Here’s a short video of the crater of Mount Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was an interesting place… there was steam coming out of the ground,.. and at night the smoke in the crater glowed red. They wouldn’t let people hike to the center of the crater because of poisonous gasses,.. but I had fun hiking around the crater.

The weather seemed to change every 15 minutes…. sunny, then cloudy and windy, then rainy, then sunny again… hot, warm, cold, hot again,…etc……

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed Hawaii… both the Big Island and Oahu! I plan to spend more time there. From now on, I’ll probably stop over in Hawaii each time I go to and from Asia. So I may end up spending 1-2 months a year in Hawaii.

During this trip, in addition to diving and hiking around the volcano… I also took a surfing lesson,.. and went surfing a second time by myself.

It is VERY difficult. I managed to stand up once with the instructor… but never on my own the second time. However, I caught some waves and rode them on my knees. It was still lots of fun. What I love most is just being out in the water, under the sun, paddling around.

Next time, I plan to surf more… and to give windsurfing a try too.

I’m also considering sailing lessons here in San Francisco. I’d love to surf here… but the extremely cold water just doesn’t seem very inviting or fun to me I’ll save my surfing and diving for warmer waters!

Here’s video from a night dive I did off the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.   It was one of the most amazing dives I’ve ever done.  A giant manta swooped over my head and bumped it as he went over!

There were mantas everywhere…  circling, swooping, and “flying” all around us.

Why do they come to that spot?  Well,  tiny plankton are attracted to the divers lights…  and mantas eat plankton.  So the reason they are gliding all around us with open mouths is that they are scooping up the plankton and eating.   They are very graceful and peaceful creatures (unless you’re a plankton

What’s really cool about all of this is that we will document another Hobopoet success story in real time.  My old archives (http://hobopoet.blogspot.com) and this site already provide the fully documented process of my path to freedom and self-reliance  (from wage slave, to car and van living, to living abroad in Thailand, do scraping by in San Francisco, to micro-preneur, to successful and free entrepreneur).

Now we’re documenting Todd’s path to freedom…  starting now as he flies off to Thailand… and continuing as he builds his bungalows, builds his web presence, and fulfills his dream of living a free, simple, healthy, and happy life on tropical Koh Phayam island in Thailand.

The reason this blog excites me is that YOU can see what’s possible… not in theory but in reality.  You get to see the whole process… with all the bumps and warts and challenges…. and the victories.  I want you to see that freedom, self-reliance, simplicity, and happiness are possible… without following the mainstream programmed path.

So I hope you’ll follow Todd’s adventures in Thailand, both here at Hobopoet and on his new blog.

And I hope you’ll see that my essays and exhortations are not just grand ideas and theories…  but hard-nosed reality-based blueprints for anyone to follow.

Most of all, I hope you’ll find your own path to freedom and abundance!

Good luck to you too!

My friend Katie has a great new blog called Trail Dreamer.  Check it out at:   http://www.traildreamer.blogspot.com/

Life In Bangkok

“Disciplined Hedonism” is one of my favorite phrases– one I first heard from my friend Chris.

In fact, I do think we need a healthy dose of both self-discipline AND hedonism in our life.

This month, the first month of the “Portable Empire” experiment in Bangkok, has mostly been about discipline.  I have been working steadily and successfully on the “empire” since arriving here.

In fact, as I noted previously, I’ve had an explosion of productivity since arriving.  The new environment has stimulated and energized me.  In the last two weeks, I’ve launched a new (and quite effective) marketing campaign for the business…  created several new videos for our upcoming video site…  wrote several articles and press releases… and have planned and scheduled our first seminar in Bangkok (Sunday, January 25th).

I have also kicked ass with running.  Despite the heat and pollution, I’m running like a fool.  My weekly long run is now up to 90 minutes (two days ago).  Each week, I add another 10 minutes to the long run.  My regular “maintainence runs” are also going very well– I’m doing them 3-4 times a week at 40 to 60 minutes each.

All in all, I’m feeling super-energized!

And I’ve been disciplined with singing too– practing (almost) every morning.  And today, I had my first singing lesson by phone– with my teacher in San Francisco.  Too cool!

All of this made possible by a laptop, the internet, and a cheap Thai cell phone!

This discipline phase will continue for another two weeks.   Next week, I’m off to Singapore for a few days.  I’ll be meeting one of our members there (hopefully)– and doing my 100 minute long run.  Should be nice to run in clean air for a change!

Then I’m back to Bangkok for our seminar– a 5 hour seminar to introduce more Thai people to my teaching system and English lessons.

After that,.. it’ll finally be time for some hedonism!  My wife Tomoe arrives on the 26th of January.  Then my friends Wat and Lewis arrive on the 28th.  We’ll be heading down to the south (Koh Payam Island) for a big party, followed by a few days of snorkeling, diving, running on the beach, etc…   Then Tomoe and I plan to visit Cambodia,…  then dive some more…  then Laos…  then Fiji…  etc…….

