3-week trip to Vietnam and Thailand

[Bodhisattva]

Fight night!

We wanted to see some Muay Thai action, so we went to Rajadamnern Stadium. On this night there were seven fights with competitors from all over the world.



Originally an open-air arena built in the 1940s, it has been continuously upgraded and is now an enclosed space with all the bells and whistles of a modern concert hall. I would guess capacity is somewhere between 3000-4000.



Four of the seven fights ended in KO or TKO. Brutal!















Fascinating sport. Interestingly, one of the types of Thai visas a foreigner can gain is by participating in the local culture. So, if one were to take Thai language or cooking classes, you can get a visa to do so. Another event to get that visa is Muay Thai training.

Edit: There is also a display of the shorts worn by past champions. Pretty cool!

 

[Bazza]

Awesome pics once again Bodhi - I bet that was pretty cool to see in person!

 

[Bodhisattva]

Awesome pics once again Bodhi - I bet that was pretty cool to see in person!

A lot of fun. During the fights, they had the traditional fight music going from a band that was behind us to the left. Between fights, it was a like a modern techno concert. The lightshow and video boards made it an immersive experience on the history and mythology of Thailand's national sport. The entire ceiling was part of the experience. For example:

 

[Bodhisattva]

The Grand Place and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.







Temple of the Emerald Buddha:

 

[Bodhisattva]

Chinese tourist

 

[Bodhisattva]

Crossing the Chao Phraya River to visit Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) ...



You can rent traditional Thai outfits and hire photographers.



I passed on the attire and did my own photography. Lan chose to go with the traditional dress.

 

[Bodhisattva]

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) ...

 

[Bodhisattva]

If you've seen The Hangover Part II, you'll know the rooftop bar in Bangkok. This is the Sky Bar (over 800 feet up) at the Lebua State Tower.

Promo pic:



My pics:















The views were obviously stunning, but they came at a price. The appetizer, a couple of cocktails, and the tip set me back $270.

This became the food budget the rest of the trip:

 

[rolltide_21]

Love the pictures of the pagodas. I’ve been to dozens through out SE Asia. Always enjoy visiting them.

 

[rolltide_21]

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) ...

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Here’s a reclining Buddha I’ve visited several times in Yangon.

 

[Bodhisattva]

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Here’s a reclining Buddha I’ve visited several times in Yangon.

Very cool. What takes you to Yangon so often?

 

[rolltide_21]

Very cool. What takes you to Yangon so often?

Mission work. I’ve traveled that country extensively. Not so much recently due to their civil war.

 

[Bodhisattva]

Mission work. I’ve traveled that country extensively. Not so much recently due to their civil war.

Yeah, Myanmar is in such a sad spot. A couple of kids that work for the charity I support in Thailand are refugees from there. Things were tough long before the civil war. Throw in last year's earthquake ...

 

[Bodhisattva]

Jim Thompson was in Thailand towards the end of WWII. He worked for the OSS and organized Thai resistance against the Japanese. Once the war ended, he stayed in Thailand and became a businessman. He saved the domestic silk industry, used his connections, and convinced the designer for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I to use Thai silks in their costumes. Thai silk became worldwide.

Thompson began collecting Thai artifacts. After he disappeared and was eventually declared dead, his Bangkok home and collections became a museum.

 

[Bodhisattva]

Dinner with the founders of the charity I support, a few of the kids working there, my buddy Al, and the kids Al and I gave scholarships to last summer. An incredibly beautiful night. I should know about the next girl I'm sending to college shortly, and I will be back in Bangkok for the ceremony in June.

 

[Bodhisattva]

Erawan Museum. This is a massive (150 +/- feet tall) three-headed elephant. Within the pedestal and the elephant are three stories of sculptures, artifacts, and murals depicting the Hindu concept of the universe. I've said this a lot on this trip: this is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

Roll Tide!

 

[Bodhisattva]

And, of course, I had to get the souvenir ...

 

[Bodhisattva]

Of the many and varied incredible things to do in Bangkok, on cannot forget to mention the malls. I've never been one to care much for malls. Shopping - especially window shopping - is not entertainment for me. Malls in Bangkok are a whole different beast. The size and grandeur of the many mega-malls make the experience like going to a theme park.

Terminal 21 in Asok is designed to look like an airport terminal with a different city theme (and associated stores) on each of the nine floors. Even the bathrooms on each floor are city-themed.

For example, Rome:









And the food court here and the rest of the malls we visited are simply awesome. Many of these places are Michelin-recommended. Food court. And it's well deserved. The food is delicious and comparatively cheap. You could spend days in each mall.

On our last night in Bangkok, we visited the most luxurious mall in the city. Iconsiam is right on the Chao Phraya River. Just absolutely ridiculously impressive. And the food court here is designed like a floating market. Wow! This one goes to eleven!

I miss the incredible city and beautiful country.