The last couple of days have been a whirlwind, but I've arrived in Phuket and am actually starting to feel relaxed. It's taken me almost a week to simply relax, not worry about work or the CWSF or the dog at home. Actually, that's not bad! It usually takes me a bit longer. I still feel somewhat tense, but that will diminish as training and the heat continues to tire me out.
My last day in Bangkok (27th) I spent going to Ayutthya to visit the old temples and purchase training daab for Krabi Krabong. The only problem is that I woke up in the moring at 9am, my alarm not gone off yet! I had set it for very early so I could catch a train and see all the sights before meeting Serge to buy daab. Apparently I had the clock set wrong (PM instead of AM) so had a bit of an unplanned sleep in! Although I slept through the night, so the rest was appreciated by my still somewhat jet-lagged body. I find that at 3pm every afternoon, I am ready to crash. It's getting better, but I'm still feeling a bit out of it. I think the exercise helps.
I dressed and got ready quickly, grabbed some quick food (horrid gross breakfast at the hotel), and took the Skytrain to Hualamphong train station. A ticket to Ayutthya was 30 baht ($1) and the trip was 1.5 hours. Total bargain!!! Although that was 3rd class, so no AC, but for that money and only a short ride, I didn't care.
Once in Ayutthya, I walked around a bit and called Serge. I wound up spending the afternoon with him (an ex-pat from Luxembourg who handles selling daab and knives from various craftsmen in Arynik). He took me first to the royal elephant kraal where I got to touch my very first elephants!! There were a couple of babies as well, one just born on Christmas day (they named him Santa...) and they were so cute!! And hairy! The mothers were somewhat protective, but in general they let you play with their babies, feeding them, handling them no problem. The babies like to play games and head-butt you (and even at 2 and 3 weeks old, these "babies" wheigh 300 lbs!) or undo the shoe laces on your running shoes! It was a great experience. Although I came away with elephant snot and dirt all over me! You can actually book to stay at the kraal for days at a time. During your stay, you take care of an elephant, help to do the training, cleaning feeding, etc. It's actually not all that touristy and if i had more time on my hands, I might consider a stay there.
After lunch at an Italian place, I spent an hour or so choosing daab at Serge's place before going into the village to see the forges and workshops. The process of making the daab is pretty simple actually - they cut a blank (taken from railway train springs) to the shape they want, then do all the forging, hammering, etc. The heating is done in an open pit with wood, and the quenching done just in water (no differential hardening at all). The blades are either etched or carved by a diamond-tip scribe for whatever design they want. But some of the woods they use are incredible! Tamarind, rose wood, teak, etc. All hard woods and beautiful. I wound up buying a set of training daab, a 16 inch and a 24 inch daab, both with teak handles and fantastic etchings. Very happy. :)
I took the train back to Bangkok at 7pm (15 baht this time - $0.50 !!) and crashed. I walked around for a bit, had some noodle soup, took a shower and then tried, unsuccessfully, to get to bed early.
Yesterday, I was up at 5:30am to catch my flight to Phuket at 7:55am. Yeah!! It's a short, 1.5 hour flight down the coast, only to step out into sunshine and hot, humid 36 degree weather! And I thought Bangkok was hot!! Nope, nothing compared to here. It's hot and sticky and sunny all the time!! Awesome! As long as you let your body get used to it and drink lots of water. A driver from the gym picked me up at the airport, and we drove the 20 minutes to the Tiger Muay Thai, which is located in Chalong, south of Phuket town. It's a bit in the middle of nowhere, which is nice. Off the main roads that go to Rawai, Nai Harn and Kata/Karon beaches. I'm staying in a private tropical bungalow (complete with banana and coconut trees in my front yard, roosters in the back yard, and my own house geckos!!). I rented an automatic Honda moped as well as it's the easiest way to get around town. I thought it would be more difficult to operate, but so far so good! Although I haven't gotten up to speeds more than 45 km/h yet! Driving on the left hand side of the road is the real worry - it takes a bit of time to learn to look in the opposite direction from what you're used to. But I like having the bike - it gives me the freedom to come and go as I please.
I had my first training session yesterday afternoon. The head instructor put me in the Advanced group right away, which is fine except I haven't really trained in a month because of my shoulder, so I'm a fat lazy slug right now! Nothing like being thrown in head-first to get back into training. Friday's are sparring days, so after lots of warm up and stretching, then some bag work, I got to do a few rounds against this somewhat beginner from South Africa/California. She's been here for a month, so really new, but out-weighed me by about 75 lbs!! Oh man, I got pushed around the ring by shear weight! And no control either, so she managed to knee me right in the crotch which hurt like a bitch. It's still sore today. Not impressed by that at all. Then we did some pad work which almost had me puking in the heat! 50 knees on the bag, followed by 20 right kicks, 20 left kicks and 20 pushups. Repeat 3 times. Yup. Puke factor up!
This morning, at 7am (early so the heat didn't kill us) we drove in the backs of pick-up trucks to Nai Harn beach where we worked out on the beach itself. After 20-25 minutes of running up and down the beach (yes, I think everyone should be able to run up and down a tropical beach to train every day!! it's fantastic to run in sand with palm trees and the surf at your feet), we spent 2 hours doing various technique workouts, shadow boxing, and then finished the session with a tug-of-war! Nice way to spend the morning, that's for sure.
So far I like it here. The trainers are nice and most farang visitors seem to be as well. There are a couple of Canadians here as well (2 from Ottawa actually, but the guy is a bit of a twit and very high on himself - trains MMA somewhere in town). They would like me to fight in Koh Lanta on Jan 18th, but I'm very apprehensive since I haven't been training and my shoulder still aches. I don't want to ruin it for training at home, something more important than a few weeks here. That aside, on a personal level, I also don't want to fight here without my own Kru in my corner. That's important to me. Here, I'm just another farang who they can stick in the ring and make money off of. If I get the shit kicked out of, or even not, they don't really care about me as a person. It would be fun to fight, so I don't want to sound like a chickenshit and say no to a fight, but realistically? is it the best move right now? Probably not. So, I'm here to train hard, to learn, to get back into shape after being off injured for a month, lose the weight I put on during that time, and come back to Canada ready to fight in the spring. Yes? Still, a part of me says "chickenshit".
I'm sitting in a small internet cafe just near Karon beach. Me and my little moped are taking the afternoon to sight-see along the coast. I stopped outside Chalong and had roast duck and pork with rice, and now will enjoy the sunshine! Since tomorrow is Sunday and the gym is then closed for 3 days for New Year's, tonight there is a huge bbq at the gym. All you can eat and drink for 250 baht. Woo hoo!! I think if I drank beer here though, I'd be sick as a dog tomorrow. More water on the menu!!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Spoons: not just for soup anymore.
A few things I have learned about Thailand in the last couple of days:
1. Always tell your taxi driver to put his meter on before leaving.
2. Always bring kleenex into washrooms. And if going into a Turkish (aka: squatter) toilet, make sure your sense of balance is working that day.
3. Spoons: not just for soup anymore. Thais use a spoon like we use a fork. Actually, quite efficient.
4. Never travel by taxi at 3pm in the afternoon. BTS is much quicker, unless you're supremely bored and like watching rush-hour traffic.
5. Tuk tuks are rip-offs, period.
6. There are Starbucks in strategic places across town - for the coffee-addict amongst us, it is best to find these places asap otherwise you will definitely regret drinking Thai coffee.
7. Carnation milk can top any food group, from sticky rice to ice cream to coffee to mango.
8. Riding for 5 hours in a Thai taxi will make you very, VERY car sick.
The last 2 days have been a melange of experiences. I am getting used to Bangkok - I discovered that I've learned the ropes when the cab driver who took me back from the Suan Lam Night Bazaar to the Ambassador Hotel tonight didn't put on his meter right away and decided that he wanted to bargain for a fare. No way man! He wanted 80 baht, a ridiculous amount for the distance of travel. I think he was either (1) impressed or (2) pissed when I insisted on the meter. Turns out the trip was 50 baht. Not a big difference if you do the conversion, but it was the principlet that counted - the "don't screw over a farang" principle!
Yesterday, I met up with Spencer, the German who runs the sak-yant.com website, who is an expert in sak yant and Buddhism in general. He met me on Khao San Road as he was willing to take me out to his Ajarn, the monk Hlwong Pi Pant. He used to be at Wat Bang Pra, but now has his own Wat, Wat Kho Phoon [Wat of the Concrete Cow (seriously!!)] way out in Ang Thong province, north of Ayutthya. I actually feel very privileged as I am the first farang that Spencer has taken out there in a long time, and I am most likely the last female to receive a sak yant from H.P Pant - there are workings afoot to restrict monks from tattooing females.
