Travels with Shelley and Muzzy: Muay Thai, Fish Pan and Bangkok Farewell

Muz 'n' Shell

Muzzy and I started traveling in 1990. Our first trip was to Thailand. Muzzy was in the Merchant Marines in another incarnation and had traveled all over the world. I had done a lot of internal traveling, but waited a lifetime to be able to really travel. After that first trip I was definitely hooked. We went to Bali in '93 with our daughter Sarah and her partner Don. In '96 we returned to Thailand to visit Sarah at her Peace Corps site in Petchabun province and to celebrate her marriage to Don on the island of Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand. In '99 we went to Nepal and Thailand, in '03 to Laos and Thailand, and in '05/'06 back to Thailand, Laos and Burma. It was a trip the whole family took after the death of our eldest daughter Lise from breast cancer in February of '05. In '07 we returned to Nepal, Laos and Thailand with our dear traveling companion Kyp. Ever since that first trip to Laos, we have been in love with the country. There is something timeless and magical there and if there is any balm for my soul, it is in the warm breezes that blow across the peninsula in Luang Prabang. Muzzy and I have been incredibly fortunate in making the trip up the Nam Tha river twice to Luang Namtha. Laos is so special to us that I hesitate to tell anyone about it, but life does go on and no place is immune anymore from tourism. I just hope we get to keep traveling. The photos posted on this site are all by Mr. Muz unless otherwise stated, and he is a grand and wonderful photographer! I could go on forever (we both could and often do!) but really, thats why we started the blog!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Muay Thai, Fish Pan and Bangkok Farewell

Yup, headin' home in the morning. Spent 4 days in Bangkok and enjoyed every minute of it this time. Muz spent two days photographing the Muay Thai training gym just down some seedy alleys on the way to Kao San. On the third he asked me to join him "for something to do". Okay...off we went and I was pleasantly surprised to find a row of benches along on side of the alley just made for spectators like me. And what a trip! You can pay to train in traditional Thai boxing with real professionals. It's quite a site. While I was there the 10 time WORLD champ was working out...no pictures please as he glowered at Muzzy. Muz put up his hands and retreated to the other side of the gym. But I think he got some shots anyway. I have to say, it was impressive and I did enjoy these guys. It's almost like dancing, but a lot faster and much more lethal.

We spent our last day in pursuit of the fish pan. If you are unfamiliar with my quest, I saw a young man in Chiang Mai at the Walking Market making small fun fish-shaped waffles filled with luscious things and have been searching for one of his cast iron waffle makers ever since. Yesterday sitting in traffic, I looked out and there was a fish waffle maker...not the round one I wanted, but still...so today we retraced our steps in Chinatown at the edge of Pahurat, and found the store. There it was. It is a row of 5 fish shaped impressions to make waffles but it is attached to a box to which is attached a hose hook up for butane or whatever. It's not heavy, but awkward. Not expensive, and totally do-able...but...we are leaving tomorrow and I didn't want to spend today boxing it up and sending it to myself at great expense. I have the card for the store, the price, the location and I am hoping that Sarah and Don will decide to come to Thailand SOON. I will give them the money and they can send it to me...or is anyone else coming this way??? So near and yet so far...

Regretfully we left the fish pan and took a metered taxi to Wat Pho...41 baht...wandered my favorite wat, Mr. Muz took more photos, and we each had an hour and a half massage, 550 baht. Heaven...and a great way to end the trip. Took the river taxi back to the New Siam, Jok Pochana for dinner tonight...Leo beers, more duck, glass noodle salad with woodear mushrooms and minced pork, some pak boong and we're done...