which immediately caught my attention. I’ve always admired the intricate beauty of those tattoo-like designs, and now I’m determined to learn more about them in the future.
We walked to the shop together, and along the way, she pointed out a drink with unique branding that I couldn’t help but love. The design made me wish, in another life, I had been an artist so I could create or collaborate on something like that. Of course, thanks to my earlier brush with extravagance, I splurged on the drink, spending a “measly” 55 Thai Baht—a fortune for a can of soda.
Back at the dorm, we ended up sitting outside for the next two hours, swapping stories about our lives, our experiences, and where we saw ourselves in the future. At some point, she asked me to share an Irish recipe she might try in the years to come, and this is what I gave her. Full disclaimer: I’ve never actually cooked it, but an old acquaintance swore by it, so fingers crossed it’s better than the drink—which, for the record, was absolute shite.
Irish Guinness Stew Recipe Rich, hearty, and packed with flavor—perfect for cozy evenings.
Ingredients (Serves 4-6):
1 kg (2.2 lbs) stewing beef (chuck or brisket), cut into chunks
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
3 celery stalks, sliced
1 tbsp tomato paste
500 ml (2 cups) Guinness Stout
500 ml (2 cups) beef stock
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
2-3 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
3 potatoes, peeled and chopped
200 g (1.5 cups) mushrooms, sliced (optional)
2 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions:
Brown the beef: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper, then brown in batches until golden on all sides. Set aside.
Sauté the vegetables: Add the remaining olive oil to the pot and sauté the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery for about 5 minutes, until softened.
Build the flavor: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour in the Guinness, scraping the bottom of the pot to deglaze.
Simmer: Return the beef to the pot and add the beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, and thyme. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 1.5-2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Add potatoes and mushrooms: Stir in the potatoes and mushrooms (if using). Simmer for another 30-40 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
Thicken (optional): For a thicker stew, mix 2 tbsp of flour with a little water and stir in. Cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Final touches: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove bay leaves and thyme sprigs before serving.
Serving Suggestions: Top with fresh parsley and enjoy with crusty bread or traditional Irish soda bread. For the full Irish experience, pair it with a pint of Guinness!
Pro Tip: This stew tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen.
As I sit back and reflect on these past few days, having now arrived at the Titan Fitness facility (a story for the next blog post), I’m even more grateful I decided to come to Thailand early. The five days leading up to the camp have been a mix of highs and lows, but they’ve also been filled with plenty of epiphany moments. Even if I get nothing else out of the fitness camp—which, spoiler alert, won’t be the case—I’m simply happy I got to experience these unforgettable five days.
Until next time, my friends! Be sure to keep your craic at 90! Slán go fóill!
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After publishing my last blog post, I was eager to make the most of the remaining days before the fitness camp by exploring more of the local attractions within Phuket Town. I had high hopes of uncovering new sights and experiences, but, to my dismay/annoyance, I quickly realized that over the past two days, I had already seen most of what was easily accessible and worth visiting.
Sure, I could have hopped in a taxi and ventured to a nearby town for a change of scenery. However, the idea of a 45-minute journey—paired with the 500 Thai Baht fare (which, is about 15 euros, and Yes, I am that cheap)—didn’t quite appeal to me at the time. As a result, much of the day was spent simply walking and walking and walking some more.
With no real destination in mind, I wandered through the streets, taking in the everyday life of Phuket Town at a slower, more contemplative pace. While it may not have been the most eventful start to the day, there was something oddly satisfying about letting my feet guide me, soaking in the atmosphere, and stumbling upon little pockets of local charm that I might have otherwise overlooked.
After about an hour of wandering, I unexpectedly stumbled upon what appeared to be a hub for the Royal Thai Navy. It was a fascinating yet slightly intimidating discovery, and it quickly became apparent just how little I knew about the local culture and customs. My ignorance reared its ugly head as I found myself unsure of the proper etiquette when approaching such an official site.