We took a cab out to Ang Thong, but took the long way around - via country roads rather than the main freeway. It was actually a great trip - I wouldn't have seen this scenary otherwise. Being out of Bangkok and in the countryside was a treat - rice field far and wide, local farmers in the fields or in the creeks/rivers harvesting crops and fishing, water buffalo roaming the roads, etc. It was nice to see something other than concrete. However, the taxi ride was not the most enjoyable experience for me! I think jet lag finally caught up with me and I was extremely car sick for the entire 2.5 hour ride out there. I had to get Spencer to tell the driver to pull over into a gas station so I could get some fresh air, some water and juice, and convince myself that I wasn't going to hurl all over the back seat! I've never been car sick in my life, so the only thing I can attribute this to was jet lag and the fumes along the roads.
We finally made it to Ang Thong after minor delays and being misplaced in random fields. Wat Kho Phoon is a collection of run-down buildings near a small village school. H.P. Pant has moved from Wat Bang Pra to restore this Wat - rebuilding the monestary and temple, and helping the near by school. Definitely a worthwhile endeavor and worth contributing to.
H.P. Pant himself is the first monk I have had direct contact with for any length of time, and it was a great experience. When we arrived, he was in his main office area with a number of his young (13-18 year old) disciples. And 2 minature poodles and one cat! It was a friendly, comforting environment to be in. H.P. Pant is a smiling, happy man with a great sense of humor. And given the language barrier between us, this was actually not a difficult thing to figure out!! He seems to very much enjoy his position (his job?) and the people who were there. He laughed and joked with me throughout my stay. When he was asking me what yant I wanted, and I said a Hanuman for protection and strength of self, he showed me the one he would do, but then kept joking and showing me a baby Hanuman - "Baby monkey! Baby monkey!!".
The yant I got is right below the gao yord by Ajarn Kaew. And it hurt worse, and took amost an hour to do. Because I'm a female, he had to do the work through a sheet while Spencer and 2 other of the boys held my back and shoulder. He kept asking "Ok?" to which I'd reply yes, and he'd respond "Cool, cool!!". Fuck no, not cool! It hurt like hell!! But it's very detailed and beautiful. At the end of it, he blessed the yant with the mantra, and gave me an original amulet from Wat Bang Pra (they aren't being made anymore). He told me I am "strong like a bull", which I think is a compliment? We spent a bit more time at the Wat, talking and joking, then had to leave as our taxi driver was waiting outside for us. He drove us to the wat, waited 2.5 hours, then drove us back to Bangkok. All for 1500 baht!
Actually, the cab ride was an experience in itself. The driver went looking for a fighting rooster while we were with H.P. Pant, so we had a long discussion on the way back to Bangkok about cock fighting. Here in the North, the roosters don't fight to the death. One basically turns "chicken" and tries to run off when it can't take the fight any longer. In the south, they do fight to the death. I had asked the driver to get me a spur if he found one, but since they don't kill each other here, they don't use spurs.
Back in Bangkok, I had the taxi and Spencer drop me off at Khao San Road so I could get a bit of fresh air and walk to the hotel. I was still feeling like crap from the return car ride (1 hour on th freeway, but still nauseous the entire way!), so stopped to get some food. I was back at the hotel, in bed, by 9pm! Merry Christmas!
I finally got a good night's sleep last night (the night before was horrible and my shoulder was aching something fierce), so this morning I felt ready to tackle the streets of Bangkok again. I decided on a long walk, mainly to get to the Monks' Bowl Village north of China Town, and then with thoughts of getting to the river (never made it there). I wound up stopping at a lapidary shop and looking at stones and rings. I broke down and bought a small (0.37 carat) ruby in silver in a ring. It's not a perfect stone (for 2000 baht, it couldn't be!), but it's kinda cute, and it is my birthstone. The salesman dealt with me as a regular customer initially, but before long came to realize I knew more than a normal person. Asking to see the stone in a microscope or a hand lens might have tipped him off! And showing him the flaws in a few of the other stones I didn't buy might have done that too... But it is a real ruby, and isn't fractured but has an inclusion or two, which I think is what gives it character.
The monk's bowl village was really neat. They make bowls for alms out of steel and copper in the traditional way - 8 separate pieces (representing the 8 ways of the Buddha) are hammered together, welded with copper wire, and then hammered and polished. There are 6 separate steps in the process, all done by hand. It takes 5 days to make one bowl and there are only 5-6 familes in the "village" doing the craft. Fascinating actually. The bowls are beautiful.
Ok, the minature poodle in this internet cafe just pee'd on the floor beside me!
After an unsuccessful attempt at getting a taxi to the Ambassador Hotel, I wound up hopping the BTS (skytrain) in rush hour traffic. I think I like the Baan Chantra in Banglamphu better, although it was more expensive. This is a big hotel in a business neighbourhood. Baan Chantra was quaint, quiet and in the old part of Bangkok. But being here will give me a chance to explore this side of the city.
I went for supper on Soi 38 (very spicey, amazing tasting squid and shrimp on rice!), and then headed off to the Suan Lam night bazaar at Lumphini station. What a freakin' crazy place!! Wow! It was so awesome!! Anything and everything you wanted to buy, eat or drink, and it was there! It's HUGE. I was totally lost at one point - had no idea where the exit might be! Actually, they had many handicrafts and art that I have yet seen in other stores/markets, which was a nice change from the knock-off crap. I picked up a really cool hand-made leather/paint Hanuman print to frame. In one section, you can buy coupons and then buy food and beer. Given that they were having some sort of German beerfest, I was able to get a dunkel wheat beer! No Beer Chang! And the music was something. Young Thais screaming English pop songs on stage. I say screaming as they weren't really singing. I think they were trying to sing (?) but their interpretations of songs by the likes of AC/DC were hilarious! Beer-induced I would think. But highly amusing!
Tomorrow I head to Ayutthya and Aranyik to visit the old city and buy daab. How I will get these things home, I have no idea. Actually, I'm having that problem in general - I keep seeing beautiful art and teak that I would like to buy, but how do you ship a 4 foot long teak lintel, or 3 foot high Buddha statue home?!
That's all for today folks. It's 1am and I have to be up early! Chok dee!
1. Always tell your taxi driver to put his meter on before leaving.
2. Always bring kleenex into washrooms. And if going into a Turkish (aka: squatter) toilet, make sure your sense of balance is working that day.
3. Spoons: not just for soup anymore. Thais use a spoon like we use a fork. Actually, quite efficient.
4. Never travel by taxi at 3pm in the afternoon. BTS is much quicker, unless you're supremely bored and like watching rush-hour traffic.
5. Tuk tuks are rip-offs, period.
6. There are Starbucks in strategic places across town - for the coffee-addict amongst us, it is best to find these places asap otherwise you will definitely regret drinking Thai coffee.
7. Carnation milk can top any food group, from sticky rice to ice cream to coffee to mango.
8. Riding for 5 hours in a Thai taxi will make you very, VERY car sick.
The last 2 days have been a melange of experiences. I am getting used to Bangkok - I discovered that I've learned the ropes when the cab driver who took me back from the Suan Lam Night Bazaar to the Ambassador Hotel tonight didn't put on his meter right away and decided that he wanted to bargain for a fare. No way man! He wanted 80 baht, a ridiculous amount for the distance of travel. I think he was either (1) impressed or (2) pissed when I insisted on the meter. Turns out the trip was 50 baht. Not a big difference if you do the conversion, but it was the principlet that counted - the "don't screw over a farang" principle!
Yesterday, I met up with Spencer, the German who runs the sak-yant.com website, who is an expert in sak yant and Buddhism in general. He met me on Khao San Road as he was willing to take me out to his Ajarn, the monk Hlwong Pi Pant. He used to be at Wat Bang Pra, but now has his own Wat, Wat Kho Phoon [Wat of the Concrete Cow (seriously!!)] way out in Ang Thong province, north of Ayutthya. I actually feel very privileged as I am the first farang that Spencer has taken out there in a long time, and I am most likely the last female to receive a sak yant from H.P Pant - there are workings afoot to restrict monks from tattooing females.
We took a cab out to Ang Thong, but took the long way around - via country roads rather than the main freeway. It was actually a great trip - I wouldn't have seen this scenary otherwise. Being out of Bangkok and in the countryside was a treat - rice field far and wide, local farmers in the fields or in the creeks/rivers harvesting crops and fishing, water buffalo roaming the roads, etc. It was nice to see something other than concrete. However, the taxi ride was not the most enjoyable experience for me! I think jet lag finally caught up with me and I was extremely car sick for the entire 2.5 hour ride out there. I had to get Spencer to tell the driver to pull over into a gas station so I could get some fresh air, some water and juice, and convince myself that I wasn't going to hurl all over the back seat! I've never been car sick in my life, so the only thing I can attribute this to was jet lag and the fumes along the roads.
