The Great Dopamine Rush of 2025

Well I had many objectives and goals for this trip. I succeeded in most of them. Or at least got close enough to be happy about them. I wanted to climb in all four countries I visited, I climbed in 3 (Japan was way too fun with my partner to even think of climbing). I wanted to lose 10lbs, I lost 9. I wanted to read 7 books, I read 9.

I wanted to truly connect with people and make some lasting friendships, The group I climbed with in the south of Thailand I’ll stay in contact with them for years to come. I wanted to experience the sun rise in every country I visited, This one seems trivial but I love a good sunrise. Especially in Railay beach, what a sunrise that is.

I wanted to be completely sober the entirety of my trip, This I failed in, but not for no good reason. Traveling alone I felt absolutely no drive to drink or party, but when Hannah was with me it was really nice to have some champagne with dinner, or go out drinking sake with strangers, making new friends. I wanted to come back to Canada in much better shape mentally and physically than when I left, this I feel was my greatest Success. I came back much fitter physically, all that walking and climbing and carrying backpacks, but mentally also. I have a much more assured sense of self than when I left in January. I am no longer second guessing myself like I was when I left.

The theme of this blog and of my trip was dopamine, and dopamine addiction. I was a prolific scroller, It was bad. I was attached to a screen more than 6 hours a day everyday. I read a few books on how to do a dopamine detox, This blog was a way to still feel connected to my loved ones with out a constant chance to get back on the reels and scroll for hours. In this I was successful, and I urge everyone else who is feeling joyless and over stimulated. To get away from social media for at least a while, and get your dopamine addiction under control.

On this trip I saw so much, I did so much, I ate so much, I experienced so much, I walked so much, and I spent so much. There were good times, great times, bad times and worse times. I never want to not travel. It really took me out of the months long rut I had been in. Get off your phone, go see the world.

This will be my last post for my Asia trip, but keep checking In. I will be posting about other trips and endeavors I undertake, throughout the year. Funnily enough, I have been invited to go to Mexico to hang out with a few friends of mine. I leave in 3 days for that trip, I think it may be karma for helping Hannah get to Japan because my buddy Jer paid for my flights and is putting me up while I am there.

Till then, Thank you for reading and dealing with my terrible grammar.