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Alien: Romulus
I’ve been an avid fan of the Alien film franchise for as long as I can remember. From the moment I first saw Ridley Scott’s iconic 1979 film, I was hooked. It might have been the very first film I had seen where the sole survivor was a woman, played by the extraordinarily talented and gorgeous Sigourney Weaver.
The film’s eerie atmosphere and soundtrack, the terrifying xenomorph, and the intense, claustrophobic tension of the Nostromo crew’s fight for survival were unlike anything I’d ever seen, and I’ve eagerly followed every installment since. So, when my daughter Elle suggested that we go see Alien: Romulus as one of her belated birthday presents to me, I was absolutely thrilled.
As a lifelong fan, I knew this was not going to be an ordinary movie outing. Elle has grown up hearing my enthusiastic retellings of the Alien saga, and she’s even joined me in watching a couple of the movies when she was younger.
But this was different. This was a chance to experience the franchise’s latest chapter together.
From the very first frame, I was on the edge of my seat. The film is action-packed from start to finish, a non-stop rollercoaster ride that kept my pulse racing throughout. Director Fede Álvarez truly delivered with this ninth installment, seamlessly capturing the dark, suspenseful tone that made the original films so iconic. Set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986), Romulus feels like a natural bridge between the two, filled with the kind of gritty, intense action that we fans crave.
What I appreciated most was how Álvarez managed to balance the familiarity of the original films with new, exciting elements. The tension was palpable, the stakes higher than ever, and both the old and new xenomorphs were utterly terrifying.
It was clear that Álvarez understood the essence of what made the original Alien so great, and he embraced the franchise’s roots with a few carefully placed homages to previous films as well as the original film’s concept artist HR Giger, while not shying away from pushing the story forward in new, thrilling directions.
Watching Alien: Romulus with Elle was a special experience. It was more than just a movie; it was a shared moment between father and daughter, a chance to pass on my love for the Alien universe to the next generation. Seeing her eyes widen at the intense scenes, and hearing her gasp at the unexpected twists – reminded me of my first encounter with the terrifying Alien Universe.
Back in the Harbor
After a most eventful month characterized by detoxing and training Bikram Yoga, we had a very uneventful flight home from Phuket/Thailand via Abu Dhabi. It’s great to be back and once we passed the bridge (above) on the train yesterday morning, I realized that I have a ton of stuff to look forward to this fall. Including several book projects – as well as some short and longer trips.
Beautiful Bang Tao Beach
This is from the beautiful Bang Tao Beach in Phuket, Thailand. Nothing wrong with Kata, Karon, Patong or Rawai, but to me, it’s up north along the west coast of Phuket that the most pristine beaches can be enjoyed. Went for a jog earlier this morning and had most of the beach to myself. It’s a little slanty, but the sand is fairly compacted and conducive for a nice run.
It’s soon time to head back west. Each time I’m in Asia, regardless really of where I always learn something new and inspiring. During this trip, I realized that I’m still in pretty good shape. At least enough to complete my hot yoga challenge. Hope to back here in the East again really soon.
Completed: Our 30-day Hot Yoga Challenge at Kata Hot Yoga
The studio’s focus is on the original Bikram method that combines 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises in a 40C/105F heated room for 90 minutes. But what makes this studio even more special is Govert, the owner and head teacher. Before opening Kata Hot Yoga over 15 years ago, he worked directly with Bikram himself. Whatever you may think of Bikram Choudhury the man, there is no denying that his hot yoga practice is genius.
The studio is located just minutes from Kata Beach and is super-easy to reach. It has a large lounge, and changing/shower rooms and you can buy fresh coconuts, kombucha and water before/after class. The studio’s atmosphere is light and bright, and the outdoor space is perfect for relaxing and cooling down with a few scoops of cold water after an intense morning or evening class.
Charlotte and I were lucky to do our 30-Day Challenge during the studio’s annual Teacher Training course, which allowed us to meet amazing people from all walks of life and from all over the world. The positive energy in this studio is palpable, and the sense of community Govert has created is something truly remarkable.
I’ve practiced many different kinds of yoga in many places around the world. But to me, Kata Hot Yoga is the gold standard, the benchmark that offers a truly memorable experience. We can’t wait to return and continue fine-tuning our postures!
