Day 10 - Last Day in BKK

This is dedicated to Mr. Aaron Tan. Brother...you are the coolest and best host man. I am still pissed we got to hang on my LAST day and not earlier! Thank you for everything brother and I will see you in LA soon for some payback! Now moving on...started the morning out with a quick tuk tuk run into the middle of the shopping of BKK. I went to Center Siam's Starbucks on my way to MBK. Tuk Tuks are cool..oh yeah and don't fart in one. now I am not a huge coffee drinker, my friends know I drink coffee like others drink alcohol...I like to go OUT for coffee but never drink it just because. That being said, something about heading to a Starbucks halfway across the world feels like home. After some shopping I met my friend Aaron for lunch and an afternoon of shopping and kicking it. I forgot the name of the restaurant but it was a Thai Fusion place in the mall. This bacon fried rice was BOMB! Chicken Wings This is a meat dish, again it was delicious and I had no idea what it was..we also had some shrimp...but I failed to take a pic as I was too busy eating it. some random graff For dinner we had Italian..and it was GOOD..I know good Italian food in BKK? Yes.. Spaghetti Ragu Bolognese Wood fired thin crust Prosciutto pizza and this...braised Ox tail...OMG..so good. Thank you again Aaron for everything...it was an awesome afternoon in "Paradise." I hope to hear from my "LHD!!!"

Day 9 - Islands of FUN!

Today I woke up really early...say 6AM yes...6AM. I took a day tour to Pattaya and the Coral Island. It was an amazing time...I am soo happy I took this tour. It was fun fun fun. I am sure now, next time I am in Bangkok, I am going straight to Pattaya I think. It is a super party/beach city so yeah next time I will go there. I will let the pics do the talking...the place was gorgeous!! Lunch! I have more.... Had an awesome time...definitely a must do or must try!

Day 8 - Food and Shopping

Today I was supposed to meet a friend but we missed each other. So I waited for him and when he did not show, I was in the middle of shopping central. SIAM where all the shopping is... had lunch here... random shots Help the flood victims in Thailand I did not part..with my 300 baht donation I got this cool shirt...sadly it is an XL and and Asian XL pretty much I cannot wear it at all...oh well it was for a good cause. For dinner I went to CHABUTON...a "famous" ramen house... The Gyoza's were great, they tasted very fresh and def home made... Tonkontsu Char Siu Ramen and some Ice Green Tea... The ramen was good, definitely LIGHTER than I was used to ie Santouka and Daikokya so but was OK. The char siu was ok..it did not melt in your mouth like others But yes it was a decent bowl of noodels.

Sak Yant - Paed Tidt (8 Directional)

Wanted to give some more info on my second yant or sacred tattoo. This second one I have is called a YANT PAED TIDT or the 8 Directional Yant. This is the traditional "next" yant you get after getting the one I already have. I went in with ZERO idea of what to get. I left it 100% on the monk to give me whatever he wanted. He selected this one which made sense as this is the next one...I am very pleased! This is my Monk..that placed the Yant on me. Here is the offering... THANK YOU! This tattoo is meant to protect the wearer wherever they may go. Wherever I travel I will be protected. Here is some more info I picked off from the web. The Kata is written in a circle around the centre of the Yant,and reads as follows; I Ra Chaa Ka Tha Ra Saa Thi Hang Ja Thoe Roe Ti Nang Bi Sam Ra Loe Bu Sath Put Soe Maa Na Ga Ri Taa Toe Pa Sam Sam Wich Sa Tae Pa Ka Put Ban Tuu Tam Wa Ka Waa Toe Noe A Ma Ma Waa A Wich Su Nuch Saa Nuth Thi It is representative of the 8 directions of the Universe and has a kata to protect you in each direction you may travel in. Paed Tidt’ or Eight Direction Yant is a sacred Geometric Yant containing eight Mantras written in 2 concentric circles in the centre of the design. The design of the Paed Tidt Yant also incorporates eight representations of the Buddha. These are the groups of 3 ovals each increasing in size from the top. In Thailand, there is a Buddha image, each one in a different pose, for every day of the week. (On Wednesdays there are 2 Buddhas, one for the morning and one for the evening) and these 8 Buddha Images can be seen in many Thai temples, usually surrounding a Chedi. The peaks of the Paed Tidt Tattoo symbols the 8 directions of out universum. It is a stong protection tattoo, which protects you specially when you are on a journey. For every cardinal direction there is a special Kata to pray, to activate the power of the tattoo. here is video of the tattoo process...let me tell you, IT HURT ALOT...alot more than a traditional tattoo gun. Maybe I am just a wimp...

Sak Yant Tattoo - November 2011 from The Der on Vimeo.

Day 7 - Floods and Tattoos in BKK

Today I not only did a great workout as per my previous post but I went out to get another tattoo...another Thai religious tattoo also known as a Sak Yant. I walked to pick up my friend Marlin who I met in VN to come along. I saw some GRAFF in BKK! on the way to the temple...I got to see first hand the flooding and damage it caused in neighborhoods...it was scary driving through that water. then here I was...chatting with a monk...and getting my next yant. my monk... let me tell you...it HURT LIKE CRAZY!!! Here it is...

WOD - 11/26 Bangkok, Thailand

This morning I finally got enough energy to get my fat ass out to workout. Please bare in mind the weather here in Thailand. It AINT conducive to working out. It is hot and muggy and pretty gross outside. I woke up, went down stairs for my free breakfast of rice, chicken, scrambled eggs, small sausages and juice. I came back up to rest a little and digest before TRYING TO workout. thanks to Coach B that posted a WOD for me to do using what is avaialble...I had a plan of attack. Here is my WOD. Walk/Fast Walk on high incline treadmill - 2 min 30 air squats go 4 times increasing pace each time here is what I did... 1. 7 incline @ 3.5 mph 2. 7 incline @ 4.0 mph 3. 8 incline @ 4.5 mph 4. 8 incline @ 5.0 mph *5. 8 incline @ 5.5 mph (bonus one) and squats were as prescibed. After this I was huffing and puffing and decided to cool down with some jump rope. I did about 100-125 single unders to finish off. BUT!!! THAT IS NOT THE BEST PART!!!! WAIT FOR IT...WAIT FOR IT!!!!!! I GOT MORE DOUBLE UNDERS COMPLETED!!!! To those that dont know or dont care you can stop reading here...but for the rest of my friends that know how hard and important getting these are to me...know what an accomplishment this was!!! My single unders have vastly improved in the last month, I can go for about 50 pretty easy unbroken and in a good rhythm, so I have been messing around and practicing getting ONE...and then maybe TWO...etc. TODAY on the rooftop of the Best Western Mayfair Suites in Bangkok, Thailand I actually hit a few and strung them in a meaningful matter. I was able to do this.. start with singles...DU...singles....DU...singles I was able to complete the above sequence for a few times. I still get tripped up but my wrists are getting used to the action of flicking the rope 2xs under me. I am sooo super psyched...this is like super awesome. A few more practice sessions and soon I can string these bitches together!!! Very Very happy today, great cardio, great sweat... felt so good. Now its time to go out and play in Bangkok!!!

Day 6 - First Day in BKK

This morning I said goodbye to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I was chilling at the illy cafe in the international flight section of the airport. This is how a boss chills...illy ice cap, apple danish...all good for 8AM in the morning. Here in LOS = Land of Smiles! and traffic....lots of traffice. went here for dinner...and it was kinda crappy. cup of mushroom soup. Not great at all... so since I was still hungry I went to try some Padthai from the street............. deeelish!!! eating in the streets baby!!