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Mackin Blog Part III
04/27/2009
Part Three
Before I get started on a few things I have gotten a chance to do outside of the gym I wanted to let everyone know that I had a great training session to close off the week on Thursday. I feel like my kicks had more power on them then ever before with a few tricks I was shown by a couple of the trainers here to fine tune things a little bit. I did about 5 rounds of clinch sparring and actually felt like a won a couple rounds or I was at least competitive with everyone hitting a few sweeps and controlling the ties. Taking Thursday morning off to regroup and rest my head and body really benefited me.
After practice I went and walked around a few of the markets and did some shopping with one of the guys at the gym. I didn't buy anything but its fun for me to go and argue with all the street vendors about prices and see how far down I can get them. These people set up tables and booths in a few areas and throw products ranging from pictures to tasers to t-shirts to stolen DVDs to fake watches. I might have to get Rob Mulqueen a fake Rolex before I leave to replace the real one he lost a few months ago.
I made it back to the gym at about 11 at night and one of the other fighters, Kris from Leeds, intercepted me on my way to bed and asked if I wanted to go out and get a few beers with his girlfriend and her friend (who were both visiting from England) and since I had already decided to take Friday off from training I figured what the hell? This was only my second night out since my arrival and after a great week of training it was my chance to reward myself with a beer or two. Funny how a few hours turns into being out until 9 am in the blink of an eye. I am still having a little bit of trouble understanding what the drinking laws are in Bangkok. We first went to a bar and were able to sit down for a bit until closing time (which is 2 am in Bangkok for all bars). However afterward we came across a street food vendor who happened to serve beer, which is apparently legal. I'm not sure I understand how it is illegal to be drinking in a bar past 2 am, but perfectly fine to be taking them back until daylight on the sidewalk as long as a street vendor is serving it too you. Well we got a couple stools and the 4 of us sat by the cart and continued where we left off in the bar around the corner. Kris leaves after this weekend to go back to England and he was the first person that really showed me around Bangkok when I arrived and is a great training partner in the gym as well. I was happy we had the chance to chill a bit before he went home. As the sun (and my BAC) started to rise we closed out the night singing the words to different songs a few locals were playing the music to on a guitar and some bongos. I'm sure we sounded horrible, Ive heard myself sing before, but the fact that we knew the correct words to "American Pie" and "Wonderwall" made us a big hit with crowd and we got a big hand when we were finished.
The only other night out this week was the night I arrived. One of the guys from the gym, Mark from Pittsburgh (the only other fighters from the states), fought at Lumpini Stadium and won on points so we all went out for a "small celebration". Its funny, I have discovered you have to be careful when dealing with fighters from Thailand and the UK.....they may have different definitions when they use certain terms, especially when drinking is involved. I remember one of my first questions I had to the guys at the gym was "How's the nightlife around Bangkok?" and the best response was "Night time in Bangkok is whatever you want it to be".
The first place we went was a sit down bar with a live band. The drink menu had two choices, Whiskey or Heineken....neither of which I particularly enjoy but since it was a celebration I decided to make an exception. After a couple hours of talking about the fights while listening to the broken English versions of "Hotel California" and "Johnny B. Good" we left to find a little more excitement. The last place we went to was an "After Hours Bar", which is apparently legal as well since it was located in a hotel. This was actually more of a club type set up back home, but also with a live band. The girls in Thailand are WAY different than what I am used to back in the states. Although many of them don't speak very much English, all of them have learned how to say "I love you, I want you to hang out with me". This took me off guard because it is the exact opposite of what I am used to hearing females say back home. It didn't take me long to figure out that most of the women were not hanging out at this place for fun.....they were working. Another phrase all of them knew was "How much you pay me". When they heard the answer was zero, they didn't love me anymore.....ha ha. Anyways, after a few spots at a couple of food vendors on the street, and rides in the subway, a taxi, a tuck-tuck (motorized 3-wheeled scooter with a 3 seats in the back for passengers), and the sky train and I made it back to the gym around 8 in the morning and was able to get a few hours of sleep in before training that afternoon.
Saturday I am expecting a few better social life stories to take place as the guys at the gym are taking a bus to Pataya, which is a beach town about two hours from Bangkok. One of the fighters at the gym is getting Married is this is his stag party, which is the UK verison of a bachelor party. It should be a great time. The bus leaves right after breakfast so the plan is for me to get in a hard session Saturday morning and make it back in time for a light afternoon workout Sunday....but lets play it by ear. I also finally bought a camera (of all things to forget to bring) so I should be putting up some pictures sometime next week. Anyways, this are going great and really feel back on track. Although I have been getting in more partying this week than I normally do back home I think I will be cutting back after this weekend in case I get a chance to fight towards the end of the trip. I realize that I have to balance a few recreational events in with all of the training that is going on (this is my first vacation in a couple of years after all), but I don't want to throw in so much partying that I forget what my number one priority is for being here. If I wanted my month to revolve around taking back cold ones I would have stayed at a resort, not a gym. In closing I want to wish my boy Binky Jones the best of luck in his fight this weekend, I know you will make us proud this weekend. I'm sorry I wont be there but I hope there are plenty of the GC troops attending to support the Baltimore Submission Machine. The Time is Now my friend!!!!!
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