What Happens when you die in Cambodia?

Jyri Manninen | Kajura

This is not a video that I had planned on making, but it manifested as a consequence of the passing of one of my neighbours at our apartment complex. After I got the news from Autumn in Asia‘s Kelly, who is also my neighbour, we then attended the funeral/passing ceremony, which had been organised at very short notice just a few hours later. Kelly and I attended, along with members of the landlord’s family, as well as some local people, and it was conducted by 6 monks from our local Wat.

It was a very powerful and moving experience, and I hope that this video, where I go over everything that I observed, as well as add some personal thoughts on the greater concept of what is likely to happen when an expats dies in Cambodia.

Just note, that this is in no way a sad video, but one that provides yet another reminder of how important it is to live your life with meaning and passion, which includes providing service to others.

Be blessed,
George

My Camino Frances – A Spiritual Journey

Jyri Manninen | Kajura

I commenced the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail on my 59th birthday in June of 2025. This personal journey of spiritual growth over 800km took me 22 days, and here I will be present to you the full 4 part series, the initial ‘Road to Saint Jean’ – prologue, and then the 3 main parts to match the 3 phases of the Camino – the Physical, Mental and Spiritual.

The first video above is of that prologue, which describes my journey from Finland to the starting point at Saint Jean Pied de Port, a small town located at the foothills of the Pyrenees by the border with Spain. Below you will find the three remaining videos in the series. I hope that you’ll follow this wonderful journey, and that it will inspire you to also plan for and do something similar, if not the Camino Frances itself. You won’t regret it!

Be blessed,
George

La Fase Física

The second video is the story of that first physical phase, La Fase Física, which sees me walk 325km from St Jean Pied de Port, over the Pyrenees on day 1 and then on to the city of Burgos in 9 days via Pamplona, Los Arcos, Viana and Belorado.

La Fase Mental

This third video is the story of the second or mental phase, La Fase Mental, which sees me walk 196km from Burgos to León over a period of 5 days over ‘La Meseta’ (The Plateau) via Castrojeriz, Frómista, Carrión de los Condes, Sahagun and Puente Villarente.

La Fase Espiritual

This final video is of the spiritual phase, La Fase Espiritual, which sees me walk 323km from León to Santiago de Compostela over a period of 7 days via Astorga, Ponferrada, Sarria , Portomarin and Arzúa.

Firehorse in Cambodia

Jyri Manninen | Kajura

In the Chinese Zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Firehorse. I, myself, was born in 1966, which is the previous year that the Firehorse occurred. This reoccurrence now in 2026, after the completion of the full 60 year cycle, is considered to be the ‘return’ or ‘mirror’ year.

Inspired by my brother-from-another-mother back in Finland, and who is currently working on various AI related projects, I decided, for the very first time, to ‘have a chat’ with AI (in this case OpenAI), and the core topic was indeed in regards to the characteristics, as well as the many other aspects, of the Firehorse, including possible differences between the 1966 and 2026 years, and whether there were any other interesting perspectives that could be worth exploring.

In this video, I address the first of the 3 main questions that I asked, and it was mostly about the general nature and tendencies of the 2026 Firehorse year, and how it may related to all people, and also, more specifically, to me as an actual ‘returning’ FIrehorse myself. While the 2 remaining questions will be addressed in later videos, please just sit back and enjoy this opening narrative, with a nice backdrop from another local village moto tour here in Siem Reap, Cambodia with Kelly’s MC. The day out included a visit to a well known pagoda, Prasat Lpeuk Teuk Thla Bopharam, which is located about 10km out of town, and one that is, in fact, intimately connected with the Chinese Zodiac, as you may notice if you look carefully, as I wander around the grounds of the pagoda complex.

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to watch this latest video, and I wish you all a happy and prosperous Chinese Firehorse New Year, which officially started on the 17th of February, the day on which I published this.

Be blessed,
George