Last Day in the Kingdom and the Cleanest City on Earth.

Tuesday was officially my last full day in the Kingdom.  We call it the Kingdom because Thailand is officially called the Kingdom of Thailand.  Unofficially martial artists like myself call it the Kingdom of Kickboxing or more appropriately the Kingdom of Muay Thai.

The morning started off uneventfully to be honest.  I got up early, grabbed my equipment, and headed over to the gym.  After warming up I see that my trainer Ram wasn't in yet.  There was another trainer that looked pretty fit and capable that asked me to work with him.  I could work with anybody and therefore I agreed and got into the ring.

I didn't catch the trainers name but he was around 5'5", looked real fit as if he was still fighting actively, had some really cool tattoos, and came off as very agile.  We had the ring to ourselves and started working.  Round one starts and I start following him.  The workout starts out OK but then he positions the pads in a way and wants me to kick him.  So I throw a left body kick but instead of letting the pads absorb the impact, which is what you're supposed to do, the trainer slightly pulls back and I don't connect with maximum impact.  When I threw my punches my right would connect solidly but then my left would connect in matter similar to when I threw a kick.

It was confusing at first but I just went with it and finished my routine with him.  As much as I want to think that the power I can generate from my strikes had the trainer in fear, I knew that wasn't the case.  I took it as that's probably the way he worked with students but then he took off his gear.  I then see what seems to be splint on his left wrist and I find out that 2 months ago he injured his wrist in an actual fight in the ring.  I didn't show it but I was kind of upset because had I known about it I would've worked with someone else.  For the record, there were other trainers that morning that I could have easily worked with.  Ram eventually trickled in about 2 rounds into my routine.

After another hour I finish up my routine and shower up.  I head over to the restaurant and get my breakfast.  Breakfast over here is awesome.  I order a full omelette, hash browns, pasta, and some cereal.  After wolfing it down I head back to my room to relax and rest up for the afternoon session.

The afternoon session comes around and Ram's there waiting for me.  I start to warm up and I see that we're sharing the ring with a trainer by the name of Rambo, no joke, and his student Mareck, a Caucasian from Dubai.

I've seen Mareck train for a few days now.  As a matter of fact he was taking a private lesson on Sunday when there was no training.  He looked really fit, no body fat, but his technique tells me that he's probably only been training for month or so.  Anyway he does his routine but he's struggling to get through it physically and technique wise it's gone to shit.  It was as if everything he was working on just went out the window.  Suddenly he was ordered to throw a right round kick and threw it in such a way that he looked like a dying man looking for something to drink.  Rambo, sensing something, just threw his pads at him and shouted, "c'mon man, what the fuck is wrong with you?"  I don't know what was funnier the fact that he said it or the fact that he said it in perfect English.

I then start my routine with Ram and get to business.  No problems with my technique just major problems with my defense and reaction time.  Knowing it was my last time training I threw everything I had into the session.  Despite the obvious beating I was able to finish the session without incident and I wasn't tired either.  I thanked Ram for showing me what I obviously need to work on and I get back to working the bag and my calisthenics.  

After I was done training I showered and I then saw the Pro Thai Fighters training in full swing.  I see the owner of Fairtex, Phillip Wong, sitting on a stool watching his top fighter Yodsanklai Fairtex blasting the pads.  Earlier in the day I saw Phillip but we just waived to each other as I was walking into the gym.  Normally when I come out to Fairtex he asks me about my life at home, my job, and my future plans.  I would then ask him how business was and he would either tells me very good or not so good.  It's been that way over the last few years that I've traveled and trained there.  He was very frank and honest.  The last time I spoke with him he told me that he was expanding.  He already owns two major gyms in Thailand with the one that I'm staying at being the flagship sports club and resort.  There are Fairtex gyms in Japan that he's a partner with.  And prior to opening the gyms his main business was in textiles.  If you bought a shirt from Gap and saw the tag that reads "Made in China" it was most likely his factory that made the shirt.

Anyway this time around he didn't really speak to me and I didn't think much of it.  After I was done with my workout I stood next to him and started filming Yodsanklai doing his training.  All of a sudden Phillip turns to me and says, "I'm sorry I didn't talk to you Brian (he remembered my name), but I just found out this morning that my niece passed away.  They found her body in her room and right now I'm just frustrated."  I then found out that Carrie, the hot Chinese girl that greeted me in the hotel lobby just two days ago, was his niece.  Young, pretty, and dead at 27.  I saw Prem a few minutes later and told him I was sorry to hear about his cousin and he said thanks but "it is what it is."  I didn't want to probe into it out of respect and just told Phillip I'd keep his family in my prayers.

I had dinner and then went for a Thai massage to alleviate all the aches and pains that two and a half weeks of kicking and punching will do to you.  I went back to my room and started packing.  All of a sudden I hear thunder, lightning, and hard rain.  The thunder was pretty unnerving as it was booming loud.  It was as if I expected Raiden to come out and start firing lightning at people or Thor flying out with his hammer.  I tried to sleep through it and then all of a sudden the power goes out which means my AC goes out as well.  I looked at my clock and it read 4:12 am.  The power goes back on in 30 minutes and I was able to sleep until around 8 am.

