As this leg of my international journey nears its end, I thought I'd ramble a bit about random things that I have crossed my mind lately. This may be a bit rambling, so I apologize in advance:
Pharmacies: The first night I was here I wondered why there are so many pharmacies here--about one per block it seems. Now I realize they are in business for three reasons: condoms, sunburns, and Muaythai. I have been training too much to get a sunburn (OK, I got a little here and there, but nothing bad) and am a good boy so didn't need to stop at the condom counter, but I have kept my local pharmacy in business for my Muaythai needs. I'd say I visit twice a week on average, maybe more. Here's a list of some of the things I can remember buying:
Multiple bottles of boxing liniment, tiger balm, and tiger balm patches
Multiple containers of cotton pads
Multiple bottles of rubbing alcohol
Multiple sets of boxing tape
Betadine
Antibacterial Neosporin-ish cream
Scissors
Cotton wrap
Some kind of antibacterial fabric
Monkey balm (similar to tiger balm)
Vitamin D (helps bruises)
Anti-inflammatory and anti-pain lotion (again, for bruises)
Multiple packs of ibuprofen
Aloe lotion (told you I got a little sunburned)
I'm sure there are other things I'm forgetting, but that should give you a sense of the quantity of crap I've needed to take care of my broken body during the last four weeks (yes, all that stuff was just for four weeks).
My Feet: Yes, my feet warrant a short discussion. Never in my life have I spent so much time taking care of them. This is for two main reasons: 1) the mats that we practice on are not cleaned (as far as I can tell) so the floor is covered in many layers of sweat, dirt, dust, etc, and 2) these dirty mats also act like sandpaper, taking the skin off your feet and/or causing blisters. Due to these reasons, I have a daily pre- and post-workout routine with my feet. Before the workout I have to clean and wrap anywhere from one to five toes with cotton wrap and tape, depending on how many blisters/cuts I may have. After each workout I shower (obviously) and then scrub my feet with antibacterial soap and a loofah. I then re-clean my feet with alcohol and betadine or a Neosporin-like cream. It is kind of ridiculous, but I have come to realize that if the feet are injured/damaged/etc then you really can't do any training at all (unlike a sore shin, for instance).
A Collection Of Random Thoughts That Have Gone Through My Head While Here:
"EEEEWWWWWW" [I thought this after hearing from a friend that ringworm occasionally goes around camp "like wildfire." Of course, I gave a knowing nod and made an expression that said "sure, that's normal" but on the inside, I was thinking the above phrase. I was also thinking "please God let the next mass-infection of ringworm occur AFTER I leave on Saturday."]
Until I came here, I thought the whole anti-bacterial soap and hand lotion thing was pretty silly, and potentially problematic if it causes germs to become resistant. However, while in Thailand I have become a believer. I realized that all it takes is getting kicked in the chest a few times and then looking down and seeing black soot all over you (which you know just came off a guy's foot) to become a convert.
I haven't worn jeans since the day I arrived. And I only wear actual shoes (not sandals) when in the gym or on a scooter. Even doing that makes me a little bit of an oddity, since other guys wear sandals or go barefoot in both places.
Is it possible to go above 100% humidity?? Today there was a huge rainstorm and our night training session was then the most humid experience I've ever had. It made Bikram Yoga sweating look like a mild glistening.
There was a scorpion in camp tonight. By "in camp" I don't mean we saw it in the distance, I mean it was right in the middle of the mats, where everyone was standing. One of the trainers held it down with a glove, picked it up with his bare hands (WTF!!???) and carried it to the bushes.
Nothing makes you change your posture quicker than getting punched. I realized early on that I have a tendency to stick my chin out. This is the perfect stance if you want to get punched in the face, which is why it only took a day for me to fix that.
Apparently Koh Samui island is the most deadly place, per capita, to ride a scooter. I don't find that hard to believe, since everyone from 10 years-old onward drives them, nobody wears helmets or shoes, and drinking and driving is an accepted practice. One of my buddies actually had a pretty bad scooter accident coming back from the bar the other night and was hospitalized for four days. I am glad to know that I won't be riding on any more scooters here.
