Tag: CraicsTravellingJourney

🧭 One Month Home: What I Gained, What I Lost, What I’m Feeling 🏡💭📉📈

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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Titan Fitness Final Round – Marked for Life, Changed Forever 💥

It’s funny how life sometimes stops you in your tracks. For the past four weeks, I’ve sat at my computer, staring at this blank page, willing the words to come. Every time, I let myself get distracted—whether it was scrolling, snacking, or convincing myself that I’d do it tomorrow. But today, no more excuses. It’s time to talk about the challenge that shook my confidence, bruised my ego, and tested my limits.

There was one class at Titan Fitness Camp that I was sure I’d be able to handle. Back in Ireland, I had climbed a few mountains here and there. Granted, it had been a while since my last excursion, but still—I figured when it came time for the Buddha Run, I’d be able to put in a respectable performance. The class was held every Wednesday, giving me four chances to prove myself. However, I missed the first one due to my previously mentioned intimate interaction with a motorbike.

I was told beforehand that the Buddha Run was a 3.8-kilometre trek, starting at an elevation of 40 metres and climbing to 340 metres. On paper, that didn’t sound too bad. For comparison, my usual hike back home in Ireland is a 5-kilometre route that starts at 70 metres and peaks at around 370 metres.

The key differences?

  1. My Irish route has a mix of natural and wooden steps, which help break up the climb. The Buddha Run? A constant, unforgiving paved road that just keeps going up.
  2. The Irish hike reaches its peak halfway through, then slopes downward. The Buddha Run? A relentless incline all the way to the finish line. No breaks, no mercy.

The Buddha Run Elevation Map

The Main Ireland Mountain Elevation Map

Looking at the stats now, I can confidently say I was a deluded twat. I convinced myself that because I could finish the full 5-kilometre Irish hike in about an hour and a half, I’d be able to complete the Buddha Run in 40 to 44 minutes. Spoiler alert: I was very, very wrong.

So, on the 5th of February, I woke up at 5:30 AM, ready to take on the climb. I grabbed my travel bag, emptied it out, and packed only the essentials—namely, a towel, knowing full well that the heat would be brutal. What I didn’t do, however, was bring enough water. On my next two attempts, I wised up and packed two 2-litre bottles, which added weight to my bag but made the journey far more bearable.

As a group, we arrived at the front door of the Titan Centre and boarded the organised buses to the start of the Buddha Run. Well… buses might be a generous term. What stood before us were three songthaews—which, if you’re unfamiliar, are essentially pickup trucks with aspirations of being public transport.

The name songthaew comes from the two bench seats running along either side of the truck bed. In some, an ambitious third bench is crammed down the middle, because clearly, personal space is optional. A roof is fitted over the back, sometimes with curtains or plastic sheets to keep out the rain—though they mostly just flap around dramatically. Some models have roofs high enough for standing passengers inside, while others prefer the more thrilling approach: a tiny platform at the rear where you cling on for dear life and reconsider your life choices.

After about 30 minutes, we arrived at the starting point and gathered in a small parking area off the side of the road for some pre-run stretches. Personally, I’ve always found stretching to be a bit pointless—I’ve never felt it loosen me up or make me any more prepared for the task ahead. But after begrudgingly doing it in enough classes and actually noticing the difference, I’ve now made it a habit… or at least, I tell myself I have. In reality, I still occasionally ignore my newfound wisdom, roll the dice on injury, and instantly regret it.

Anyway, after a solid 15 minutes of stretching, we were ready for the first climb. I was pumped, I was ready, I was game… and I was immediately watching everyone else speed ahead like they had rocket boosters strapped to their feet. Honestly, this didn’t bother me too much—I’d already accepted that some of these people were basically built in a lab for this kind of thing.

As my confidence started slipping away with every step, I spotted something that snapped me out of it—a spectacular structure under construction. It was unlike anything I’d see back home in Ireland. Instead of the rigid uniformity I was used to, it had a kind of chaotic beauty to it. And in that moment, despite my burning legs and dwindling self-belief, I felt a spark of excitement. If this was just the beginning, what else was waiting for me ahead?

Soon, I’d get my answer to that quandary when, about halfway up the trail, I stumbled upon an elephant sanctuary. We’d been given a fair warning about this place—sometimes, the elephants casually cross the road to get from one section to another. Safe? Absolutely… for the elephants. As one person put it, “The elephant crushes you before you even manage to hurt it.”