Wednesday morning was just an opportunity to socialize with Ted and Joao again with the Thai Fighters training in the background.  I find out that Ted is going to run the distribution side of Fairtex in California,, Prem will manage the Muay Thai and Sports Club, and Joao is actually going to start teaching in Dubai.  I see Phillip and tell him that I wished he had a gym in Hong Kong and smiles and tells me that he's supposed to be leaving for Hong Kong this weekend for that same reason.  Construction should be beginning next year.  In the midst of all this there's still an element of both shock and sadness in regards to the death to Phillip's niece.  One of her friend's comes by and speaks directly with Phillip about the situation.  I don't know what was said as they were at a distance but reading the emotions it was obvious what they were talking about.

I head over to breakfast and eat healthy portions of pasta with meat sauce, an omelette, roasted potatoes, cereal, and Thai noodles.  I know that the day was going to be long and that I better feed myself in case I wouldn't be able to eat lunch until I got to the airport.

After I was done eating breakfast I headed back to my room to finish up packing.  A bell boy was sent to my room who promptly grabbed my two bags and whisked me away via motor cart to the main building.  I check out and Phillip Wong, Ted, and Joao all wish me good luck.  I wish them luck as well and tell Phillip I'll definitely visit his facility in Hong Kong.  Ted later tells me we'll hang out back in California in a few months. 

My taxi arrives and I leave Pattaya.  Thanks to my ipod and sick new pair Bose Noise Cancelling headphones that my parents bought me before I left, the trip back was relaxing despite the rain.  I make it to Suvarnabhumi Airport and head to the Singapore check in lounge.  Because I checked in online I was able to bypass the crazy regular line and just go into the internet confirmation line and check in.  Within 10 minutes I'm able to check in my bags and go to passport control.  I head to the Gate C7 and wait for my plane.

Because I fly alone the wait's a little long.  6 years ago my college roommate and close friend Eddy flew with me and those waits didn't seem long at all.  After waiting for a few minutes it's time to board.  I sit and get ready and was notified that the flight is only 2 hours.

The two hour flight went by fast.  I watched "The Man of Steel" and had a meal of fish and pasta.  The stewardesses of Singapore Airlines are always pleasant to look at.  By the time we landed I'm psyched and pumped up.  I later see why Singapore's Changi Airport is always ranked among the top 3 in the world.  I'm lucky that I've been able to see the other 2.  Hong Kong International Airport is just a great all around airport.  It's efficient, looks modern, and service is great.  Seoul, Korea's Incheon airport is just awesome.  It's huge, looks ultra modern, and has earned the nickname Air City.  Changi is smaller than Hong Kong International and does not look as cool as Incheon in Seoul.  However, I believe it's the most efficient.  I'm out of the airport in less than 30 minutes from the time I leave my plane.

I get into my taxi and I'm whisked away to my hotel.  As the taxi is driving on the Singapore highway I'm reminded about the first time I was out here two years ago.  The highway that connects the airport to the rest of the country is what sets it apart from the other countries that I've been to.  The traffic was so orderly and reminiscent of what I see in San Francisco except cleaner and not so congested.  As the taxi driver was driving me I could see the ocean to my left and the Singapore skyline to my right.  Due to the fact that it was already evening I could see the center financial district lit up among the clean skies.  Even more impressive was the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino which happens to be the most expensive casino on Earth.  It consisted of three towers and a skydeck that looked like a battleship on top of the three towers.  As my taxi driver was driving past it I was reminded that it looked like the Space Battleship Yamato resting on three pillars.

After being impressed with architecture of the many buildings, the cleanliness of the roads, and the beauty of the skyline, I was then dropped off at my hotel.  After checking in and being taken to my room I was then fully aware that I was somewhere so different than Bangkok.  My hotel room was a loft that consisted of two floors that entailed a bottom floor that contained my bathroom, shower room, and living room complete with a phone and WiFi.  The second floor was much smaller but contained a queen size bed and a HD flat screen TV.

I had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe where they was live music.  When I travel I try to at least find out if there's a Hard Rock Cafe in the city that I am visiting.  I was able to go to both Bangkok and Pattaya's HRC's.  After dinner I headed back to my hotel to rest up for the upcoming day.  

Which brings us to now.  I have a lot going on and a lot more to write but it's almost 1 am Friday.  I'm going to bed.
        

One More Day in the Kingdom

It is currently Monday night around 10 minutes to 11 pm.  I had just finished my first day of training at the Fairtex Gym in Pattaya City, Thailand.  Pattaya City is about an hour and 30 minutes south of Bangkok.  The highway is pretty smooth with hardly any traffic and nothing but green grass, trees, and mountains on both the left and the right of the freeway.

Last Saturday was my last day in Bangkok.  I woke up a little late as I did not plan on training per religious reasons.  I was able to watch the tail end of the training and speak to my fellow trainees.  I headed off to breakfast and was able to eat with Josh from the UK.

I hadn't seen Josh in a few days.  As a matter of fact, the first week that I was training I rarely saw him.  He only came to afternoon sessions, skipped the morning session entirely, and didn't run either.  However, on the second week he trained on both sessions that Monday but afterwards I did not see him again.  He had planned on training until next August but something did not seem right and I did want to guess anything.

I was then notified that he injured his foot and he was going to be out of commission for awhile.  Worse yet he later informed me that he may have a fracture on his left foot.  I felt bad for him and because both us did not train Saturday morning we were both the only two eating breakfast that early.

