Where has Alex been?

So I’ve been away quite a bit the last while, this has been due to a combination of work, sickness, stress and work. Basically I had come to Thailand to escape commitments, restrictions and see what life outside of work and study was all about however after one month out here I had engulfed myself in these, essentially repositioning myself in the same situation I wanted to leave. This realization was indeed a dour one and may have explained my lack of enthusiasm for anything over the past 2 months. Also, Dengue Fever without health insurance or money for a hospital visit is not recommended.

BUT

I have just moved apartment, gym, job and things are looking pretty good right now.

Now I know most of you reading this through muaythaitrainningcamps are not so interested in the work I’m doing but I’m going to mention it anyway because it has made a huge difference to my time out here. I now write news articles, basically I can work wherever there is an internet connection. I get to learn more about what a mess this world is, and I get to do it on my own time, this though still a commitment is certainly more flexible than my previous job. However, I will miss the numerous joys of teaching English such as random attacks, stabbings, playdoh cakes, rainbow colored animals, affirmations of understanding devoid of any understanding, and the ever pleasant feeling that you may have to throw up on a 5 year old after 4 hours of sleep and a foggy memory.

After two months of training at Lanna muay thai I decided to switch to another gym. I did enjoy training at Lanna but after 2 months a few things had started to nag at me. Namely that the pace of training was sometimes dictated by the amount of or particular people at the gym, it seemed that at times it was just get your time on the pads and then you were left to your own devices, maybe there would be some clinching towards the end, or you would be told to bang a few hundred kicks out, I know it is up to you to set the pace of your training but I can kick a bag in my own country. Also when I first arrived there was a steady amount of sparring but after a month it had dwindled to almost nothing, though I’m told this has changed now. Personally I think Lanna is a good place to get started at if you have just arrived in Thailand or Chiang Mai, it acts as a nice decompression zone it’s filled with like minded people and is used to dealing with foreigners. I think that views of the gym fluctuate quite a lot between people though, I know people that arrived the same time as me who are still there and love it, while others have gone the same route as myself and looked elsewhere. If you are in Chiang Mai drop by and find out for yourself.

Also if your staying close to the gym heres a few things to do:

-Rent a bike from Vanessa, drive up Doi Suthep, cruise down in neutral

-Get a bt10 msg omlette from behind the gym….everyday.

-Check out Wongen cafe opposite the entrance to CM University, it has beanbags, connect 4 and Jenga. I slept there between morning and afternoon training everyday for 2 months.

-The Boat restaurant is wicked, big menu cheap prices.

-If you want to be even cheaper go to CM University and find the cafeteria, they subsidize the prices for students.

-Head up to the swimming pool, follow the superhighway north and you will find it.

-Thank me for writing this blog by taking me out for a drink

-Check out the Monday market behind the gym, its on Mondays by the way.

-There is a market for students every night opposite CM University, its wicked for cheap clothes that aren’t sleeveless Singha or Chang t-shirts.

There’s heaps more to do in Chiang Mai these are just some ideas for that particular area.

I’ve got more posts already written up I’m just waiting on pics from friends.

Right now I’m training at KC gym, some of you might have heard of it over the forums. The place is going to be big in the Chiang Mai muay thai scene I can tell you that. I’ve got a review written just waiting on some pics before I put it up.

Anyhow, it’s good to be writing again sorry about the delay.

Born in Australia, training in martial arts since the age of 9. My first trip to Thailand was back in 2007. Since then i have made numerous visits back to the "land of smiles" to feed my addiction of Muay Thai. During the month of November in 2010 i had to decide between working a 9 to 5 job back home for the rest of my life, or sell all my worldly possessions and move to Thailand to live and train for the next few years. Thankfully i chose the latter. I now spend my time training Muay Thai, meeting new and interesting circles of people, sipping coconuts under palm trees on the beach and measuring the cost of everything on how much Pad Thai i could buy with that money.

Mike (Admin)

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