Tim in Thailand : June 2016

Local Muay Thai Boxing with Patrick

Muay Thai boxing is something for some people and for others is something else. This post is about Patrick and his fight - the rest of the night will be posted on the blog - Things To Do.

Patrick trained with a local gym near to my home in Borae managed by Jaroon.

Patrick was prepared for his fight by the man who helps us with the garden.

So we started with Wai Khru which was performed by Patrick - much to the support and enthusiasm of the Thai people in the stadium - Nick from Australia did not do much at all - maybe this is something which gives the boxer 'merit' in a fight?

The bell sounded and the fighting begun - Nick was a pretty mean looking man and at some times looked like he was trying to 'dare' Patrick to make a hit - he didn't...

Preferring to keep his arms up and make a prepared kick.

Patrick certainly was taller!!

At the end of the round Patrick was prepared for the next round by the trainer.

Ouch! Nick took a kick to the body and to his head.

That must have hurt - but he didn't show it!

Ouch! Got Nick again.

Now there was blood - the Ref called a TKO (technical knock out)

Patrick won

Congratulations

New Year Resolutions (App)

How are your New Year Resolutions?

These was my New Year Resolutions - what have I managed to do?

This App is New Year Resolutions.

More App reviews can be found here - http://timinphuket-travelapps.blogspot.com

Types of Som Tam

How many different types of Som Tam are there?

My favourite Som Tam in Phuket is at Nong Sow.

Poster is from Amazing Thailand.

Breakfast out, beaches and monkey cave

We all had a day off so we chose to go out for breakfast - it was a long time ago but we decided to visit Bake again - the review will be here later - but it was not the same as we remember...

Then back on the road to the beaches. We first stopped at Layan beach - somewhere we also had not been for a very long time.

In fact - this was it.

This is what was there now.

But further along to Layan Beach there was a place called - Dream Beach - BUT there was nobody there at all - does it close?

Then we walked along the beach and met a tree snake...

We found a little road track...

I will have to find a little bit more about this little beach - I will add it the maps.

Then it was time for the next beach - this is Nai Yang Beach which is where all those cool photographs of what it looks like the aeroplane is very close. But it was far too hot to walk all the way along the beach...

So we returned to the car and drove further North - a strange fence all along the side of the road adjacent to the airport - because of the possibility of terrorists?

Then over the Sarasin bridge - always a nice place to stop. We did not visit a nearby Wat วัดท่าฉัตรไชย พระอุปคุต or even 360.

But we did visit a roadside restaurant selling Issan food (ล้านตำแซ่บ) - not the best (review coming) but we were on a mission.

Out came Swarm and we were on a mission - we were looking for Wat Suwankhuha (thanks Jamie) and Monkey Cave.

The reclining Buddha in the cave was wonderful and certainly a place to visit.

We walked carefully through this cave and into another one
- more photographs to come here.

The monkeys did seem to be a bit more docile than the ones on Monkey / Telegraph Hill in Phuket Town BUT not sure that I would advocate doing this - but it was pretty cool.

We looked at them carefully instead - there are people selling nuts and bananas.

We then drove home stopping at a couple of beaches - looking for the 'Hot Springs' but were unable to find them - do you know about them? There certainly is a lot to explore in Phuket.

Thai Social Etiquette: Greetings

Any culture has it's book teaching the official version of 'good manners'. In Thailand, this book was published by the Royal Thai Ministry of Culture. Unfortunately, the booklet is hard to get. Therefore, we publish it's content here. This publication is remarkable in more than one way, not only for its level of detail (you might miss the advice to brush your teeth daily when in Thailand, however). This booklet is also seen as evidence for the spirit of cultural bureaucracy and education in Thailand.

Chapter I: Greeting

Thai Social Etiquette, Ministry of Culture, by Malithat Promathatavedi

In Thailand, people in general greet one another with the word Sawatdi. This word can be used at all times of day. A male would add the word khrap and a female the word kha after Sawatdi to show politeness. The word Sawatdi can also be used when taking leave of someone or saying good-bye.

If the persons are friends or about the same age, the word Sawatdi alone is sufficient for greeting. A wai is a gesture of pressing the palms together in the position of a budding lotus at chest level, with the fingertips touching the tip of the nose. There are three levels of wai.

1. For the Buddha images or the monks only

2. For parents, teachers, senior relatives, and the elderly

3. For respected persons in general including persons of the same status

I you are interested then read the whole article - I have not seen it other than on this link.

Fined for feeding the fish...

The arrest of xxxxx, 45, was the first time a tourist has been detained after emergency powers were granted to law enforcement officials by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Region 6 on May 24 to protect marine life.

The measures, referred to as Article 17, grant additional powers to law enforcement officials, including the ability to arrest anyone thought to be interfering with marine life. xxxxx was released on a 100,000 baht bail, which was paid by his tour guide. xxxxx now has to remain in the country until his case is processed by a court. - See more at: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Tourist-arrested-feeding-fish/63952#sthash.8fUi086Q.dpuf

Have you ever fed the fish whilst you were in Phuket?

I would imagine that we all have BUT did you see this poster? I first saw the poster in 2014 and thought it was actually a scam - until I read more about it.

Then I read more about this - killing the Coral Reef one slice at a time.

Then I read about the tourist removing Coral is fined.

I would think a little next time...

Now (Tuesday 14th of June) I read that you can be fined for catching marine life to take a photo.

Racist Laundry Detergent Commercials...

Wow I am getting a lot of these...
So where did it start and where did it end?

The first one is Italian and the second one is Chinese.

Here's an article
http://www.vox.com/2016/5/26/11785124/china-laundry-detergent-racist-qiaobi?yptr=yahoo

Tiger Temple - caught, what's next?

We never managed to visit the Tiger Temple and wow I cannot believe the abuse that had gone on here.

Video is from The Washington Post.

Here was a post I made previously. And we did visit the Tiger Kingdom in Phuket - but never again...

It is a shame that there is now a dolphinarium near the travesty of the Phuket Zoo - who recently lost their orangutan...

I have read what is next... Tiger Energy Drinks... - click here.

Then more...- tiger magic amulets... - click here.

BUT...

When ex-DNP director general, Damrong Pidech, visited the Tiger Temple in 2012, he actually praised the tiger's living conditions, telling the Bangkok Post: "Frankly speaking, their living conditions are better than those in state-owned zoos."

Worth reading...

Phuket Old Town - Street Paintings

Street Paintings became big news recently in Phuket Old Town with the paintings by Alex Face being declared as incorrect when they were on the side of the Old Standard Chartered Bank - my post here. This wall is adjacent to a very popular Thai noodle shop.