Krabi, Thailand one of those awesome Thai holiday destinations, known for its beautiful backdrop of limestone cliffs, island hopping, fire dancing and ticking off the 'Live the Dream' Bucket List ideas.
Just look at this. It's not a bad backdrop backdrop for our first experience of Thai boxing is it? I'm not sure whether it is all the talk about James Bond, you can't escape the fact that the 'Man With A Golden Gun' was filmed out in this Andaman Bay, but all of a sudden we've signed up for a private Muay Thai lesson. I don't know where that inner Rambo came from!
It's no real surprise that this area is famous amongst film buffs. Leonardo DiCaprio's 'The Beach' is filmed out over there on the island of Koh Phi Phi and what impressed my husband most was the lobby scene from that dreadful The Hangover 2 movie was filmed in our hotel!
We booked a four-night Krabi break back in April when fresh-faced into Bangkok life we thought we might be in need a short break away from city life towards the end of the year.
We had no idea, that what we would really need is some time in Bangkok, having been constantly on the move.
But who I am to say 'let's not bother?'
View from our beach, Krabi! |
We were up with the lark and on our Thai Smile Airways flight for the one hour flight to Krabi and standing in that very lobby of the Sheraton, now Dusit Thani hotel by 10.30am. Good job I was not arriving with a hangover! We had to wait for our room to be ready, but shucks that's not hard. Which pool shall we head to, or would you prefer the beach?
We settled into life in Krabi with ease, as well as a lot of lazing around, catching up on our reading list, we were quite active. I loved the 8 am Yoga and Tai Chi classes which were a fabulous way to start my day, and liked to back up a big breakfast with 11am Aqua Aerobics. Hand-ups if you're having a great holiday?
But it was Muay Thai that has really intrigued me since arriving in Thailand. it's a sport which started as a self defence for Thai warriors on the battlefield and has become a mainstream activity for many. You even see people training in the parks. I hear it's great for fitness and thought I'd probably enjoy the invitation to knee, kick or punch my husband, under the expert tuition of a professional of course!
Then we took an inordinate amount of time wrapping the protective bandages around our fingers and wrists. There was no such thing as Boxing gloves on and give him a good thwack! Oh no, what we were being asked for was total commitment from mind, body and soul... Hmmmm, this is taking a long time and the beach is beckoning!
Then there was learning all the words in Thai, that might have been even harder than the boxing bit. Some of them were great though what about:
Kao Loy which is Flying Knee, Or Kao Tone, Jumping Knee. I wanted to add a few of my own what about Kao No Loy Tone which means Bad Flying Knee, be careful?
It was a jolly good work out and everything was aching the next day, but I'm not really sure it is a sport for me. I like the idea of learning to defend myself, but I decided I'm much more a Tai Chi or Yoga lass! I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to being hit and I'm not that great either at hitting someone I've found out.
What do you think, would you prefer yoga, boxing or tai chi?
linking with thanks to the team at Our World Tuesday
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