My Life In Thailand

The flight from Goa was uneventful apart from Indian Airlines dishing up some green mush for food - horrible.

On the way to Chiang Mai

Arrived in Bangkok around 7.00am of the 18th May. Argued with taxi drivers about the cost of getting to the bus station. Caught bus at 12.00pm for an 8 hour drive to Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. Sat next to James an English lad from Northampton who had been scuba diving off Koh Tao and so we swopped stories - I dived there last year.

Chiang Mai

Great to be back in Chiang Mai (I was here in2007 for just 5 days) - went straight to the Mai Ping Riverside hotel where I stayed last year and so pleased that Nat and Boom, 2 very nice Thai ladies were still around, so I booked in. Feel very much at home here. Everything was as it was last year. The night market is buzzing although being a little out of season not many people around. I find the prices not that cheap though which is probably all about the exchange rate being worse than last year. Its now 62 baht to the pound and last year it was 70 baht to the pound. Plus Thais are realising how much tourists will pay for things. The food centre in the night market is still as temptingly tasty as I remember. The dancers doing traditional Thai dancing in the food centre are still performing although they have added a disco performance and a little girl (see below) who does some solo dancing. The picture on the right is the lass who I buy fresh orange juice from most nights - cost 20 baht per bottle. The Thai massages are as relaxing as last year and still get the juices flowing again. Thai people are very friendly and are always smiling. Makes you feel good. Have looked around Cultural Centre, Hill Tribe museum and Insect of Thailand museum all very interesting and such a nice change from dealing with drunk Scots bar owners (in Goa).

Propositioned

This is my first full day here and I have been propositioned already but I think it was a ladyboy. Last year I spent a month in Thailand and did not get propositioned once. What has changed in a year?

New Hotel

On the 26th May moved into the Condohotel for the next month, a nice big room with air conditioning, fridge and TV which will cost £20 per week.

Weather

The temperature here is around 35-40 degrees and as it’s the rainy season is very humid but I’m OK with that, most buildings have fans or air conditioning. It does not rain continuously here during the rainy season but rather most days have very heavy showers - once they are over they're over.

Wat Don Chan

While I’m here I want to do something useful so went to Wat Don Chan school and they accepted my offer to teach footie to the kids. This school is for kids who have come from very poor hill tribe families and they board and lodge at the school. This school runs on charity and they have absolutely nothing. The pitch they use is baked hard and very rutted, no markings, the goals are smaller than they should be and the nets are full of holes like a fishermen's after wrestling with a shark. The kids however, are very disciplined, polite and grateful to be given an opportunity for education. They clasp hands and bow as a greeting to all adults and in a very respectful way. I was in the heads room and 3 students came in, got on their knees and shuffled across the room as a measure of respect for authority. Imagine that happening in Toxteth or Whalley Range. They accepted my offer and I will be coaching a group of 15-18 year old lads Monday to Friday for a couple of hours per day for the next month. I’ve already done a week and its good fun, the lads or teacher’s English is not so good so I have to do everything by demonstration - but I’m getting the message across. The lads really want to learn and try hard and there are no problems with discipline - wheeheey. None of the lads have football boots or the proper kit and some even play in bare feet - so health and safety has taken a back seat.

Buying Balls

Decided to donate 10 footballs to the school. I was testing some in the shop when all of a sudden there was a loud explosion which shook everybody within a 100 yard distance. The shop assistants had blown up all the balls too much and one just exploded. It gave us all a laugh. So if you ever come to Chiang Mai, let me know and I'll take you to the shop with exploding balls. One thing I cannot work out is why lots of things in shops are shrink wrapped - even just one shoe that is on display. All the footballs are shrink wrapped as well - why?

Tooth

Broke a tooth and need a new crown plus root canal work. The dentist’s here are very professional, caring, thorough and do a good job. So, I’ve been spending some time in the dentist chair. My dentist is a Thai lass who looks about 18 is very small and slim but is a killer with the drill - she is very nice though. As its something I am involved with currently let me say that all Thai people have wonderful teeth. Is it the diet or the water?

Zebra Crossings

Don’t know why there are zebra crossings here, every motorist ignores them even those crossings that have a green man signal for pedestrians to go - the traffic will still ignore them.

Old People

There is a problem. It seems that 90% of the Thai people out and about are under 40. What do they do with the population who are over 40 or is it like Dorian Gray, nobody grows old but they all have pictures in the attic that age. Will investigate this one.

Long Hours

Thai people work very long hours. Nat and Boom at the Riverside Hotel plus Kate (she is Thai has a Thai name as well, but as most of the clients are foreign, Kate it is) the receptionist at the Dentist all work a 10 hour day, 6 days a week and this is normal.

Thaksin Shinawatra

Chiang Mai is Thaksin's home which makes a good link with Manchester for me. Maybe I should introduce him to some of the lads from Wat Don Chan if he's looking for new players. Or, maybe he should bring the City squad over here to train on Wat Don Chan's pitch. If they can play on that they can play on anything.