Luckily, that never became an issue. In fact, I was pretty fortunate—out of the three times I did this run, the elephants only made an appearance on my first attempt. And since I was more focused on keeping my legs moving than playing wildlife photographer, I can only apologize for the shockingly bad photo evidence.

As I pushed forward, more and more people passed me until, eventually, there was no one left. I was the last in line, the proud recipient of the vanity award for ensuring that every brave soul attempting this challenge made it to the finish. We had been given an hour to complete the climb, and as I caught sight of the coaches and songthaews passing me, making their way to the top, my heart began to sink. I was this close to not making it.

But then, I remembered my climb up Errigal with Gavin Meenan (Instagram link) and the Modern Warriors. Two steps forward, always two steps forward—even if it means one step back. With that mantra ringing in my ears, I powered through the final stretch and reached the peak.

There, standing in front of me, was the iconic Big Buddha—except, well… it was under maintenance. So, after all that effort, the best I could do was admire its backside.

However, that wasn’t the true spectacle awaiting me at the finish line. In a moment that turned me as red as a Christmas tree covered in blinking lights, a group of Titans were there, cheering me on, shouting for me to push through to the very end. As I crossed the line, I was met with an avalanche of high-fives, and—though I hate to admit it—it was exactly what I needed.

Just off to the side of the finish line, as you can see on the map below, was a scenic perch showcasing a breath-taking view. As a group, we made our way over, soaking in the incredible sight. Then, one of the coaches gathered us together, handed the Titan celebratory flag to the MVP of the run, and snapped a group photo. Looking back at those pictures now still fills me with joy.

In fact, all three of my attempts at the Buddha Run brought their own brand of happiness—and a few unexpected fashion choices. I was sweating so much it may as well have been raining in Ireland, so rather than constantly pulling out a sweat towel, I decided to wear it like a bib. Pair that with my sunglasses, and suddenly I was sporting a look that was less athlete and more washed-up 80s action star trying to stay relevant. And my constant guzzling of a two-litre water bottle made me look less like a peak athlete and more like a lad rehydrating after a three-day session at the Galway Races—not that I’d know anything about that, of course!

However with the fitness there also was a requirement for some fun. I had promised myself before I had left for Thailand that I would do all in my power to avoid any alcoholic beverages and for the most part I achieved that feat. There were 3 exceptions

  1. The Night before I joined the titan fitness camp I had a singular Thai cocktail of some description that I can’t spell or pronounce and which unfortunately left much to much to be desired
  2. Then the night before I left I had a few Libations in celebration of my journey with a few of the other titans.
  3. Then theres a random night I wasn’t expecting.

One day after a class, a genuinely top-tier guy—we’ll call him M—approached me with an offer. One of his crew had bought a ticket to Vona Beach Club, a floating beach club off the coast of the Patong Boat Pier, but had to back out. M figured I’d be good company and invited me along for a visit to paradise. Naturally, I agreed.

Later that day, we met up, grabbed a taxi, and headed to the pier. While waiting for the boat to take us to the boat—yes, a strange concept, but one that worked beautifully—we stopped for a drink. That’s when I was handed what I thought was raspberry water… but turned out to be raspberry champagne. And with that, the floodgates were open for the night.

The trip over was rough, but stunning. Watching some of the group nearly lose themselves on the speedboat was hilarious, but once we arrived, it was breathtaking.

Onboard, we were brought to an upstairs section where our group had a reserved bed, and that’s when the real fun began—music, drinks, and dancing galore. At one point, I even ended up in the swimming pool in the middle of the boat. An odd but incredible experience.

Would I ever spend my own money on something like this if I hadn’t been invited? Probably not. But since I was, I made sure to enjoy every single second—as you’ll see in the photos below.

But the night didn’t end there.

We found out that another group of Titan members was at a different festive establishment and planned to head to Patong Strip afterward. I’d heard stories about the place and had originally planned to avoid it, but… when in Paris, I suppose.

First stop? An Irish-themed bar—because of course we did. And this is where I got royally screwed.

Feeling confident in my ability to judge the exchange rate, I ordered a pint of Guinness for 380 Thai Baht. And for the first time since arriving in Thailand, I was hoisted by my own petard—paying a painful €10.36 for a bad pint of Guinness. Absolute robbery. But the craic was good, so we moved on.