I was able to catch a taxi to go to Bangkok SDA church again.  I was delighted because the speaker was a fellow American who happens to be an official missionary in Bangkok.  After he spoke we chatted for a bit.  I just introduced myself and didn't think much of it but Greg, the missionary, was interested on why I was in Thailand.  We spoke for a few minutes and even though he's a missionary in the far east we talked about baseball since he's a Red Sox fan and currently the playoffs are being played.  Afterwards he gave me his card and asked to keep in touch.  He's currently living in an SDA mission complex not far from the church.

After the service I was able to catch a motorcycle taxi who promptly took me to Siam Paragon.  I had lunch at Mos Burger for the last time and a few doughnuts.  After window shopping I took another taxi to Lumpinee and just browsed around.  There were no fights at the time but I figure it would be a good time to check it out as it's scheduled to be torn down by the end of the year.  A new Lumpinee Stadium complete with modern amenities is scheduled to be open sometime next year.  It was nice seeing the place, browsed the stores, and then I got another taxi to head back to the gym.

When I got back to the gym the afternoon session was in full swing.  However, I could sense that the immense heat was taking a toll on my fellow trainees.  It's the hottest it's ever been in the two weeks that I've been there.  Water was being drank at a rapid pace and boxers kept taking small momentary breaks to rest from the immense heat.

The trainers, who I've gotten to know well over the past 5 years, already knew that I was going to go the following morning.  It was nice that most of them stopped what they were doing to wish me well and inform me that I'm always welcome back.  I took photos with most of them.  Chanachai, the former champ that laid waste to Marco from Spain, asked if he could have my bracelet that I wear on my left wrist.

For the people that know me, I wear a small rubber bracelet on my left wrist whenever I can.  The bracelet simply has the words EVOLVE in red letters.  I purchased it at the Evolve MMA gym in Singapore last year.  It's a cheap bracelet but I like the wording.  I use it to constantly remind me to evolve as a person both spiritually, mentally, and physically.

Anyway, Chanachai asked if I could give it to him.  I gave it to him without thinking because I figure I could always buy one at Evolve since I'm planning on spending a an hour or so this coming Thursday.  As soon as I gave it he wore right away, put on his gloves, and went on smacking another foreigner in sparring.

Dinner was the same as always.  Just the healthy portions of rice, chicken, and veggies.  Again I ate just enough but instead of leaving I decided to chill out and socialize with my fellows boxers.  It's always pleasant for me to speak about boxing or fighting in general over dinner with people who have the same interest.

I then visited Jimmy at the internet cafe.  Jimmy, a mechanic, has a side business of running an internet cafe when he's not working.  The cafe is directly connected to his house.  He speaks perfect English and he's probably, along with Ted from Fairtex, my best friend in Thailand.  I told him that I was leaving the following morning.  We chatted for a bit and I asked him if there was anything he liked from the US.  He politely declined and I asked again because he always took care of me when I was in Bangkok.  He told me what stations to take, how to work the BTS, when and where I should use a taxi to get back.  Pretty much he gave me real useful information.  Again, he politely declined and informed me that being a friend was more than enough.

That Saturday night in Bangkok just lasted forever.  I had to pack, clean the room, and try to get some sleep before I headed off.  I was informed my taxi was going to arrive at 5 am and that trainer and cook Ken was going to come along.  Ken was going to be dropped off at the airport as he needed to pick up another new student from Germany.  The airport was along the way to Pattaya.

I got into Pattaya on early Sunday morning.  The taxi driver promptly dropped me off at Fairtex Hotel and Sports Club.  I was going to live and train here for the next couple of days before I leave for Singapore this coming Wednesday.

Fairtex was the first gym I visited and trained at 6 years ago.  Not only is it the finest and most expensive but it's also the best.  It is expensive but since I've been going here for the past couple of years the gym has given me a sizable discount.  I don't want to disclose the amount I paid as I "earned" that discount with the continued business I gave them.  Someone reading this might want to train at Fairtex and inquire if they can get the rate I got.  After I checked in I had breakfast and it was nice.  I had an omelette, fresh fruits, and frosted flakes for breakfast.  It was also buffet style and so I just ate what I could before settling in.  There was not any training on Sunday and therefore I just waited until Monday to get things going.

That leads us up to today.  Monday morning was rough to be honest.  I got up and headed over to the gym pretty much knowing what to expect.  Save for last year I've been going here for the past 6 years.  However, I noticed something different this time around.  I saw a lot of young up and coming fighters training with us.  I then see Ted, my Japanese American friend from LA, come in to check things up.  I promptly inform him that I arrived yesterday.  Ted then informs me that the owner of Fairtex had simply wanted to raise fighters again which explains the big influx of new blood.

Fairtex is a big complex.  The get the grand scope of it you can look it up online at http://www.fairtexpattaya.com.  Once you enter the boxing center you see four full size boxing rings to your left.  There is a matted area full of punching bags of every kind to your right.  Right next to the center is a full fitness gym much in the same likeness of a 24 Hour Fitness.  The bathroom has a sauna, steam room, and lockers for use.  Towels are free and you're given two 24 oz. bottles of water per day.  Fresh fruit is complementary and with meals you are given an option of western or Thai.

