Thailand - the Chao Phraya River Tourist Boat.

Quite scenic. And an easy way to get around to the tourist spots.









You've gotta look close, but there are people under there. Not exactly sure what they're doing.









That sign says "Space for Monks." Which is just cool.

Thailand - More dining out.

The food in Thailand was really, really good.



The things I do for my wife. "Pose like a drunkard!" she suggests. [Paraphrasing.]

Thailand - Thai Massage.

And the second thing I really wanted to do was get some Thai massage. And while I didn't get the full on, lay down, hour and a half treatment, I did get two 15 minute sessions. One for my feet/legs and the second for my head/neck/shoulders/arms. It was awesome. We actually just planned on the first 15m foot session, but I dug it so much I talked the ladies into heading back for another 15m work up after dinner.

Thailand - Muay Thai Kickboxing at Lumpinee Stadium.

The big thing I actually wanted to do in Thailand - watch Muay Thai in the homebase/motherland/mecca of kickboxing. Lumpinee Stadium. The most prestigious stadium with the most meaningful titles in Thailand.

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"Lumpinee Boxing Stadium (Thai: สนามมวยเวทีลุมพินี) is an indoor sporting arena located in Bangkok, Thailand. Opened more than a decade later than Rajadamnern Stadium, the Lumpinee is run by Royal Thai Army on behalf of Thai Government. It has become the symbol of modern Muay Thai. Only Rajadamnern Stadium rivals the prestige of holding the title of 'Muay Thai Champion of Lumpinee'. The ranking system and championship titles are held from Flyweight (111 lb) up to Welterweight (147 lb)."

Watching the prelim boxing matches.

I didn't make Sandy do this. I promise.

So... everything really does look bigger on TV. I've seen fights at Lumpinee on video, online, on TV, etc... but I guess I was expecting a, well, a "stadium." Something like the fights I've watched in Hawaii and Japan. But no, not really. The ringside seats are fold out chairs. The second level is wooden benches and an area where folks sit on the concrete, and then a third level behind a fence, more wooden benches. I was kinda surprised. But if I'da thought it through it shoulda been obvious on the face of it. It is, you know, emerging 2nd world and all that kinda thing.


Getting the Mrs to grab you a beer as you watch the fights in Thailand? Priceless.


...and then she steals the beer. [But only briefly.]

Playing the traditional fight music.

Young fighters.

Action!









Random Muay Thai Action, Lumpinee Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand from Rob Pugh on Vimeo.

Speaking of shopping with wives [and other women folk...]

In the aftermath of the shopping marathon in Thailand [in which the weekend market was a small part] I come across this bit of comedic wisdom.

[...and I too detest the floppy, baggy, shapeless and formless "fashion."]

GaijinSmash.net | The Devil IS Prada:

"...When I speak of sucky fashion, I mean the type of fashion that looks a lot like the girl got into a fight with a Salvation Army...and lost. Like she's suddenly been thrown out of her house and had to resort to wearing everything she has in her closet. Or when she woke up this morning, she found that her entire fashion collection had been replaced by a crate of burlap sacks. Big, loose, baggy, layered, balloony, clothes. I believe Maddox called them 'Tit Curtains'.*

...Sometimes we have discussions/arguments over it, and she's always quick to point out the fashion magazines that tell women that this look is "hip" "trendy" and "in the now." ...As if I needed more proof that fashion magazines are written and compiled by Lucifer himself. And besides ladies, why are you listening to other women for fashion advice? Granted, I may be male and have all the fashion savvy of a slightly-aged turnip...but I know what I like. And I don't like seeing women in tents and draperies and what not. And ultimately ladies, who do you want to impress? Other women, whose cattiness and jealousy levels are profound, and if they so much as perceive you to be better in any way shape of form than you they will proceed to systematically tear you down until there's nothing left but an empty shell of what you used to be?* (I know the truth, I've seen a few episodes of Melrose Place)...

*Y'know, come to think of it, its entirely possible that women realize that these fashions are ugly, and recommend them to make other women ugly. And women willingly accept these fashions and know that it makes them not as attractive in order to not incur the wrath of the Female Collective. Perhaps the layered style and potato sacks are women's form of camouflage. ...Goddamn I'm glad I was born male.

...You know what the best part is though? When we spend HOURS in a store, and she leaves eventually having bought...nothing. Nothing! "I couldn't find anything I liked." And it took you HOURS to figure that out? How in the name of sweet Betty Rubble does that happen? This shit doesn't fly for anything else, does it?

...Women will call this "fun". I call it a "complete waste of time." How do you enter a place where things are sold, look at items that are for sale...and then NOT buy anything?! I can already hear some women complaining at me now - "You say that, but then how can guys go to strip clubs and look at naked women performing sexual acts and then NOT have sex with them?" My answer to this is simple - put out more. We go to strip clubs because we are hungry, and while we may not be able to eat the steak the least we can do is look at it and imagine how delicious it is..."

Thailand - the Subway.

Sandy rocks out.

Yes, twins. [Though they just don't look alike to me. Penalty/blessing of marrying one of them, I imagine.]

Sandy's Cindi impression.

Thailand - Mango Tango.

Bangkok's Independent Newspaper:

"Mango Tango

Featuring the fragrant, juicy nam dok mai mango, this place has created a refreshing ice cream... if you need a bigger mango fix, try the Mango Tango, a scoop of the house ice cream plus mango pudding, topped with whipped cream and half a fresh mango cut to resemble a hedgehog"

Sandy so happy.

[It was pretty darn good.]