We finally made it to Ang Thong after minor delays and being misplaced in random fields. Wat Kho Phoon is a collection of run-down buildings near a small village school. H.P. Pant has moved from Wat Bang Pra to restore this Wat - rebuilding the monestary and temple, and helping the near by school. Definitely a worthwhile endeavor and worth contributing to.
H.P. Pant himself is the first monk I have had direct contact with for any length of time, and it was a great experience. When we arrived, he was in his main office area with a number of his young (13-18 year old) disciples. And 2 minature poodles and one cat! It was a friendly, comforting environment to be in. H.P. Pant is a smiling, happy man with a great sense of humor. And given the language barrier between us, this was actually not a difficult thing to figure out!! He seems to very much enjoy his position (his job?) and the people who were there. He laughed and joked with me throughout my stay. When he was asking me what yant I wanted, and I said a Hanuman for protection and strength of self, he showed me the one he would do, but then kept joking and showing me a baby Hanuman - "Baby monkey! Baby monkey!!".
The yant I got is right below the gao yord by Ajarn Kaew. And it hurt worse, and took amost an hour to do. Because I'm a female, he had to do the work through a sheet while Spencer and 2 other of the boys held my back and shoulder. He kept asking "Ok?" to which I'd reply yes, and he'd respond "Cool, cool!!". Fuck no, not cool! It hurt like hell!! But it's very detailed and beautiful. At the end of it, he blessed the yant with the mantra, and gave me an original amulet from Wat Bang Pra (they aren't being made anymore). He told me I am "strong like a bull", which I think is a compliment? We spent a bit more time at the Wat, talking and joking, then had to leave as our taxi driver was waiting outside for us. He drove us to the wat, waited 2.5 hours, then drove us back to Bangkok. All for 1500 baht!
Actually, the cab ride was an experience in itself. The driver went looking for a fighting rooster while we were with H.P. Pant, so we had a long discussion on the way back to Bangkok about cock fighting. Here in the North, the roosters don't fight to the death. One basically turns "chicken" and tries to run off when it can't take the fight any longer. In the south, they do fight to the death. I had asked the driver to get me a spur if he found one, but since they don't kill each other here, they don't use spurs.
Back in Bangkok, I had the taxi and Spencer drop me off at Khao San Road so I could get a bit of fresh air and walk to the hotel. I was still feeling like crap from the return car ride (1 hour on th freeway, but still nauseous the entire way!), so stopped to get some food. I was back at the hotel, in bed, by 9pm! Merry Christmas!
I finally got a good night's sleep last night (the night before was horrible and my shoulder was aching something fierce), so this morning I felt ready to tackle the streets of Bangkok again. I decided on a long walk, mainly to get to the Monks' Bowl Village north of China Town, and then with thoughts of getting to the river (never made it there). I wound up stopping at a lapidary shop and looking at stones and rings. I broke down and bought a small (0.37 carat) ruby in silver in a ring. It's not a perfect stone (for 2000 baht, it couldn't be!), but it's kinda cute, and it is my birthstone. The salesman dealt with me as a regular customer initially, but before long came to realize I knew more than a normal person. Asking to see the stone in a microscope or a hand lens might have tipped him off! And showing him the flaws in a few of the other stones I didn't buy might have done that too... But it is a real ruby, and isn't fractured but has an inclusion or two, which I think is what gives it character.
The monk's bowl village was really neat. They make bowls for alms out of steel and copper in the traditional way - 8 separate pieces (representing the 8 ways of the Buddha) are hammered together, welded with copper wire, and then hammered and polished. There are 6 separate steps in the process, all done by hand. It takes 5 days to make one bowl and there are only 5-6 familes in the "village" doing the craft. Fascinating actually. The bowls are beautiful.
Ok, the minature poodle in this internet cafe just pee'd on the floor beside me!
After an unsuccessful attempt at getting a taxi to the Ambassador Hotel, I wound up hopping the BTS (skytrain) in rush hour traffic. I think I like the Baan Chantra in Banglamphu better, although it was more expensive. This is a big hotel in a business neighbourhood. Baan Chantra was quaint, quiet and in the old part of Bangkok. But being here will give me a chance to explore this side of the city.
I went for supper on Soi 38 (very spicey, amazing tasting squid and shrimp on rice!), and then headed off to the Suan Lam night bazaar at Lumphini station. What a freakin' crazy place!! Wow! It was so awesome!! Anything and everything you wanted to buy, eat or drink, and it was there! It's HUGE. I was totally lost at one point - had no idea where the exit might be! Actually, they had many handicrafts and art that I have yet seen in other stores/markets, which was a nice change from the knock-off crap. I picked up a really cool hand-made leather/paint Hanuman print to frame. In one section, you can buy coupons and then buy food and beer. Given that they were having some sort of German beerfest, I was able to get a dunkel wheat beer! No Beer Chang! And the music was something. Young Thais screaming English pop songs on stage. I say screaming as they weren't really singing. I think they were trying to sing (?) but their interpretations of songs by the likes of AC/DC were hilarious! Beer-induced I would think. But highly amusing!
Tomorrow I head to Ayutthya and Aranyik to visit the old city and buy daab. How I will get these things home, I have no idea. Actually, I'm having that problem in general - I keep seeing beautiful art and teak that I would like to buy, but how do you ship a 4 foot long teak lintel, or 3 foot high Buddha statue home?!
That's all for today folks. It's 1am and I have to be up early! Chok dee!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas in the tropics
As a short summary of the activities on Christmas Eve, I have composed a rendition of the "12 Days of Christmas" for you all. Enjoy! Remember, this creative little biddy was composed after a long day while lying in bed after 3 Beer Chang!
The 12 Days of Christmas (Eve), Bangkok style
One the 12th day of Christmas Bangkok gave to me;
12 crazy tuk-tuks
11 t-shirt vendors
10 nak muays fighting
9 dogs a-barking
8 stunning wats
7 smelly khlongs
6 monks a-praying
5 Beer Chang!
4 pig part soups
3 stunning wats
2 sak yant tats,
And a rooster in a banana tree!!
Thank you, thank you, I know my lyrical abilities have stunned you all!! Grin!
Christmas Eve in Bangkok was actually not as strange as I thought it would be. This is only the 2nd time I have not been in Sudbury for Christmas in 33 years, and I'm not entirely sure there's anything wrong with that. I feel a bad that I'm not with my family for all the group fun and festivity, but it's not the holiday I miss. I did call home yesterday, and again today while everyone was over for Christmas Eve supper. They had turkey for supper: last night I had what can best be described as "pig part soup".
For my festivities, I spent the morning walking around this area randomly, through back sois and along the khlongs. I find this is the best way to explore my surroundings, and to discover the non-tourist areas. I got myself good and lost actually!! I finally hopped a taxi and went to MBK. For all intensive purposes, MBK is a 7 story mall. But a mall unlike any in Canada! It contains 7 floors of knock-offs, cheap electronics, rows upon rows of silk, coconut and teak products, and whole floors dedicated to furniture or food! It was a lot for a jet-lagged farang to deal with on the 2nd day in the city! I spent a few hours cruising around the various levels, completely mind-blown at the number of stalls, the number of people, and the obscene sayings/pictures on some of the t-shirts!! Although the best one I have seen is "Adidogs", a play on the "Addidas" logo, which I thought was hilarious. I might pick up one of those! I did buy a few silk pictures for framing and gifts, but otherwise did not buy any souvenirs. I'm attempting to leave that for the end of the trip so that I don't have to lug anything around for the next 4-5 weeks.
About 2 hours into my foray, I got side-tracked and fell into a massage parlour. One of the best ways to spoil yourself: spend 1.5 hours getting a massage, pedicure and manicure! It was incredible. The ladies taking care of me were amazing, and also got a kick out of my calves, and then, I think, frightened of the calluses on my feet (saying "muay thai" seemed to explain all!). The entire experience was amazing and incredibly relaxing. There is nothing like a foot massage after a full day of city trekking! And now I have pink toes (first time for everything) and clean feet! Well, for an hour anyway - the dirt from the city seems to get right through my shoes and turns my socks and feet a lovely shade of grey.
After MBK, I took a moped taxi (insert huge grin here! way too much fun) to Ratchadamnern Boxing Stadium and bought a ring-side ticket for the fights. Being there an hour early left me time to do some shopping at the Raja store attached to the stadium, and participate in the Thai tail-gating party outside the stadium. Dozens of people were sitting on small stools around open-air food carts, drinking beer and waiting for the fights to begin. I grabbed a seat, the only farang in the crowd, and ordered a bowl of what I can only best describe as "pig part soup". The lady cooking said "pork - do you want everything?", so, being open to eating anything, I said sure! I think (but don't quote me on this), the soup contain liver, kidney, uterus, tripe, and then just general pork. As well as chilies and bok choy. It was great!
