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.
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