I'll Miss Michelle

Michelle has been my roommate since I got here. Although that's only been a little over 2 weeks, I'm really honored to have met her aquaintance.

Michelle is 27, I believe, and from the UK, and she was obviously bright, witty and friendly from the bat. And serious about her training. She came to Rawai Muay Thai Gym to gain weight and strength in order to train back at home to be an.....emergency paramedic for something like the Red Cross, where she is part of a global response team to catastrophes and disasters, etc.

Michelle was already living in Thailand, though, about 2 hours north. She has been working with an organization called Grassroots Human Rights Education and Development. From their website, Grassroots HRED is working to promote education, human rights, and the development of safe, working environment for Burmese people in Thailand.

Michelle writes proposals, coordinates educators, fundraises and raises awareness for the Burmese, who are not allowed to be citizens here and therefore have no rights. Quite often, I'll see Burmese children working (12, 13, etc.). Depending on the province of Thailand they live in, some Burmese must wear tags at all times, cannot drive a motorbike or be seen out past 8 p.m., etc. You get the idea, total bullshit. Even paradise has it's issues, not that an American (or any other nation) has any room to judge in terms of segregation, racism, sexism, etc.; nobody and no nation is perfect). Seriously, at a restaurant an owner commented on how well she spoke to Thai. When Michelle said she lived here, the woman asked her what she did. When she said she worked with Burmese children, the woman's face obviously shifted and the conversation ended. Michelle said that that happens allllll the time, but she is tough and obviously unaffected.

Michelle works a lot with Burmese children, including some orphans. She got into this line of work a few years back when she showed up to help do relief work after the tsunami, and she clearly excels at it. She also excels at making a kickass raw Burmese salad that she so kindly showed me the other night, seasoned with pickled tea leaves. It is DIVINE.

I'll definitely miss her sarcasm and smile, but honestly I have found meeting Michelle inspiring and motivating, most of all. I mean, here's a girl who managed to get a team into Burma after the cyclone, secretly documenting the misuse of relief funds and donations, trying to help these people that the world really doesn't care about. I also found myself feeling quite humbled; sometimes I truly fit the bill of "ignorant American". I truly wasn't aware of these human rights issues going on, and am quite "Burma-ignorant" (among other places / situations, unfortunately).

One thing Michelle said that resonated with me is that it's almost a curse to know of some of these violations, because once you know, you can't go back. I know that feeling well in terms of both animal and human rights (medically speaking), and although it feels like a curse at times, I know and hope Michelle knows that it's really a blessing in disguise. There's nothing more rewarding than knowing you enhanced another life that day, even if you didn't make much money doing it and everybody frowns on you for going against the grain.

For an endearing slideshow of a summer camp Michelle helped coordinate and manage for Burmese children, go here.

I can't lie; I love, love, LOVE the Thai people (and so does Michelle, of course), and I have a hard time telling the difference between the Thai and Burmese. I know that the Burmese are more like "the mexicans" back in the United States in that they do a lot of the cheap, migrant labor. But they also can generally wear marks on their face from a certain clay that they find "beautifying". Knowing this, when I am out running or walking and see someone that I am pretty sure is Burmese, based on the above, I smile and wave a little bigger. Shhhh!

If you are interested in joining the many organizations and individuals who support their work, please click on this email grassroots_hre@yahoo.com and let them know. They will respond immediately. Or, if you prefer to send a check, their address is: P.O. Box 13, Takuapa Post Office, Phang Nga 82110, Thailand. Your gift to FED would be greatly appreciated. On behalf of the Burmese migrant children and families who are the real beneficiaries of your gift, thank you.

The "Front Porch"

I live in the shared housing, which is right next to the gym. It's three to a room, and 3 rooms in a row (the other 3 rooms are for staff members and their families). Here's how close to the gym we live, and some random shots of "the front porch", where the whole extended international "fam" generally gathers for some incredibly good, laid-back (and sometimes totally wrong, lol) times. For example, we actually started a Facebook group entitled "Rawai Porch Monkeys". So very wrong, but yet so right. We have no shame.

The Outdoor Market

Most nights a week there's a local outdoor market. This one is every Monday and Thursday, about 100 yards from the gym. Fresh food, clothes and more are sold there. It's a lot of fun and an easy way to pick up some local produce!

. . . and I saw this precious gem on my way out. Priceless!

The Weekend Challenge

The friends you meet. Even though we will all be staying in touch, it's hard when they become a part of your Thailand family, then leave! Then again, I'm a sap.