So the Portable Empire has thus far been ideal at fostering both self-Discipline and Hedonistic opportunities!

Not sure why this is–  I think it’s probably a result of increased energy and inspiration as a result of a dramatic change of environment.   It’s so easy to get in a rut at home.  Mental and emotional ruts are the bane of the Hobopoet life.

Another factor is that I have much more time here.  This is also a strange phenomenon.   Why should I have more time in Thailand?  All I can say is that life just seems to move more slowly here.   In SF, I’m constantly bombarded by phone calls, appointments, and projects.

Moving to another continent has a way of weeding out all that’s non-essential.  Nobody is going to call me here unless it’s VERY important.   Also, because I must go to a coffee shop or internet cafe to do email…  I do it less often for less time.  In SF, I’ve got 24 hour access in my apartment and it’s just too damn easy to jump on the internet anytime I feel the least bit bored or restless.   Here in Thailand, I go for a walk, or get a massage, or sing, or go for a run.

And when I work, I do productive work-play rather than waste time surfing the web.   Today, for example, I wrote two articles, recorded two podcasts, recorded & edited two videos, and wrote a marketing email & published it.  All that in just a few hours.

Today I also went for a run, sang for an hour, played guitar, wrote in my journal, listened to music, and emailed friends.   And I’ve still got plenty of time on my hands and in no way feel rushed.

In fact, this is one of the most marvelous things about The Portable Empire experiment:  I’m “on vacation” in Thailand, yet I’m doing far more “work” (business and personal) than I ever did in SF–  for both my business and my personal projects I’m doing as much in one day as I did in one week back in the States.

On top of that, despite still paying rent on my SF apartment… I’m spending FAR less money while here in Thailand.  I’m “on vacation” and yet am saving a lot more money.

It’s hard to think of a cooler system!  Especially compared to the usual wage slavery way of making an income.  As a wage slave, I worked much harder, I had 2 paltry weeks of vacation a year, I was MUCH LESS productive (slaves aren’t usually very productive), and I almost never saved money (because I spent every available penny in a futile attempt to compensate for the boredom of work).

So The Portable Empire works from both the Hedonistic perspective, and the Productivity perspective…   a perfect system for both the slacker and the capitalist!   More time. More energy. More inspiration.  More fun. More created.  More accomplished.   All with less work, in less time, with less money.

The experiment, so far, is a remarkable success!

The Portable Empire experiment has begun!

Good news– I’ve already found a place near my guest house that has cheap wireless internet.  I also know of a place in the center of town (where I’ll be re-locating in a few days) that has free wireless.   So the basic essential of the Portable Empire is taken care of!

As a quick start, I recorded a short video for my new Video “Master Member” site in my hotel.   For the business, I’ll be doing a number of activities while based here in Thailand, including:  recording videos and uploading them to the new site,  writing blog posts & articles (Hobopoet & my biz blog), coordinating with my admin assistant & with other biz team members, recording & uploading podcasts, and overseeing the completion of my new lesson pack.

I’ll also be planning, preparing, and doing seminars here in Bangkok (and possibly elsewhere)…   and will be researching details for  a) a school in Bangkok, and b) a learning resort in the south of Thailand.

And while all this sounds quite serious– and like a lot of work…  I’ll be indulging in plenty of hedonism along the way.

I’m looking forward to that too!  But right now, I need to rest and recover from jet lag.

So, more reports on the Portable Empire experiment will be coming soon…..

(Disciplined) Hedonism

Tropical beaches.  Riotous Asian cities boiling with energy. Fiery spicy food.  Massages 4 days a week.

Voluntary Simplicity has it’s benefits!

Unfortunately, when most people hear the phrase “voluntary simplicity”- they think of hardship….   they imagine eating instant ramen noodles and living a boring hard life.

But that’s exactly the opposite of the Hobopoet Way.  Voluntary Simplicity is a means– a means to greater security, greater enjoyment, greater freedom, greater opportunity.

My good friend Chris has another term for it– he calls it “Disciplined Hedonism”… and that, I think, captures the spirit of it.   We are disciplined in order to enjoy a great deal of hedonistic pleasure in our lives (whatever that means to you).

In fact, what led me to adopt a very simple life were some questions.  I asked myself:

What really gives my life passion, happiness, excitement, and meaning?

Given a certain amount of money, what is the best way to use it to maximize the excitement, passion, happiness, learning, and meaning in my life?

After asking myself these questions for many years– I came to some obvious conclusions.  I concluded that while a big opulent house might be “nice”, I’d much rather spend that 100,000 dollars (or, in SF, $600.000) on travel, seminars, books, gifts, coaching programs, journeys, adventures, etc…

I also realized that 10,000 in savings, for example, gave me a much better feeling (of comfort, security) than 10,000 worth of gadgets and furniture.

I realized that I needed to evaluate my economic choices based on the longterm emotional, mental, and spiritual impact they would have on me.    That evaluation led to a radically more simple life (in terms of material possessions), a radically more hedonistic life (in terms of experiences), and a radically more social life.