The two images below are the only ones I felt comfortable taking, as I was uncertain about the rules regarding photography in the area. There was a noticeable lack of signage to guide tourists like myself, leaving me questioning whether it was acceptable to explore further or if I was inadvertently overstepping boundaries. With no clear indications, I opted to err on the side of caution, choosing to appreciate the site from a respectful distance rather than risk intruding where I shouldn’t.
It was a humbling reminder that, while travel offers exciting opportunities for discovery, it also requires a deep respect for the places we visit and an awareness of the cultural sensitivities that may not always be immediately apparent. Unsure of whether I was overstepping any boundaries, I decided to move on, continuing my exploration with a renewed sense of caution and curiosity.
Afterwards, I continued wandering along the walkway, taking in the surroundings and allowing my thoughts to drift. Eventually, my curiosity led me to the entrance of a park. It felt like a welcome change of scenery—an open, inviting space that offered a chance to slow down and simply enjoy the moment. With a sense of relief, I stepped inside, eager to see what hidden gems this peaceful retreat might have in store.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be just a wooden walkway that stretched on for about 10 minutes before opening up to a spectacular view of the ocean. Funny enough, this sight was the first thing that truly hit me with a wave of nostalgia—or maybe even a touch of homesickness. As I stood there, gazing out at the vast expanse of water, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the good times I’d spent looking out at the waves of Strandhill or Rosses Point back home. I wasn’t expecting anything, I wasn’t waiting for anything—I was simply enjoying the tranquillity that the water always seemed to provide.
It was in that moment that I realized just how much of a hold those two parts of Sligo had over me. Honestly, I even started to well up while taking it all in. That is, until a random hawker—peddler, street vendor, or whatever you might call them—came up to me and completely shattered my emotional epiphany. I’d be mad about it if he hadn’t almost convinced me to buy a hat.
After this, I continued on my escapade and soon came across a few attractions clearly designed to welcome tourists—things like a “Welcome to Phuket” sign and an entrance gate leading to an “I Love Phuket” display. Normally, these types of attractions wouldn’t appeal to me; in fact, they usually annoy me because I see them as a collusive waste of money.
However, once again, I was reminded of the recent “Sligo” sign that was placed in Queen Maeve’s Square, right in the heart of town. Although I personally think it could have been designed with a bit more charm to better reflect Sligo’s character, I couldn’t help but chuckle at these Phuket versions. Seeing them brought an unexpected sense of familiarity, a reminder that no matter where you go, places find their own way to celebrate their identity—whether it resonates with everyone or not.
Which led me to discovering another Chinese-inspired temple. Interestingly, when I initially planned my walk for the day, this temple didn’t appear on Google Maps. Yet, somehow, it was here. After closing and reopening Maps, it finally showed up—funny how that works.
I entered and was immediately captivated by the majestic beauty of the iconography and the serene music playing in the background. It made me feel not quite sad, but somewhat wistful, as I wished I knew the language. I would have loved to ask more about the temple’s origins. Was it here because of Thailand’s deep historical and cultural ties with China, formed over centuries of migration? Or did it have more of a Thai influence, adopting a Chinese aesthetic while being uniquely Thai?
Alas, I never found the answer, but the experience sparked a desire to someday travel to China and explore its rich heritage. Though, I doubt that’ll happen anytime soon… or at least, I think.
Anyway, after this, I had clocked over 20,000 steps and was completely not arsed to walk back. As a result, once again, I ordered a motorbike taxi to take me back to the dormitory where I was staying. Honestly, after my previous ride, I was actually a little excited to try it again. Last time, we passed through a rather dusty area, so I couldn’t fully enjoy the ride or the scenery—despite having literally walked past it earlier. It’s a whole different experience at nearly 50km on a bike.
