Holding My Own

I'm sitting at Mama's sipping a glass of white wine.  This is the second time I've had a glass of wine since I've been here- and after my hard training today I definitely deserve this little bit of sweetness in my life 8-)  Body transformation is more obvious daily.  I'm interested to weight myself again, but it won't really matter what the scale says.  My body looks and feels different and that's what matters to me, the fat is dissipating, the abs are starting to poke through.  YES!!!  


I feel like I say this every time, but today was definitely the hardest day.  You know in fighting movies how everything goes slow mo toward the end of the fight and the fighters are just hugging each other to stand up?  Yep... That was how I felt today.  For some reason I was the only woman to show up for training tonight, so I got to fight a guy.  He fought me as if I were a guy, which freaked me out a little at first... Most of the time the girls and I just laugh off the sparring part of the training, or fight at like 15% power and speed with warning.. ie, right kick next, etc.... I REALLY enjoyed sparring with a man today.  I didn't feel the need to hold back as much, and I think I learned more today than I have since I've been here.  Toward the end I swear I almost puked.. it got to the point where I was planning my evacuation if that happened lol... but alas, I managed to hold my stomach and will be able to show my face at Tiger Muay Thai another day.


Tomorrow I'm training MMA for the first time.  The Muay Thai is mostly to get into shape, and is a sport. With MMA, I'll be able to use more of those skills to contain and dominate attacker.. Such as.. ahem..crazy 40 year old women who decide to attack me randomly at karaoke bars for no reason at all.    Yes, that really happened to me... It's a horrible awful dramatic story not worthy of my blog.  But I assure you, it will NEVER happen again.  And if it does...  'Once I begin the sequence of combat, it will only end in your demise.' - 

I'm definitely not looking for a fight, come on.... It's me... but I definitely won't just stand there again and let some crazy Son's of Anarchy wannabe scratch my face and gouge out my eye balls.  If it happens again... my plan is A.. to contain the assailant... B... sit on top of her with her hands behind her back... C... give her a complimentary life coaching session and work through some of her anger D... Read highlights from a book by the sweetest guy I've ever dreamed of knowing. 

Then I will request an apology.  If it's sincere, I will hug her and send her inspired on the way to her new life with a fresh outlook.  If it's not, I've an entire bookshelf full of inspirational uplifting books.  8-)


I am so refreshed and excited about the rest of my life.  What to do next?  Maybe India?  Cookie says I can stay with her if I visit.  I miss my puppies so much today.  I keep seeing all of these stray dogs walking around, there are LOADS of them in Thailand.  If I knew they wouldn't bite and didn't have the mange, I would totally give them a wash and dry and have a cuddle buddy.  Next time I visit Thailand  I'm adding 'rescue a dog' to my budget.  Even just mange medicine would be so nice for these pups.


Goodnight!
<3 Tiff

Waterfall Adventures

So much for sleeping the weekend away.  Moo came to my room yesterday morning to get the rest of his money (he didn't have change the night of the hospital ride), and we ended up jamming.  He played a few songs for me in Thai, I played a few songs for him in English.  He's a better guitarist than I am,  and he has a beautiful voice.  I wish he had a guitar of his own to play.  I offered to let him take my guitar home with him and play it for a few days, but he didn't take it.  I showed Moo Youtube.  I don't think he's ever seen it before.  I showed him Bob Marley videos and he said, "Freedom.  I love freedom.  I love Bob Marley.  I happy today.  Play guitar, make happy."




Moo is teaching me to speak Thai.  He's a dedicated teacher, every time he says something to me in English he says it in Thai- and then quizzes me randomly.  I regret that my head is not as sharp as it normally is so I'm not retaining much.  I do remember Ka Koon Kah, which means thank you.  Also, Mmm Arroy, which means I'm full that was some good food.  Of everything he's taught me that's all I remember lol...  I've learned to simplify my English, which is actually improving my general communication skills.  Sometimes I speak to quickly and use slang or too many words to make a simple point.


Moo said he would take me to see a waterfall today.  He said, "Love nature, nature, nature.  Happy in nature.  Trees, water, happy."  He said it would be a slight walk to get there.  I almost wore my flip flops, thank goodness I put on my  hiking shoes because it was about a 2 mile hike up hill to the top.  It was similar to a State Park like Fossil Creek, only they charged an entry fee of 200 baht per person.  Moo talked to the guy and got the hook up- we only paid 100 baht for both of us.  I learned that there are different prices for Thai and Tourists, for everything basically!  It was so beautiful... bamboo everywhere, little crabs, frogs, waterfalls, rocks- absolutely beautiful.  It started pouring raining half way up, which made it even more fun.  Moo and I were directly behind this cute French family with two very young twin boys, who whined and cried almost the entire hike.  We passed them eventually on the way there and back, those were some dedicated hikin' parents I tell you.  

