If you find yourself travelling a lot for martial arts competitions, take advantage of it and explore the cities you find yourself in. Why not make the most of it? Take every opportunity you can. Every new destination has something fun to see and do. Here are some of the things we think you should do if you want to make the most of a chance to travel for a martial arts competition. Explore the Local Cuisine You may want to wait until after you fight so you are in the best possible condition, but if you have the opportunity to head out afterwards, take it. Take a look at what the local speciality might be, and try to find a good place to eat as a reward for your work. A great meal is often … [Read more...]
2014 – What Happened, What’s To Come and The Year’s Bests
Good Bye 2014, Hello 2015 2014 brought with it a lot of change to MBSB and with it, growth. The time had come where I decided to spend more time working behind the scenes of Milk.Blitz.Street.Bomb. in an effort to expand readership. Additionally, I needed to fix site related weaknesses that I was unaware of creating when I built the site. With that decision came the desire to add new voices; 2014 was a year of multiple perspectives. I'm incredibly grateful for all the contributors who took the time to let us all into their worlds. We worked hard and it paid off. Traffic to MBSB has increased and with it, my commitment to continue the trend. In … [Read more...]
Cock Fighting: Beyond the Blood
Let’s start with the facts. Cock fighting is a sporting tradition shared by many Asian countries. In Thailand, cock fighting has its roots deep in history. Many Thais often refer all the way back to the sixteenth century, to King Naresuan, a much loved monarch famous for defeating the king of Burma. Historically, the two are supposed to have had a royal cock fight in their youth, the result of which made it clear to a young Naresuan that the Thais had to fight for their independence from Burma. The Thais view this cock fight as a key historical moment, so much so that in the recent production of The Legend of King Naresuan Part I: Hongsawadee's Hostage, the film poster … [Read more...]
The Switzerland of Northeast Thailand: Wang Nam Khiao
We ended up in Wang Nam Khiao on a whim. Initially we were planning a trip to Khao Yai, Thailand’s largest national park, and while I was looking for affordable, high-quality accommodation I came across Nicslongstay. It appeared to be exactly what we were looking for. Wang Nam Khiao is a district in Nakhonratchasima Province and is situated between two national parks: Khao Yai and Thap Lan. Wang Nam Khiao is guarded from development due to the fact that the national parks are protected land and you can only access the area by passing through a mountainous range. We arrived during the week; the area is slow moving but I’m told during the … [Read more...]
Gentleman’s House Barber Shop and Cocktail Bar – Proponents of Change in Russia
The following is a guest post by Nick Harbison. Nick was previously featured on MBSB discussing his transcontinental motorcycle trip. The Gentleman’s House Barber Shop, Irkutsk, in the Republic of Buryatia, Russia, opened earlier this year. I ducked in for a shave and a drink and ended up chatting with owner Nikita Fedchishin about old fashioned style, old fashioned service, and the challenge of getting Russians to stop drinking straight vodka. Walking down Decabr'skih Sobitii Street in Irkutsk, Russia, the sign for the Gentleman’s House Barbershop jumps out at you. It’s not its English writing - there are English signs scattered around the … [Read more...]
Beatty, Gateway to Death Valley: The Death Valley Nut & Candy Company
Part 2 The Death Valley Nut & Candy Company After catching up with Lindsey and Jacob for the last hour in Lindsey's Beatty trailer, she asks us what Beatty attractions we're planning to visit today. "Hot springs, brothel, Rhyolite…" I start listing. "But I need some candy first." "Eddie World," Jacob says in response to my sugar-request. "Yeah, Eddie World," Lindsey agrees. We pile into Jacob's truck and head to a magnificently large building attached to a gas station a couple miles up the road. The Death Valley Nut & Candy Company, also known to us as Eddie World. Due to offering food and … [Read more...]
Beatty, Gateway to Death Valley: The Dusty Jewel of Nye County
Part 1 The Dusty Jewel of Nye County The first time I'd ever heard of a place called Beatty was on a trip to Death Valley with my father in 2005. While on our way to Scotty's Castle in the northern part of the national park, we passed a road with a sign marking "Beatty" at the other end. Pops and I kept driving, though in retrospect I wish we'd turned down that road instead, as Beatty was celebrating its one-hundred-first anniversary that year, no small feat considering nearly all of the settlements that sprung up around the same time in this area have since died out. Unlike most boomtowns erected in this area of Nevada and California around … [Read more...]
Thailand Off The Beaten Path: An Interview With Alex Martin Of Off The Path Travel
Off The Path Travel is an American owned travel company that provides responsible, unorthodox travel tours in various locations in Thailand, Mongolia and India. Alex Martin is both the founder, international tour operator and a guide. We'll begin with your history of travel. Basically, what inspired you to start, continue and now guide others? I went overseas when I was 19 to volunteer in Thailand. I spent a lot of time in small villages on my first trip and fell in love. I figured out a way to come back to Thailand and also go to India with a student group, then stay in Thailand and teach myself for the remainder of my college years (long story). I maintained a relationship with the … [Read more...]
Burn Your Guidebook
The following is a guest post by Justin Samuel Martin of Off The Path Travel and the band Automata. Dear Reader, I do not know you, but I am writing this under the assumption that you travel or intend to do so at some point in your lifetime. I also have taken the liberty to presume that you or someone you know uses or will use guidebooks while abroad. Though it is plausible – likely, in fact – that our personal trajectories are wholly dissimilar, I was hoping that you might allow me to persuade you into doing something somewhat out of the ordinary. I would like you to burn your travel guidebook. I know that you just spent $19.95 on it. Burn … [Read more...]
6 TIPS FOR TRAVELING THAILAND OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
After approximately one week back from roaming Thailand, I find myself combing through my travel notes, all of which are scribbled and crammed on a variety of writing surfaces in a variety of scripts. I've chosen the following observations to share: 1. Despite the unifying characteristics that make each area Thai, I found each destination to have distinct regional differences. I loved picking up on the subtleties, be it in the food, the accent of the people or the dress of the children, each spot we hit offered something distinct to investigate. I suggest really taking advantage of this opportunity when crossing the country. See something interesting? Want to … [Read more...]