This time, I did get to take it all in, but with one major caveat—I was terrified for my life. You see, my driver was, as a very kind nurse once put it, [If you know that story, an internet cookie for you] a rather rotund man. This meant my backside was practically hanging off the back of the motorbike. Honestly, this experience has made me seriously consider getting a motorbike license when I return to Ireland, so next time I travel, I can just rent one for myself
Upon arrival at the dormitory I decide I was hungry and decided to walk 30 minute to get a bite of food. Yes I realize the reason I ordered the taxi was so I wouldn’t have to walk. No one has ever said I was an intelligent man or a consistent one. Anyways I went in to the fine establishment and tried a Thai Pork meal of some description. A picture is below so you can enjoy its spectical. Now later in my tenor of this blog I plan to right more reviews on of which will be food reviews. Today I will not be doing that. However the reason I mention that is the staff came up and kept pestering me for a review and by giving it I’d get a free drink. So I gave them their five star review ate the food had the free drink and as soon as I paid up and left the establishment deleted the review. Honestly their lucky I didn’t leave a negative review because I dispise that shite with a passion. However to be fair the food was … grand maybe a 5/10 so theres that
Upon arrival at the dormitory, I decided I was hungry and, for some reason, walked 30 minutes to find food. Yes, I realize the irony here—the whole point of ordering the taxi was so I wouldn’t have to walk. No one’s ever said I was an intelligent man, or consistent, for that matter.
Anyway, I walked into a fine establishment and tried a Thai pork dish of some description. A picture is below for you to enjoy its spectacle. Now, later in the tenure of this blog, I plan to write more reviews, including food reviews. But today, I won’t be doing that. The reason I mention this is that the staff kept pestering me for a review, offering a free drink in exchange. So, I gave them the five-star review, ate the food, had the free drink, and as soon as I paid and left, I deleted the review. Honestly their lucky I didn’t leave a negative review because I despise that shite with a passion
To be fair, the food was… grand. Maybe a 5/10, so there’s that
He checked in on me after our final swim in Rosses Point the day before I left. I can’t fully describe how refreshing and necessary that call was. At that point, I’d spoken very little in English—just a bit to my father, more to my brother, and interacted here and there on Twitch Streams [Shameless plug: https://www.twitch.tv/craicattackcentral]. But this conversation was different. It was exactly what I needed and truly beautiful for the soul—if that’s not too corny.
He did ask about the sleeping arrangements in the dormitory, though. Now, I’ll repeat: for the price, it does exactly what I need. I’ve been able to sleep just fine with no issues so far. The staff has been excellent, helping me find some local gems for coffee and food. That said, I’m looking forward to the proper accommodations at the fitness camp. But, I do wonder if your reaction will be as “coffined in” as his was…
As I sit back and reflect on the day, I’m continually happy I chose to do this. I’m reminded that sometimes the best parts of travel aren’t the iconic landmarks or grand experiences, but the small moments—the ones you almost miss if you’re rushing through. While I can’t promise the next blog post will be any less chaotic, I can guarantee it’ll be full of these little gems that make the journey worthwhile.
Until next time, my friends! Be sure to keep your craic at 90! Slán go fóill!
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For those not in the know NXT is an interesting product for the WWE as it is in the invidious position of not only being the third brand of the company but also the training ground. The spot at which the youth or inexperienced sometimes both get the chance to develop and grow. There is a discussion to be had on this state of affairs but that’s for another blog. All you need to know is that the roster if full to the gills with “green” wrestlers. Green is a term for a wrestler who is of youth or inexperienced in either their promo, wrestling ability, look or often the whole package.
All of this is to say the expectation of NXT has to be less than both Raw or Smackdown. Now what’s funny about this is NXT started with Tony D’Angelo defending the North American Title against the ratings maven that is Ridge Holland. To me Tony is extremely close to being Main Roster ready. By The Way, Main Roster means Raw or Smackdown for future reference. Ridge formally was on the previously on the Main Roster. Now whether he was ever ready for that is debatable but it does mean that this is a great way to start the show. Ridge has been doing brilliant character work and thusly the audience hates him and it showed they were into every hit Tony gave him.
