From the moment we arrived in Thailand two weeks ago, we had seen plenty of evidence of their passion for sport. Not just any sport however, their national sport. Stadiums can be found sometimes two or more in even the smaller cities. It's not cricket, as they play so lovingly in in India, or rugby one may follow in Australia. It's not baseball they adore South Korea, nor basketball or football from the states. Nor is it soccer, the worlds game.
In Thailand, they fight. Thai Boxing to be specific, and only here would it be considered sport. This frequently brutal martial art can be found on public display most any night of the week, and it is a part of the Thai culture that we couldn't miss.
After having arrived with our buddy Jake the day prior in Chiang Mai, we set to exploring town, and planning a few activities. There is a lot to do in Chiang Mai, and some of it is even of the budget friendly variety! Much of travel in Asia is this way - many tours, treks, adventures and places to stay priced for western tourists on a short holiday. All of that unfortunately is as far out of our reach as Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, of which in the last 300 or so days we have been shocked and delighted to find just twice.
Fortunately, there are also enough backpackers such as ourselves traveling about, that with careful looking, and the consultation of secret-sources (ok, not se secret: Lonely Planet, Wikitravel, Rough Guides, and Hostel Bookers) adventures and accommodation can be had for quite cheap! Having accomplished accommodation the day prior, we settled on a Thai Boxing fight to spice up our day.
We had spied a delicious looking Mexican restaurant earlier in the day, and after discovering that the served FREE chips and salsa, the decision was made. Anything free after 10 months away from our home and careers, is a huge draw, believe you me.
There we sat sitting facing the street "having a perv" as an Aussie might put it (people watching, as the slightly less rough-and-tumble nations might turn the phrase) and thoroughly enjoying our free chips and salsa, when up walks a guy about our age. In no time at all we find he is from our "same same, but different" (a catchy Thai phrase) west-coast city of Portland, Oregon. He promptly joins us for dinner. Not more than a few minutes later, up stroll a couple who it turns out are from California. In less time than it takes to turn down a Thai tailor selling suits (believe me...!) we have a west coast party enjoying a Mexican feast at El Diablo, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Incidentally, it is the best Mexican food in all of Asia. Their home-made (and did I mention FREE) tortilla chips are amazing, truly.
While our newly met Californian friends had to venture off on a night safari (!) we convinced our Portlandian to come enjoy the evenings festivities, and the four of us set off.
I'll save the play-by-play, but assure you that we had a pretty darned good time. The fights, which ranged from young boys, to women, to a blindfolded-brawl were quite entertaining, and sometimes quite shocking.
Between our table we kept it interesting by trading between us bets of up to 20 baht (less than $1), and we all left with plenty of grins.
Our next planned adventure? Renting motor bikes and feeling the hot Thai wind on our faces.
...let's hope it goes more smoothly than last time!!
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