TV is totally overrated. I haven't seen any of my favorite shows since I left Korea (I was watching some on the internet) and I don't feel like I've missed anything. I'm sure I'll pick up the TV watching a bit when I get back to the US, but I plan to keep it to a minimum (I only watched a couple shows before I left anyhow). On my deathbed, one thing I am certain I will never say is "if I'd only watched more TV."
OK, I just realized how long this post is getting so I'll stop. I think it is safe to say I fulfilled my initial promise of randomness and ramblingness.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
A Good Day
Today was a good day. Because of that, and because it represented a lot of what I like about my Thailand experience, I wanted to retell the "important" events.
8:40--Woke up before my alarm went off after a decent night's sleep. I went to bed around 11, so I definitely got enough sleep. I find that the physical demands here require more sleep than I'm used to back home, and that is fine with me.
9:00--Breakfast. I had what has become my standard (standard enough that I don't have to order when I walk into the cafe any more, and that is pretty much the definition of a standard food order). Breakfast is my biggest meal of the day, and includes two poached eggs, two pieces of wheat toast (with a little butter and jelly, obviously), baked beans, tomatoes (yes, this is the Aussie breakfast--different from the American because it doesn't have bacon/ham and instead has beans/tomatoes, which I'm convinced is healthier), sliced banana and pineapple, and tea. I don't know how healthy this meal really is, but I've convinced myself that it is healthy and that I need a big breakfast like it in order to train well.
11:00--I had my personal training session with Pi Dang. It went really well, mainly because my kicks are really coming along now. I couldn't kick for the first two weeks here, because I kept re-injuring my feet and hips. After giving them 4-5 days off, however, they are doing well enough and allowing me to really practice kicking. It is nice, because I can see daily progress and today I could really tell I was improving.
12:00--I drank my daily protein shake at the gym and then lifted weights. I like doing it as a follow-up to my one-on-one, but it is exhausting.
1:00--I rode the stationary bike for 45 minutes while watching soccer on TV.
1:45--Finished up at the gym with ab and lower back work, which I've added to my daily routine since I've realized that they are key to pretty much everything in Muaythai.
2:00--Lunch, which is a Thai chicken/vegetables mix with rice. The lady at the camp's cafe makes it for me, and I think it is the perfect post-workout meal.
3:00 to 4:45--Chill, email, blog, and chill.
5:00 to 7:30--Group class. I had a good one tonight for two reasons: 1) I was paired with a guy who knows what he is doing and works well with me. He doesn't try to beat people up, knows how to hold his own, and is willing to teach a thing or two when needed. He hit me pretty hard a few times during the sparring session (once in the leg which will cause a big bruise tomorrow) but that's no big deal--just part of it. 2) During our grappling session, my partner was sore and quit early, so I decided to partner with Gay for a bit. The first thing I noticed was the look he made when I asked him to grapple with me for a few minutes--it was a look he's never given me before--a look of respect. Secondly, he said this to me: "You lose weight? You still big here [chest, shoulder area] but small here [stomach]." It may just be a compliment from a sweaty male trainer, but I'll take it.
8:00--Dinner at the night market. I had a smallish Massaman curry with chicken, but it was enough to fill me up.
9:15--Came back to my room, with a quick stop for milk and cookies at the 7-11 on the way, to write this blog, watch a movie, and go to bed by 11ish.
Not a bad day, if I may say so. I'm definitely appreciating my last week in Thailand, and am going to be sad to leave this place/lifestyle.
8:40--Woke up before my alarm went off after a decent night's sleep. I went to bed around 11, so I definitely got enough sleep. I find that the physical demands here require more sleep than I'm used to back home, and that is fine with me.
9:00--Breakfast. I had what has become my standard (standard enough that I don't have to order when I walk into the cafe any more, and that is pretty much the definition of a standard food order). Breakfast is my biggest meal of the day, and includes two poached eggs, two pieces of wheat toast (with a little butter and jelly, obviously), baked beans, tomatoes (yes, this is the Aussie breakfast--different from the American because it doesn't have bacon/ham and instead has beans/tomatoes, which I'm convinced is healthier), sliced banana and pineapple, and tea. I don't know how healthy this meal really is, but I've convinced myself that it is healthy and that I need a big breakfast like it in order to train well.