I watched 8 fights in the stadium, starting with 2 fights of 15 and 17 year olds (no young kids, which I was grateful for). It was a great display, sometimes of technique, sometimes of shear ferocity and balls. 3 fighters were taken out of the ring on a stretcher (2 of them due to knees to the liver/abdomen), but most of the fights were decisions. Very few elbows, which surprised me. I made friends with one of the security guards standing at the gate near the red corner and chatted with him, in very broken English, about the talent, trying to decide who was the better fighter.
After 3 beer Chang and 8 fights, I decided it was time to drag my sorry, tired self back to the hotel for some sleep. I took a motorcycle taxi (no, I don't have a death wish! This form of transport is just way too much fun!) from the stadium to Khao San Road where I went in search of a late-night snack of mango and sticky rice. Yum! I think this is my new favorite food. Khao San Road is an all-night party. Maybe later in the week, when my body (and mind) has acclimatized, but last night, hanging out wasn't an option! Grabbing my sticky rice, I looked in a few shops, and headed home.
Merry Christmas!
Another day breaks, another breakfast of curry, and let the fun begin again!!
Okay, maybe after another cup of coffee and a Tylenol...
The 12 Days of Christmas (Eve), Bangkok style
One the 12th day of Christmas Bangkok gave to me;
12 crazy tuk-tuks
11 t-shirt vendors
10 nak muays fighting
9 dogs a-barking
8 stunning wats
7 smelly khlongs
6 monks a-praying
5 Beer Chang!
4 pig part soups
3 stunning wats
2 sak yant tats,
And a rooster in a banana tree!!
Thank you, thank you, I know my lyrical abilities have stunned you all!! Grin!
Christmas Eve in Bangkok was actually not as strange as I thought it would be. This is only the 2nd time I have not been in Sudbury for Christmas in 33 years, and I'm not entirely sure there's anything wrong with that. I feel a bad that I'm not with my family for all the group fun and festivity, but it's not the holiday I miss. I did call home yesterday, and again today while everyone was over for Christmas Eve supper. They had turkey for supper: last night I had what can best be described as "pig part soup".
For my festivities, I spent the morning walking around this area randomly, through back sois and along the khlongs. I find this is the best way to explore my surroundings, and to discover the non-tourist areas. I got myself good and lost actually!! I finally hopped a taxi and went to MBK. For all intensive purposes, MBK is a 7 story mall. But a mall unlike any in Canada! It contains 7 floors of knock-offs, cheap electronics, rows upon rows of silk, coconut and teak products, and whole floors dedicated to furniture or food! It was a lot for a jet-lagged farang to deal with on the 2nd day in the city! I spent a few hours cruising around the various levels, completely mind-blown at the number of stalls, the number of people, and the obscene sayings/pictures on some of the t-shirts!! Although the best one I have seen is "Adidogs", a play on the "Addidas" logo, which I thought was hilarious. I might pick up one of those! I did buy a few silk pictures for framing and gifts, but otherwise did not buy any souvenirs. I'm attempting to leave that for the end of the trip so that I don't have to lug anything around for the next 4-5 weeks.
About 2 hours into my foray, I got side-tracked and fell into a massage parlour. One of the best ways to spoil yourself: spend 1.5 hours getting a massage, pedicure and manicure! It was incredible. The ladies taking care of me were amazing, and also got a kick out of my calves, and then, I think, frightened of the calluses on my feet (saying "muay thai" seemed to explain all!). The entire experience was amazing and incredibly relaxing. There is nothing like a foot massage after a full day of city trekking! And now I have pink toes (first time for everything) and clean feet! Well, for an hour anyway - the dirt from the city seems to get right through my shoes and turns my socks and feet a lovely shade of grey.
After MBK, I took a moped taxi (insert huge grin here! way too much fun) to Ratchadamnern Boxing Stadium and bought a ring-side ticket for the fights. Being there an hour early left me time to do some shopping at the Raja store attached to the stadium, and participate in the Thai tail-gating party outside the stadium. Dozens of people were sitting on small stools around open-air food carts, drinking beer and waiting for the fights to begin. I grabbed a seat, the only farang in the crowd, and ordered a bowl of what I can only best describe as "pig part soup". The lady cooking said "pork - do you want everything?", so, being open to eating anything, I said sure! I think (but don't quote me on this), the soup contain liver, kidney, uterus, tripe, and then just general pork. As well as chilies and bok choy. It was great!
I watched 8 fights in the stadium, starting with 2 fights of 15 and 17 year olds (no young kids, which I was grateful for). It was a great display, sometimes of technique, sometimes of shear ferocity and balls. 3 fighters were taken out of the ring on a stretcher (2 of them due to knees to the liver/abdomen), but most of the fights were decisions. Very few elbows, which surprised me. I made friends with one of the security guards standing at the gate near the red corner and chatted with him, in very broken English, about the talent, trying to decide who was the better fighter.
After 3 beer Chang and 8 fights, I decided it was time to drag my sorry, tired self back to the hotel for some sleep. I took a motorcycle taxi (no, I don't have a death wish! This form of transport is just way too much fun!) from the stadium to Khao San Road where I went in search of a late-night snack of mango and sticky rice. Yum! I think this is my new favorite food. Khao San Road is an all-night party. Maybe later in the week, when my body (and mind) has acclimatized, but last night, hanging out wasn't an option! Grabbing my sticky rice, I looked in a few shops, and headed home.
Merry Christmas!
Another day breaks, another breakfast of curry, and let the fun begin again!!
Okay, maybe after another cup of coffee and a Tylenol...
Sunday, December 23, 2007
One night (and day) in Bangkok
Sawasdee ka everyone!! And greetings from Bangkok, the City of Angels, and the city that apparently never sleeps. The city where cats and dogs rule the streets, tuk-tuk drivers are very convincing, and where, if you stopped to eat at every street vendor, you'd never make it more than 2 blocks in a 24 hour period!! My big question tonight: Is it possible to subsist on sticky rice with coconut milk and mango slices? I hope so!!! My other pressing questions is: Do I have to come home?!
After a flight which is better left undiscussed (seriously, 30 hours on a place, plus lay-overs is just not a section of my life I want to relive! Thankfully, I slept most of the last leg, having spent the first 13 hour leg from Chicago to Tokyo playing "who's arm rest is this?" with an obnoxious French guy from Montreal!), I arrived in Bangkok at midnight last night (Dec 22). Upon exiting immigration (note to self: next time you arrive in a country with free 30 day Visas, check to make sure you're staying for <>
I'm staying (for the next 4 nights) at the Baan Chantra Guesthouse, which is located on Thanon Samsen (between Soi 6 and 8 - another lesson from experience - always carry a card with your hotel address on it in Thai so that cab drivers can find it...). It's a very nice place - AC in the rooms, comfy beds, TV. I wasn't sure i was going to sleep, but I fell asleep immediately (2am), and soundly.
This morning, following a breakfast of red curry and a mystery meat (pork?) and veggies, I decided to walk south towards Khao San Road (like Thamel in Kathmandu - total foreigner/backpacker hangout). Half-way there, I was accosted by a small Thai woman who wanted to know if I needed directions. I guess the dazed look on the face of the foreigner looking at a street map gave it away! Actually, I wasn't lost - I simply wanted to know which street I was on! Anyway, I spent quite a while chatting with this nice woman, which was very helpful as it turns out today was a very special holiday in Thailand - it is election day for the Parliament. That said, turns out it was also an excellent day to be wandering around as tuk-tuks to tourist places was really cheap, and entrance to the wats was free. The downside is that the entire country is DRY - no beer anywhere in Thailand today. I wound up hopping a ride with a tuk-tuk driver who, for 20 baht (about 80 cents) took me around to various wats (as well as the obligatory stop at 2 shops where he would receive commission - one for gems and another for suits). I got to see the standing Buddha at Wat Indrawihan (30 metres high), and made a few offerings there, and then the lucky Buddha. Turns out I probably got scammed in being dragged around town in the tuk-tuk, but you know what? For 20 baht, being jet-lagged and a bit dazed and confused, it offered me a chance to see Bangkok (at a ridiculously insane pace behind a crazed Thai driver!) and relax a bit.
Bangkok: Unorganized chaos. I swear there is nothing organized about this place! It's loud, polluted, frantic, crowded, and somewhat dirty.
But it's GREAT! I really like this city. My white running socks don't like the dirt, but hey, that's what laundry is for!