Now I must admit I was late to this show so I arrived mid way into this match, thankfully this didn’t affect my enjoyment of the match. However what did hurt my enjoy of the match was the ending. Tony D’Angelo character is that of a “legit” mob boss and his crew is called The D’Angelo Family. As you would expect of a Mob boss his family came out but Brooks Jensen & Niko Vance started brawling with Channing Lorenzo aka Stacks & Luca Crusifino. As you might expect the ref was distracted, then Izzi Dame randomly runs in to hit Ridge with a big boot. D’Angelo hits a Spinebuster for the win.
In theory all of this sounds like typical wrestling shenanigans however, I have been re-watching NXT for about three weeks and I didn’t know half of these people specifically Niko Vance and Luca Crusifino. Sure they have been in the background but to me their wasn’t enough interaction to know who it was that fighting especially on first glance. Now I didn’t know this was later but a match later would resolve this issue but for this moment I was confused
Unfortunately this would happen to me again and again it would be resolved later in the night Dion Lennox steps up to Wes Lee after Lee laughs at Lennox thinking he has potential. As they argue, Trick Williams randomly walks by to his locker. Lee then says “Speaking of former Champs” and Trick then decks him. Additionally there was Malik Blade and Edris Enofe in the background. I might need to take note of that due to people just suddenly appearing out of nowhere. I had never see Dion before and although I was aware of Wes this happened so quick the only person I truly knew was Trick Williams and to me that is an issue
I will say as someone who has just recently started rewatching @WWENXT something I find the backstage segments hard to know who's there?. I love the aggression by @_trickwilliams but who was it he slapped? I missed that 😔 #NXTonNetflix
Next came an interesting segment where Raw’s Bayley came out. If you are not aware Bayley maybe my favourite WWE female wrestler. She has incredible in-ring ability, Her pandemic yes I used the forbidden word get over it character work was some of the best throughout that era and I think see is getting stale but is still a shining star in women’s wrestling. Over the last few weeks her program with Roxanne Perez has been infiltrating all three shows and it’s awesome to see
I love @itsBayleyWWE she might be my favourite women's wrestler at the moment. I prefer he as a heel because she has a ruthlessness that elevates. She tries the same as a babyface but she's not as interested or over as babyface. Her vs @roxanne_wwe could bring it out. I'm excited
Bayley then namedrops Jaida Parker, Kelani Jordan, and Lola Vice all women will we see later on however, in fact directly after this segment. I’ll get to that mess. Then she mentioned Giulia. New to NXT and an example of a wrestler who has the in-ring ability, has the look but not the character harder in her case because she’s Japanese and her English is passable. She says Roxy may not look up to Bayley, but she does and hopes to hold the title with as much honour as Bayley did. Then after some lovey dovey talk between the two, Roxy comes out with Cora Jade. The reaction alone was worth watching the show to be honest and I wont go into much about what was said but ultimately this was used as setup for a tag match between the 4 next week and that has me excited if nothing else.
This audience reaction to @roxanne_wwe is wonderful. This is a gift … if you can use it right this will be a challenge for Roxanne if she can get by it she will be a star for years. Is the crowd taking over? #NXTonNetflix
Then for the second and not last time on this show I got lost in the gaggle of faces. Jaida basks in how Bayley mentioned her name two weeks in a row. Kelani runs in to say she mentioned her name first. They argue until Karmen Petrovic comes into act like a loved up puppy after a kiss last week that had about as much chemistry as me with vegetables, oil with water, Manchester United with Winning this season. Teenage drama, is the way to describe it folks.