Kata Beach Morning
This is Kata Beach where I go for a short dip most mornings after my Hot Yoga class. The zero gravity feeling I get when lying in the waves and just floating about is tremendously relaxing.
26th Wedding Anniversary
Thursday. Evening. Kata. Love & Cork.
Today, Charlotte and I are celebrating our twenty-sixth wedding anniversary. This year’s milestone is apparently called a “Cork Anniversary,” in Sweden, and if, like me, you’re wondering why cork, here are a few possible explanations.
It’s called a “Cork Anniversary” perhaps because the cork symbolizes flexibility and adaptability – qualities needed for a marriage to last. Cork is also a natural material that ages well and can recover even after stress– another fitting metaphor for a long-lasting marriage.
Moreover, cork floats, and anyone who has been married for a while knows that it’s important to stay afloat when the waves are stormy.
One of the younger American girls who is doing the teacher training and practices Hot Yoga with us daily here asked me yesterday what our recipe is for maintaining such a long relationship.
I gave her my standard answer: A combination of all our travels, our creative collaboration, a sizable dose of humor and the ability to laugh together and at each other.
Our travels give us inspiration and move us forward when we’ve been stuck in a rut for too long, and the creative process provides us with challenges that fine-tune our ability to cooperate and push our little company forward.
We decided a long time ago to forego career, prestige, and material possessions. Instead, we’ve focused fully on taking on new creative challenges and collecting new travel experiences together, along with the result of our finest collaboration: daughter, Elle Agnes.
It was to Phuket we went on our honeymoon in 1998, so it feels extra special to celebrate our anniversary here twenty-six years later.
After Hot Yoga Sunset at Kata Beach
This is from last night several hours after my 20th consecutive Hot Yoga class. I captured this scene while waiting for Charlotte to come to the beach after her evening class. Charlotte and I got lucky when we picked the timing for a 30-day challenge as all of our classes are filled with wonderful teachers training students from all over the world, which we both see as hugely beneficial for us newbies.
After most morning classes, a few of us walked down to the beach for a zero-gravity cooling-down experience in the crystal clear Andaman Sea. I honestly can’t think of a better way to start my day.
Hot Yoga Life
This morning I had my 20th Hot Yoga class in as many days. I did a double class yesterday to catch up with Charlotte. I’ll need to do a couple more doubles until I’m on par with my ambition to do 30 Hot Yoga classes within a month. So far, I’ve reduced my body fat by 6kg.
One of the friendly waiters at the hotel restaurant prepares my two breakfast boxes each morning, and I eat them (one with fruit, the other with veggies) with tremendous enthusiasm and the appetite of a vegetarian lion.
This is what today’s box contained: cucumber, broccoli, romaine lettuce, cornichons, bell pepper, onion, cherry tomatoes, egg, shredded carrots, and sweet corn.
Some reading this might wonder why we’ve traveled so far when Hot Yoga is available in Malmö and all over Europe.
Well, first of all, the main reason is that I’ve been at Kata Hot Yoga once before (2018), so I knew what to expect and could explain to Charlotte what she would have to reckon with and the results she could look forward to.
Secondly: staying at a nice hotel for a whole month and not having to deal with everyday chores like cleaning, washing clothes, buying, carrying, preparing, and cleaning up after three meals a day is, to put it mildly, an incredible treat.
Thirdly: though the vast majority of people we interact with here in Kata are not Thai (they are either expats, tourists, or migrant restaurant workers from Myanmar), we do love talking to Thais and seeing their beautiful smiles.
Fourthly, after all the many times we’ve visited Thailand – a total of 2.5 years of my life – eating an abundance of really tasty Thai food at quite reasonable prices (like everywhere else, food here is more expensive, but not nearly as much as in the EU and US) is still such a privilege. As previously mentioned, the Thai food available in Malmö (and most other places outside of Thaialnd) comes nowhere near what we get to enjoy daily here – at a cost that is 4 to 5 times lower.