Moo has some interesting photo poses.  He's mentioned disco before.. this sort of looks like an Elvis pose, or a #1 pose, or even a disco pose.  

 Some sort of Lizzard.

 Moo doing the #1 pose.  He uses this often in his English vocabulary to tell me about things that are important or special.  For example.. "Chang (elephants) #1 in Thailand."  "King and Queen #1 in to Thai People."  "Guitar is #1."

 He was a great guide!

 I saw the coolest trees.. 

 Moo is cold!

The waterfall really started to rush down heavily after the rain, perfect for a quick submersion. 

Moo kept trying to cover my head when it was raining, saying "sick tomorrow".  I didn't even care.  It was one of those magical moments where I was completely immersed in beauty and completely present and aware of every sound, smell, sensation around me.  Just me and nature, existing together, but then again how can we really be separate except in the mind?  In moments like this I rediscover the oneness of it all.  When the mind stops thinking, and the 'programming' and all that we've learned and all that we have taught ourselves to believe- just fades, we find the truth.  The simple moments of existence are often the most extraordinary when you allow them to happen and to be completely present.  Today I thought of what Andrew said, "Everything is just happening".  I have an even deeper understanding and appreciation of that now.  That is quite impressive in itself.  I don't know why people are always searching for miracles to validate whatever it is they need validated for whatever reason...  Mere existence seems pretty incredible to me, when you stop and consider all that had to happen for 'you' to be 'you'.  What is enlightenment?  The ability to see?  To be free from the past and the future?  My heart and my head are blissfully aligned these days.  The world is so much bigger than what I previously understood- and I'm not just talking about a geographical sense.  There is so much to take in I almost can't process my thoughts and ideas fast enough.  Which takes me to the idea that space and time are just an illusion anyway...  I love it!!




Moo talked to me today (the best we could) about the big tsunami that hit Phuket.  Pretty depressing stuff to hear first hand from a local.  He played a song for me about it on the guitar.  He also explained to me why everyone loves the King and Queen.  Apparently, "when childrens have no mama papa, they give money.  When people have no home, they give home."  Moo asked me about the King in the US, I tried my best to explain our government and how we have a President.  He seemed shocked that we didn't love the President as much as the people in Thailand love the King.  That was a really tough one to explain in simplified English.  The idea seemed almost inconceivable to Moo because it's so culturally different to his reality.


Also, tonight I visited the Phuket night market and was reunited with my girls from Rawai!  I'm so excited, Cookie and Amanda are coming to visit tomorrow for pool side relaxation.  hopefully my last day off before training starts again on Monday!  Be well, and be present friends.


<3 Tiff

Thai Traditional Tattoo (Bamboo, Yant)

Today was my first day back to training after taking a few days off.  I really wanted to go directly from Rawai to Tiger Muay Thai, but unfortunately the sickness has caught me again!  This time it's some sort of flu/cold thing.  I would classify it as a cold except for the fact that I've been feeling REALLY run down, low energy, sleepy, sore throat, etc.  My immune system is fresh soil for these sorts of buggers.  I sucked it up and started training today at Tiger, snotty  nose and all.  I thought Rawai was intense.  My new trainer has a stick, rumor has it (from the other students) that if you slack off he actually hits you with the stick.  And picks on you in front of everyone.  This camp is more cardio (my body dislikes all the running), and more technique.  Lots of world class fighters come from here.  Today the other girls and I were sparring- this was an option at Rawai but a part of everyday training at Tiger.  Tomorrow is the Queen's birthday so the camp is closed.  They REALLY REALLY REALLY love the King and Queen here.  Every establishment that I've been in has photos of the King and the Queen- and little signs that say.. give you one guess… we love the King.  In Thailand there are only a few things that you can do (aside from the obvious) to get into serious trouble, and one of those is to say anything negative about the King or Queen.