This is a bunch of us outside my front stoop; Michelle is the fierce blonde on the right and also my roommate, and our front door is right behind her/us. The tough chick in the turquoise that you don't want to mess with is of course myself. Jamie already left (2nd from the left, front row), which stinks, and now this weekend is Chia-chi's last weekend (not shown). I don't want Chia-chi to leave! The only GOOD news is that he's all set up in a killer section of San Francisco, so I can't wait to visit him!

This weekend is ALSO Laragh's last weekend (not shown), so after Lindsey's fight on Friday I'm sworn to going out with the ladies. Saturday night is Chia-chi's last night, which means more of last Saturday night and that I'm hitting the debaucherous Patong again to dance it up at Tiger. Hopefully we can get Tuk to come out, too!

Lastly, this week is Phuket's famous Vegetarian Festival. This weekend marks the end of it. I'll post on that separately, as it's a major event and I'm told there is nothing else in the world quite like it. As a vegan I'm intrigued by the rituals and practices that go on, and am looking forward to the show. I'm talking people walking on fire, in trances. And piercing their faces with thick sword-like objects, as well as slicing their tongues with razors. I'll be reporting more on this, trust me. Whether you read up on it or watch the videos is up to you!

So, this is a HUGE social weekend - especially since at some point I'd love to squeeze in the beach, and I'm determined to have fun but not to drink or stay out all night, and to stay focused on my goals.

My training is going AWESOME and my body is changing in the 2 short weeks I've been here---others have even commented. This morning I was too tired at 5:30am to get up for my 4.7 km, but I did skip group training and do my walk-run at 7:30am. Then I did a V.I.P. session with Joy (who is one!), who kicked my butt for an hour. Tonight at 4pm I'll do a group session, then I'm doing the 4.7km power-walk with Chia-chi, who is 6'2", and thus very long-legged. I'm pretty sore, but am excited about it. My diet's been excellent and my water intake is higher than ever!

In other news, today my neighbor and good friend Bob woke up kinda sick and has been in bed. Maternal Italian friend that I am, I insisted he let me saute' a cure-all for him. This morning he wouldn't listen, but this afternoon I asked nicely and he allowed me to make him a stir-fry of mushroom soy sauce (for flavor/base), then about 12 - 15 cloves of garlic, 3 white onions, and 3 red chili peppers, minced. His room has an electric wok that they let me borrow, so it was easy. That and he should drink some young coconuts, but this meal should knock out whatever bacteria he came across, for sure!

I almost could nap right now, honestly, so I'm off. It's 1pm and I'm going to down some stir-fry myself, then rest up for this afternoon's training session.

Update

I just didn't make it to this afternoon's session. I napped, which is unheard of, and woke up too groggy right before it. I'm sore, I'm tired, I'm not going to get hurt. I also don't even feel like I can make a fist. I still may do my cardio, we'll see. Either way, I'll be in bed early tonight and will do both tomorrow, including cardio. Life is good!

Don't Fu*k With Tuk

Dude, check out this video we found of Tuk in 2001 (4 years before winning the world title). Watch him (red shorts) take his opponent out in the 3rd round with a freakin whole-body elbow shot. Total TKO! Muay Thai at it's finest.

Update

I just found out that Tuk wasn't even SUPPOSED to fight that night! He covered for his brother at the last minute, with a full stomach from a buffet (a total no-no), and having not trained to fight. Incredible!

Tha Ears Are A Novelty Here

If you don't know this about me already, my ear lobes are stretched out to an inch. At least once a day a trainer comes by and sticks his finger through my ears, smiling. So today I took a picture with Joy, on the left (a huge culprit; you can see what a kick he gets out of them) and Petsila, on the right, after afternoon training (notice how sweaty and gross I am; I could never lie about being a sweaty Italian, so I won't begin to now), with their fingers in position, LOL!

In fact, after my afternoon one-on-one with Tuk (finally), Yib came up to me, feigning "concern", handing me my "earring" (which is shown in my hand). At first I was all grateful, then I took a better look at it. It was the plastic rim from a water bottle. He was dying at his joke, and it was pretty cute.

Turns out my earring HAD fallen out, though, and he did have it in his other hand. Since I lost one of the black pair I brought in the ocean, these are all I have left until I can buy some more (here, preferably). It came out because I was grappling with Tuk, kneeing him. It was GRUELING. I finally sweat enough it slid right out, or he likely bumped it out since it involves each other grabbing each other's shoulders in lock position. Time to start taking them out and taping the ears for training.......

I'm proud of myself today. I woke up early and did a 4 km power-walk/slight run (at times) from 6 to 6:50am, and even ran into my friend Bob, whom I just love, so we walked together the rest of the way. It's a simple and nice route that is peaceful and safe. Snake-free thus far, too. Then I made it to morning training for about 2 hours.