Long Tail Boat
When I first visited Thailand in the early fall of 1988, I immediately fell in love with the country’s long-tail boats. These wooden vessels, with their distinct, chugging engine sounds, were like nothing I’d ever seen before. The engines are often repurposed from old cars and trucks, making each boat feel uniquely rugged. They’re kind of the Swiss army knife of Thailand’s waterways – used for everything from fishing and transporting goods to shuttling tourists around. You’ll find versions of these most versatile boats not just in Thailand, but all over Southeast Asia.
Yoga, Kata Beach & Aging Together
Kata. Evening. Khao Pad Kratiem Jay & Love.
The other night, Charlotte and I had dinner together at the market near our hotel. We usually eat at different times since Charlotte practices Hot Yoga in the evening, and I take the morning session.
Sixteenth time in a row for me this morning, and tonight is Charlotte’s nineteenth. Crazy.
We’re doing this to feel better, to stay strong, and to keep being flexible as sixty-year-olds.
After all, it’s at this age, between 60 to 75, that we all hope to be healthy and fit – so that we can continue to travel, create, and enjoy life – without our bodies complaining too much. We know health issues will inevitably arrive, but why invite them earlier than necessary?
According to the hotel’s scale, I’ve lost just over four kilos in less than three weeks. It’s likely mostly burgers, beer, and bourbon that have been burned off – things I find a bit too easy to indulge, but much harder to shed.
My metabolism has definitely ramped up during these weeks, I can feel it. But the plan going forward is to not indulge more than what my body needs. To eat less with my taste buds and more with my brain. And to embrace the Japanese principle of “Hara Hachi Bu.”
Back to dinner.
As we sat there at the market, eating “Khao Pad Kratiem Jay,” garlic fried rice with vegetables, Charlotte suddenly said she loves me.
I looked up, smiled, and responded just as spontaneously, “And I love you because you love me.”
I’m not sure why I responded that way, but I meant it. Knowing that you are loved, and feeling loved, means so much to me. It gives me strength and security.
Sometimes, when I think about the fact that there is actually someone who loves me – despite all my shortcomings and quirky traits – I become deeply emotional.
It’s far from always that I love myself, and I tend to focus too much on all the baggage I still carry around and how it can still cast a long shadow over my dreams, ambitions, and joy in life.
In a week, we’ll celebrate our twenty-sixth wedding anniversary. I’ll be 84 and Charlotte 82 when we celebrate our golden anniversary in 24 years. I hope we make it. But if we don’t, there’s something comforting in knowing we’ve come this far.
Being an old couple, both figuratively and literally, sharing the strange turns of aging, exchanging experiences, and finding a common path forward makes the inevitable journey toward “the ultimate cliffhanger” a little easier.
Sure, I can sometimes be envious of friends who are single. That uncompromising existence without negotiations, debates, and democratic decisions must be nice. But for me, being single would probably end in disaster.
I know that I need to be guided, supported, brought down to earth, and praised when it’s warranted. And to hear that you are loved for who you are.
Just as I love Charlotte for who she is, sitting across from me at a bustling market during one of our many adventures together.
The photo is from last night’s spectacular sunset here in Kata Beach.
Return to Kata Hot Yoga
Charlotte and I are currently in southern Thailand on the island of Phuket, smack in the middle of the village of Kata where we’re staying at a nice hotel just 300m to the beach. When we lived in Karon Beach, the next village north of Kata in 2001-2002, every Saturday, my local buddy Saran and I would go diving from Kata Beach. Though much else has changed here, the beach is still really pretty. Not diving this trip, but I hope to do some surfing.
This trip’s main objective is to gather experiences for a travel story about sports-focused vacations in general and Hot Yogain particular. And so, as part of the project, we’re taking a hot yoga class every day for about a month at Kata Hot Yoga run by Dutch guru Govert.
I’ve trained a bunch of different sports over the years, from competitive swimming and high diving to Kung Fu and Muay Thai. I’ve jogged, mountain biked, skied, played squash, and even taught Qigong. I’ve also trained in or at least tried the most common (western) yoga variants.
It’s perhaps not so much the poses per se, although they too are difficult to master, especially for me, a 61-year-old dude with chronic stiffness. But in combination with the high heat (≈ 40°C/105°F) and humidity (80-90%), each completed Hot Yoga (Bikram) class feels like quite the achievement. Above all, it serves as proof that I am still in relatively good shape.
