Ruby/Ruby on Rails Engineer based in Bangkok, Thailand 🇹ðŸ‡
10 Years in Asia
A decade ago, if someone had told me I'd spend the next ten years of my life exploring and living across Asia, I probably wouldn't have believed them. Yet here I am, looking back at a journey that transformed not just my career, but my entire perspective on life and work.
The Beginning
It all began in Madrid, where I was working as a Software Engineer, following what many would consider a "traditional" career path. During a local tech meetup, a casual conversation introduced me to the concept of "Digital Nomads" - a term I'd never heard before. The speaker mentioned an organized trip called Hacker Paradise, offering a two-month stay in Bali and Chiang Mai. Something about it instantly captured my imagination.
Without much hesitation, I applied for the program. When the acceptance email arrived, reality hit: I needed to convince my employer to let me work remotely for two months. Looking back, that conversation with my boss was the first step toward a completely different life.
Before this adventure, my travel experience was limited to the usual European city breaks with friends, a holiday in Japan, and a week-long trip to San Francisco for a Ruby conference. But this was different. I was about to spend two months in countries I knew little about, working while exploring places I'd only seen in travel blogs and magazines.
The first month in Ubud, Bali, was like stepping into another world. The lush greenery, ancient temples, and the unique blend of traditional and digital nomad culture created an environment I'd never experienced before. Then came Chiang Mai, Thailand, with its perfect mix of ancient culture and modern amenities. Being surrounded by other remote workers, developers, and digital entrepreneurs showed me a different way of living and working.
The most profound impact wasn't just the places themselves, but the people I met. Here were individuals from all over the world who had broken free from the traditional 9-to-5 office life, creating successful careers while exploring the world. Their stories, achievements, and lifestyles opened my eyes to possibilities I never knew existed.
When I returned to Spain, I knew my life would never be the same. The comfort of home felt different now - not uncomfortable, but somehow incomplete. My mind was already planning the next adventure, not just for a few months, but permanently.
A Journey Across Continents
Six months after my return to Spain, I embarked on what would become a year-long journey across Southeast Asia. This time, I approached travel differently - slowly and deliberately. Each destination became more than just a place to visit; it became a temporary home.
Ko Lanta's peaceful beaches and Bangkok's vibrant streets in Thailand. The bustling energy of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The digital nomad haven of Canggu and the paradise-like Gili Islands in Bali. The ultra-modern cities of Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Each location offered its unique flavor of life, and I stayed anywhere from two weeks to several months, depending on how deeply the place resonated with me.
After nine months of Asian exploration, I briefly returned to Spain to reconnect with family before joining something completely different - the Nomad Cruise. Sailing from Las Palmas in Gran Canaria to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, we stopped at Caribbean jewels like St. Martin, Antigua, St. Lucia, and Barbados. These were places I'd only dreamed of visiting, yet there I was, working from paradise.
Following the cruise, I found myself in San Jose, a beautiful beach place in my hometown that offered a perfect winter retreat. But Asia called again, this time leading me to join Remote Explorers for two months in the Indian Himalayas - an experience that added yet another dimension to my journey.
The next phase of my journey took me to Penang, Malaysia, before I finally settled in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for two years. This longer stay provided a perfect base for exploring more of Southeast Asia: the charming cities of Vietnam like Danang, Dalat, Hoi An, and Hanoi; the modern metropolis of Taipei in Taiwan; the multicultural hub of Kuala Lumpur; the laid-back capital of Laos, Vientiane; the vibrant city of Hong Kong; and even ventures into China's massive cities of Beijing and Shanghai.
In 2020, a new chapter began when I accepted a job in Bangkok, where I've been based ever since - except for a memorable six-month escape to Ko Samui during the Covid pandemic, where I lived in what I can only describe as my dream villa.
Finding Home in Thailand
After experiencing so many incredible places across Asia, it's Thailand, and particularly Bangkok, that has captured my heart these past five years. There's something special about this country that goes beyond its famous beaches, temples, and food.
Bangkok, with its perfect chaos of traditional markets and modern skyscrapers, of street food vendors and high-end restaurants, of ancient temples and contemporary art galleries, offers a unique blend that I haven't found anywhere else. It's a city that never ceases to surprise me, where every soi (street) holds new discoveries, even after years of living here.
The Thai people's warmth and their sabai-sabai (easy-going) approach to life has taught me valuable lessons about balance and happiness. Despite being a massive metropolis, Bangkok has a way of feeling like a collection of small communities, each with its own character and charm.
What started as a two-month adventure has evolved into a decade-long journey across Asia, ultimately leading me to find my home in Thailand. Looking back, that chance conversation at a Madrid meetup didn't just introduce me to the concept of digital nomadism - it opened the door to a life I never imagined possible.
These ten years have been more than just travel; they've been a journey of personal growth, professional development, and cultural understanding. While I don't know what the next decade holds, I'm grateful for every moment of this Asian adventure, and especially for finding my place in the City of Angels, Bangkok.