That backstage segments with @karmen_wwe, @kelani_wwe and the rest of the women there. Was high school drama if I've ever seen it. Not my cup of tea but hey at least their on TV. What do you think? #NXTonNetflix
Up next is Dion Lennox taking on Wes Lee. Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe accompany him for the match and I immediately shouted at the screen who in the blue blazes hell as these fools. Now as I stated earlier I had zero idea who Dion was but that didn’t matter it took them 30 seconds for me not to want to see him lose and that’s the goal of this industry so Wes Lee congratulations, you should be on the Main Roster. Ultimately it was a decent showcase but Dion definitely needs more time in matches to develop. Lee then grabs the mic to challenge Trick for next week and if Dion is not involved I will genuinely be shocked
@WesLee_WWE vs @DionLennoxWWE both men look awesome and in the first few minutes dion has already made me a fan looking forward to what's next for both. I kinda don't want either to lose. Who you want to win? #NXTonNetflix
To be fair there are multiple reasons for this, not quiet getting the rules, thinking it looks ugly and the fact that it literally changed hands because of a disqualification within this feud but the Heritage Cup “Championship” was next. I like Lexis King and Charlie Dempsey sons of Brian Pillman and Steven “William” Regal. It was a grand match not enough to change my opinion of the concept but it did help develop Lexis Kings character and should help Charlie who’s only problem is he exudes as much charisma as a brick wall
Interesting to have a decision within the #NXTHeritageCup. I know they had the picture in picture on but to me that feels like it diminishes the cup what do you think #WWENXT
Not a bad match verses #CharlieDempsey and @LexisKingWWE but expected more from the two if I'm honest what's next for Charlie surely he starts working with @RealKingRegal soon. What would you do with him? #WWENXT
Next wasKarmen Petrovic with the person she kissed Ashante Adonis verse Jaida Parker. The teenage drama solved here. As seen below in my tweet I like the looks of both these women and funnily just found out Jaida came out with new music. Well both are still shocking and need a change for me. Nothing match with another stupid finish with an interference by Kelani Jordan but nice they were all on TV I guess.
@Jaida_Parkerwwe vs @karmen_wwe must say both has good unique looks for them but neither has an Entrance or theme that suits them. Ignore it for now find yourself and your character but both will need a change for me. What do you think? #WWENXT
Then an announcement that filled me with joy Bianca and Naomi verse Lash and Jakara for the WWE Womens Tag Team Championships next week. What made this even better is Lash, Jakara, Sol Ruca, Zaria, and a gaggle of others all stress the importance of Lash and Jakara winning next week to bring the women’s tag titles back to NXT. This is cool because back in the day they had an independent womens tag team championships for NXT that were merged with the Main Roster ones Bianca and Naomi hold so nice of them to remember the history of the show.
However it would be remise of me not to point out that Zaria debut less than 2 months ago and is relegated to this. Shame on the booking them she’s a star. Unfortunately NXT has too many female stars and thus this happens. She’s not ready for the Main Roster but I’d almost prefer her not to be on TV than here if I’m being 100 percent honest.
Next Brooks Jensen and Niko Vance with Shaun Spears take on Luca Crusafino and Stacks. Now this was funny because I had an awareness of Brooks Jensen but had never seen Niko Vance and didn’t no they had aligned with Spears. Well of course I didn’t this was there first match as a team. Now 2 things.
1. During the brawl in the North American Championship match if Brooks Jensen and Niko Vance had never teamed before how was I meant to know who they were and 2. NXT why did you wait so long to pair these too up
Now what’s brilliant about this is NXT has started the deal with TNA and thus a lot of excite Tag Teams are going to be swinging around the spot so these two will get the chance to learn so much. Additionally Stacks had an argument with Tony and I hope he comes out good in that because he has a chance of being … something in the future I wouldn’t bet a star but something.