The problem with most people is that they are trying to buy their happiness with things.   But happiness grows out of experiences and connections.   We grow and learn from experiences, not from things.  We grow and learn from people, not from things.

Longterm, we are most thrilled and excited by new experiences and new people.. not by new things.  We are most stimulated by experiences and people.. not things.

When you buy a new thing, you feel interest and excitement for a day… MAYBE a week.   But the memories of a great experience last years.  Learning experiences last a lifetime.  Friends can last forever.

These aren’t just platitudes–  they are basic psychological truths.

So doesn’t it make sense to develop a personal economic plan that is designed for maximum happiness, learning, excitement, passion, and growth?

If these were your guiding principles, how would you spend (or invest) your money differently?  How would you alter your work schedule and habits?

Ask these questions repeatedly, every day.  Record your answers in a journal, repeatedly and daily.

See what answers come to you.

(Warning– this simple exercise could totally change your life).

Hobopoets On Payam (Last Year)

It’s an exciting time of year!

For most in the US, this is the Christmas season and with that comes vacation, commercialism, family, etc.

But for our Hobopoet tribe, this is a time of movement.

Most of my close friends are preparing for travels.  This week, for example, Tomoe and are frantically preparing for our four month trip to SE Asia.  I’m heading straight to Bangkok, while Tomoe is going to Osaka and will be joining me in Bangkok a month later.

I’ve decided to add another wrinkle to my trip… a bit more adventure.   I’m now planning to rent a motorcycle in Bangkok and then hit the road to Katchanaburi…  a solo easy rider trip.  My original plan was to do this in the north of Thailand, but my friend (and fellow biker) Wat recommended staying farther south as the northern mountains will be quite cold this time of year (and I’m going to Thailand to escape the cold!)

Meanwhile, my best friend Kristin… and her boyfriend Joe… are heading to East Africa.  They’re going to a music festival in Mali, then will explore the country more… and from there wing it– eventually ending up in Morocco.

The rest of my Hobopoet friends are coming to SE Asia a month after I am.

Wat, who is Thai, will be arriving in Bangkok at the end of January.  He’ll be coming with Todd and Lewis, two more good friends from San Francisco.   These three now own land on a small island in southern Thailand, called Koh Payam–  it now serves as our unofficial Hobopoet sanctuary.   We’ll all be there in February through the beginning of March.  Come join us at the South Star Bar, on Ao Yai beach, most any night!

In addition to this crew of good friends, other San Francisco Hobopoets will be joining us on Koh Payam during the same time, including Zac, Renny, and Gabby.

So, as you can imagine, things are buzzing with anticipation here in the city.  While others shop, we’re all busily preparing our backpacks, passports, and tickets.

Finally, I’m happy to add one more Hobopoet to our list of nomads.  My good friend Chris will be joining us from North Carolina.   I helped him start a website this year and he’s now working towards economic freedom.  He still has a way to go, and has encountered obstacles along the way….  but he’ll be traveling abroad for the first time since 1997 and is excited to join us for diving and hedonism in southern Thailand.. all made possible by his gutsy move towards economic freedom!

As you might guess, my motive for sharing this with you all is to entice you.

I want to entice you to the Hobopoet way.

And I hope that some day, you too will be joining us on our tropical island sanctuary in south Thailand!

Master your doubts, master your fears, claim your life, and declare your freedom.

See you soon on Koh Payam!

I love the heightened awareness– the realization that I’ll soon be leaving my current place and my current routine.  I find that this awareness of coming change produces a deep appreciation for all I now have.  I become more aware of how wonderful my friends are, how much I love this city, and how much I love my life here.

At the same time, there is a building excitement as I dream of the heat, the spices, the smells, the food, the people, and the energy of SE Asia.   And I’m excited by the knowledge that all my routines and patterns will soon be shattered.  It’s the thrill of the unknown… for even though I have lived in Thailand before– I find that my life is far more unpredictable and spontaneous there.

There is also the excitement of new life experiments.  There’s the Portable Empire experiment– the attempt to run my company successfully using Tim Ferriss’ “4-Hour Workweek” nomadic approach.  There’s the experiment of learning Thai. There’s the excitement of training for a 50 mile race.

And finally, there’s the giddy anticipation of hedonism:  chilled out nights at the South Star bar on Koh Payam island with the Hobopoet tribe…    a live-aboard dive trip to the Similan & Surin Islands….  spicy Som-Tam (papaya salad) at Lumpini Park in Bangkok….   a culinary tour of Kuala Lumpur with my friends Kenny & Geetha.

I absolutely love San Francisco and I love my life here.  But travel, for me, is an absolute necessity.  It awakens and inspires me.   It feeds my soul.  It fires my creativity and imagination.

Travel is the cure-all for whatever ails your spirit.  If you’re down.  If you’re scared.  If you’re lonely and miserable–  buy a ticket to a far off land.  I promise you’ll immediately start to feel better!