Not as Unfit as I Thought November 21, 2009
Posted by Martin in : Health & Sport, Thailand , add a commentToday I ran 10km in Suan Rot Fai (park).
This time last year I was in peak condition having spent three months training for the Bangkok 10k fun run. I’d lost a load of weight and was full of energy.
One year on I’ve never been heavier so I’ve been getting back into running for the past 2 weeks. As a benchmark today I decided to run in the park to see how my time compared to my adequate 75 minutes last year.
A Perfect Sunday in Bangkok November 8, 2009
Posted by Martin in : Friends, Health & Sport, Leisure, Thailand , add a comment
We currently get so little free time these days that I’ve begun planning our only day of leisure to make sure we are still getting some fresh air, some exercise , doing something new and meeting friends.
Carey has returned to stay with us this week and after an early morning swim we headed to Chatuchak weekend market to explore the artwork and puppies there.
Sailing To Freedom January 18, 2009
Posted by Martin in : Health & Sport, Leisure , add a comment
Tik won us a holiday this weekend.
The competition was organized by Wave FM, An English-language radio station for Bangkok (88 FM if you’re interested) and was called “Sailing to Freedom“.
Life Without My Training Bra January 14, 2009
Posted by Martin in : Health & Sport , add a commentYesterday I removed my support strap from around my back and neck and I’m able to do pretty much everything I need to to do now.
My collarbone is still quite bruised but I can put pressure on it and move my arms around without it hurting.
I plan to resume jogging tomorrow at the gym and, if all goes to plan I’ll be playing tennis next Monday.
My First 10k Fun Run November 23, 2008
Posted by Martin in : Health & Sport, Leisure, Thailand , add a comment
I’ve been in training for a 10k fun run in Bangkok and today, I’m proud to announce that I really enjoyed it.
The run, sponsored by Standard Chartered, began and ended at the Grand Palace and this was the biggest Bangkok run of the year with 48,000 participants. It actually started at midnight for the marathon runners and the 10k runners began at 7.
Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe in Bangkok November 21, 2008
Posted by Martin in : Friends, Health & Sport, Leisure , add a comment
Tik and I went to see our first ever live sporting event today.
Tennis legends Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe played in the “PTT Legends in Bangkok” demonstration match today.
Regrettably our camera batteries died so we couldn’t take any photos (the blog image is a stock photo) but we got excellent seats and had a lot of fun.
It was especially interesting to me as, having played tennis 4 mornings a week for a year I’ve still yet to win a game against David. I got an idea of techniques that perhaps I’ll be able to use next week.
Also playing one short set in a double game were Thai stars; Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai Udomchoke.
Also present were Patrick who’d told us about the match, Patrick’s business partner Ingo with his wife Sandy and daughter Ceila.
More Plans for 2006 April 8, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Education, Health & Sport, Thailand, travel , add a commentOnce Lisa returns to the UK my new life starts again. Tik is now living permanently with me and we have an exciting year planned. For the three weeks between May and August Tik and I will study in the mornings. I will continue my gemology diploma and Tik will take some IELTS English classes to improve her writing skills and her chances of working or studying overseas. Our afternoons will be spent exercising at the gym, playing squash, swimming, playing badminton and I will return to Aikido. I am also likely to continue with learning Thai and starting private Brazilian Ju-Jitsu classes.
Learning to Crawl Again April 6, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Health & Sport , add a commentTik’s been learning front-crawl in her classes and yesterday I attempted it myself. Today whilst Tik and Lisa relaxed in their rooms I decided to try it myself. Usually I’m a breast-strokist (?), I used to need to swim wearing glasses when I was young so although I’m a strong swimmer, and although I must have learnt front-crawl many years ago, swimming with breast-stroke was always my choice.
Gone Fishing February 22, 2006
Posted by Martin in : Health & Sport, Thailand , add a commentA group of Thailand’s gemology elite spent a full day out on the outskirts of Bangkok at a fishing lake. This lake is man-made and is full of catfish. This was the second occasion I’ve been fishing – the first was a year ago in Koh Si Chang. This time we had two private fishing huts between our group of six and we were taking this sport seriously.
Day 4: Two Perfect Dives November 14, 2005
Posted by Martin in : Education, Health & Sport, Thailand , add a comment
The effort of being up, bright and early by 7:30 was outweighed by the perfecticity of the water. It was so calm at times that it looked like some industrious bastard might have just paved over it. Zigor – our instructor was delighted that water visibility was at 30 metres and that in the past 4 years he’s only experienced such clarity half a dozen times.
Day 3: Diving Exam & Our First Two Dives November 13, 2005
Posted by Martin in : Education, Health & Sport, Thailand , add a commentOur morning class comprised of seven of us. As Priya and Jennifer were a day behind us, our class was merged with another. There were two Irish girls, and two Irish guys, all about the same age as us. We spent a lot of the time working from a quite complex dive table which determined how much nitrogen we would absorb, how deep we could go, for how long and also how long we needed to de-pressurize and rest between dives. It was the most demanding part of the theory course although we could work together and in all honesty we won’t be planning our own dives for some time anyway.
Day 1: Introduction to Diving November 11, 2005
Posted by Martin in : Education, Health & Sport, Thailand , add a comment
My bungalow was an adequate fan-cooled double room with a clean bathroom and shower. I was booked into the Beach Club Resort, at the far end of the island’s hub.
I spent much of my day reading my books on a rock. I rented a PADI Diver’s Manual and decided to spend a few hours pre-learning everything that the course would cover.
Learning to Dive in Koh Tao November 10, 2005
Posted by Martin in : Education, Health & Sport, Thailand , 2commentsI don’t have any virtues, but if I did, patience would certainly not be one of them. I hate waiting for things to happen. A week before I see Tik again, 10 days before we go to Taiwan, Two weeks before I get paid, 20 days before I get my new computer and catch up with my friend Jim, three weeks before I move apartment, two months before I begin my gemology course.
I drove myself crazy between Monday and Wednesday. I had nothing to do. I couldn’t find one book I hadn’t read, Tik was working in Khon Kaen and it was too soon to begin organizing my move out of Sammakorn.
I’d spoken to my friend Eli about going diving. Sadly we didn’t share enough time to go together so I booked the same package as he’d done and left on my own last Thursday.
4th Asian Aikido Federation Seminar November 6, 2005
Posted by Martin in : Health & Sport, Thailand , 3commentsLast weekend I attended a monumental Aikido seminar, packed with the world’s most accomplished Aikidoka (Aikido students).
The event spanned both days. Day one was certainly the most vigorous with a total of 6 hours of Aikido. The format was basically one Aikido master demonstrating and a short group practice with any of the other 300 participants.
Still Enjoying Aikido October 12, 2005
Posted by Martin in : Health & Sport, Thailand , add a commentThere’s not too much to report in the world of Aikido. I’m still enjoying it and attending 2-3 times a week. I’ve still got two left feet but these are suitably balanced by my two left hands.
Next month Bangkok will host a very significant 3 day Aikido seminar where all the Mr Bigs of the Aikido world will be attending. I’m looking forward to that.
N.B. The photo on the left is of Eli. It was taken to remember his last class with us before he takes a few weeks to travel and to ultimately return to Israel.