11:00--I had my personal training session with Pi Dang. It went really well, mainly because my kicks are really coming along now. I couldn't kick for the first two weeks here, because I kept re-injuring my feet and hips. After giving them 4-5 days off, however, they are doing well enough and allowing me to really practice kicking. It is nice, because I can see daily progress and today I could really tell I was improving.
12:00--I drank my daily protein shake at the gym and then lifted weights. I like doing it as a follow-up to my one-on-one, but it is exhausting.
1:00--I rode the stationary bike for 45 minutes while watching soccer on TV.
1:45--Finished up at the gym with ab and lower back work, which I've added to my daily routine since I've realized that they are key to pretty much everything in Muaythai.
2:00--Lunch, which is a Thai chicken/vegetables mix with rice. The lady at the camp's cafe makes it for me, and I think it is the perfect post-workout meal.
3:00 to 4:45--Chill, email, blog, and chill.
5:00 to 7:30--Group class. I had a good one tonight for two reasons: 1) I was paired with a guy who knows what he is doing and works well with me. He doesn't try to beat people up, knows how to hold his own, and is willing to teach a thing or two when needed. He hit me pretty hard a few times during the sparring session (once in the leg which will cause a big bruise tomorrow) but that's no big deal--just part of it. 2) During our grappling session, my partner was sore and quit early, so I decided to partner with Gay for a bit. The first thing I noticed was the look he made when I asked him to grapple with me for a few minutes--it was a look he's never given me before--a look of respect. Secondly, he said this to me: "You lose weight? You still big here [chest, shoulder area] but small here [stomach]." It may just be a compliment from a sweaty male trainer, but I'll take it.
8:00--Dinner at the night market. I had a smallish Massaman curry with chicken, but it was enough to fill me up.
9:15--Came back to my room, with a quick stop for milk and cookies at the 7-11 on the way, to write this blog, watch a movie, and go to bed by 11ish.
Not a bad day, if I may say so. I'm definitely appreciating my last week in Thailand, and am going to be sad to leave this place/lifestyle.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Final Leg of Thailand; Two More Trips Booked
This weekend as I felt sad about the final week of my great Thailand experience, I also realized that I haven't booked anything for the first two weeks of March in Korea (aside friend coming to visit). To remedy this obvious shortcoming, I booked a couple trips: one to Beijing and one to Tokyo. It took a frustrating couple of hours to do this, which mostly involved identifying good hotel locations and cross-checking reviews with TripAdvisor, as well as a particularly difficult time booking flights through China Southern airline (who apparently only likes people to look at the flights they offer and not actually purchase said flights). But I've booked them now and am excited about having a next step (although I'm not looking forward to a red-eye back to Seoul followed by a flight out the next morning).
Since I don't know much about either of these cities, I'd love any advice/recommendations from those of you who have been to either.
Since I don't know much about either of these cities, I'd love any advice/recommendations from those of you who have been to either.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
More pics--me and a World Champ
Today I had a 1-1 training session with Madsue Tum. He has several accolades to his record, including being a World Champion and beating John Wayne Parr, who is one of the most well-known fighters in all of Muaythai (if you want to see some videos of him, go to YouTube and search for "Tum Madsua"). So, basically he's a badass. It was a good session--mostly technique work, a little sparring (he won) and some pad work. All in all, a great personal training session. I brought my camera along as well, so I'd have some pics of the session and so people would
believe me when I show them a copy of last month's Muaythai magazine and tell them I trained with the guy on the cover, whose caption reads "Madsue Tum: Muaythai Warrior." Anyhow, I thought I'd post some pics of the session. I hope you like them.
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Monday, February 15, 2010
Kickboxing Pics
In case anyone is interested in seeing what it looks like when a really white person practices Muaythai, I thought I'd post some pics. I also have a friend visiting, so had someone to snap a few shots for me. Feel free to tease away (I'm certain someone will have something witty to say about my shorts). Anyhow, hopefully these give a sense of what it looks like at the camp and how I spend 3-5 (sweaty) hours each day here in Thailand. Enjoy.
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Friday, February 12, 2010
Correction on my previous post--he was drugged!