After warming up I am paired with pro trainer Ram.  I look around me and saw fellow trainees going through their routine.  I really hoped that they weren't going to treat me like the trainers were treating them.  Some of the guys are new and did not have a clue on how to throw a proper kick.  Some were just not used to the training routine.  So the trainers worked with them slowly technique by technique.  I did not want that to happen to me as I've been coming here for years, trained at a local gym to maintain my edge, and had spent the last two weeks training hard in Bangkok.    

Luckily Ram did not treat me like the other students.  My work was excellent and hard.  My trainer worked offense and defense which proved to be very difficult as my reaction time sucks.  I ate a lot of right kicks to the body.  To give you an example Ram would have me throw a left cross, right hook, and a left round kick to the body.  I would do just that but right after I would land my left kick Ram would kick back with his right to the left side of my body.  If he wasn't kicking the left side of my body he was kicking the inside of my right leg.  If he wasn't kicking the the inside of my right leg he was kicking my head with his left leg and so on.  In other words he had me totally dismantled.  He kept on shouting at me "timing" and "relax".

After 5 four minute rounds I went to the bag and just copied the routine I was doing when I was in Bangkok.  Fairtex was in full swing and there were other students waiting their turn with the trainer while I was doing my work.  After 5 rounds with the bag in which I worked my kicks, punches, and knees I left for breakfast.

After breakfast I slept for a few hours before I headed off for the afternoon session.  The afternoon session went like the first.  In other words it was hard and difficult and again I was paired with Ram.  I didn't complain because I liked it.  There was a Russian student who was screaming and trying to make sound effects with every strike he threw at the trainer.  It was notable but who was he trying to impress?  There weren't any hot girls around and at the time there weren't any star fighters around either.  I then noticed he had an annoying habit every time he threw a strike.  Imagine shaking your head "no" to someone while throwing a kick right after and you get an idea on what I am talking about.  I mentioned this to Ram and Ram relayed it back to trainer Samart.  Right after Samart was notified the Russian fighter had an horrible time finishing up his training as he had a hard time trying to get rid of the habit.  He looked at me but I couldn't tell on whether he was mad or not.  If anything he should thank me, that habit of his is going to get him killed if ever decided to fight in the ring.

I then socialize with Ted and son of the owner Prem.  I was then notified by Ted he was going to a Mexican restaurant to have a burrito.  It threw me off at first because Mexican Restaurant and Thailand do not normally go together but nevertheless I wanted to go out on the town and Ted had a car.  Ted advised me to eat dinner at the cafe since I already pre paid and meet up with him 2 - 3 hours later at the hotel lobby.

I had spaghetti and a coke for dinner and I still had an hour and a half before I was supposed to meet up with Ted.  After dinner I went for a foot massage at a clinic just a short walking distance from the gym.  The massage only costs 250 baht ($8 US) and lasts for an hour.  It was painful and she didn't just work my feet but my calves, shins, and quads.  But a few minutes after I was done I had my spring back on my legs and thanked the masseuse.

I then headed back to the hotel where I met up with Joao and Ted.  Joao is from Brazil and teaches the cage fighting class at Fairtex.  The three of us get into Ted's Ford Escape and head out to Sam's Mexican Food in the center of Pattaya.  Sam's is owned by expat Sam who is a retired Texas Sheriff now living in Pattaya.  The food was awesome and I never thought I could eat something like that in Thailand.  I had a steak burrito (I hope it was steak), nachos, and Spanish rice.  After bs'ing with Ted and Joao we head back to the complex.

That brings us to now.  It is almost 1 am Bangkok time.  It's my last day in the Kingdom.  It's kind of bittersweet because I got use to the routine here.  It is very simplistic but the benefits are very rewarding.  I'm healthier, fitter, and faster than ever.  But as much as I love it I also want to see Singapore and ultimately I want to go home.        
   

Bangkok Dangerous

Tuesday night ended sweet as I was able to speak to my girlfriend on the phone.  Thanks to apps like Viber I can call anyone free of charge anywhere around the world as long as the recipient has Viber as well.

Obviously speaking to my sweetie is always good.  The problem was that it was close to 2 am Wednesday morning when our conversation ended.  I went to sleep but when I woke up at 6:30 am to run I realized that it wasn't a smart idea and that I should take the morning session off so that I can catch up on some sleep and recover.

I slept for a couple of hours and when I woke up I was able to catch the last bits of the morning session.  I don't recommend skipping training sessions but sometimes skipping one during the week is a good thing. Not only was I able to heal up but I was also eager to train for the next session.

After breakfast I couldn't sleep and I didn't really know what to do.  I had 4 - 5 hours of free time before training and so I decided to visit a gym that I've always wanted to check out but never had the opportunity to do so.

Eminent Air Muay Thai (http://www.eminentgym.com) is a gym that I've always to see but never had a chance.  Along with Kaewsamrit it has a reputation for hard training and being accommodating to foreigners such as myself.  Last year I probably could have gone there but I ultimately decided to train at Kiatphontip Muay Thai (http://www.kiatphontipgym.com).  Training at Kiatphontip is a decision I didn't regret and I would like to train there again sometime in the future.  However, visiting a new gym or scouting a new gym for the future seemed to be a good idea for me.

