Return to Thailand to pursue a lifelong dream: compete in Muay Thai in Thailand (Pt2)

Well, the trip is turning out to be quite an adventure.

I just sat down in my hotel after traveling to Thailand and even though I haven’t slept in 3 days I can’t sleep.

Couldn’t have had a more miserable trip. I spent 14 hours on a plane with a mother with a 3-year-old boy and a 5-year-old boy. The three year old cried the entire time and the five year old intentionally kicked my seat every 15 seconds. When we landed, he was ready to scream.

We made an unexpected stop in a Chinese city I had never heard of so they could do a security check on our plane. I’ve never heard of it before. We flocked out of the plane onto a bus that took us to an inspection area, then back onto a bus to the same plane that we had just got off from with the same kids screaming behind me, and the plane won’t start again. I spent hours on a track, I could barely keep my eyes open, a child kicked me and I heard another child scream until exhaustion.

When I say “in a herd”, I mean literally in a herd. I don’t want to sound racist, because this is not a “racist” comment. It’s more of an observation of cultural differences. The Chinese do not have a bubble. They enter your space, and if you leave an inch in front of you, they will push into it. The old ladies throw forearms that would make any wrestler of the World Wrestling Federation proud. Every time you turn around, there is literally someone just there. Getting on and off the plane, everyone was on their own. I don’t think they realize … we were going to the same place and we were taking the same plane that was going to take off at the same time, no matter when you got on.

We finally got underway (on the same plane that wouldn’t start), and finally made it to the city where we were supposed to have landed in China, only to find that the delay caused me to miss my connecting flight.

When I finally got to Phuket, they had lost my bag and I almost went crazy.

I’m here … finally. I stink like hell after sitting in the same clothes for three days, and I have no clean clothes or toiletries.

You know what though … I’m in Thailand and I couldn’t be happier!!

The smell and sounds of this country are unique. The sensation of the air is something I have not felt anywhere else. The air actually has a distinctive feel it.

The sun is rising on a fourth sleepless day, but the sound of people hitting the Thai pads comes from Dragon Muay Thai, which is right next to my hotel. I’m so dizzy that I can’t sleep.

I’ll have to wait until the stores open and then go buy some clothes and a toothbrush.

However, I have to give a little love to the people of the hotel I am staying at. Despite being several hours late, and even later searching for my luggage, the driver was still waiting for me outside the airport with my name on a sign, and I checked in without a hitch. Signature Phuket Resort is the absolute best!

On another note … if this is how this journey begins, this is going to be an incredible journey. Can’t wait to see what’s next!