I did 10 consecutive days in 2018 (here’s a video from that assignment) and felt fantastic afterward. My then slightly damaged skin (psoriasis) healed nicely, and my joints (arthritis) rejoiced. This year it’s same, same but different. I’m six years older and a bit less agile. But I’ll be dammed if I’m going to let my age get in the way of a challenge and an activity that has clearly been beneficial to my body.
It feels incredibly good to “invest” in one’s health. We train regularly at home, but here it’s a daily activity, and we get the added benefit of being able to indulge in the best that traditional Thai cuisine has to offer, typically served by friendly, smiling people.
Indulgence is a topic that I am often preoccupied with. I’m so much an expert at indulging that I have a hard time appreciate or finding the silver lining in the mundane, the bland, the daily meh.
So part of this trip, a Hot Yoga challenge, is to reevaluate and realign my sensibilities so that indulgence becomes more of an appreciated scarcity than a daily routine.
Portugal
“Portugal” is another new photography book that was coincidently published about the same time as “The Aging Man’s Survival Guide” and “Varvsstaden”.
This new book is the first in a series from places that have had a profound impact on me visually and where I’ve spent significant time.
The series’s concept is simple: create books with 75-80 inspiring images from amazing cities and places where I’ve spent significant time. Each book can serve as inspiration ahead of a visit or a way to remember how interesting and beautiful a destination is.
Portugal is available at www.amazon.com and www.amazon.se as well as www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.uk
Varvsstaden: Shipyard Blues
About “The Aging Man’s Survival Guide” Book
Monday. Sixty-One
Sixty-one today. I feel relatively indifferent to the number itself. I suppose I am too focused on making my age even more irrelevant and ensuring that my sixties are the most creatively challenging and productive of all my decades.
A little over a year ago, on the cusp of my 60th birthday, Charlotte – my valiant defender, creative partner, and endlessly patient wife of nearly 26 years – came up with another brilliant idea. Instead of wailing and whining about how tough it was turning 60, a questionable milestone if there ever was one, she suggested I write a book about the most profound physical, psychological, emotional, and sexual experiences I felt I was going through.
After considering the concept for a few weeks, I realized that writing a book about male aging from a deeply personal perspective was going to be hard as hell – but that if I succeeded, it could prove to be immensely therapeutic. Better yet, such a book might even help other men know that they’re not alone in navigating the murky quagmire and oftentimes disruptive process of aging.
Like many men, I’ve been rejecting that I’m getting older longer than I care (or, dare) to admit. But despite being a hopeless man-child, emotionally stuck sometime in the late 1980s, as today’s cranky, creaky, and confused 61-year-old, there’s no credibility in denying all the aspects aging has on my everyday life.
And folks, put your seatbelts on because I’m brutally honest about this stuff in the new book.
With a few liberating exceptions, most of my male friends don’t want to discuss their own aging experiences. At least not with me. I’ve tried, but to them, it seems almost taboo – as if talking about it would somehow make them seem weak, unmanly, and less attractive. If you do read “The Aging Man’s Survival Guide,” you’ll find a few solid theories on why this is.
I’ve even dedicated an entire chapter to male “Health Secrecy,” where I discuss why many aging men continue to be so guarded and preoccupied with projecting a level of machismo that just makes us look more antiquated than attractive.
Youthfulness is not an attitude, it’s a mindset.
I started writing the 220-page book in September 2023 and finished the final chapter, a rather lengthy epilogue, in May 2024. The new book is dedicated to Charlotte Raboff, Elle Agnes, as well as multitalented, endlessly stoical Art Director David Pahmp.