It took me a few taxis before I realized that Eminent Air is in a different part of Bangkok.  My contact Melissa told me to have the Taxi driver take me to the BTS (Bangkok Transit System) station and just get off at Punnawithi Station.  I told the taxi driver to take me to the BTS but he ended up taking me to a BTS station that was so far from where I had to go.  I didn't realize it at the time but I was taken to Wangjian Wai station and Punnawithi was on a different line.

Luckily for me the transit map was in English and so I was able to track where I had to go.  I ended up taking a train to from Wangjian Wai to Siam Station.  That took about 20 minutes.  And then from Siam Station I was able to catch the train to Punnawithi.  After I got off I was able to catch a Taxi and the Taxi promptly took me to Eminent Air Muay Thai.

Eminent Air is clean but small compared to Kaewsamrit or even Kiatphontip at least training space wise.  Like Kaewsamrit it is located in a nice residential area.  It's located off of a small residential road and if you were going northbound the gym's apartment housing is on your left and the gym is to your right.  As soon as you walk in the open training area is staring you in the face.  The gym sign is located above and there are photos of champion fighters everywhere.  Also there are belts and trophies chronicling the success of the gym.  To the left are two boxing rings side by side with the logo emblazoned on the floor.  Also there are weights and other exercise equipment.  Unlike Kaewsamrit the open training area is not matted it is just concrete.  It was around 1 PM and therefore no one was training yet.  The gym was empty save for the owner of the gym who politely greeted me.  Also, a foreign fighter by the name of Claudio Amoruso showed me around.  I find out that Claudio, who's originally from Italy, has been living and fighting in Thailand for the past 4 years.  He speaks fluent Thai and English and politely served as my translator.

After getting all the particulars I find out that the set up is not much different from the gyms that I've had the honor of training at.  You train twice a day and the times are similar.  However, the routine is a little bit different.  Eminent's Monday, Wednesday, and Friday sessions are similar to what I've done in the past.  Their Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning sessions are quite different as they do extensive weight training.

After buying two shirts from the gym as a way of saying thank you for their hospitality, Claudio offers to give me a lift to the BTS station.  It was a grand gesture and one I won't forget.  At the station the attendant, who speaks fluent English, told me that I should get off at the Victory Monument station and get a taxi back to the gym.

The train ride to the Victory station wasn't long and I was able to get a taxi ride to the gym.  I was able to make it back to my room a little past 2 pm.  I took a quick nap and about 2:55 pm I woke up, took my supplements, and made my way back to the gym.

Because I missed the morning session I was so hungry to get back in the ring and start training again.  Also, another fighter, this time from Spain, arrived at the gym.  Marco, from Spain, had just arrived and immediately started training.  I got along fine with Marco, he gave me respect which is all I ask, but he came off as being arrogant to other people.

It all came to a head early on in the training.  Wednesday afternoon training sessions are sparring sessions.  I was politely asked if I wanted to participate this time around.  Cheng, the head trainer, told me I was welcome but that everybody in the ring participating this time were professionals.  I politely declined and thanked them for asking me.  I diligently worked on my technique with my trainer while the sparring was going on.  Marco was in the ring and sparring with Chanachai Kaewsamrit.  Chanachai is a 6'2 former World Champion that is currently scheduled to fight in the Isuzu Grand Prix of Kickboxing.

As I was training all of a sudden I hear a loud thud on the ground.  Marco was on the mat clutching his ribs and acting as if a sniper on the gyms balcony got him.  It was a painful sight to see but the trainers who were monitoring the sparring were mockingly counting as if he was down for the count.  I smiled and went back to my training.  Chanachai was then sparring with James from Australia. James along with his supportive father Jeff had come to Thailand.  James had a fight in Australia coming up next Friday and was in Thailand training for that particular upcoming fight.  James sparring with Chanachai was uneventful as James just kept fighting from the outside on the perimeter of the ring.

The end of the first half of my afternoon session coincided with the ending of James sparring with Chanachai.  I then decided to take a 10 minute break as Marco, who apparently had just recovered, wanted another go at Chanachai.  Just a few minutes into the round Marco takes a right cross to the nose from Chanachai and goes down again like a sack of potatoes.  He's slow to get up and blood is running from his nose.  Sparring promptly stops and training resumes.

By now I'm used to the routine and I'm just on autopilot.  After the training session ends I head off to shower up.  Afterwards I go to the cafeteria for my dinner.  I'm just joined by the four Frenchmen, two Aussies, a samurai from Japan, and Marco from Spain.  One look at Marco and after only one day of training he looks like he's had better days.  Busted nose and a black eye.  I can't prove that he did anything wrong but something tells me he did or said something to cause his demise.  I was later informed that he signed up for 6 months of extensive training.  Something tells me that he trained somewhere else and the gym wanted to show him no mercy.

Thursday's training sessions were more or less the same.  However I feel that my body peaked on Thursday afternoon.  I felt incredibly fit, strong, and fast.  My training went flawless and I was able to complete it without incident.  However, a few of my french companions did not train that afternoon.  Some would train in the morning but not in the afternoon.  Or two would train in the afternoon but not in the morning.  Rarely did one of them train twice in the same day.