Then we came to NXT Champion Oba Femi vs Eddy Thorpe. I’ve nicked this Tweet from legend of the community Humble Wrestling to give you an idea of what Oba Femi is. The only change to this caption is I would say “This Is THE Wrestler” he has everything you would want in a wrestler for the modern day. A look, the voice, the charisma, the in-ring ability and a bitching theme song seriously search it up you’ll be bopping for the next hour
To me this should have been a squash but it wasn’t and Eddy needed it to be as it was. It was a great showcase for both wrestlers and setup for next week with the boys Austin Theory and Grayson Waller being ringside for the whole thing and having a segment with Oba announced for next week. They need a spark and Oba needs the victims so it helps everyone involved. However just before the fade to black Trick Williams came out and faced Oba down which means a match is a coming and all I can say is inject it in my vains
Good match verses @EddyThorpe_WWE and @Obaofwwe It's weird because I think oba needed a squash but Eddy needed what he got so I'd say it's as close to both worlds as you could've gotten with how they tend to book #WWENXT#stillnxtchampion
As for @_trickwilliams what match do you want to see with him and oba for me a I'd find a way to delay it as much as possible and do a loser leaves nxt but either way excited to see what next #WWENXT
I have borrowed the below tweet from CrispyWrestling if your interested in the live reactions follow them their awesome and yes need week looks like a slobberknocker of a week. If you are interest in the development side of WWE it is definitely a week to have a gawk and see if you like it
#WWENXT in Atlanta card for next week – Giulia and Bayley vs Roxanne and Cora Jade – Shotzi vs Fallon Henley for Women's NA Title – Trick Williams vs Wes Lee – Bianca and Naomi vs Jakara and Lash for Women's Tag Titles – GWE with Oba Femi or Eddie Thrope
As I mentioned before eventually I want to transition to a video review of these events to make my opinion easier to understand and thusly leave any improvements you’d recommend but for now please enjoy my honest opinion of 22/1/2025 Tuesday Night NXT
Until next time, my friends! Be sure to keep your craic at 90! Slán go fóill!
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It’s funny how different things can be from what you expect. After arriving in Thailand and going to one or two establishments while waiting for the dormitory check-in time to come cross, I was riddled with worries and expectations of what it might be. I was worried that I would enter this room and feel claustrophobic or that due to the heat I might not be able to sleep or due to knowing there was another 11 people in the room with me would my snoring which I still don’t believe is a thing but multiple people have informed me is a thing would bother the rest of the people but honestly I slept like a baby and to my knowledge no body complained.
MaTong Hosted & MT Gallery New Friends Phuket Old Town Hostel is brilliant for what you pay for and a nice way to start this journey. Experiencing this first was really something I needed because it gives me more courage to potentially continue after the fitness camp and travel to different regions knowing that all I really need is a bed that night to be comfortable.
However there is one issue that has followed me straight from Ireland and that is my cheapness. For example MaTong Hosted & MT Gallery New Friends Phuket Old Town Hostel because I booked it a week early was 1,673.03 Thai Baht aka 43 Euro for the five days if I was to book just tonight it would be 1,299 Thai Baht aka 36 Euro just for the one night. Now to be fair you’d expect that but due to that the spontaneity I was thinking of having later in my journey may change to a slightly more organised thing.
Additionally the currency is the other thing it’s hard to get used too. If you purchase anything it almost always goes into the 100’s of Thai Baht I walked from the centre of Phuket Town out to a spectacular view point called Khao Rang. The walk took me 1 hour 33 minutes. Thankfully I had plenty of water sunscreen and charging to allow me to listen to music and enjoy the serenity of the walk however, why did I walk it and not just get a taxi? Initially it was because I was stubborn and wanted the steps but on the way back down it was because the Taxi was 600 Thai Baht. Due to my Euro brain that seemed like too much money and for the sharp or impatient of you, you either went and converted it or looked immediately for this number hence the waffle preceding it because I work for my joke and will make you read it of 17 euro.
Anyways enough of my cheapness. The Khao Rang lookout was a spectacular viewing. Seeing some locates make there way up to the statues and pray while pressing there forehead against the supposed gold statue made me almost wish I had that level of spirituality it gave me a genuine smile I haven’t had in some time. Additionally they translated some of the prayers into English for the tourist and that was fascinating to me as well.
