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Friday 2nd of November 2012 and I left for Sophia Muay Thai Gym 10 minutes past 4 and I arrived the 20 minutes pat 4, just at the same time as the American girl arrived from work. She was going to change clothes before we left so my Teacher and I were outside flirting with the students from the Srinakharinwirot University.
We were going to Lao Khwan in Kanchanaburi in a taxi and the taxi arrived while the American girl had a shower and a change to her fight clothes.
We took off towards Rama IX and the toll way and I was surprised that we moved so quick in the Friday Afternoon traffic. We reached the tool way in a jiff and we were soon on Phetchaburi Road on the other side of town. It had been a pleasant ride.
In the taxi
The traffic situation got a wee bit worse when we reached Ratcadamnoen, but we had to stop at Ratchadamnoen Stadium to buy some wrappings for the American girl. I took the opportunity to buy a few bottles of Mango juice and a pack of coffin nails. We were soon on our way again and the traffic was slow at times but we were soon reaching the Rama VIII bridge over the Chao Phraya River. We made good speed all the way to the elevated highway on the Tonburi side.
We were going to pick up one more guy and it was almost impossible to leave the elevated highway due to the traffic. So we decided to stay on and my Teacher called his friend. He told him to take a motorcycle to the next exit. At the next exit we were lucky and the traffic was a wee bit lighter and we managed to pick up our friend.
Crossing the Rama VIII bridge
Sunset over the Elevated Borommaratchachonnani
Sunset over the Elevated Borommaratchachonnani
We stopped at a gas stop to pick up our new friend. I had not had anything to eat since early morning so I was very hungry. I bought two bags of potato chips.
I also bought a bottle of water and a bottle of Minute Maid. I had to eat the chips in the car because we were in a hurry. Really in a hurry as we had been delayed in the Friday afternoon Bangkok traffic.
We were driving on road until Phanom Thuan where we turned to right and we were on road 324. We stayed on road 324 until Chorakhe Sam Pan. And of course, we had to stop to ask for directions several times, well, at least 2 times. First time we took the opportunity when we discovered 2 beautiful girls at a gas stop. At least we got the chance to borrow the bathroom.
We're stopping to ask for the way
Making a mental note: NEVER SMOKE WHEN TAKING PICTURES
We got it wrong in one of the small towns or villages we passed and we had to ask for directions. We had to do 180° and we drove back the same way. We passed U Thong on the road # 321 and we knew we were on the right way. The fight organiser called us every 10 minutes to ask where the we where.
- We're just passing U Thong.
We were in the middle of nowhere and I have no clue where we were. I checked the route on a map when I came back home, that’s how I found out the names of the places we passed through. But this is no guarantee, I am actually quite unsure where we went after getting of road # 346. That’s a number I'm 100% sure of, the road # 324 is almost sure. And U Thong, I know we stayed on road #333 after U Thong, but not for how long.
It was very nice when we reached Lao Khwan, at least 1 hour after my expected arrival time. The organiser called again
- We're in Lao Khwan
But where the is the place? The fight night was held at a school in Lao Khwan and we passed Lao Khwan keeping an eye out for a school. We were in the middle of nowhere and it was pitch dark.
Suddenly we saw some light and it turned out to be the school. We drove up the road until we reached a group of Police Officers with Kanchanaburi police on their uniforms. They showed us where to park. Finally we had arrived.
The place was like I had expected it to be. Outside the hall were several food stalls and there were plenty people and when we Bangkok guys arrived the people gathered around us starting to wai us and to shake our hands. Yes, it was nice people and a lot of Police Officers.
Lao Khwan, Kanchanaburi
Lao Khwan, Kanchanaburi
Lao Khwan, Kanchanaburi
Lao Khwan, Kanchanaburi
Lao Khwan, Kanchanaburi
Lao Khwan, Kanchanaburi
Lao Khwan, Kanchanaburi
We managed to get through the hall and as it was the American girls turn to fight we were in a hurry. I don't know if they have had to throw in some matches while waiting for her to arrive. But she was up on the next match and the match was at round 2 of 5 when we arrived.
I had a look around while my Teacher and his friend prepared the American girl for her fight. I was looking high and low for a Diet MAX and when I could not find any Diet MAX I started to look for orange juice. No orange juice to be found. Well, I was at one stall and they told me that they had orange juice.
- YIPPEE
Well, it was YIPPEE for about 0, 5, the lady brought me a Fanta.
- Are you serious? Fanta, I would rather eat at the place on the side walk on the way to Sophia. No, but I would rather jump in front of a bus.
Well, nothing to drink and I returned to the American girl and her fight team. She was ready and we were just waiting for her fight. Her opponent was next to us, her name is AnAn and it was the same girl she was fighting last time.
I don't think she is lesbian, but she always has a girl with her in her corner. Taking pictures and screaming good advice. They were talking about her at the last fight, but then I didn't notice her. But now it was impossible not to notice her as they were just next to us when the American girl got prepared for the fight.
And she was very beautiful and I tried to get some in for from our Teacher. He knew foock all, but he had seen her since she was very young, always together with AnAn at AnAn's fights. Well, as I'm not the guy that just starts to cold talk with a girl, OK, after a few San Miguel Light it is a different story. But I will most likely never find out anything about her, AnAn's younger sister?
I was ringside on the opposite side of the ring of Miss Beautiful (Not as beautiful as Miss Most Beautiful in the World) and I used my zoom lens and I took pictures of her while she was taking pictures of AnAn.
