Muay Thai Night

I'm not usually into brutality, but Muay Thai boxing is the country's national sport so I felt compelled to check it out. As I walked through a rather seedy part of town (of course, that implies there aren't seedy parts of town) to get there, I began asking myself, "what the hell are you doing?" I ask myself that a lot these days.

The boxing ring was set up in a big outdoor area (but it had a roof), down an alleyway of bars and then surrounded by more open-air bars. The ticket got you a seat in a picnic table near the ring. The hostesses/waitresses were transvestites who also performed a cabaret act before the fights began. Thailand is very famous for its ladyboys. Some of them look pretty convincing (if the Adam's apple is removed), but the voice usually gives it away. The Thai culture is generally pretty tolerant. Just as you always here "sweet as" in NZ, you always hear "same same" in Thailand. It basically means: "Who cares? Doesn't matter? No difference."

Back to the main event... the atmosphere and setting were so much fun. I felt like I was in a movie. I met a really nice Australian couple and hung out with them for most of the night. I think they picked up on my NZ vibe :) I wasn't sure that I would enjoy Muay Thai, but I ended up staying until midnight. The fights were strangely mesmerizing. For the "halftime" entertainment, they put 4 blindfolded guys in the ring and let them go crazy. It involved a lot of air-punching.