One worry I had and still continue to have in almost everything I do to be over here as well is that often for the likes of these area they wish for you to take your shoes off and as one person said connect with the earth. It is far more prevalent here than I expected and will attempt as best I can to ensure I follow the culture as much as I can
After this you can continue to walk further up until you get to the viewpoint itself and well I’ll let this say it for me
It funny because after this I took some time at the restaurant beside the viewpoint and wrote https://craicattackcentral.com/2025/01/21/🥊-craic-attacks-the-third-raw-of-the-netflix-era-21-1-25-🔥/ because why not plug my own stuff. Where a number of interesting things took place. I noticed inflation due to location where a can of Coke Zero was 100 Thai Baht instead of the 30 Thai Baht is was everywhere else. I noticed a snake go through the restaurant out onto the balcony where I was typing and scare almost everyone in the best restaurant but especially two tourists who almost jumped off the balcony and they cutest thing since I left Ireland Monkeys eating stuff that they robbed from the locals/tourists
From here I debated the idea of a taxi but decided screw that lets walk the 2 hours it will take to the next spot someone recommended to me. The Upside Down House Museum and Fun Attractions Phuket. This was where I decided screw my cheapest I’ll use the taxi services from now on. However I must admit the 2 hour journey took me 2 hour 30 minutes but they were relaxing and tranquil. It gave me time for pause and allowed to contact a few people from Ireland and that made me feel better still. I know I don’t have home sickness but it was a pleasure being able to talk to some people. I have been attempting to talk to the locals but that hasn’t been as much as I would like so the conversations were a joy.
The The Upside Down House Museum and Fun Attractions Phuket was another example of where the concept of the money difference hit me. I wasn’t aware of the price to view it before arriving and when the cashier stated to me that it was 650 Thai Baht I was willing to leave only realizing then that was 18 euro roughly. So I went in and enjoyed the novelty
They gave you the option to have someone take the photos in positions that would look like you happened to be holding up or falling out of the upside down set piece and I was tempted to get a few more of them but the individual who took the photo almost dropped my mobile and thusly I decided to leave it and just enjoy the scenes.
Afterwards a lovely staff member who had great English came and forced me into a cooled room saying “Stop being an arrogant tourist, get in the cold as much as possible” and I almost feel out of my shoes with laughter if I’m honest. She also recommended as I was on my own to use the motorcycle taxi service 1/3 the price and just as effective so I did. Being on the back of that motorcycle made me feel sorry for every single car drive in Thailand. Every single Motorbike driver was swaying back and forth in around the other drivers trying to make it ahead you’d need to have your head on a swivel. It made me thankful for the driving conditions in Ireland to an extend. There are still a lot of bad Irish drivers would love to see them do 24 hours here.
I enjoyed my first full day here in Phuket. I might need to move out the town soon to experience thing but tomorrow might just be a relax day where if I see something I do and if I don’t well enough too need to be careful not to burn the fuse too much. Either way there will be a new post tomorrow.
Until next time, my friends! Be sure to keep your craic at 90! Slán go fóill!
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It’s funny how different you can feel in just 24 hours. One moment, I was in Ireland with a knot in my stomach, nerves running wild, yet excitement bubbling underneath. The anticipation of what was to come was overwhelming. I stood outside the bus station for 30 minutes before departure—the longest downtime of the entire journey.
On the way to the airport, I was lucky to have a seat to myself, which gave me the chance to dive into videos about what to see and do in Thailand. As I arrived at Dublin Airport, the true mix of emotions hit me—a blend of excitement and dread. Security was an eye-opener; it wasn’t until I reached the checkpoint that I realized just how much useless stuff I had on me. It took three trays to hold all my belongings, and the staff made sure to let me know I was taking too long.
Once through security, I took a few minutes to repack my things and made my way to the gate. My first flight with Qatar Airways was a 6+ hour journey. I was naive about what to expect as an economy passenger, but the flight attendants were attentive, offering plenty of beverages, a snack, and even a meal—which did wonders to calm my nerves and pass the time.
I was seated next to an incredibly friendly gentleman, who found my travel inexperience amusing and was happy to share his own experiences. The only downside? The window seat. Asking to get out for the facilities felt awkward, and I haven’t yet figured out a solution to that problem.
After 6 hours and 30 minutes, I landed at Hamad International Airport in Doha. I had hyped myself up about this airport, having heard it was one of the nicest in the world. Initially, I thought it was on par with Dublin, but as I ventured closer to my gate, I was blown away by the intricate ornaments and beautiful design.
The worst part? Finding out that Manchester United had lost to Brighton—but I expected that.