She never noticed me, at least not until the round 1 came to an end and it was only my flash going off in the hall. And the flash was going off in her direction and she looked up. First she was embarrassed and then she started to laugh and she started to take pictures of me.
And yes, I know what you're asking. Where does he find all the good music?
The ring was full of Police Officers that were going to be on the picture with the American girl and AnAn. There was someone speaking in a microphone from a platform with guest of honours. They were handing out diplomas and the American girl got one document.
And when the blah-blah-bla came to an end there were more Police Officers coming up in the ring to take pictures. And finally, they could start, well, first a few minutes of the mumbo jumbo secret dance or whatever they call it.
Yet another stupid slide show on www.aladdin.st
5 rounds and the time turned pretty quick, at least for me watching. I'm not sure the girls in the ring have the same feeling of the time passing quickly. When the 5th round came to an end the referee held up AnAn's hands and she was the winner and I was surprised. The American girl had been kicking arse, but as I told her already the first time I saw her fight in Pattaya “The only way to win against a Thai in Thailand is to go for knock out”
The fight is over
And I got one BONUS picture of AnAn's beautiful friend
The American girl changed clothes and we were hanging around for a while, well, no chance to leave. The guys came up and they wanted pictures of me all the time.
- HEY!! The American girl is over there, go have her picture instead.
I was still hungry but my hopes to find a restaurant around here was at least to say slim. Pitch dark as soon as we had put the school and the beautiful girls behind us. And there were no lights to be seen until we reached Lao Khwan. Our driver stopped the car and he told us that there was a restaurant. I could only see a 7 Eleven.
Well, I might have had “Bangkok” in my mind when looking, but when I got out of the car I discovered tables. A restaurant and I went to inspect the kitchen, and yes, it looked good so I asked for a “ kiss fried rice” but I had to be content with a chicken fried rice.
It was OK and my Teacher asked for some fried meat and this was really good, except for the green stuff they put on top of the meat. But it was easy to eat around the green stuff. I don't know what it was but it had a very strange taste. At first I thought it was the sauce I dipped the meat in, but it turned out to be the green stuff.
My Teacher told the owner that I was single and she turned crazy. She refused to leave my side and within 10 minutes I had got her life story.
No, she would not mind having a Swedish boyfriend and I was soon to have her phone number in my hand. I'm still waiting for Miss “Most Beautiful in the World's” phone number.
She wanted me to come live with her in Lao Khwan and I asked her what Lao Khwan had to offer. Except from being bored to death.
- Where is the night life?
- This is it
Yes, Lao Khwan had not much to offer, 1 restaurant and a 7 Eleven. But the 7 Eleven was open 24/7 so that is always something. And they had custard filled buns, something I haven't seen at 7 Eleven in Bangkok. So of course, I had to try a pack and they were actually quite good.
- Hmm, moving to Lao Khwan? Maybe
But apart from the custard filled buns there wasn't anything in Lao Khwan. I could sense that I would be bored after, well, 20 minutes. So let's leave for FUNKY TOWN!
Night spot in Lao Khwan (The only one)
Night spot in Lao Khwan (The only one)
We paid our bill and we got in to the taxi and we took off towards Bangkok with smokin' and screamin' tyres. It was about 11 thirty when we left the restaurant in Lao Khwan and we expect to be home in 2 or 3 hours.
We had a very good driver and I was not surprised to learn that it was my Teachers Uncle. My Teacher is very good so this is obviously something that goes in the family. I asked him if he wanted to take me to Pattaya on Sunday. I will go to meet my friend in Pattaya for 2 to 3 hours before returning to Bangkok.
I was impressed by his driving and I can only remember being impressed by driving one time before in Thailand. And this was almost 10 years ago so the driver must have made an impression on me. I was taking a taxi from Hua Hin to Bangkok and the driver was excellent. A Swedish driving school text book example.
We saw a red light in the horizon and he eased the pressure on the throttle pedal and we were almost at a stand still when we reached the red light. Buses passed us at 120 and they had to stand on the brake when reaching the red light and the darn bus was wobbling all over the road. So now you don't need to ask why I try to avoid going on busses in Thailand.
No over taking going up a hill, can't see what's behind the hill and easing the throttle pedal when going in to a bend. Open landscape and it is no problem to see what's coming up in the bend. But if there are trees it is very hard to see what's coming up in a left bend as we drive on the left hand side. If the road bends to the right it is easier to see what’s coming behind the trees.
And now I know what you're thinking. And no, I'm not a good driver and I'm scared to ride with myself, at least back when I was young. Coming down the highway in 180 and I pushed the pedal to the floor and the car was still accelerating pressing me back in the seat until 240.
Totally irresponsible to run down the highway in 240, I remember one time approaching a car and I was in the overtaking lane. Suddenly this guy decided to overtake another car. He was doing 120 and as I came in 240 he could as well have been at a standstill. I threw the car to the left and I was on 2 wheels when over taking the 2 cars. So no, when I was young it was always at least 200 and I'm lucky to be alive after a few incidents.
But our driver to the fight night in Lao Khwan was excellent. But I think that the owner of Sophia Muay Thai Gym had told him to drive carefully when he booked the taxi. Last time we went for boxing the driver drove very fast and it was full speed in to curves and I had to tell him that I was going to watch Thai boxing and I have ended up participating in a Formula One race.
I was in the back seat with eyes like saucers and I fastened my seatbelt. Everyone in the car was laughing, but 10 minutes later they had all fastened their seat belt. And I don't know why, but every time I meet the driver after this he, well, he don't look too happy to see me.
OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)
noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.
ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.
So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!
Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas
Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!
Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!
Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra
Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!