I finished my last day of training at the Kaewsamrit gym last Friday. I knew it was going to be my last day training so I wanted to be sure to give it my best and to look good while I was training.
For the morning session I was paired off with Mao. I like working with all the trainers and Mao is no different. I was able to work the pads, pound the bag, and finish up with the customary cool down exercises.
My left foot was not bothering me but this time my left ankle is all black and purple. I did not twist it but it looks like the repeated kicking has kind of taken a toll. I said to myself that I might have to take it easy in the afternoon.
For lunch I wanted to stay local so I went to the Canteen which is right at the street corner. I ordered my usual Pad Thai with Pepsi (42 baht which is like $1.35 US). After I was done eating lunch I went straight to my room and crashed out for another couple of hours before training started.
The afternoon session is always the dreaded session. 30 minutes of rope skipping, 4 rounds of pad work, 4 - 5 rounds of bag work, clinch sparring, a 2 mile run, and the final thirty minutes for the customary cool down exercises. I was paired with Mao again and again I had a great session. However, during my work I couldn't help but notice Masashi from Japan banging the pads with Master Cheng. Part of me wishes it was me hitting those pads. Oh well, at least I got to work with him three times during this trip.
I skipped dinner because I had to go to Lumpinee Stadium to watch a couple of Megafights in downtown Bangkok. Lumpinee Stadium along with Raja Stadium are the two major stadiums for fighting in Thailand. However, Lumpinee has been regarded as the Cesars Palace of Muay Thai. Seating capacity is over 10K and I actually prepaid my ticket the week prior.
I was able to take photos with a who's who in the world of Kickboxing. I met Somrluck Khamsing (1996 Olympic Gold Medalist in boxing), Saenchai Sor Kingstar (The best fighter in Thailand today), Sam-A, and Nong-O AKA Superboy.
The fights are the major fights in all of Thailand and the top fighters themselves have fought all over the world. However, Lumpinee Stadium is Major league in all of Muay Thai. I actually took a photo with Somrluck Khamsing backstage and took another photo with a fighter who was fighting first that evening. When the first fight started I began to feel that I may have jinx this guy because he got ko'd via leg kicks in the first round. The 2nd fight was worse, the betting favorite took an elbow to the chin and was out cold. He was so out they brought in a stretcher and he was taken out of the ring. I sincerely hope he didn't get the Dennis Alexio treatment (movie Kickboxer).
When it was time for the major fights I was able to sneak backstage again and take a photo with Petchboonchu a current star in Thailand. I felt bad taking a photo with him a few minutes before he was going to do battle but he was gracious to take a photo with me.
After Petchboonchu's fight it was now time for current champion Sam-A to fight. This was billed as the truck fight as if Sam-A wins, Toyota will give him a new truck. Sam-A's opponent is actually sponsored by Isuzu, and if he wins then Isuzu will give him a new truck.
I was sitting ringside when Sam-A came in walking to the ring. There was a big red dragon reminiscent of Chinese new year walking in front of him with the drums and cymbals banging. Sam-A went into the ring looking business. The fight was even for the first 2 rounds until Sam-A just annihilated his opponent in rounds 3 and 4 with body and leg kicks. Round 5, which is also the last round was just a formality with the opponent needing a knockout to win, Sam-A just kept his distance and waited for the round to end. Sam-A wins the fight and a new truck from Toyota.
The last fight was the main event pitting living legend Nong-O and current champion F-16. With a fighter name of F-16 I figure he must be a major bad ass. I later heard that the champion's fighter name is F-16 because he is a major in the Thai Airforce. The fight was the best fight of the evening as it was pretty even for the first 3 rounds. However, towards the end of round 4 you could clearly see that Nong-O was gassed and pretty much done. The crowd towards the end of the round were shouting in Thai "All Nong-O is doing is running away." That pretty much sealed it for him. I felt bad because there even though there was no truck in the running, the fight was for 2 million baht ($80K US).