It’s available in both paperback and for immediate download at these fine bookstores:
Amazon.com:
https://a.co/d/9TLADzT
Bokus.com
https://www.bokus.com/bok/9789198852158/the-aging-mans-survival-guide/
Amazon.se:
https://amzn.eu/d/04WYXZlU
Apple:
https://books.apple.com/se/book/the-aging-mans-survival-guide/id6504995204?l=en-GB
Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-aging-mans-survival-guide-joakim-lloyd-raboff/1145914516?ean=2940180315083
BOL (Holland):
https://www.bol.com/be/nl/p/the-aging-man-s-survival-guide/9300000183052731
Decitre (France):
https://www.decitre.fr/ebooks/the-aging-man-s-survival-guide-9789198852158_9789198852158_10020.html
Rakutan (Japan):
https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rk/e5bcd3514267372c8bb1f51e118fc33d/
Celebrating Tyko Raboff
In remembrance of my little brother Tyko Blake Eskil Raboff, who would have been 57 today, July 21st.
I’ve been dreaming about Tyko lately. They’ve been pleasant dreams until I realize that when I awake, I’ll have to go through yet another sad farewell and once again reconcile with being on my own to deal with and absorb our past traumas, ongoing emotional toils, and seemingly endless aftershocks.
Actor Billy Bob Thornton has said that he has never fully recovered from the loss of his brother and that he always carries a sadness with him.
Thornton’s way of honoring his brother’s memory is through his work, which he believes helps maintain a connection to lost loved ones and makes peace with the pain he carries as a survivor.
I can relate to these sentiments more than I want to admit. Happy Birthday, Tyko.
#lostlovedones #mentalhealthawareness #tykoraboff #sadness #sucideprevention #littlebrother #billybobthornton #wisewords #brothers
Roadside Thai Deliciousness
I can conjure up a decent Pad Thai, Green Curry, and Massaman any day of the week. That said, none of my dishes come even close to being as delicious as what is served up at even the most unremarkable roadside eatery just about anywhere in the Land of Smiles.
Abstract Dreams of Tyko
I don’t really remember where I captured this wall, but I know it was somewhere in Bangkok late last year. I had a weird dream last night involving my brother Tyko and our aunt Elvy, both long gone. There was no trauma or drama; the only part that worried me was knowing that once the dream ended, I might have to relive some of the emotional depths of losing Tyko again.
My dreams typically consist of several scenes that are much clearer and more vivid than my recollections after waking up. Some scenes seem to repeat themselves over and over, as if I need to see them many times before I can move on. But what I mostly remember are abstract, fuzzy, fragmented puzzle pieces that barely make sense. I’m guessing I dreamt about Tyko because his birthday is coming up.
Choices & Decisions
I just read that on average, adult humans make about 35,000 decisions each day, a number that fluctuates based on the complexity of daily life and responsibilities. Decisions range from minor choices, like selecting clothes for the day and what to make for dinner, to far more significant ones that influence my work and personal life.
When it comes to smaller creative projects, like writing this text for example, I’ll make a few hundred tiny decisions on word choice and sentence structure to convey my thoughts and engage whoever’s reading what I’ve written. These choices are so numerous and made so quickly that I don’t even recognize them as decisions.
Even snappier decisions are made when it comes to selecting photographs or footage. Take these three, all good and reasonably well-composed—but only one of them finally made it into my upcoming book, “Varvsstaden – Malmö’s Maritime Legacy.” And even before I narrowed it down to these three, I had about 20 other images to choose from.
I wonder if making thousands of snappy creative decisions all day long influences the rest of my life. Does it make it easier or harder for me to make bigger, more impactful choices?
Scandinavian Summer Sunset
This is what it looked like last night when the sun lit low-flying clouds hovering peacefully above the Öresund Strait. This is a rare meteorological phenomenon that happens about once every summer. I was arguably a little late in capturing the drone footage for this little featurette, but it will have to suffice and I hope it offers a view of the colorful drama that played out above us last night.
Green ASMR
I’m in detox mode again. Day 18 of sobriety accompanied by a fairly rigorous dietary and training regimen. Someone once said to me that if you have one sober day a week, one sober week a month, and one sober month a year, you’ll be fine. Today’s smoothie consisted of frozen spinach, a tablespoon of protein made from dried and ground green peas, banana, ginger, coconut, and a dash of psyllium husks. Unless I’m staying at a hotel or when Charlotte makes her delicious vegan pancakes, I don’t have much more than a smoothie and then way too much coffee before lunch.
I didn’t intend on this being an ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) clip, it just turned out that way.