I had the driver let me out at the amulet market and I spent an enjoyable time browsing through the stalls, looking at the various new and old amulets. How you can tell a true "old" amulet from a fake is beyond me. I did buy two of them: one turtle, which I think is the yant Paya Thao Luean, and a small tiger with yant inscriptions on its back.
Around 11:30am, it was time to head to the Bang Sue metro station to meet up with Dave, an Aussie I met through the Sak Yant website, who was willing to take me to meet sak yant Ajarn Kaew near Wat Noi. I actually met Dave right on the metro - I couldn't miss him! So we grabbed a cab at the metro station and headed towards Ajarn Kaew's office. Once there, Dave introduced me, and told him which sak yant I wanted. We did a wai at the shrine in the building and then went and grabbed a cold drink, at which time Dave explained the protocol to me regarding receiving a sak yant. It's very ritualistic, and one has to always make sure the rules are followed - bowing at the proper time, what to do when the blessing is given, etc. What I wasn't prepared for was the pain!!
A sak yant, for anyone who doesn't know, is an ancient protective tattoo that is done by tapping a needle on a bamboo stick into your skin. The application is done by a monk, and sak yant master's are called "Ajarn". Sak Yant - Sak - meaning "to tap" or, "to tattoo", and Yant, meaning "Yantra". Originally derived from the Sanskrit word "YANTRA", the Ta and Ra letters are not pronunced in Thai Language, rather spelled as "yantr", including a symbol to silence the last consonant (called "Gaaran"). Whatever the case, Sacred Yant, Yantra, or Yan, however you prefer to call them, have existed since long before the Buddhist Era, dating back to pre Hindu times.
There were a number of people wishing to meet Ajarn Kaew, so he did a group blessing, then called me forward to be first. At first, he was going to apply the sak yant in oil (invisible) until Dave spoke up and said no, ink. I was positioned with by back to Ajarn, leaning my arms over a Thai triangular pillow. Ajarn Kaew started to work, marking the areas where the Gao Yord and the Yee Sip Yodt would go. It wasn't painful - just a slight marking up of the skin. Then, his two assistants stretched the skin on my upper back and he really went to work. Tattoos are nothing compared to this folks. This was NOT a pleasant physical experience!! This was actually worse than the ART therapy that I've been going through for the last 3 weeks for my shoulder!! He worked very quickly, tapping away at first on my lower neck along the spine, then working his way outwards towards my shoulders. About 1/3 of the way into it, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to handle it. My hands were clenched around my knees and everytime he shifted the stick and needle, I winced. What was amusing is that he and his assistants were having a great ol' time!! Laughing and joking (most likely about the wimpy farang girl wincing at the pain!) and talking with the others in the room when he wasn't chanting the mantra that goes along with the two sak yant. At last he stopped, and I was able to breathe again. I was supposed to get a Hanuman yant as well (a common Muay Thai protector), but he decided that Hanuman was too much of an angry animist yant for a female, so would not do it in ink. He did a brief outline in oil, and then I was done. He then took a Por Gae Ruseli headmask, placed it on my head and again incited a blessing and mantra to invoke the protection of the yants. Most sak yant Ajarn don't do this, so I was pleased and honored to receive this extra bit of ritual during my first visit. I turned around, wai'd three times to honor him, and got up to go back to my place. I was called back shortly, only to be given an amult of Ajarn Kaew's own making - an amulet of Hanuman. So although Hanuman is too strong and angry for me as a protector on my skin, it's ok for me to carry him (?) around with me.
All in all, it was quite the experience, one I will never forget. I'm not sure I'm ready for another one in the near future though! The pain, although worth it, was definitely something that should not be brushed off!
I took a cab back to the hotel after thanking Dave and dropping him off at the metro station. I had planned on going to Chatuchak Market, close by to Bang Sue, but with what amounts to an open wound fresh on my back, the last place I really needed to be was a huge market with thousands of people! So I came back to the hotel, changed, and decided to walk to Khao San Road. I spent a few hours walking in Banglampu Market, and on Khao San Road. It's crazy - stalls selling everything under the sun everywhere!! Absolutely crazy! I love it! Shopping-spree extrodinaire! I didn't buy much actually - 2 t-shirts, and I got my hair braided (ok, tacky-tourist thing to do, but it's going to be great for training next week - it won't get in the way!!). I was crashing with jet-lag big time around 7pm so decided to stop and get something to eat (duck and crispy basil) and then came back here. As it stands, my poor little brain is started to fail and is in need of a break after a somewhat hectic and full day.
What's on the agenda for tomorrow? I'm actually not sure! I found a place that will rent me a mountain bike for $10 for the day, so I might do that. Although biking in this city scares me slightly, especially since they drive on the opposite side of the road from us! But it would be one way to get around. It could turn out to be a river-ferry day, exploring down there. Or more shopping. Who knows!! I'm not on a schedule and can do what I want!!
Until later! Chok dee. Photos are posted on Facebook, for those of you who are on there.
After a flight which is better left undiscussed (seriously, 30 hours on a place, plus lay-overs is just not a section of my life I want to relive! Thankfully, I slept most of the last leg, having spent the first 13 hour leg from Chicago to Tokyo playing "who's arm rest is this?" with an obnoxious French guy from Montreal!), I arrived in Bangkok at midnight last night (Dec 22). Upon exiting immigration (note to self: next time you arrive in a country with free 30 day Visas, check to make sure you're staying for <>
I'm staying (for the next 4 nights) at the Baan Chantra Guesthouse, which is located on Thanon Samsen (between Soi 6 and 8 - another lesson from experience - always carry a card with your hotel address on it in Thai so that cab drivers can find it...). It's a very nice place - AC in the rooms, comfy beds, TV. I wasn't sure i was going to sleep, but I fell asleep immediately (2am), and soundly.
This morning, following a breakfast of red curry and a mystery meat (pork?) and veggies, I decided to walk south towards Khao San Road (like Thamel in Kathmandu - total foreigner/backpacker hangout). Half-way there, I was accosted by a small Thai woman who wanted to know if I needed directions. I guess the dazed look on the face of the foreigner looking at a street map gave it away! Actually, I wasn't lost - I simply wanted to know which street I was on! Anyway, I spent quite a while chatting with this nice woman, which was very helpful as it turns out today was a very special holiday in Thailand - it is election day for the Parliament. That said, turns out it was also an excellent day to be wandering around as tuk-tuks to tourist places was really cheap, and entrance to the wats was free. The downside is that the entire country is DRY - no beer anywhere in Thailand today. I wound up hopping a ride with a tuk-tuk driver who, for 20 baht (about 80 cents) took me around to various wats (as well as the obligatory stop at 2 shops where he would receive commission - one for gems and another for suits). I got to see the standing Buddha at Wat Indrawihan (30 metres high), and made a few offerings there, and then the lucky Buddha. Turns out I probably got scammed in being dragged around town in the tuk-tuk, but you know what? For 20 baht, being jet-lagged and a bit dazed and confused, it offered me a chance to see Bangkok (at a ridiculously insane pace behind a crazed Thai driver!) and relax a bit.
Bangkok: Unorganized chaos. I swear there is nothing organized about this place! It's loud, polluted, frantic, crowded, and somewhat dirty.
But it's GREAT! I really like this city. My white running socks don't like the dirt, but hey, that's what laundry is for!
I had the driver let me out at the amulet market and I spent an enjoyable time browsing through the stalls, looking at the various new and old amulets. How you can tell a true "old" amulet from a fake is beyond me. I did buy two of them: one turtle, which I think is the yant Paya Thao Luean, and a small tiger with yant inscriptions on its back.
Around 11:30am, it was time to head to the Bang Sue metro station to meet up with Dave, an Aussie I met through the Sak Yant website, who was willing to take me to meet sak yant Ajarn Kaew near Wat Noi. I actually met Dave right on the metro - I couldn't miss him! So we grabbed a cab at the metro station and headed towards Ajarn Kaew's office. Once there, Dave introduced me, and told him which sak yant I wanted. We did a wai at the shrine in the building and then went and grabbed a cold drink, at which time Dave explained the protocol to me regarding receiving a sak yant. It's very ritualistic, and one has to always make sure the rules are followed - bowing at the proper time, what to do when the blessing is given, etc. What I wasn't prepared for was the pain!!
A sak yant, for anyone who doesn't know, is an ancient protective tattoo that is done by tapping a needle on a bamboo stick into your skin. The application is done by a monk, and sak yant master's are called "Ajarn". Sak Yant - Sak - meaning "to tap" or, "to tattoo", and Yant, meaning "Yantra". Originally derived from the Sanskrit word "YANTRA", the Ta and Ra letters are not pronunced in Thai Language, rather spelled as "yantr", including a symbol to silence the last consonant (called "Gaaran"). Whatever the case, Sacred Yant, Yantra, or Yan, however you prefer to call them, have existed since long before the Buddhist Era, dating back to pre Hindu times.