After our training session there were privates for most of the evening.  Parents were taking their children to box and company workers were getting their exercise.  Their training wasn't as intense as ours but it was nice to see them getting authentic training.  I say authentic because back home in the States the Muay Thai training is so watered down it's sad.  I used to spend upwards of $100 a private session at Faitex Muay Thai in Mountain View, CA.  Include $40 for round trip fuel, $15 for a meal at applebees, and I would have spent $155 to $160 just for one private session.  I thought it was awesome and it was but it's garbage compared to what you get in Thailand.

Anyway, after torturing myself on Thursday I just wasn't up to eating at the cafeteria this time around.  I was craving fast food again and I took a taxi to Khao San Road.  It's a touristy area that a girl introduced me to a few years ago.  It's the closest Burger King to the gym and tastes just like the BK back home.  I order a whopper meal and a coke and I ate it like it was my last meal on earth.  After buying two shirts from a local vendor I was able to catch a ride back home.

Friday's morning session started just like all the other sessions.  However, during the middle of my training a wayward soul trickled into the gym.  Head trainer Cheng had a concerned look on his face, stopped what he was going, and promptly started speaking to the kid in Thai.  The young man stated that he wanted to learn how to box.  I asked Cheng what the deal was and he informed me that he thinks the kid is drunk.

Cheng's got a good heart.  While the wayward soul was watching; Cheng was teaching a new student by the name of Che.  I was informed that Che is 17, was from the mountains, and that his father had just died.  He wanted to find a way out for his family and he feels that Muay Thai can get his family out of poverty.  I've been able to watch him train and he diligently works his craft with Cheng on a daily basis.

Anyways, after Cheng was done training Che he immediately turns his attention to this kid.  The boy informs the gym that he dreams of being a champion in Muay Thai.  But then the scene turns a little hostile as Cheng and fellow trainers Ong and former world champion Kapton Kin corner him.  They speak to him in Thai so I couldn't understand exactly what they were saying.  However I then see Ong get what seems to be an alcohol test and hand it over to Cheng.  Cheng then informs the kid to take the test but if he fails then the gym is going to ask him to leave.  The kid complies and the test looks similar to a pregnancy test a girl would take.  A few minutes later the test is administered and the kid totally fails.  They promptly kick him out as if he's leper from the stone age.          

After training and breakfast I take a nap.  I also start to think about my time here knowing that the afternoon session is going to be my last in Bangkok.  I do not love Thailand but I love the environment and the camaraderie of the gym.  People who have experienced something similar would know what I am talking about.  I lost a lot weight, learned some new techniques, and made some more new friends.

The afternoon session was tough not only for me but for almost everybody.  The training has taken its toll somewhat on us foreigners training there.  I was able to complete my training but it was hard.  I just had a hard time getting my engine going.

When word got out that Friday was my last day of training I started getting well wishes from the trainers and the fighters.  I told them what my plans were and they all wished me luck.  It also helps that the gym is bilingual and that they all speak fairly good English.  I was then asked by James and Jeff from Australia if I could go with them to Khao San Road.

James and his father Jeff are great guys and its their first time flying out of Australia.  However, they've kind of had a rough time finding their way around Bangkok.  I agreed to go with them and the funny thing is the real reason why they wanted to go was to eat at Burger King.  I told them to meet me at 6:30 and we'll go together.

I was able to get a taxi, told him Khao San Rd., and the Taxi promptly takes us there.  We arrive and James and Jeff inform me that this is the best place they've ever been to in Bangkok.  We ate like Kings, no pun intended, at Burger King and afterwards I take them down Khao San Rd.  They buy a few things and afterwards we promptly get a taxi back to the gym.

As soon as we get back to the gym they both thank me for the flawless road trip and then we call it a night.  It's now about 12:30 AM Saturday morning.  I'm going to catch some z's.  I have a lot to do and I depart for Pattaya on Sunday.
 

Stretch Run

It's about almost 10 pm on Tuesday night as I write this.  Monday and Tuesday were just hard core premium training days.  No fanfare, no having fun, just total hard core training.

Monday morning started off with a run.  The sun was just rising and the weather was nice and cool.  As I head out to do my roadwork I see Jeff from Australia and Josh from England just coming back from their runs.

To describe the run I head out of my dorm room and make a left and almost immediately I have to make a right.  I end up running down the road which is a residential road.  There are homes on both sides, the road is paved, and it's about a half mile long.  After that stretch of road is done you end at a T intersection in which you make a right onto one of the main roads.  After a quick left you end up at the main road in which the majority of your run takes place.  There are cars that come by and a few intersections that you have to cross.  As you are running it is not uncommon to see other boxers heading the opposite direction.  

The run is about 5 miles and it takes me about 45 - 50 minutes to complete.  After I head back to the gym I limber up, stretch, and shadow box for about 15 minutes.  After shadow boxing I wrap my hands, head into the ring, and then start training with my trainer.

The routine is the same in which I do pad work, bag work, clinch work, and hard calisthenics.  I lose an average of about 5 lbs. a session.  Of course I gain some of it back after breakfast and dinner but for the most part I lose on average about 2 - 3 lbs per day.

Last week I was just getting acclimated but starting Monday I geared down and just trained hard.  I was notified that one of the new trainers, Kaptan Kin (sounds like Captain Kim), is very famous in Thailand.  Mr Kin has won 3 world titles and is a highly sought after trainer for private lessons.  I had the opportunity to work with him and although he cannot speak English I was able to absorb what he was able to teach me.

