Day 2 - Patong

So woke up early, made my way down to the massive breakfast on offer and then went to wander around a bit. I put my feet in the Andaman Sea then ran back to my room to put my bikini on. So 10 mins later I was in the ocean. But there are signs that say "no swimming" not sure why so I took it easy. Then I just wandered up and down the beach being asked if I wanted to go parasailing or get a massage. Maybe later. Got back to hotel and jumped in the pool, showered and changed ready for the day. Now, abusing free wifi in the lobby.

More later.

In the past when I travelled I always kept a journal, now I keep a journal and tell the world about it through the magic of blog. 

I always find it amusing when people go overseas and go to Maccas or the Hard Rock Cafe. The resort I am in has a Belgian Bier Cafe. And a town ain't a town now without a Starbucks or two. 

Ok on with day 2.

I didn't manage to catch up with any of the people I knew here so I went exporing on my own. 

So in the scorching mid day sun I ventured out into Patong. I quickly learnt just how hot it can be and was brought back to doing silly dance at Andy 500 gigs about the "hot sand" so as I skipped, ran and hopped from shade patch to shade patch I stopped for a pedicure, then as my toes dried, I got a manicure too. And here's a picture .

I managed to get away without Having to get a massage too hopped, skipped and jumped across the hot sand until I found myself near Bang-la Road. This road gives Times Square a run for its money on sensory overload. Gaudy, gimmicky pubs, flashy lights, market shops that all sell the same thing. Embarrasingly enough some of the gawiest pubs are the Aussie ones. Why would you go to another country to drink like you would at home? I don't get it.

So I battled on through the heat in desperate need of drinking water and air conditioning. So I made my way to the Jungceylon shopping centre. Another thing you shouldn't do on day 1 of exploring is try to make rational shopping decisions. I bought things I didn't need had do no idea how much I was spending and couldn't figure out if I was hungry or not. 

I did eventually get hungry and ended up grabbing some sushi. I know I'm in Thailand not japan but hey the fish is very fresh and I finished up with total fusion mango sushi in coconut milk. Yum and a half!!!

On my trek back vowing to not spend any more money I booked a ticket to the thai boxing that evening. Also not the best idea when it goes from 9- midnight and your body is still in another time zone.  First they insist on busing you in an hour before anything starts. I think this is in the hope that tourists will spend money on souvenirs and alcohol.  I am glad i went even though I got bored around fight 6 of 8. They started with these little boys of about 10, crazy stuff. There are 3 areas of seating, VIP, ringside and gp. The guy at the tour shop recommended ringside. True the seats are comfy compared to the cheap seats, but the locals are having more fun in the cheap seats. That's where the atmosphere was. And you gotta love the guy who leans in to the ringside /VIP area and tries to get you to put on a bet when there is a huge "no gambling" sign painted on the wall. 

So basically the ringside and VIP seats of mostly tourists wondering "What the...??" Though there was a guy in the front row watching the whole thing with a go pro strapped to his head.  There is a camera showing it all on a big screen too, we even got a replay action on a ko.

The bogans in the front row found this fascinating and to prove to each other that they really were on tv they made rude gestures with their hands while they stared at the big screen. Tres amusant!

Now to write about or see a photo does not do this event justice. They play crazy music that sounds like 4 guys that have never touched musical instruments before or ever heard a piece of music. If I can figure out how to embed sound in this, I will.  But the other thing is the smell. The fighters are rubbed down with a body oil that smells like deep heat or tiger balm and it permeates through the stadium with the smell of man sweat and Thailand. 

They advertise that there are a few Aussies in the line up, but there weren't. I figure it's to get the tourist dollar. It works.. There was a French guy and a Russian guy and another guy whose nationality I don't remember but his body and his tattoos I do remember. Hmmm, abs...

So why did I go and how come I enjoyed it? It seemed the thing to do and what's not to like about very fit men oiled up and kicking at each other dressed in nothing but little shorts.  See, something for everyone.