I feel compelled to make a correction to my previous post about how kickboxing trainees get drunk too easily. It turns out that the guy who I had to carry out of the bar was actually drugged. He, a not-so-politically correct mechanic from the UK, decided to tease some lady-boys at the bar about their chosen profession. In addition to teasing him back, one put some powder in his drink. In his mildly drunken state, he thanked him/her and proceeded to drink it. 20 minutes later, he couldn't open his eyes, sit in a chair, or hold his head up to take a sip of water (or to throw that water up moments later). The obvious lesson, I told him, is to only tease lady boys when you have a top on your beverage.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Thai Gone Wild
Last night was my first real night out with the entire crew, and what a night it was. We started off by going to see a Muaythai match, which included 5 fights that had fighters from my camp. It was pretty crazy to see the people I've trained with in actual fights. I am happy to say that all 5 won, and all of them did so with knockouts (as opposed to having no clear winner after 5 rounds and needing a judge's decision). Thai fights in general are really interesting to watch. There is a lot of posturing and procession at the beginning, with each fighter walking slowly around the ring and saying a little prayer in each corner. That is followed by a sort of dance that each does--fighters have their own styles and the dances are a series of movements to prepare for the fights. The fights themselves are really wild (especially having trained a bit now, and understanding the movements, etc). Watching someone block a full-power kick with their shins is impressive, to say the least. The fighters don't wear shin pads (or any pads really, besides cups) and so their shins (and everywhere else) has to be in great shape and tough enough to take a beating.
After the fight, we went out to a bar that the camp owner also owns. We were out in Chewang, which is more of a party area than Lamai where my camp is. The bar is on a strip with a collection of other bars, all competing to see who can play the loudest, most obnoxious music. But it was fun to see pretty much everyone from camp out and enjoying themselves. However, I soon realized what happens when people that train constantly start drinking. Two things that occurred were arguably inappropriate.
The first thing that I considered fairly inappropriate for a bar was that guys began taking their shirts off. Even in a beachy island town, I don't think that is necessary. But I guess once one guy does it, others follow. Soon, almost all the guys were shirtless (I am proud to say that I was not one of those guys). I guess when you train all the time and are in great shape, you want to show it off to people other than those you train with every day. It also may have something to do with age, as the older guys (like me) generally showed a bit more restraint.
The second inappropriate thing is that some people got ridiculously drunk (off what I would guess was the equivalent of 4-5 drinks). It was enough alcohol for the average mid-20's person to feel it, but I was pretty surprised when two people were suddenly so drunk they couldn't stand. One guy couldn't even hold himself up in a chair--he literally fell to the floor 3 or 4 times--so another guy and I finally had to carry him out of the bar (the other guy, who knows the drunk one well, took him home so he could sleep it off).
After carting the guy out of the bar, I realized it was about 3am and decided to call it a night. I think I suddenly no longer felt the need to be in a group of progressively more drunken and testosterone-fueled shirtless Thaiboxers, and opted for a quiet exit. All in all, however, it was an interesting and memorable night.
After the fight, we went out to a bar that the camp owner also owns. We were out in Chewang, which is more of a party area than Lamai where my camp is. The bar is on a strip with a collection of other bars, all competing to see who can play the loudest, most obnoxious music. But it was fun to see pretty much everyone from camp out and enjoying themselves. However, I soon realized what happens when people that train constantly start drinking. Two things that occurred were arguably inappropriate.
The first thing that I considered fairly inappropriate for a bar was that guys began taking their shirts off. Even in a beachy island town, I don't think that is necessary. But I guess once one guy does it, others follow. Soon, almost all the guys were shirtless (I am proud to say that I was not one of those guys). I guess when you train all the time and are in great shape, you want to show it off to people other than those you train with every day. It also may have something to do with age, as the older guys (like me) generally showed a bit more restraint.
The second inappropriate thing is that some people got ridiculously drunk (off what I would guess was the equivalent of 4-5 drinks). It was enough alcohol for the average mid-20's person to feel it, but I was pretty surprised when two people were suddenly so drunk they couldn't stand. One guy couldn't even hold himself up in a chair--he literally fell to the floor 3 or 4 times--so another guy and I finally had to carry him out of the bar (the other guy, who knows the drunk one well, took him home so he could sleep it off).
After carting the guy out of the bar, I realized it was about 3am and decided to call it a night. I think I suddenly no longer felt the need to be in a group of progressively more drunken and testosterone-fueled shirtless Thaiboxers, and opted for a quiet exit. All in all, however, it was an interesting and memorable night.
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