With the main event over it was then time to go home. However, I hadn't eaten since 12 pm that day and I was totally hungry. I didn't want to head back to the gym right away either, I wanted to go somewhere where I can find a fast food joint and then go home. With thousands of people trying to get a taxi, it would have been nuts trying to find one myself. Luckily for me, my friend Rob Cox was in attendance as one of the media photographers of the event. Rob told me he was going to take the subway with 2 of his fighters and then he could even drop me off by the gym. I told Rob that I did not want to go home and that I was mad starving and wanted to go to Khaosan Rd because a BK or a Mickey D's would be open. Rob recommended that I go with him to the substation, take the sky-train, and at the exit there would be a slew of taxi's available. I did just that, exited at the substation and then took a taxi to Khaosan Rd. and found BK right in front of me. I ordered a whopper meal (tastes just like home) and after finishing up another taxi was waiting to take me home which it did.
Saturday morning was horrible because it was raining like a typhoon. I really wanted to go to church but looking out I saw that had I walked on the road the water would be knee high and I totally did not want to walk in that for 20 minutes or more to get to a place where a taxi would pass. So when the gym asked me if I wanted to go to Siam Boxing Stadium in Omnoi where current ace fighter Singmanee was going to fight that day I obliged. And as luck would have it as soon as I got in the car, the rain had already stopped and the water had subsided I said to myself "damn, I couldn't gone to church." I already committed to going with the gym so I didn't say anything and just went for the ride. I've never been to Siam Boxing Stadium which is in Omnoi, Thailand. The ride was pretty cool, I got to see things that I haven't seen like the country side of Thailand. The Stadium itself looked ok, it didn't not look as majestic like Raja or as historical like Lumpinee. But the stadium looked nice inside and the local TV station was going to cover it.
Singanee won his fight via points. After his fight I was just flat out tired of watching fights. As soon as I got home I crashed for a few hours. When I woke up, the afternoon training session had ended and I was asked by Hsu Chiu if I wanted to go with her to Central World (Mega Shopping Mall) and Big C (Thailand's Target). I said why not so I accompanied her to Central World where she ended up buying a handbag for who knows how much. And we went to Big C where she ended up buying 3 big bags of Thai Coffee.
After she was done shopping it was then time to eat. I was pretty cool with going to McDonald's or KFC or something like that but something told me that we were going somewhere else. We ended up eating at Shabu-Sen a Shabu Shabu restaurant (Japanese style Hot Pot buffet). After dinner we went back home and with the internet cafe closed I invited Hsu to my room where she could use my laptor for a couple of hours. Even though it was late I really did not mind as I had 2 hours of laundry to finish up as I was leaving the next day.
The following morning Hsu woke me up to have breakfast with the team. It was my last meal with them as I was going to be leaving in about 3 - 4 hours. After breakfast I finished up one of my bags and I then headed out to pay my respects to the people at the canteen who took care of me, Jimmy from the internet cafe, and finally to the people at the gym. It sucked leaving these guys as the gym is like a family. I told Cheng that I was leaving to go to Pattaya and he asked when I was coming back. I told him sincerely that maybe next year and he thought I might be coming back to do more training with them in a couple of days. When the rest of the trainers knew that I was leaving they all gave me a hug and wished me the best of luck.
I've only been to three gyms in Thailand over the past 4 years since I started flying to Thailand. I met a friend Richard this time out and he just goes to like 3 -4 gyms in 3 - 4 weeks. There is nothing wrong with what he is doing and I've always wanted to check out the other gyms as well. However, when you do not commit time (2 weeks minimum) to a gym you do not form any bonds with any of the people you meet. Out of the gyms that I go to, almost everybody remembers me. When my taxi finally came, most of the fighters and trainers were gone as there was a fight at Bangkok University and 4 of team's boxers had a fight. The girls who were left behind carried my luggage to the Taxi. I said my farewells and one of the girls who goes by Ai said, "see you next year right?" I just smiled and off I went.
Pattaya is like an hour and a half away. When I finally got there I was dropped off at Fairtex, the finest kickboxing training facility in all of Asia if not the world. I checked in, paid my dues, and went to my room to crash before having dinner. I woke up, had dinner which was fish and chips at the in house restaurant. After dinner I went for a foot massage and then a total body Thai massage at the local parlor. I then crashed knowing that I better rest up for the carnage that was going to happen tomorrow.
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