Next, we hit up an establishment called New York New York, where we met up with the rest of the Titans and danced the night away. It was an incredible few hours, and I have no regrets.

I also have no regrets about the fact that I somehow managed to contain the evidence to just four photos. The wild stuff remains undocumented.

After that, I really wanted to commemorate this experience with something permanent—something that would always remind me of this place, these people, and everything I’ve been through. So, I got a tattoo from the one and only Path (Instagram link). He always made me feel comfortable, welcomed, and accepted at Titan, and I can confidently say he did an incredible job creating this piece of brilliance.

There is many more stuff I could write about and some that will pop up in my mind as cherrished memories too small to highlight but too large to forget. However, it’s time to address the elephant in the room—or, in this case, the elephant at the end of this whopper of a post! Why did it take me four weeks to write this? Well, would you believe it—I’m back in Ireland. Yeah, I’m just as surprised as you are!

As some of you who follow my personal accounts may have noticed, while I was in Thailand, I landed a job back home—an opportunity too good to pass up. So, my trip was cut short. There were things I didn’t get to do, but honestly, my time in Thailand was life-changing. I’d recommend the experience to anyone. Even if Titan Fitness isn’t your thing, the Fitness Street of Soi Ta-iad has something for everyone. Whether you call them gyms, clubs, or factories of pain, they’re packed with people who push you, support you, and make the experience unforgettable. The freedom you feel, the progress you make, and the kindness you receive make it all worthwhile—no matter the outcome.

I can’t overstate how much this trip meant to me, but it won’t be my last. Once I settle into the new job, I want to travel more—even if it’s just exploring different parts of Ireland to start. I want to keep expanding my horizons, trying new things, and sharing my opinions. I’ll be writing more WWE reviews, though they’ll likely be post-show thanks to Irish time zones. I also want to dive into food reviews, movie reviews, and maybe—if I can find a book that holds my attention for more than 30 pages—some book reviews too.

This is the story of my lead-up to and time in Thailand, and I appreciate every single one of you who took the time to read any part of it. Now, onto the next chapter. I’ll leave you with the final image of me and my PT Aof and the final picture for now that I took in Thailand.

And on my streams, I’ve added a new closing line that fits me perfectly—cheeky, funny, and very on-brand. I don’t know if it’ll stick around, but for now…

Slán go fóill! And Póg mo Thóin! My Craic Addicts!


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🔥 Titan Fitness Round 2 – I Just Wasn’t Prepared – Bruised But Not Broken and Still the Supposed Lord 💥🦵😅

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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🔥 Titan Fitness Round 1 – My Accidental Pre-Training Arc 💪😅

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.

Alas, we met with several other Titans who were out to experience the good vibes and atmosphere like us. With that being the case, we found the nicest-looking place to use; thusly, a few of the other Titans directed us to the building I mistakenly found out was a bank for the rich in one of my previous posts https://craicattackcentral.com/2025/01/28/🌅-the-last-days-of-unstructured-phuket-from-upscaling-to-stubborn-comforts-to-the-sublime-centre-🌴✨/. There, we came together and created a photo that I will love and cherish for many years to come.

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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🌅 The Last Days of Unstructured Phuket: From Upscaling to Stubborn Comforts to the Sublime Centre 🌴✨

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Add potatoes and mushrooms:
    Stir in the potatoes and mushrooms (if using). Simmer for another 30-40 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
  6. Thicken (optional):
    For a thicker stew, mix 2 tbsp of flour with a little water and stir in. Cook for an additional 10 minutes.
  7. 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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🌍🚶‍♂️ Wandering in Phuket: From Unexpected Discoveries to Unexpected Nostalgia to Potential New Goals 🛵💨

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

After this, I had a meeting with the great Gavin Meenan. Website: Gavin Meenan’s Modern Warrior Program, Twitter (or X, if you’re a snob): @GavinMeenan, Instagram: @GavinMeenan.

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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🏝️ First Days in Phuket: Budgeting, Walking & Unexpected Adventures 🚶‍♂️💸

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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🌏 A New Beginning: My First 24 Hours Traveling✈️

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!

Tags: #Travel #Thailand #Adventure #Doha #SoloTravel #TravelTips #NewBeginnings


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