Boarding the next flight was surprisingly smooth. As it was a connecting flight, I expected thorough checks, but it was a breeze. This time, I had an aisle seat, which came with its own perks. The screen was positioned to the side rather than in front of me, and though the quality was a bit lower, the flexibility of movement made up for it.
Upon landing in Thailand, airport checks were smooth, and I took a taxi to my accommodation.
Seeing groups of people packed into the backs of trucks, vans, and pickups was both unsettling and fascinating. One odd moment stood out—our taxi had a minor bump with a motorbike, leading to a quick but heated exchange before both drivers simply moved on as if nothing had happened.
The biggest challenge came upon arriving in town six hours before check-in. Lugging my gear around during this wait was an experience in itself.
I passed the time by visiting several coffee shops and exploring a few areas, but the real adventure starts tomorrow. Now that I’m settled, the nerves have vanished, replaced by pure excitement for what’s ahead and the personal growth this journey will bring.
Until next time, my friends! Below are a few more snapshots from my travels. Be sure to keep your craic at 90! Slán go fóill!
It’s with a mix of gratitude and excitement that I announce the end of my journey at Ericsson Athlone, Ireland. After five incredible years, I’m reflecting on the experiences and lessons that have shaped me as a professional and individual. From the collaborative environment to the inspiring mentors and colleagues, this chapter of my career has been transformative, equipping me with a wealth of skills that I’ll carry forward into the next phase of my professional journey.
A Reflective Journey At Ericsson, I had the privilege of working on cutting-edge projects in software development and DevOps, which pushed me to grow and innovate. One of the most rewarding aspects was collaborating with some of the brightest minds in the industry—learning from my colleagues, sharing knowledge, and tackling challenges together. From mastering Kubernetes and Jenkins to diving deeper into cloud infrastructure, my technical abilities have evolved exponentially during my time here.
But beyond the technical growth, Ericsson taught me invaluable lessons in teamwork, resilience, and leadership. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to develop both as a professional and a person.
What’s Next? As I look forward to the next chapter, my focus remains on continuing to expand my expertise in software development and DevOps. I’m particularly excited about applying the knowledge and skills I’ve gained to new projects, exploring new technologies, and contributing to the ever-evolving tech landscape. The possibilities in this field are endless, and I am eager to be part of the next big thing.
Merging Passion with Profession Over the last few months, I’ve also ventured into the world of content creation, particularly streaming. Through my Twitch channel, CraicAttackCentral, and YouTube, I’ve begun exploring the exciting world of gaming, storytelling, and video editing. Streaming has opened up new avenues for me to blend my technical skills with creativity, offering a fun yet challenging way to connect with others and tell stories.
The journey doesn’t stop there—I’m diving deeper into producing content on topics that excite me, like wrestling and football. This creative pursuit isn’t just about entertainment; it’s helping me hone valuable skills in communication, video production, and content strategy. These are skills that I’ll not only use in my personal projects but that I can also bring to my next professional role.
A Personal Transformation In just a few days, I’ll be embarking on a transformational journey to Thailand for a fitness camp and cultural exploration. This experience will not only help me improve my physical well-being but will also be an opportunity to step outside my comfort zone, immerse myself in new cultures, and grow as an individual. Along the way, I’ll be documenting my experiences on my new blog: CraicAttackCentral.com.
I’m excited to share the ups and downs of this journey as I continue to grow as a content creator and improve my writing and digital presence. Writing about my adventures will allow me to connect with others on a deeper level, while further developing my personal brand.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead I want to take a moment to thank everyone at Ericsson for the knowledge, mentorship, and friendships that I’ll carry with me always. The relationships I’ve built here have made all the difference in my growth and success, and I will always cherish the time spent with such an incredible team.
While I’m excited about the future, I know I wouldn’t be here without the amazing foundation laid at Ericsson. And so, I look forward to this new chapter with optimism, eager to continue growing and embracing new opportunities.
Here’s to new beginnings, both personal and professional. 🛫
Stay connected with me as I embark on this exciting journey:
Craic Attack Central 