Aug 3 Symptoms Persist & Timing Off
Sleep okay, rose at 11:40 AM. Had regular cafe downstairs. Still had mucus. Smoothie place beside Muay Thai closed. Walked to market for mangoes (20B/lb); ate them at the hostel with almonds. Grabbed a nearby indoor sandwich (59B chicken with egg). Returned to market for garlic and ginger; made ginger tea and chilled. Showered n rest. Attempted to read Jordan Rules, found it hard. Snacked on mangoes at 7:40 PM. Met NZ guy (Marcos) to grab food. Went to Mary’s; slow service, ordered beef fried rice (cost 90B, menu said 60B-felt cheated). Walked to the Sunday Night Market one last time. Chilled on the deck, NZ guy was wasted and talking a lot. Felt hungry, grabbed a 7-Eleven chicken box (40B) at 1 AM and ate it after heating it in the microwave.
Aug 4 Stadium Grind
Sleep okay, rose at 11:20 AM. Made cafe. Ate mango (usual). At 12:30 PM, got AC sandwich (59B chicken with egg). At the hostel, did light mobility and kicks. Handstands (4 sets) failed, but got a bit lower on the eccentric press. Walked/jogged to the stadium. Speed workout drills (about 10), 2 accels, 2 sprints-wiped out due to heat and sun. Did advanced kossack and 3 broad jumps, easily clearing 2 lanes (aiming for 2.5). Chilled at the track-favourite workout spot in SE Asia. Second workout on bars: front lever row (2x7), Muscle ups (3, 4, no fails), front lever holds. Hung upside down. Found a better gym near the entrance with eleiko bars and plates (60B/day). Bought water (5B bottles). Watched Muay Thai and soccer. Dinner at BBQ spot: crispy and stewed pork with rice (60B), tipped 20B. Long walk back; wore the "fastest guy" white shirt-no takers. Showered and rested. Solid training day. Snack: lychee (10B/kg). Walked for Instacafe, noodle shop finished. Went to CM Gate for smoothie and Isan beef rice (90B). Had stomach issues. Chilled outside, too hot for nighttime.
Aug 5 Laundry and Kicks
Sleep okay, comfy, rose at 10:30 AM (bit earlier). Regular cafe. Heavy rain. At 12:30 PM, did laundry at Oteri. Got Kao Soi next door (50B). Threw some kicks on the terrace. Picked up laundry (100B total with extra soap). Handstands and stretching on the terrace. Wet terrace after rain stopped. ~15 HS tries, 1 clean. Yoga Warrior (2xx5), splits (~7 sets supersetted with HS4p). Went to Nono Corner for regular Kaopao and fried chicken takeaway (90B). Back at the hostel, did jaw exercises and more kicks through fatigue. Chatted with Marcos (NZ guy); he was an amateur boxer, practiced moving around. Noticed his killer right cross; acknowledged my right hand is super weak from elbow injury/shoulder problem. Suggested working more angles. Mantra: "Opponent is not enemy." Grabbed Noodle Corner (60B) at 7:45 PM. Chilled in the lobby, munched on lychee, ate fried chicken rice. Chatted with Marcos and a tall kid from pakiston on the terrace; Paki kid said I’m super jacked but look 40.
Aug 6 Last Day in CM
Sleep okay, light snoring in dorm, rose at 11 AM. Ate lychee and mango before stomach issues. Grabbed AC sandwich (drizzle). Bought bus ticket (T3 to Mochit) on 12Go (690B-cheaper than 694B cash last time). Last full day in CM. Walked to Wat Dao; found exercise machines beside the temple. Tried machines, did light speed drills (sans explosivite), hand strikes against a tree, and stretching on stairs-decent hybrid speed/flexibility/strike workout. At 4 PM, walked to CM Gate for smoothie (30B), said bye to the nice girl. Got Aroi pork bone soup (sans bone) with rice (60B). Walked back, showered, rested, felt relaxed. At 8:20 PM, grabbed Marcos’ contact. Walked to Noodle Corner, got fried chicken from a China couple. Last night in the hostel; Jay (owner) was tipsy, said CM is the best city, high season prices will double. Got Jay's contact too.
Aug 7 Bus to Bangkok
Slept in till 11:20 AM. Booked an extra night to chill before the night bus and for a tip for fav hostel. Lazy morning, finished mango and lychee. At 2 PM, went to the Muay Thai smoothie and sandwich spot. Terrace workout: handstand, spinning kicks on a paper cup, yoga warrior. Felt relaxed, tempted to stay. At 4:30 PM, Nono Corner, 7-Eleven, and regular Kaopao. Showered, rested. Rain started at 6:20 PM. Packed up, said good luck to Aman from Pakistan. Checked out Gibbon at 6:30 PM; left keys as nobody was home. Walked to Terminal 3; drizzle turned to worse rain closer to the station. Station toilet (3b). 7:45 PM bus was on time, not packed, got the entire row. Ate 3 snack boxes. At 1:10 AM (Aug 8), stopped for food; used the ticket for 1 rice kapao, bought another rice with chicken and pork (30B). Napped about 2 hours.
Aug 8 Bangkok Arrival
Reached Mochit 2 station at 5:45 AM. Chilled in the food court (free Wi-Fi). Took A1 bus at 9:10 AM to DMK (30B). Arrived at We Go Hostel at 10 AM. Negotiated 100B for early check-in (down from 150B). Cleaned up and was in bed by 11 AM, slept till 6:30 PM. Staff threw out toiletries; was visibly pissed - got a new free toothbrush. Walked west away from the airport, lots of food options. Found a chicken rice and egg spot (60B big portion). Found 30m floss for 15B at Tops. Kept walking, found an outdoor market, got bubble tea for 20B. Hosteled and chilled. At 9:30 PM, went out for the first Thai massage this visit. Found a place near the girlie bars; the 250B massage was hustled to 350B for deep tissue. Okay massage, therapist stepped on my back with full weight, but my right shoulder still hurt. Hungry again. Went out at 11:30 PM, got malatang (126B) with mussels and squid.
Aug 9 Final Bangkok Hours
Sleep okay, tired. Woke 9:50 AM, rose 10:40 AM. Instacafe downstairs. Snacked on hostel bananas and durian. Walked west again, got bubble tea (20B) and local stew pork rice (50B). Found Mr. DIY: 3 toothbrushes for 9B. Had stomach issues, showered and rested. At 4 PM, got the same chicken spot as the previous day: 85B chicken steak with fries. Ice cream cone for 15B. Chilled in the hostel, pretty bored, showered again, rested. At 8:10 PM, headed out-last night in Thailand. Walked west as usual, got the usual chicken spot: 60B chicken kaopao egg (big portion). Had a couple of beers, walked west to the open-air/Ozone one-night market (2.5km away). Nice live music. Chilled in the hostel lobby with AC, nothing productive. Rest up for journey tmr.