Generally I keep track of my training. I've got a little creme coloured imported Thai day planner I picked up at a Dollar Store in Canada I reference. I do this to keep tabs on the coin I owe the gym (I pay by the day) and to take note of my health. I'm sick often out here. Ninety percent of it is due to msg poisonings and other allergy and / or (dirty) food related issues. For example, when reviewing the last eight weeks of my life, I realized I was sick for five of the past eight Mondays. If I don't take this all down on paper, my brain efficiently washes it way. I don't see the patterns, I just live in the present and push forward. Keeping tabs on my … [Read more...]
Clean Heart, Dirty Heart
Training was almost finished. I was unlacing my gloves when the old man called my name. "Lolah", he pointed at the plastic bags of food on the kitchen table, parallel to the ring. "No msg. You can eat it!" He smiled gleefully into my eyes. "Oh! Awesome." I smiled back. Due to my extreme allergy to msg, my post training meal at the gym generally consists of a bowl of white rice and two to three eggs - sometimes boiled, sometimes fried, sometimes deep fried. The rest of the gym eats a variety of dishes. Buying food without msg in Thailand is difficult. People will lie to you. They'll say it's msg free when it isn't. They'll throw in … [Read more...]
Lookchaomaesaithong Sit Namkabuan Gym, Buriram, Thailand
Lookchaomaesaithong Sit Namkabuan Gym is a family run, traditional muay thai gym located in the city of Buriram, Isaan. Isaan is Thailand's Northeastern region and the birthplace of many muay thai champions, past and present. Buriram province has contributed greatly to those numbers. Foreigners are welcome to train at Lookchaomaesaithong Sit Namkabuan Gym. Details: TRAINING Morning - 5:40 am start 16 km run, bag work and fitness/weight training. Pads are available on request (at no additional cost). Evening - 4:00 pm start 4 km run, 20 - 30 minutes skipping rope, bag work, five, … [Read more...]
Blonde Hair and Red Lips
Lately I've been catching glimpses of myself in the mirror and thinking, What's up Armando? You're looking pretty worn out. Translation: I see my father with dark circled peepers, a bad wig and clothes that look like they've been pulled in opposing directions staring blankly at me. Or, as stated by a female who, when sitting at my laptop lurking portraits of prior Thailand me, turned her head in my direction and said, "Wow, you really have given up a lot to come out here." So my recent manifesto is to bring the stereotyped feminine back into my life. Dresses, hair treatments, perfumed sheets, clothes that weren't made for boys, and today, straightened, freshly blonde … [Read more...]
Train Muay Thai In Isan: Lookchaomaesaithong Sit Namkabuan Gym Deets
MBSB and Lookchaomaesaithong Sit Namkabuan Gym have recently come into a partnership. Details: MBSB will host Lookchaomaesaithong Sit Namkabuan Gym advertising that will lead to a page outlining the gym's details, training structure, and prices. The page will be created by me and hosted on MBSB. Should you be interested in training at Lookchaomaesaithong Sit Namkabuan Gym and go through this site, I will receive a commission of your training dues. This is at no cost to you and it assists me with my own training expenses. Prices are the same whether you go through the gym directly, or through me. I'm excited about this mutually … [Read more...]
Missionaries in Thailand – Breaking Down Idoltry in the Land of Smiles
The following video was found on the Iris Thailand YouTube page. Iris Ministries is a Christian missions organization that was originally founded in the U.S. in 1980. Since that time it has grown considerably. Their presence is felt in many countries and they are presently working on new bases around the world. Thailand is one of those places. From March 1 to March 15, 2011, a crew of missionaries toured Thailand. Their main concern is prostitution in this country. From the Iris Thailand website... Now, we all know that Heidi’s (one of the founders) lived in the poorest parts of the world, but she said that in Thailand, she experienced one of the darkest … [Read more...]
Changes – Finding A New Muay Thai Gym
Finding the right trainer and/or muay thai gym in its homeland can be a difficult task, particularly for those here long term. If I had to generalize, I'd estimate that your average Foreigner who is on limited time and of limited knowledge has a fairly easy time finding the right fit. New is beautiful. Again, if I had to generalize, I'd estimate that those of us here long term generally tend to develop discerning tastes. We know what we want, we know what we don't, and oftentimes other elements influence our decisions. Among them, our financial situation. A number of us stepped away from our employment and saved considerably to follow our passion for muay … [Read more...]
If You’re Good…On Being A Foreign Woman In Thailand
Thai massages generally last two hours and during that time multiplied by a few visits, you can get to know a lot about the person administering the massage, and them about you. It's sort of reminiscent of getting your hair cut in the West. Today, as I sat with my legs crossed and head bent, signifying the end of my massage, my massage lady rubbed my back softly and in the tone one uses when one wants to impart wisdom and comfort said, "You have the soul of a man but the body of a woman." Her hands paused and she squeezed my shoulder blades lightly. "If you're good/do well, in your next life you will be born a … [Read more...]
A Portrait Of Pear In Lamplaimat, Buriram, Thailand
This photo was captured on a clear, sunny afternoon in Lamplaimat, Buriram, Thailand. I made the trip to the small community from the city of Buriram with my friend and one of my muay thai trainers, Gai (Chicken). More about Gai here. Gai and I rode on his motorbike, from the city, to his parents' rural home where he grew up. It's customary for Thais to refer to home (baan) as not where they currently live, but where they grew up, and where their parents most likely still reside. For Gai, his home is in Lamplaimat and specifically, it's the dwelling you see pictured below. Upon our arrival on this particular day, Gai instructed me to go take a nap. I … [Read more...]
Muay Thai Wire: SIT-O GYM, BURIRAM CLOSURE 2011
My search for a new trainer brought me to the now defunct and abandoned Sit-O Gym. Approximately one year ago, I submitted a post on My Muay Thai stating the gym was closed. This was based on the testimonies of a number of people. We were all incorrect, it had moved. (Although, speaking to others in the business today, I was told it has been closed for the past three years...?) I suspect some of the confusion may be based in what is considered 'closed'. Regardless, being accompanied by a past Sit-O nak muay coupled with visiting a now unemployed Sit-O kru, I believe it is safe to say, Sit-O Gym Buriram is no longer in operations under any capacity in the city of … [Read more...]
Understanding Isaan Weddings
Approximately one week after my post Muay Thai In Limbo, I found out that Gai, my trainer was getting married within two weeks. One of his oldest friends mentioned it to me and they had just found out that day. If what I've been told is correct, Gai had recently found out. Perhaps a few weeks prior, possibly a few months, no one I spoke to really knew. This, from what I've been told by a number of people is normal. Families and/or monks often deem that people are to marry and when, not the people dating. In addition, the people who are getting married aren't obligated to tell their friends. Many don't. I've learned to stop … [Read more...]
Sexuality in Thailand – Lolito
Standard swim gear for women out here in Buriram isn't on par with the West, nor with the tourist areas of Thailand. Country chicks tend to wear a t-shirt and shorts. The community pool in the city has a regulation against this, so most girls wear full piece swimsuits. Full piece swimsuits I couldn't imagine wearing when I'm sixty. Full piece swimsuits I couldn't imagine wearing if I was sixty in 1960. Bikinis seem to be out unless you're a hooker with the Farang-of-the-week-you-picked-up-in-Pattaya-and-brought-back-to-meet-your-family-to-prove-you-really-do-love-him. And even that's rare. They usually cover up too. So, I've taken to wearing a mock … [Read more...]