Afterwards, I showered and then walked to Tesco, the grocery store, about a mile away. Nobody could believe I was going to attempt this, but I wanted to just take my time there, and figured it would be good exercise. At least 4 Thai citizens stopped by to see if I wanted a ride; NOBODY walks anywhere here. I just smiled and thanked them ("Ka - Poon - Ka!") and patted my stomach and said "exercise!" They laughed and took off. How very kind of them, though.

Walking home with like 40lbs on my back and carrying another bag, in the heat and uphill, was DEFINITELY another forty minutes of cardio (it may be a bit more than a mile, actually). I rested up for an hour and a half since it was too close to afternoon training to eat, then went to the afternoon session. The grand finale was finally getting Tuk.

Michelle (my roommate) and I did rock, paper scissors (jokingly) as far as who got to get him, because she ate too close to training, and last time he worked her until she almost puked. But he called out "Mary!", so it's not like we had a choice. So today I trained with the recent world champion. He's fabulous, and always communicating, and speaks some of the best english of all the trainers. I learned a lot, he praised me a lot, too, and by the end of it I just was laying on my back in the middle of the ring, dying.

I feel good. And like I can walk to the cash station still (a short walk) and make a mean stir fry. I really feel the urge to do a lot of garlic and onion (anti-parasitic, etc.) but cannot do them raw, personally, so at Tesco I stocked up on some GREAT veggies. Today was a job well done, and I feel on point with my goals. I'll be early to bed and early to rise again.

I just can't stress enough how easy it could be to be intimidated by the trainers level of fitness, but honestly, it's a non-issue. They love their jobs and they love people. It's just a wonderful place, and a wonderful land.

Note: I swear to God my chest looks smaller in person!

A FROG Was In My SHOE!

CAUTION: This post is NOT for the easily grossed-out!

Ug! I missed my workout this morning and I know I want to up my cardio to meet my fitness goal this week. So I went to do some cardio on the treadmill. When we train, we train barefoot, but for this I put on my gym shoes and socks.

My gym shoes had been OUTSIDE a couple of days since I had worn them to protect my toe the first day it was injured (it's scabbing and healing well; turned out to be pretty mild). I put them on, got on the treadmill, and after about a MINUTE I felt something squirm. Nothing major, but I didn't arrive just yesterday, so.....

REMEMBERING WHERE I AM, where small lizards can be in your kitchen, etc., I jumped off and untied my shoe and kicked it off with the other foot. I wouldn't go NEAR my shoe because I saw SOMETHING, then I saw it go back inside. I shrieked.

Some guy was just running around and stopped to check it out. It was an "off" time, so not many were in the gym. Yib and Carol were doing a VIP session (private), and stopped to wonder what was going on.....laughing.

The dude running around shook out my shoe. A frog was in it! About the size of a half-dollar, easy, in circumference, so it wasn't HUGE but it wasn't small.

I kept shrieking and hopping around, half-laughing, half in total shock, but definitely 100% GROSSED OUT. People have told me the frogs here are poisonous, but Danny (gym manager) came out and assured me it happens all the time around here and that they are harmless.

I went home and laid down, then fell asleep. I think the shock was too great to my easily-horrified system.

I napped all afternoon and missed training this afternoon, too! What a lazyass! Fortunately, I fasted today, though. Especially after eating some cooked (vegan) food yesterday after partying in Patong. I did go to dinner with friends (just to get out) and one of them is a new Norwegian dude who is totally ripped. He was saying he power walks for his cardio. So, I'm going to start doing the 4k route right here around the gym tomorrow, to add to my cardio. And definitely make it to group training, geeze!

I'm going to film a training session soon, just one round, but go easy on me folks; I have 20lbs to lose, it's the effing TROPICS, which makes everything tons harder, and I've only been a Muay Thai fighter like 9 friggin days or something, LOL! That way I can film it again in like a month and you can see how fast we come along.

Anyways, in summary, I told Danny I was going to burn my sneakers, but I'll probably just disinfect them. There was some pink on my sock from the damage the frog surely suffered. (EW!) Thank GOD New Balances are nice and roomy, but HOW COULD I NOT KNOW? At least with my flops, I know what I'm getting, lol! I'm having OTHER PEOPLE check my 2nd pair of sneakers, which has been inside since I got here, because I'm that much of a baby about third-world issues like this. I mean, the centipedes here are like 5 - 6 inches long. You don't see them often, but when you do it's already too much. I was going to film one, but they are just too disgusting to look at for that long. And I've only seen like 2 snails, but they are like 4 inches tall. Absolutely nasty, sorry!