So in my two days off from training, I decided to budget for the rest of my trip to Thailand.. and then I curled up on the beach and read a book I've been trying to read for 2 years now, 'Autobiography of a Yogi'.. and then decided to treat myself to a couple of tattoos!  I was inkless prior to my visit to the Kingdom of Thailand, and now I'm sporting two different traditional Thai Tattoos on each shoulder blade.  I found this guy named Sorn online who had a website and photos of himself actually doing the tattoos, with fresh needles.  In Thailand this is really important because many shops just find photos on the internet and claim that the work is their own, which is normally not the case.  So Sorn (who doesn't speak English) and this guy named Andrew show up at my room on Patong Beach to do the tattoos.  Andrew was the ride and friend, and of course the communication link between the two of us.  It took about 3 hours from start to finish for both.  It was painful yes… but not awful.  I have no basis for comparison really seeing as I have no other tattoos.  I tried my best to meditate through the process, Andrew is an Aussie and shared his thoughts on life, spirituality, yoga, Tony Robbins (who he really doesn't care much for), Buddhism, and all things metaphysical.  Some things he said resonated, others didn't.  The most memorable part for me was when he said 'Everything is just happening, ya know?'.  Yes I do.  it was a nice experience and interesting to hear someone's passionate views on life and existence.  

Sorn doing my bamboo tattoo

A little history on Thai Yant tattoos... Yant's are believed to be magical tattoos by the Thai culture, using sacred geometry.  Here are a few different descriptions I pulled from various websites.

** Sak Yant is an old Southeast Asian tradition of placing Yantra on the skin by means of tattoo. Yantra are symbols or diagrams to balance the mind or focus on spiritual concepts. In practice, many Southeast Asians wear them for protection against both physical and spiritual threats. 

The origin of Yantra is in India, but the tradition of tattoo was not, therefore in India the diagrams were primarily on printed or drawn items, like cloth. When the custom spread to SE Asia, Sak Yant, or the tattooing of the yant as an art developed. Started first by the Khmer, it later took root in Thailand.  They are typically administered via metal rod with needles on the end, or a bamboo needle. 

**Sak Yant – Thai Sacred Geometry (Yant/Yantra) tattooed in the skin. Sak Yant is an Ancient magical practice of Sacred Geometry, using Buddhist, Brahman and Animist imagery and magical incantations (Kata), written in Khom (Ancient script used to write Pali Sanskrit).

From what I have learned, the tattoos are believed to attract different things, and are believed to provide  protection.  I like the way they look, and the symbolism, meaning, and intention behind the tattoo.  Obviously I did not have my tattoos done by a monk, it wasn't important to me and it seems to be a bit risky and there is lots of work involved.  It would have been an interesting cultural experience under the right circumstances, but way too many grey areas... mostly because research shows many Monk's do not change needles as they use the metal rod to tattoo, and the quality of the tattoo is hit or miss depending on the monk.  I am going to have this for the rest of my life, I'd like to be aesthetically pleasing.  See what I mean here... Not good quality

Also, monks are unable to touch women, making it difficult for women to get tattooed by them.

These are photos of the tattoos.  They are upside down because I had to reach around over my head behind my back to take the photos.  

He did a pretty good job of centering them evenly on my back 8-)

Yant Bua Kiaow, mean Green Lotus in English. Good for attraction, compassion and free from harm.

Some of the various 'powers' and terms in sakyant;

Maha Phokasap (great wealth; 'Maha' means great)
Maha Laap(great fortune)
Maha Amnay (power, authority, great charismatic power)
Metta(loving-kindness, to be greatly loved by others all around)
Kong Grapan(impenetrability, protection)
Klaew Klaad(free from harm, 'invisibility')
Chok Laap (luck & good fortune)
Maha Saeneh (love/attraction)
Maha Niyom (charming, popular)
Maha Udt (invincibility, impenetrability, ultimate protection)

Right after, still a little red

The ink set in a little deeper the following day

Every sacred line of this Yant will bestow a blessing on the receiver, usually including loving kindness, success in all aspects of life, charm, good luck and protection against evil spirits and the banishment of bad luck.  I have also been told from the locals that each line is a different form of blessing/luck.  Each line is different, one for the world, one for love, one for business, protection, etc.

The following Katha or Mantra which praises Buddha’s 5 outstanding attributes is associated with the Hah Taew Yant.

