Back in the Bangkok Loop

Bangkok Sukhumvit Road at night with neon lights and blurred traffic.

Every trip has its cycle. This is the end of mine. The routines set in. The streets feel automatic. The energy dips. Bangkok never changes — but staying too long will change you.

5 Days in Makati — The Reset I Didn’t Plan

Bald middle-aged man in neon-lit Burgos Street, Makati, at night

Makati was only meant to be a stopover. But travel has a way of deciding things for you. Five days later — tired, burnt out, and down with a cold — I realised I wasn’t just stuck in a city. I was stuck in a loop. This is the story of slowing down, stepping back, and learning the hard way when it’s time to stop.

Hedonic Adaptation: Why Travel Thrills Fade and How to Fight It

A traveler at a crossroads, one path leading to a vibrant city and another fading into monotony, symbolizing hedonic adaptation.

Even the most exciting trips eventually feel flat. This post explores the hidden force behind that fading thrill—hedonic adaptation—and reveals practical, purpose-driven ways to reset your excitement and fall in love with travel all over again.

Travel Contrast: The Key to Keeping Travel Exciting

A widescreen image showing a traveler standing between a rugged mountain landscape and a neon-lit city, symbolizing travel contrast.

Why does travel lose its thrill? The answer isn’t bigger or better experiences—it’s contrast. Switching between luxury and budget, city and nature, fast and slow prevents burnout and keeps travel exciting. Learn how Travel Contrast is the key to long-term, fulfilling adventures.

Post-Travel Reset: Breaking the Cycle of Restlessness

A minimalist traveler standing at a crossroads, with one path fading into past memories of travel and the other leading toward home life.

The journey doesn’t end when you step off the plane—your mind still lingers in the places you’ve been. The post-travel reset is a crucial transition, where nostalgia pulls you back, but routine hasn’t yet fully settled in. Learn how to process the shift, avoid falling into the cycle of escapism, and redefine what home means after travel.

Travel Detachment: Why We Mentally Check Out Before Leaving

A lone traveler in a hotel room gazes out at a distant city skyline, with a half-packed suitcase nearby, symbolizing travel detachment.

Travel detachment is the quiet fade-out before departure—the moment when the mind shifts away from the present and toward the journey home. This natural phase in the travel cycle can leave you feeling disconnected before you’ve even left. Understanding why it happens can help you stay engaged until the very end.

Travel Burnout: When the Road Stops Feeling Like Freedom

A mid-fifties male traveler experiencing burnout, sitting slumped in an airport waiting area with his backpack beside him.

Travel burnout is more than just fatigue—it’s a deeper emotional and mental exhaustion that makes travel feel meaningless. If you’ve lost excitement, dread moving to the next destination, or feel disconnected from the experience, you might be burned out. Learn why burnout happens, how to spot the signs, and most importantly, how to reset and rediscover the joy of travel.