After ten years of hard work, I decided to have a break. I’ve already been to Thailand, so I’ve decided to come back, not for beaches or backpacker clichés, but to test my body, recharge my mind, and find peace in one of the world’s most chaotic cities. This is the story of my remontada in Bangkok.
Why Bangkok? A break with purpose
This wasn’t my first time in Thailand, and I didn’t come for the postcard clichés. Phuket and Pattaya never interested me, the cheap sex tourism and plastic resorts are the opposite of what I was looking for. What keeps pulling me back is something deeper: the spiritual calm of Buddhism, the fire and complexity of Thai food, the richness of the culture, and the raw, untamed energy of the north, especially Chiang Rai and the borderlands where Thailand feels most alive.
And then there’s Bangkok: chaotic, relentless, intoxicating. A city where, if you let it, the madness turns into momentum. That was the stage I chose for my reset.
Testing my limits
Every day started with intention. My training routine combined running through quiet streets before the city woke, swimming laps in my condo pool, and martial arts sessions that demanded focus, coordination, and presence. It wasn’t about chasing records or looking impressive, it was about confronting discomfort, testing my limits, and learning to be fully present in every movement.
The physical challenge was only half the lesson. Each early morning or late evening session became a mental exercise as well: pushing past fatigue, wrestling with frustration, and quieting the constant chatter in my head. The luxury of my condo, with its pool and sauna, offered a rare sanctuary to recover, reflect, and recalibrate, while just steps away, the Bang Na market reminded me that life moves on regardless of my routines. Balancing intense training with the pulse of Bangkok taught me that resilience isn’t built in isolation: it’s cultivated by embracing both challenge and chaos, discipline and spontaneity.
Finding stillness in the noise
Bangkok is a city that never pauses. The traffic noise, the vendors, the neon glare and flashing signs, all of it assaults the senses from the moment you step outside. At my first time in the city in 2024’s December it felt impossible to find calm here. My mind wanted to resist the chaos, to retreat into quiet or predictability. But over time, I realized that true stillness doesn’t come from silence, it comes from my actual presence. Walking through markets, surrounded by a swirl of colours, smells, and constant motion, I learned to let go of control. I observed without judgment, moved without hurry, and breathed deeply even as the city surged around me. The same principle applied to my training: during a grueling swim, a long run, or a martial arts session, it wasn’t just about finishing the workout, it was about staying focused, noticing the sensations in my body, and letting my mind settle in the rhythm of effort.
This paradox became my greatest lesson: peace isn’t something you escape to; it’s something you cultivate internally, even when the world is loud and unpredictable. By choosing to engage fully with Bangkok’s chaos rather than withdraw from it, I discovered a clarity that had been missing in my everyday life back home. The noise didn’t disappear, I just stopped letting it dictate my state of mind.
Fueling my body and my mind
In Bangkok, nourishment wasn’t about strict diets, meal plans, or counting calories. It was about connection to culture, to energy, and to the simple pleasures of life. Street food became a daily ritual: steaming bowls of noodles, juicy meat, fragrant curries, fresh fruits from market stalls, and the occasional mango sticky rice. Each meal was a reminder that food is not just fuel for the body, but also a source of joy, creativity, and presence. Balancing training and recovery meant listening carefully to my body, when it demanded more protein after a long swim, or extra carbohydrates before my martial arts sessions, but without letting discipline strip away pleasure. The act of eating, walking through markets, and savoring flavors became an extension of my training: patience, awareness, and respect for what sustains me physically and mentally.
Over time, I realized that caring for the body is inseparable from caring for the mind. Meals shared in quiet moments, mindful bites between workouts, and curiosity for local flavors all became part of my mental reset. Fueling my body wasn’t just about performance; it was about cultivating energy, gratitude, and presence: essential ingredients for a successful personal “remontada.”
Physical aspects
Over six weeks, I committed to two to three intense training sessions per day. Mornings began with runs, starting at six kilometers at the very beginning and eventually reaching fifteen kilometers under the relentless 30-degree heat by the end of those weeks. Afternoons were dedicated to strength training or martial arts, while evenings ended with a swim to cool down and recover. In the beginning, I came home utterly exhausted, feeling like a crumpled piece of paper. A few weeks later, even with my hands wrapped and sore, I was strong enough to help clean the training ring after a session. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Nook and Tenten, who taught me discipline and humility, and never let me give up.
The physical results were striking. In six weeks, I lost twelve kilograms, shedding the weight gained from years of sedentary work and irregular eating habits. My endurance and physical capacity improved dramatically, but the most profound transformation was mental. I regained focus, resilience, and a sense of control that had been missing. The fatigue of daily life no longer feels overwhelming; instead, it’s met with calm determination.
This wasn’t just a fitness journey. It was a comprehensive reset, a reminder that pushing the body strengthens the mind, and that discipline and consistency, even in chaos, create both physical and mental freedom.
Lessons of my remontada
The real comeback wasn’t just about the kilometers ran, the laps swum, or the weight lifted. It was about reclaiming perspective, building resilience, and discovering the strength to face life’s next challenges with clarity and purpose. Pushing my body pushed my mind; embracing discomfort taught me patience and focus. This experience reminded me that transformation isn’t a single moment, it’s the accumulation of consistent effort, courage to confront limits, and the willingness to stay present in both chaos and calm. The lessons I carry from Bangkok go far beyond physical fitness: they are about embracing challenges, trusting the process, and stepping into the next chapter with renewed energy, confidence, and determination