There were a number of people wishing to meet Ajarn Kaew, so he did a group blessing, then called me forward to be first. At first, he was going to apply the sak yant in oil (invisible) until Dave spoke up and said no, ink. I was positioned with by back to Ajarn, leaning my arms over a Thai triangular pillow. Ajarn Kaew started to work, marking the areas where the Gao Yord and the Yee Sip Yodt would go. It wasn't painful - just a slight marking up of the skin. Then, his two assistants stretched the skin on my upper back and he really went to work. Tattoos are nothing compared to this folks. This was NOT a pleasant physical experience!! This was actually worse than the ART therapy that I've been going through for the last 3 weeks for my shoulder!! He worked very quickly, tapping away at first on my lower neck along the spine, then working his way outwards towards my shoulders. About 1/3 of the way into it, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to handle it. My hands were clenched around my knees and everytime he shifted the stick and needle, I winced. What was amusing is that he and his assistants were having a great ol' time!! Laughing and joking (most likely about the wimpy farang girl wincing at the pain!) and talking with the others in the room when he wasn't chanting the mantra that goes along with the two sak yant. At last he stopped, and I was able to breathe again. I was supposed to get a Hanuman yant as well (a common Muay Thai protector), but he decided that Hanuman was too much of an angry animist yant for a female, so would not do it in ink. He did a brief outline in oil, and then I was done. He then took a Por Gae Ruseli headmask, placed it on my head and again incited a blessing and mantra to invoke the protection of the yants. Most sak yant Ajarn don't do this, so I was pleased and honored to receive this extra bit of ritual during my first visit. I turned around, wai'd three times to honor him, and got up to go back to my place. I was called back shortly, only to be given an amult of Ajarn Kaew's own making - an amulet of Hanuman. So although Hanuman is too strong and angry for me as a protector on my skin, it's ok for me to carry him (?) around with me.
All in all, it was quite the experience, one I will never forget. I'm not sure I'm ready for another one in the near future though! The pain, although worth it, was definitely something that should not be brushed off!
I took a cab back to the hotel after thanking Dave and dropping him off at the metro station. I had planned on going to Chatuchak Market, close by to Bang Sue, but with what amounts to an open wound fresh on my back, the last place I really needed to be was a huge market with thousands of people! So I came back to the hotel, changed, and decided to walk to Khao San Road. I spent a few hours walking in Banglampu Market, and on Khao San Road. It's crazy - stalls selling everything under the sun everywhere!! Absolutely crazy! I love it! Shopping-spree extrodinaire! I didn't buy much actually - 2 t-shirts, and I got my hair braided (ok, tacky-tourist thing to do, but it's going to be great for training next week - it won't get in the way!!). I was crashing with jet-lag big time around 7pm so decided to stop and get something to eat (duck and crispy basil) and then came back here. As it stands, my poor little brain is started to fail and is in need of a break after a somewhat hectic and full day.
What's on the agenda for tomorrow? I'm actually not sure! I found a place that will rent me a mountain bike for $10 for the day, so I might do that. Although biking in this city scares me slightly, especially since they drive on the opposite side of the road from us! But it would be one way to get around. It could turn out to be a river-ferry day, exploring down there. Or more shopping. Who knows!! I'm not on a schedule and can do what I want!!
Until later! Chok dee. Photos are posted on Facebook, for those of you who are on there.
Friday, December 14, 2007
6 days!!!
6 days!! Only 6 days left til the long flight to warmer climates, to sun and the beach and 3 solid weeks of training!!!
I made the mistake of stepping on the scale yesterday. Yikes. Not at all happy about that!!! I'm definitely going to Thailand and training with the idea of losing the weight I've put on in the last month or so!!! Argh. Not being able to train doesn't help. But lethargic living breeds more lethargic living. It's a vicious cycle, which often includes bad food on a regular basis. I so need to get back to regular eating and back on track to losing weight. The last 1-2 months, since my fight, have been horrible. I'm hoping that Thailand launches me back into the fitness mode.
The other night, I booked hotel rooms in Bangkok and Railay Beach through an on-line service, Agoda. What a great service! It makes life so much easier to know exactly where I'll be staying for every night while there. Bangkok is turning into a busy week. I'm getting my sak yant on the 23rd. I've been lucky enough to have a personal host bring me to a wat outside of Bangkok to get my back done. I can't wait!! It's going to be quite the experience. I'll make sure I get a video and photos (at least!). I've got a couple of days of site-seeing and shopping, then a day in Ayutthya and buying daabs. Then down south. Yeah!! Totally awesome.
The last couple of days I've been just giddy. Totally giddy. It's finally hitting me that I'm leaving. Bye bye!! Leaving on a jet plane! Ya, 24 hours on a jet plane at that!! I think I've blocked the flight to Nepal from my mind - I can't seem to remember how bad it was to sit on a plane for that length of time. Must be self-preservation or something.
I made the mistake of stepping on the scale yesterday. Yikes. Not at all happy about that!!! I'm definitely going to Thailand and training with the idea of losing the weight I've put on in the last month or so!!! Argh. Not being able to train doesn't help. But lethargic living breeds more lethargic living. It's a vicious cycle, which often includes bad food on a regular basis. I so need to get back to regular eating and back on track to losing weight. The last 1-2 months, since my fight, have been horrible. I'm hoping that Thailand launches me back into the fitness mode.
The other night, I booked hotel rooms in Bangkok and Railay Beach through an on-line service, Agoda. What a great service! It makes life so much easier to know exactly where I'll be staying for every night while there. Bangkok is turning into a busy week. I'm getting my sak yant on the 23rd. I've been lucky enough to have a personal host bring me to a wat outside of Bangkok to get my back done. I can't wait!! It's going to be quite the experience. I'll make sure I get a video and photos (at least!). I've got a couple of days of site-seeing and shopping, then a day in Ayutthya and buying daabs. Then down south. Yeah!! Totally awesome.
The last couple of days I've been just giddy. Totally giddy. It's finally hitting me that I'm leaving. Bye bye!! Leaving on a jet plane! Ya, 24 hours on a jet plane at that!! I think I've blocked the flight to Nepal from my mind - I can't seem to remember how bad it was to sit on a plane for that length of time. Must be self-preservation or something.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
resort room booked on Railay beach
7 more sleeps!!
Today I booked a room at the Sand Sea Resort on Railay Beach in Krabi. I figured that after the fights on Koh Lanta on January 11th, I'll pop across the bay to Krabi and check out the awesome beaches, caves and rock climbing on Railay. I've gotten all sorts of suggestions of things to do while there (it's great to have friends who have traveled extensively in Thailand before and who share the same sort of traveling likes and dislikes as I do!). The photos of the area are absolutely amazing. I so can't wait. It'll be a nice break between days of training in Phuket as well - a chance to get away from the camp crowd and off on my own for a bit of exploring and beachcombing.
My shoulder is starting to feel better. It only truly pains me if I put force on it by pulling or pushing. Otherwise, it's only sore in the morning and by the late evening. Yeah! I'm headed to the gym this evening to do some cardio, shadow boxing and maybe some kicking on the bag (if it doesn't rotate my shoulder too much). Fingers crossed that I'm not in too much pain when I come home tonight.
Today I booked a room at the Sand Sea Resort on Railay Beach in Krabi. I figured that after the fights on Koh Lanta on January 11th, I'll pop across the bay to Krabi and check out the awesome beaches, caves and rock climbing on Railay. I've gotten all sorts of suggestions of things to do while there (it's great to have friends who have traveled extensively in Thailand before and who share the same sort of traveling likes and dislikes as I do!). The photos of the area are absolutely amazing. I so can't wait. It'll be a nice break between days of training in Phuket as well - a chance to get away from the camp crowd and off on my own for a bit of exploring and beachcombing.
My shoulder is starting to feel better. It only truly pains me if I put force on it by pulling or pushing. Otherwise, it's only sore in the morning and by the late evening. Yeah! I'm headed to the gym this evening to do some cardio, shadow boxing and maybe some kicking on the bag (if it doesn't rotate my shoulder too much). Fingers crossed that I'm not in too much pain when I come home tonight.
Monday, December 10, 2007
It's official...
The next 10 days are going to be unbearable! Waiting around to leave for Thailand is not going to be alot of fun, especially since I can't spend my time at the gym, working off anxious energy. Argh! That said, I'm getting alot of loose ends tied up, alot of reading done, and have watched numerous movies. Thankfully, by the time the weekend comes along, we have a number of Christmas parties to waste my time, and I have to mark final exams and assignments. I'm not sure that will be sufficient to keep me from packing and repacking and repacking again every day in anticipation! Doing dishes tonight will keep me busy for, oh, 1/2 an hour. But I really don't want to do dishes. What else to do?
