My body is covered in a unique combination of mosquito bites, (about 40 last time I counted) sweat, baby powder, bruises, insect repellent, dirt, and hydro-cortisone cream. I shower about 3 times a day here. Mosquitoes love me. I’m like a mosquito magnet. I’m also mildly allergic to mosquito bites so they swell up pretty bad. I wake up sometimes during the night bc the bites burn and I have to put cold water bottles on them.

The rooms here are very simple. There is a shower head right over the toilet so the bathroom is basically a shower, toilet, and sink in one. There are no blankets on the bed, but you don’t really need the cause it’s too hot anyway.

Day before yesterday, after I wrote my last journal entry, I decided to go for a run outside.

Ok, I know I’m gonna get a lot of shit for what I’m about to write. I already know it was dangerous so don’t lecture me on how dumb I am!

So I decided to go for a long run outside. It seems like such a waste to run on the treadmill here at the gym. I’m at the gym all day back home and I want to spend as much time as possible outside exploring Bangplee. The trainers and guards told me I shouldn’t run outside bc it’s too dangerous; but I decided it was worth the risk. Never been much of a conformist.

I ran down a main road and came across a narrow trail along a river. The concrete trail was about 3 feet in width with no railing and after on each side. This run was absolutely AMAZING!!! On one side there were primitive houses made of old wooden slabs and elevated above the water on stilts. I could see inside the houses as I ran by. There were families sleeping on the floors or peeling vegetables. No electricity or running water. I screamed couple times; once when I almost stepped on a large snake; another time when I saw a humming bird flying towards me, but as it came closer I realized it was a huge, flying beetle. I wish I could find the worlds to describe the things I saw during the run. I wish I had video cameras for eyeballs and a computer for a brain to record all my thoughts. It was unforgettable and I wish I could share the experience with you.

But the run did come at a price. On the way back I got lost. The streets and trails are like a labyrinth. I tried to ask people for directions but no one understood me. I had no money or anything on me. I was scared. I kept thinking ‘if I disappear no one will ever know what happened to me’. I saw a guy on a motorcycle and I communicated that I needed to get back to Fairtex by saying ‘Muay Thai’ and making punching and kicking gestures. He took me on the back of his bike and drove me back. I was so grateful. I asked him to wait and I ran to my room to get 100 Baht (about $3) to give him. He had a lot of integrity and refused to take to money. I still think the run was well worth it. Next time I’ll leave a trail of bread crumbs.

I came back for the afternoon workout. It was great as usual. I am so proud of myself bc I have improved so much in this very short period of time. My trainer doesn’t have to correct me every second anymore. My moves are much more fluid and natural.

The schedule here at camp is as follows:

Wake up around 630

Cardio warm up 640-7am

Spar with trainer 7-8

Practice punches, kicks, combinations, sit ups, technique, and stretch til about 9.

Breakfast in cafeteria at 930.

Free time til 3pm. (you can do cardio and lift weights in the gym if you want).

Do the same structure of workout again from 3-5 or 530pm.

Dinner in cafeteria around 530.

Free time.

The trainers work with all levels and you can take a break whenever you need one. There trainers here do smack you and trip you if you let your guard down. I like that cause that is the reality of fighting and we need to get used to taking hits.

I went into the kitchen yesterday morn and guess what they were prepping to eat??? BATS! Yummy! The bats were soaking in water and their creepy eyes were looking at me. They looked like they were still alive. You could see black hairs growing out of them and their thin wings.

Yesterday’s workouts were fantastic! My ankle is healing and it doesn’t hurt when I walk anymore. I can’t believe how quickly I’m adapting.

Around noon yesterday I took a motorcycle taxi to Big C (big market/mall type plc). I got a traditional Thai massage. (it costed 150 baht- about $5.25 per hour!!!! Gotta love that!)

After the afternoon workout I went to the camp zoo. I played little games with the tigers. There are three of them and they are playful and sweet. They purr and come right up to the fence to be pet. I still haven’t worked up the nerve to pet one though. Then I went over to hang out with the monkeys. They are really like little people. They reach out and hug me and pull my hair. They look into my eyes and hold my hand.

After the afternoon workout all of us campers decided to venture out to the cinema to see Terminator 4. We went to a VERY upscale mall- fancier then any mall I’ve seen in the US. The thing with most of these third world countries is that there is a drastic separation by class. (unlike the US where there is a vast middle class). Like 5% fo the people have 90% of the money and and the other 90% of the people have 10% of the money. So there are luxurious mansions and Gucci stores mixed in among the poverty and hookers. This cinema has 2 types of seats- regular and first class. We decided to get the first class seats ($600 Baht- about $18. Very expensive for Thailand). The first class tickets gives you access to the lounge area where they serve free appetizers and drinks. The movie seats recline into a bed with blankets and pillows and waiters bring you drinks and snacks during the movie. I’m not much of a movie watcher and I slept through almost the entire thing. I guess the seats were too comfortable.

I hung out with the other fighters til around 2am and ended up sleeping til almost 1pm today. Obviously I missed the morning workout. I see why the fighters don’t really do anything during the free time. You really need that time to rest or else your schedule gets all messed up and you miss workouts.

During today’s afternoon workout I went 10 rounds and I felt really powerful and my form was great.

I’m reading a book right now called “Happy For No Reason”. The book teaches principles to feel joyous under any circumstance. I decided to focus on one principle each week. This week the belief that I’m adopting is that the universe is on my side. That means that whatever happens in my life, no matter how difficult or painful it seems in the moment, I will choose to believe that there is a gift in it for me. ( There is another book called ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Victor Frankel which exemplifies this point. He was a Holocaust survivor that was able to transcend the horrific conditions using his imagination to escape the terrible reality, finding a reason to survive, and focusing on the tiny gestures of kindness by the other prisoners. If you haven’t read it, you should. It’s my favorite). So for this week, I am going to choose to believe that whatever happens, however painful or bad, there is a gift or lesson in it for me- even if it can’t see the gift right away. Even during a horrible tragedy there are positives I can focus on. For example, when my fiancee died in a tragic accident, although I was DEVASTATED, there were times when able to focus on positive things. I told myself I had to be strong for his mother and his brother. I told myself that I had a responsibility to keep his memory alive and live by the things he taught me. I told myself that I would have a deeper appreciation for the people in my life and that I would have a better understanding of what is really important. I have become very spiritual and I have a spiritual practice that has added so much joy and meaning to my life…all bc of a horrible tragedy. I focus on my personal belief that I still have a connection with him and that he I watching me and is proud.

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