Thailand - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Lost in the Ring: A First-Timer's Misadventures in Muay Thai Training Ever thought about trying Muay Thai (aka Thai boxing) in Thailand? Well, prepare yourself for an experience that will leave you questioning your fitness level, pain tolerance, and possibly your life choices. Muay Thai camps are where tourists go to discover that those cool kickboxing moves they've seen in movies require actual physical ability and a willingness to wake up at ungodly hours. What to choose Finding a Muay Thai camp in Thailand offers several approaches, each with their own unique flavor of intimidation: Option 1: Tourist-Friendly Camps Popular areas like Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai offer camps specifically catering to foreigners. For about 300-500 baht ($8.50-14) per session or 8,000-12,000 baht ($225-340) per month, you'll get training that won't immediately destroy your will to live. Option 2: Authentic Training Camps For 5,000-10,000 baht ($140-280) monthly, you can train at camp...

Muay Thai: Where Violence Meets Culture (and Tourists Meet Confusion) So, you want to watch Muay Thai in Thailand? Excellent choice! Nothing says "cultural immersion" like watching two humans savagely attempt to hit and kick each other into unconsciousness while you sip overpriced beer and pretend to understand the scoring system. Muay Thai (literally "Thai boxing") is Thailand's national sport, an ancient martial art known as " the art of eight limbs " because fighters use fists, elbows, knees, and shins. It's basically a full-contact game of human chess, if chess pieces could knee each other in the liver. Where to Watch: A Hierarchy of Authenticity and Comfort Your Muay Thai viewing experience will vary dramatically depending on where you watch. Here's the breakdown: Lumpinee Stadium (Bangkok) The holy grail of Muay Thai. Recently relocated to a shiny new facility that purists complain lacks the "authentic smell of liniment and desperati...