I went for my first ART (active release therapy) session this morning. Only one word describes the experience - PAINFUL. I'm sure that it's going to help heal my shoulder and neck, but oh my god!! Pressure point therapy when you're already really sore is not a good experience. It was helped slightly by the fact that my therapist was really good looking and he was also a really nice guy! But still, OW!!! Right now, I've got one spot on my neck that refuses to calm down and is still aching quite a bit. I have a physio session tomorrow, then another ART session on Thursday. I'm hoping to go to the gym tomorrow at lunch to at least shadow box and do a bit of skipping. We'll see how I feel.
I went for my first ART (active release therapy) session this morning. Only one word describes the experience - PAINFUL. I'm sure that it's going to help heal my shoulder and neck, but oh my god!! Pressure point therapy when you're already really sore is not a good experience. It was helped slightly by the fact that my therapist was really good looking and he was also a really nice guy! But still, OW!!! Right now, I've got one spot on my neck that refuses to calm down and is still aching quite a bit. I have a physio session tomorrow, then another ART session on Thursday. I'm hoping to go to the gym tomorrow at lunch to at least shadow box and do a bit of skipping. We'll see how I feel.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
packing... and repacking
In the last month, I think I have packed and repacked my bag for Thailand about 25 times!! Today, I couldn't figure out where I put the extra SD cards for my camera. I've whittled down my packing to only one pair of convertible pants/shorts, 2 dry-wick shirts, a long-sleeved dry wick shirt with UV protection, underwear, sports bras and socks. I have to throw some training tops in there as well, but I figure I can buy anything else while there. And my towel is packed. The towel that has traveled to Europe, to Nepal, all across North America, etc. It has stories to tell, is faded and worn, but is my one creature comfort during trips abroad!
I spent the afternoon shopping for misc items like the dry-wick shirt, underwear, etc. And a book for the plane ride over. My shoulder is now aching from carrying bags and walking without it in the sling - not painful, just aching like it's been used all day. I'm actually pretty happy with how it feels today. I had to take off the tape that was stretched across my back - it was getting way too itchy and uncomfortable.
Note to self: when you injure your body, taking the time to heal properly is well worth it!!
I think I will go for a run tomorrow. Fresh air would be a good thing. A week off feels like a lifetime of being a slug.
I spent the afternoon shopping for misc items like the dry-wick shirt, underwear, etc. And a book for the plane ride over. My shoulder is now aching from carrying bags and walking without it in the sling - not painful, just aching like it's been used all day. I'm actually pretty happy with how it feels today. I had to take off the tape that was stretched across my back - it was getting way too itchy and uncomfortable.
Note to self: when you injure your body, taking the time to heal properly is well worth it!!
I think I will go for a run tomorrow. Fresh air would be a good thing. A week off feels like a lifetime of being a slug.
subconscious enigma
How exactly does your body know what to do when you're asleep? I ask this because during the last week, I've not been able to sleep on my right side, for obvious reasons. Even sleeping on my left side has its problem when gravity takes my shoulder over. But to not lie on my right side, while awake, is a conscious decision. What happens when I'm asleep? I wake up having tweaked my shoulder a number of times during the night, but never have I woken up sleeping on the right side. How does that happen? How is it that during sleep, my body knows not to roll over on to that side?
Both Abbey and I had a good night's sleep last night, the first one in a week. He's happily munching away on kibble with sardines this morning before we head out for a walk and a coffee. So far so good - he doesn't seem sensitive anywhere, although the strange rash on his belly is still there. I think we're in the clear!
12 sleeps until Thailand. It doesn't seem possible actually. We went for Thai food last night and I learned a valuable lesson this morning - ease your way back into spicy food if you haven't had it in a while! We had 4 dishes, all of which were full of chilies! I'm paying for it this morning. I can't wait to eat fresh Thai food for 6 weeks - fruit, seafood, sticky rice. Yum! It's all good!
Both Abbey and I had a good night's sleep last night, the first one in a week. He's happily munching away on kibble with sardines this morning before we head out for a walk and a coffee. So far so good - he doesn't seem sensitive anywhere, although the strange rash on his belly is still there. I think we're in the clear!
12 sleeps until Thailand. It doesn't seem possible actually. We went for Thai food last night and I learned a valuable lesson this morning - ease your way back into spicy food if you haven't had it in a while! We had 4 dishes, all of which were full of chilies! I'm paying for it this morning. I can't wait to eat fresh Thai food for 6 weeks - fruit, seafood, sticky rice. Yum! It's all good!
Friday, December 07, 2007
hey medical system! take a lesson from your neighbour veterinary hospital!
Nalene health concern (Globe and Mail)
So it looks like our old favorite drinking aid, the Nalgene bottle, has been pulled off the shelves by MEC. As I look in my cupboard, at last count I owned minimum 8 of these bottles, both Nalgene brand and other knock-offs, all containing the evil Lexan. What do we use for water bottles now? Stainless steel?
It's been a long, hard, stressful week. Tuesday night, I thought all was going well with Abbey's recovery from his tooth extraction. Around midnight, he was whining and standing on the bed staring at me. Thinking he just needed to pee, I took him out. 2 hours later, same thing. But after getting back into bed, I touched his stomach, trying to convince him to lie down and he screamed out in pain. That was enough to scare me and I called my vet to get the emergency number. 2:30am in the morning, I'm driving to the Ottawa Veterinary Hospital and checking him in. They immediately took an X-ray (note to human medical clinics: learn from vet hospitals! medical attention happens immediately!) and discovered he had a severe case of bloat (colic) and needed emergency surgery to decompress his stomach. I left him there and spent a sleepless night at home. The next few days were up and down with him developing more and more problems - weird pancreatic values, long clotting times, blood in his urine, a strange rash on his abdomen. Thankfully, the bloat did not occur, but these other problems were odd. Our final thoughts are that they were complications from either a drug or the anesthetic during the tooth extraction. Yesterday he was finally getting better, eating, up and socializing at the clinic. I went and saw him last night and he was exhausted - we had a nap together on the visitation room couch! The day before when I visited he had been in pain, slow, not social, etc. So seeing him last night almost back to his normal self was a huge relief. I picked him up today and he's sleeping soundly on the couch. I think the next couple of days will be fairly low-key for both of us! I'm so happy to have him home safe and sound. It's been a huge stress to have him away from home, especially since none of the vets were sure what was wrong. And he'd seen minimum of 4 vets during his time at the hospital, none of which was his own regular vet! That's hard on both of us. But he's home, feeling well and almost back to his normal self. Yeah!!
On top of the stress of him being in hospital, I've been at physio every day this week, attempting to get this shoulder back on track. Today it's doing a bit better, and I've been told to forgo the sling while at home and use the shoulder a bit so the muscles can start to strengthen. I've also got a few exercises to do each day to get it back into shape. It's still in alot of pain, especially down the side of my neck and into the trap muscle, but I think I'm going to stop taking the pain killer and just take Aleve.
Wow, what a week. TGIF definitely!! 14 more days until I leave for Thailand, which is almost shocking. The next two weeks will go by fast - Christmas lunches, Andy's coming to town for a couple of days, exams to mark. Yeah! Then off, off and away into the wild blue (warm) yonder! I should be go to train by the time I hit Phuket. Maybe not to do MMA, but certainly to be back on the bag, running, and maybe doing some sparring. I'll be so happy to get back into the gym. Being inactive is very, very frustrating!
So it looks like our old favorite drinking aid, the Nalgene bottle, has been pulled off the shelves by MEC. As I look in my cupboard, at last count I owned minimum 8 of these bottles, both Nalgene brand and other knock-offs, all containing the evil Lexan. What do we use for water bottles now? Stainless steel?
It's been a long, hard, stressful week. Tuesday night, I thought all was going well with Abbey's recovery from his tooth extraction. Around midnight, he was whining and standing on the bed staring at me. Thinking he just needed to pee, I took him out. 2 hours later, same thing. But after getting back into bed, I touched his stomach, trying to convince him to lie down and he screamed out in pain. That was enough to scare me and I called my vet to get the emergency number. 2:30am in the morning, I'm driving to the Ottawa Veterinary Hospital and checking him in. They immediately took an X-ray (note to human medical clinics: learn from vet hospitals! medical attention happens immediately!) and discovered he had a severe case of bloat (colic) and needed emergency surgery to decompress his stomach. I left him there and spent a sleepless night at home. The next few days were up and down with him developing more and more problems - weird pancreatic values, long clotting times, blood in his urine, a strange rash on his abdomen. Thankfully, the bloat did not occur, but these other problems were odd. Our final thoughts are that they were complications from either a drug or the anesthetic during the tooth extraction. Yesterday he was finally getting better, eating, up and socializing at the clinic. I went and saw him last night and he was exhausted - we had a nap together on the visitation room couch! The day before when I visited he had been in pain, slow, not social, etc. So seeing him last night almost back to his normal self was a huge relief. I picked him up today and he's sleeping soundly on the couch. I think the next couple of days will be fairly low-key for both of us! I'm so happy to have him home safe and sound. It's been a huge stress to have him away from home, especially since none of the vets were sure what was wrong. And he'd seen minimum of 4 vets during his time at the hospital, none of which was his own regular vet! That's hard on both of us. But he's home, feeling well and almost back to his normal self. Yeah!!