Monday's afternoon session was pretty much the same difficult thing but there were 4 fighters from France that arrived at the gym.  They ended up being assigned the room right across from mine.  They are a great bunch of guys and easy to get along with.  

Tuesday morning I was just so sore to get up early enough to run.  I ended up just going to the gym and doing warm up exercises just to get my body going.  It was tough, tiring, and my is just aching all over.

Another fighter just arrived a few hours ago from Spain.  I haven't had the honor of training alongside him yet but he seems to be a pretty nice guy.

After another premium training session it was time for dinner.  But today I just had a craving for something different.  Something with...taste.  There's nothing wrong with the chicken, fish, and veggies that I'm getting everyday and it is half of the reason why I lost 15 lbs. in a week and a half.  To put the weight loss in perspective I lost 8 - 10 lbs. after 5 months of marathon training.  So the clean fuel that I am putting into my body has been working wonders.  But today I just needed something good and I was craving McDonald's. So without telling anyone I just slipped off after training and took a Taxi to Central Pinklao.

Central Pinklao is a Major Shopping Mall in Central Bangkok.  I find the holy grail of fast food right away and order a Double Cheeseburger Meal with a Coke.  McDonald's in Bangkok has both a similar and a very different menu than what we have back home.  You can buy a McKau and Thai Curry.  Also, my co-workers would recognize the pose Ronald McDonald is doing in one of the photos.

After eating my unhealthy goodness I pass by Dunkin Doughnuts and buy a dozen of them.  They are not for me but rather the trainers and the students at the gym.  After I arrive I give the 2 doughnut boxes to the manager and she promptly gives them to the students and trainers and they are snapped up right away.  

A few hours of chilling out with the girls and I'm now here in my room getting ready to go do bed.  I have a few more days over here and I'm looking forward to what it has to offer me.  

Weekend

So Saturday morning rolls on and I wake up a little late.  There is training going on but I don't train on Saturday per religious reasons.  Taking Saturday off has its benefits such as giving me the opportunity to watch the Pro's train.  


After eating breakfast I take a taxi to Mission Hospital.  Behind the Hospital is Bangkok Seventh Day Adventist Church.  I've been attending this church since 2009.  I attend the service and I'm immediately happy as I find out that it's communion.  I partake in the service and find a taxi to take me back to Siam Paragon.

I have lunch at Mos Burger again and I immediately head out to the Shiseido Salon to get a hair cut.  I've been heading out to Mos Burger a little too much lately but the alternative was KFC, McDonald's, or Burger King.  I didn't fly all the way out here just to eat something I can easily find at home.  Mos Burger isn't Thai, it's Japanese for the record, but it sure beats deep fried grass hoppers or scorpions.

I head back out to the gym to catch the afternoon training.  I could've easily enjoyed myself more at the mall or head out to another district.  However, I remembered that today was Louis's last day before he heads back home to Hong Kong.  I really liked Louis, he was pretty much my little brother this past week.  I take a motorcycle taxi back to the gym and I was able to catch the last bits of training.  I also started socializing with some of the students.

After taking photos with the students and some videos of training we head out to dinner.  Saturday night was pretty uneventful as I just did my laundry.



Sunday was a day off for the gym as a whole.  I take a taxi back to Siam Paragon with the intention of having Lunch, dinner, and to watch a movie.  It's been a couple of years since I watched a movie overseas and Siam Paragon's theater is apparently second to none.  I had lunch at Mos Burger, again, and went up to the fifth floor to catch the racing movie "Rush".  Rush is a biopic about the 1976 Formula Season between James Hunt and Niki Lauda.  Being a big Formula One fan back in the day I found it imperative that I check it out.  Also, Ron Howard was directing it so I was pretty excited.

The movie was awesome but trailers and commercials were too long.  Back home in the States you'll probably watch about 10 - 15 minutes of trailers about upcoming movies.  In Thailand you'll watch trailers of Thai Movies, a few US ones, and a slew of Thai Commercials.  All in all it's about 30 minutes before the actual movie starts.

After the movie I head off to Dinner at Burger King, sorry guys, but I was craving it.  Afterwards I was about to get a taxi when I decided to get the kids at the gym something to eat.  I bought a dozen doughnuts from Krispy Creme and jetted back to the gym.  When I arrived the doughnuts were snapped up and I then realized that I should have bought another box.

I can already feel the effects of training.  About 2 hours after I ate at Burger King I was hungry again.  Luckily the gym cafeteria was open.  I eat the clean portions of chicken, vegetables, and rice.  As I am typing this I am also cleaning up my room.

Anyways, I feel great and strong.  More importantly I feel blessed that I am able to train.      

I feel Strong

Training twice a day for about 3 hours each session for a total of 6 hours of training started to take a toll on me.  I didn't think I'd feel it but I did this past Wednesday.  I was able to run, kick, and punch my way through.  I looked all around me and saw that my fellow students were feeling the same way. 

After the afternoon session four of us decided to go to Healthland (http://www.healthlandspa.com//home.html) to get a full body traditional Thai Massage.  The massage lasts two hours and traditionally it is suppose to be very painful.  But although painful, about a few hours later you normally feel the benefits.     