Namo Putta Ya Na Metti
Mo Putta Ya Na Na Metti
Putta Ya Namo Na Metti
Ta Ya Namo Put Na Metti
Ya Namo Putta Na Metti

Also not to be discounted, I got my first Henna Tattoo the same day 8-)

Everyone keeps asking how much I paid for the tattoos.  Every time I tell a Thai person how much I paid, they sort of laugh or their eyes get wide- or they inform me it was 'too much'.  Today the new trainer (the stick guy) showed me the same tattoo that he was sporting on his back and said he paid 100 baht for his.  Which is like $3.  Okay, I get it.. Prices are different for Tourists.  I could have probably found a better price if I would have waited till I had a Muay Thai trainer hook up- but I'm happy with Sorn's work.  And I only paid a fraction of the cost of what I would have paid in the states.  It's true what they say.. all I can think about is getting ANOTHER tattoo now that I have one.  Well two.  8-)  Love and Light,

<3 Tiff

Hospital Visit in Thailand

I've felt sick now for about 5 days.  It started with the sore throat, and then the stuffy nose, and yesterday the green snot.  I didn't think I needed to go to the Doctor because I assumed it was just a little cold.  I thought taking a couple of days off would do the trick.  Yesterday evening I started training at Tiger, had a healthy dinner, and then came back to my room.  My breath felt forced and restricted, and I was dizzy.  It reminded me of what it feels like right before fainting.  Anyway, I started to really freak myself out.  I was all out of water in my room.  I went to buy some water and find out when I could see a doctor.  (Let me point out… earlier in the day I walked by a clinic at Patong Beach and checked pricing and decided my body would heal itself and I didn't need to waste my money..hmmm)  Mama's had already gone to bed and there was no place I could buy water (Mama is the owner of Mama's Bungalow).  Even just walking from my room to the front desk was a challenge, I felt incredibly dizzy.  I ran into two Thai men who I assume were cleaning the restaurant.  I asked them about seeing a Doctor, and they spoke very little English.  I knew everything would be closed the following day because of the Queen's birthday.  I agreed to take a Taxi to the hospital.

That experience of helplessness was the first time I've felt scared in Thailand.  I thought to myself, I could die (yes a little dramatic) in my room and no one would even find me in the morning because I don't know anyone here!  There was definitely comfort in having my Cookie as a roommate at Rawai.  I've only been this sick two other times that I can remember in my life, once as a child with the worlds worst ear infection and once when I was training for Disney Cruise Line in Canada.  

The cab driver's name was Moo, he knew some basic English- and Bob Marley music 8-)   and conveniently he lives right next door to Mama's.  Moo lifted my spirits in the first five minutes.  He gave me his card, which is decorated in Bob Marley colors.  He asked me if I played guitar, if I liked Jack Johnson, if I've traveled the world because he would really love to, what Arizona is like, and the list goes on.  It was nice to be distracted from the sickness.  At first he was going to drop me off at the hospital and come back and get me, but I guess I found a friend in Moo because he decided to tag along and help me.  I am so grateful… Even at the hospital they didn't speak English.  Why did I assume most people in Thailand speak English??  Anyway Moo said guitar is his number 1.  He doesn't own a guitar, but his friend taught him to play a few Thai songs.  I told him since he lives so close to Mama's if he wants to play my guitar while I'm here he is welcome to.  This really made him happy 8-)

Moo translated for me, and stayed with me the at the hospital as we waited.  We were there for close to 3 hours.  Thai hospitals are much different than US Hospitals.  The waiting rooms are open air and outside, with only the roof covered.  There were stray dogs just sleeping around the hospital.  Moo seemed amused that I kept taking photos of everything.  Let me say this.. never again in my life will I giggle when I see Japanese tourists with their camera's strapped around their neck taking photos of EVERYTHING.  I get it now!  I am that tourist.

 I wish US hospitals had beautiful decor like this 8-)

 Sleeping Dogs in the Hospital

 This made me smile for some reason.  It's so random, life size cardboard cut outs?

The hospital loves the King as well.

There were sick people everywhere.  I was taken from the waiting room into a large air conditioned room where there were several people scattered across the room sleeping in hospital beds with blankets.  Everyone looked dreadfully ill… The Doctor didn't speak much english, she did tell me my throat was- "very very red" and gave me antibiotics and a slew of other medication that I really didn't need.  The combination of having a Sinus Infection and putting intense pressure (Muay Thai Training) on my respiratory system while sick is what did me in.  It could also have something to do with the fact that I got a tattoo while being sick..I'm not resuming my training until Monday, for the next few days I'll be taking it easy.  Don't be confused by my next blog post, I actually wrote it first- the sickness just interrupted and I didn't get a chance to finish it till today.  