On top of the stress of him being in hospital, I've been at physio every day this week, attempting to get this shoulder back on track. Today it's doing a bit better, and I've been told to forgo the sling while at home and use the shoulder a bit so the muscles can start to strengthen. I've also got a few exercises to do each day to get it back into shape. It's still in alot of pain, especially down the side of my neck and into the trap muscle, but I think I'm going to stop taking the pain killer and just take Aleve.
Wow, what a week. TGIF definitely!! 14 more days until I leave for Thailand, which is almost shocking. The next two weeks will go by fast - Christmas lunches, Andy's coming to town for a couple of days, exams to mark. Yeah! Then off, off and away into the wild blue (warm) yonder! I should be go to train by the time I hit Phuket. Maybe not to do MMA, but certainly to be back on the bag, running, and maybe doing some sparring. I'll be so happy to get back into the gym. Being inactive is very, very frustrating!
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
woozy doggie!
On my couch lies a very stoned dog! I took him to the vet's this morning to have one of his molars removed and just picked him up. The tooth came out alright and should heal up very quickly, but right now he's still a bit woozy from the anesthetic. Poor thing! He looks so dopey!
2nd physio session this morning indicates that my trap muscle isn't working correctly - either a result of nerve damage or simply being damaged itself. It's not holding up the shoulder properly which is contributing to the lopsidedness of my shoulders. I decided not to take pain killers last night and regretted it today - I discovered how many different parts of my shoulder and neck are sore!! Ouch. The good thing is that my physiotherapist says that by the end of next week, provided I progress well in healing, I should be able to be back at the gym doing at least shadow boxing and lower body work. Yeah!!
I think I need a new job. The concept of "positive reinforcement" is lost at my place of work. Every time I get called into my boss's office, I feel like I'm going to catch shit. This new position is not fun for me, nor for him by the looks of it, so I think I may have to go back to research. It will take me out of harms way, make me one of the pack again (it's true - there are safety in numbers), and allow me to go back to getting work done and not stuck in meetings all the time. I thought this could work, but I don't think the environment is right. I actually think I was set up to fail in a number of ways. Maybe not consciously, not deliberately, but the environment is wrong, not supportive, too insecure. So maybe it's time for a change back to research, back to my roots, followed by a search, later on, for something different. I don't know. We'll know more after tomorrow's meeting.
I'm bored, anxious, fidgety. I'm not used to being home in the evenings, unable to go to the gym. It sucks!! The gym is like a 2nd home to me (sometimes it feels like a first home!) and not being able to train is driving me insane! Or maybe it's just being stuck at home, injured, fed up with work, eager to leave for Thailand. I'll go google Thailand and then check out Carrie's blog some more to keep me on the happy track to leaving for the warm climes of Asia.
2nd physio session this morning indicates that my trap muscle isn't working correctly - either a result of nerve damage or simply being damaged itself. It's not holding up the shoulder properly which is contributing to the lopsidedness of my shoulders. I decided not to take pain killers last night and regretted it today - I discovered how many different parts of my shoulder and neck are sore!! Ouch. The good thing is that my physiotherapist says that by the end of next week, provided I progress well in healing, I should be able to be back at the gym doing at least shadow boxing and lower body work. Yeah!!
I think I need a new job. The concept of "positive reinforcement" is lost at my place of work. Every time I get called into my boss's office, I feel like I'm going to catch shit. This new position is not fun for me, nor for him by the looks of it, so I think I may have to go back to research. It will take me out of harms way, make me one of the pack again (it's true - there are safety in numbers), and allow me to go back to getting work done and not stuck in meetings all the time. I thought this could work, but I don't think the environment is right. I actually think I was set up to fail in a number of ways. Maybe not consciously, not deliberately, but the environment is wrong, not supportive, too insecure. So maybe it's time for a change back to research, back to my roots, followed by a search, later on, for something different. I don't know. We'll know more after tomorrow's meeting.
I'm bored, anxious, fidgety. I'm not used to being home in the evenings, unable to go to the gym. It sucks!! The gym is like a 2nd home to me (sometimes it feels like a first home!) and not being able to train is driving me insane! Or maybe it's just being stuck at home, injured, fed up with work, eager to leave for Thailand. I'll go google Thailand and then check out Carrie's blog some more to keep me on the happy track to leaving for the warm climes of Asia.
Monday, December 03, 2007
adventure with a shoulder, day 2
I went for physio this morning and, once again, had a quite astounding reaction to the slope of my shoulders. Barb, my therapist, asked me "have you always been that asymmetric?!". Nope! So she did a bit of probing and diagnosed the separation as 2nd degree, as well as a separation of the sternum-clavicle (SC) joint, which further explains why my shoulder is so low. She was actually impressed and said it's rare to see such an injury as usually, with that much impact, the clavicle breaks. So I don't know if I'm lucky or just a freak of nature! So a course of physio, every day, is in order - ultrasound, interferential, massage, etc. And with my arm in a sling for a while, plus the pain killers. I get the results of my x-ray tomorrow. I also have the name of a good ART specialist, so I will try him as well.
No training. No running. I can try spinning, provided I don't use my right arm.
This totally sucks. What are the chances of doing this much serious injury to myself 16 days before leaving for Thailand?! Horrible, horrible luck. Fighting in Thailand is now out of the question. Training should be ok, but I'll just be getting back to it by the time I arrive in Phuket. I just want it to get better, be as strong as before, so that I can train and be able to work as hard as I want to. Right now, I'm just in pain, from my shoulder up into my neck and a bit across my collar bone. I don't know what happens when I stop taking the pain killer, Toradol, and go back to normal Aleve or Advil.
No training. No running. I can try spinning, provided I don't use my right arm.
This totally sucks. What are the chances of doing this much serious injury to myself 16 days before leaving for Thailand?! Horrible, horrible luck. Fighting in Thailand is now out of the question. Training should be ok, but I'll just be getting back to it by the time I arrive in Phuket. I just want it to get better, be as strong as before, so that I can train and be able to work as hard as I want to. Right now, I'm just in pain, from my shoulder up into my neck and a bit across my collar bone. I don't know what happens when I stop taking the pain killer, Toradol, and go back to normal Aleve or Advil.
TORADOL (ketorolac tromethamine) is a member of the pyrrolo-pyrrole group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The chemical name for ketorolac tromethamine is (±)-5-benzoyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolizine-1-carboxylic acid, compound with 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol (1:1), and the chemical structure is:
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Ketorolac tromethamine is a racemic mixture of [-]S and [+]R ketorolac tromethamine. Ketorolac tromethamine may exist in three crystal forms. All forms are equally soluble in water. Ketorolac tromethamine has a pKa of 3.5 and an n-octanol/water partition coefficient of 0.26. The molecular weight of ketorolac tromethamine is 376.41. Its molecular formula is C19H24N2O6.
TORADOLORAL is available as round, white, film-coated, red-printed tablets. Each tablet contains 10 mg ketorolac tromethamine, the active ingredient, with added lactose, magnesium stearate and microcrystalline cellulose. The white film-coating contains hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol and titanium dioxide.
The tablets are printed with red ink that includes FD&C Red #40 Aluminum Lake as the colorant. There is a large T printed on both sides of the tablet, as well as the word TORADOL on one side, and the word ROCHE on the other.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
shoulder in agony
17 days before heading to Thailand, with the main goal of training, and I manage to bang up my shoulder. My right shoulder. i got swept during a rolling session at the gym yesterday afternoon and came down right on my shoulder. pain was accompanied by a snap-crackle-pop. stupidly, i kept rolling with it hurt (lightly, thankfully). i tried celebrex, aleve and scotch to dull the pain, but to no avail. last night, trying to sleep was brutal. i had to sleep on my back with a blanket holding up my arm. today, i went to the walk-in clinic at the university. the doctor totally flipped out at the slant of my shoulders!! she poked and proded and finally suggested that i have separated my shoulder. peachy. so i have to go get an x-ray, keep my right arm in a sling to keep the weight off the shoulder, and take pain killers. FUCK!!!!!! how much does this suck?? i am not a happy camper right now.
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