15-page Book Preview
BROKEN TO MARATHON
Broken to Marathon: Adventures Crossing the Street in Bangkok
Before the accident, I was just a carefree backpacker weaving my way across Asia until my luck ran out when I got knocked down crossing the street in Bangkok. This memoir chronicles three years of my life in Thailand, from a broken leg to marathon running, accepting that change is inevitable, yet growth is optional. Along the way, I endured a grueling rehab from a walker to crutches to a cane while perfecting my freestyle lap swimming. I reclaimed my teaching position and moved beyond the cane while battling a corrupt insurance company to cover a second surgery to remove the titanium plates—or choose to never run again! After a second rehab and a few dozen Thai beauties, I progressed to jogging and then got seduced into a 21km half-marathon. The first attempt was cringeworthy, but if I dedicated myself to learning the biomechanics of efficient running, I could rise above my perceived limitations to run the distance. After an Indonesian jogging holiday to go snorkeling under the sea, I completed my transition from victim to warrior to be the hero who slays the dragon!
Thailand Travel Magic Chiang Mai
Are you dreaming about a trip to Thailand?
Here’s your motivation to pack!
In this travel adventure story, we will be taking a night train from Bangkok up into the mountains of northern Thailand. From the historic city of Chiang Mai, we will follow the Monk’s Trail up Mount Doi Suthep to find an ancient Buddhist temple filled with mythological guardian sculptures and fluttering butterflies. We’ll continue uphill on the narrow jungle path until we reach the famous shrine at the summit with panoramic views. Back in the Old City, we have dinner with some new friends, visit the night market, and get a relaxing foot massage. Extra side trips are offered, from visiting elephants to joining a monk chat and touring a world-class botanical garden. Join me on this journey of a lifetime to experience what adventurous travelers luck into when they step away from the typical tourist route while discovering the uniquely tropical Thai culture in the land of smiles.
Ready to turn your dream into a reality? Start planning your adventure today with this book from Amazon.
Curious? Read chapter extracts from this travel book HERE.
Purchase the 72-page Print Book or Kindle eBook from Amazon!
Vietnam Travel Magic Series
These books illustrate my hiking trips and motorcycle adventures throughout Vietnam to inspire your wanderlust. They combine on-the-road photography with a running narrative to recount the adventure saga in a click-through visual storyline. They offer an insight into my zeal for international backpacking, from accepting exotic cultures and eating new dishes to overnight bus rides and being comfortably lost.
Pro Tip: If you are planning a trip to SE Asia, I highly recommend touring Vietnam by combining overnight buses and day-rental motorcycles. The road traffic can be bat-shit-crazy for long distances, but shorter day tours by motorbike are a rewarding way to see the country. From mountain caves and rocky beaches to crowded markets and bizarre food, Vietnam is an exotic land waiting to be explored.
New Zealand Photo Journal Series
These books chronicle my cycling and hiking journey across New Zealand to inspire your desire to travel. They combine on-the-road photography with a running narrative to tell the adventure saga in a click-through visual storyline. They provide an insight into my passion for cycle touring, from pedaling across amazing landscapes to summiting mountain peaks and being comfortably lost.
Pro Tip: If you’ve got more muscle than money, I highly recommend visiting New Zealand by bicycle with camping gear. NZ is amazing for bike-packing as it has quality roads with light traffic, abundance of quality campgrounds, and remarkable scenery with every kilometer. From epic national parks to Maori folklore and Hobbit mythology, NZ is a majestic land waiting to be explored.
Chain and Bead Jewelry Series
I have been blessed with the opportunity to author five educational books that guide the reader step-by-step on a beaded chain jewelry adventure. This informative series starts at the introductory level and slowly builds upon the foundation of knowledge and technique toward creating more elaborate designs. The first, second, and third books use cold-connecting techniques without a hot torch or power tools. Next, the fourth and fifth books step to the next level of silversmithing by adding a simplified soldering technique to create gravity-defying jewelry designs. Although I am no longer making jewelry or teaching classes, the legacy lives on, as these books continues to inspire people to discover the quiet meditative practice of assembling individual jump rings.
More Travel Magic
Lighting The Path
I developed this site to inspire you to go explore this big blue marble and discover the transformative magic of personal empowerment. Guiding your wanderlust, there are regional maps of the world that illustrate some Magical Places among the multitude of tourist traps.
To help you succeed, I created Travel Advice pages divided into:
1) Before You Go: Basics, Documents, and Medical;
2) What To Take: Luggage, Clothing, and Technology;
3) On The Road: Immersion, Philosophy, and Books.
Lighting the path, the Travel Magic eBook series shares my personal experiences and takes you away to exciting locations; joining me to go cycling across New Zealand and backpacking throughout Vietnam.
Here is a 15-page Book Preview of
Thailand Travel Magic: Chiang Mai
Here is a 15-page Book Preview of
Laos Travel Magic: Luang Prabang
I sell these adventure stories as digital eBooks exclusively on Amazon. Visit my Amazon Author Page to view all my book titles.