Hope all is well in your part of the world… I'm alive and well, and believe it or not I'm quite optimistic today.  I'm looking forward to the rest, I'm finally going to finish this book!!  <3 Tiff

Rawai Muay Thai Highlights

Well I've moved out of my humble training room at Rawai.  Instead of checking into Tiger right away, I've decided to take a couple of days off and lounge by the ocean and finish reading a book I've attempted to read now for 2 years, 'Autobiography of a Yogi'.  I was excited about starting Tiger immediately, but the sickness has gotten in my way.  The last two mornings I have woke up with a very intense sore throat, and I just feel run down in general.  If it's not better by tomorrow I may visit the doctor here.  My immune system is not used Thailand sickness!  I'm manifesting a quick recovery so I can continue with my training on Thursday.  Since the training is so intense they really discourage training while you are sick.  


I went shopping yesterday on a hunt to find Thai pants for my massage business, I bought 12 pair for what seemed like pennies.  And I treated myself to a knock off Gucci and Prada shirt, and Dexter season 5 8-)  Here are the highlights of my training at Rawai.  I miss my little Cookie already!! I'm happy Amanda moved into my old room so they can keep each other company.

Big Buddha, Beach Training, and Bangla Road

The last two days have been a healthy mix of naughtiness and reverence.  Here are some photos of beach training on Nai Harn Beach.  If you've ever played basketball and are familiar with suicides, add a couple of 12oz boxing gloves and throw 10 punches in-between each segment, all while running in the sand barefoot.  Do this for over an hour.  That was the beach training session!  Definitely the most intense day of training so far.  I actually pulled a muscle in my  back from running on that unstable surface (sand).  I still know it's there, but I'm feeling much better now.

Cookie and I have met two new girls at the camp, a Canadian girl named Aven and another American named Amanda.  Amanda is from LA and comes to Phoenix often, what a small world.  Let me rephrase, she used to- she has been in Kenya for the past two years in the peace corp.  It's interesting to watch her reintegrate into a different culture and to hear the stories of the things she saw in Kenya.  It's nice to see the light and sparkle in her eyes increase with each passing day.


The girls and I decided to make use of our beloved Sunday (the only day off from training), and headed to see Big Buddha and to explore Patong Beach.  Upon arrival to Big Buddha, we were greeted by a Thai Girl who handed us Sarongs to wrap around our exposed shoulders and legs.  I read about not having your legs and shoulders exposed when visiting Temples, but I had no idea there were Monk's at Big Buddha.  I thought it was just a huge statue.  Wrong!  

The video...The tradition is to kneel in front of the monk as he ties the thread around your wrist.  There are different colors, he gave me a single while bracelet representing innocence, friendship, and kindness.  Check out this video, while one monk is tying the bracelet around my arm, the other monk is laughing splashing water on my face saying, this for good luck!  8-)

The Big Buddha is truly a BIG Buddha, it's 45 meters high.  The construction is still taking place.  Tourists have the opportunity to take part in the building process by donating stones for the construction, and writing a special message or statement on the back.  Some people write prayers, others write intentions.  It's kind of neat to know that Big Buddha will be around for a VERY long time and I am leaving a small part of myself with him, and history.  This is what I wrote on my stone.

After Big Buddha we all ventured to Patong Beach, which is the most popular tourist beach in Phuket.  The first thing we did was try these fish spas you see everywhere.  Basically these little 'sucker fish' are supposed to clean the dead skin off of your feet.  It was one of the most awkward sensations I've ever felt in my life!  Close to a hundred little fish sucking on your toes!!

We chilled in the ocean, did some shopping, had massages, and then finally we did what Cookie has been waiting to do since she arrived. We visited Bangla Road, which is well know for it's naughtiness.  Here are some photos of us with and the lady boys.  

And this photo we took directly after exiting the Gogo bar.  I cannot blog about the things that I saw there- it was absolutely insane.  They even pulled Cookie up on stage which she loved, we were all rooting her on from the sidelines.  This photo and the look on my face says it all. DEFINITELY one of those things I need to experience only once in my lifetime.

Tomorrow is my last day of training at Rawai and I'll be checking into Tiger Muay Thai.  I will miss my little Cookie and my new friend Amanda, but I am excited about moving on to new travels and exploring more of the earth.  I believe I have learned the bliss of being alone 8-)