Thai Massages are painful in nature and I wasn't expecting anything else.  However, this time around it was even more so.  It could be that I am just not used to it and that the last time I had a Thai Massage was a year ago which was the last time I was in Bangkok.  I have a masseuse back home and I see her 2 - 3 times a month depending on the season and those massages are great and not painful at all.  

My masseuse in Thailand was just brutal.  Walking all over my body and working muscles I didn't think I had.  I was biting my lip as I was contorted all over the place.  I just clenched my teeth knowing that its only for my own good and that I'll feel better than ever. 

Unfortunately I didn't feel better than ever, at least not right away.  The full body pain lasted until the following morning and I just didn't feel my legs.  I decided not to run and just tried to wing the morning session.  Thursday's morning session was my worse session and hopefully the last one that would be that bad.  I just didn't have any spring and I needed Ong to stretch me out more than once.  

After the morning session I decided to take the afternoon session off to let my body heal.  Taking that session off was the best decision yet.  Not only was I able to rest up but I was hungry to train again.  I was already thinking about my next session.  

It rained hard this morning to the point that running was out of the question today.  My trainer Ong was in charge of cooking breakfast and so this morning I had the honor of training with Cheng.  I always loved training with Cheng because he is such a technician.  I always learn something new and I always bring back what he thought me to the US.  

I didn't go anywhere special after breakfast and I decided to rest up until the afternoon.  The weather dried up and I was able to do a short run.  I was reunited with Ong and I felt good.  Cheng would then ask me how I felt and I replied, "I feel strong."  I really did feel strong and healthy.  I was able to power myself through the session.  

Since it is Friday I decided to have dinner at Siam Paragon.  A lot of the smaller fast food restaurants were full of kids.  I decided to try an old favorite and I ended up having dinner at Tony Roma's.  Yes there is a Tony Roma's in Bangkok.  

After over paying for my dinner I decided to go to the Shiseido Clinic.  Unfortunately the clinic was closed.  Much to my dismay I was 30 minutes late and the other high end salons were closed as well.  I then decided to just take a taxi ride back to the gym.   

So here I am, just waiting for tomorrow.  I need a haircut and I need to go to church.    

Top King and the Muay Thai Angel

Right now it's about 12 pm Wednesday and I just got back from having lunch.  I meant to update on my well being last night but I was just so tired and beat that I crashed out when I hit the sack.

Yesterday was my 2nd day of training and after a pretty brutal and taxing session I had my breakfast.  Normally I would just go back to my room, rest up, and get ready for the dreaded afternoon session.  However, I was feeling pretty good and I wanted to buy some equipment.  So I got myself ready, got a taxi, and then headed off to Central Bangkok to the Top King Muay Thai Store.

Top King is currently the premiere brand for kickboxing equipment the world over.  A pair of gloves can cost anywhere from $90 to $120 per pair.  However over here in Thailand you can get the same pair for about $45 US at the factory store.  It's because of this that I always go here and buy some new equipment.

However, today my selection was going to vastly limited.  As soon as I arrived at the store I witness a kickboxing gym from New Zealand buying equipment.  They were not just buying one or two pairs of gloves or shin guards but they were buying truckloads of gloves, shin guards, and head gear etc.  I saw the final tab and it came out to be around 30,000 baht (about $1000 US).

When it came time for me to select I had to change my original selection but I did manage to buy a full set of gloves and shin guards.  After I was done with my purchase I took a taxi back to the gym to rest up and get ready for the afternoon session.

Afternoon session went well and although tiring I was able to get myself through it.  The gym has a world renown reputation and now there are private lessons being held multiple times during the day.  Mostly women have these sessions and I found out that one of them was a fashion model and another is the daughter of the prime minister.

After training my friend Louis, a student from Hong Kong, wanted to go to the Top King factory and asked me if I could go with him.  Louis has never been out there and I volunteered to help him since I pretty much know my way.  We didn't have dinner at the gym this time and instead we went to Siam Paragon (http://www.siamparagon.co.th/) . Once there we had dinner at Mos Burger which is a Japanese burger chain.  Louis had asked me what I was going to order and told him I was going to get the Mos burger set.  Louis then asked me to get a seat so that no else would take it.  It was pretty packed and I figured that would be a good idea.  Little did I know that Louis bought my meal as a way of thanking me to help him out.

After dinner we took another taxi to the Top King Store and again it was packed but this time with asians from Hong Kong and South Korea.  I was then notified that the Korean fighter at the store was none other than Noh Jae Gil who happens to be one of the most famous fighters in all of Korea.  I've heard of Mr. Noh just from following the sport but I've never seen him fight.  A person who I did notice and seen fight was a girl by the name of Lim Su Jeong otherwise known as the Muay Thai Angel.  Not only was she a world champion but she was hot as well and has recently got into movies in South Korea.  Louis and I commented on her nice tan legs that looked like they could break me in half.  

Cool thing about running into them is that I discovered that they speak English and they were in Thailand because the Muay Thai Angel was fighting the next day in Central Bangkok against a fighter from Morocco.  I asked about her opponent and she mentioned that her opponent has some nice front kicks and a strong right hand.  After complementing her opponent she then stated, "other than that I should be able to dismantle her."  Such confidence indeed.

After a little more gear shopping from Louis I decided to call it day.  We took a taxi ride back home and there I was able crash like a baby.