City of lights (Singapore)

It was the first time I saw my family since 8 months ago, so we had a lot to catch up, but nobody is interested in that. 

Anyway, I was impressed by the cleanness of Singapore after Cambodia, it was like day and night. If you throw your chewing gum to the ground you have to pay a fee and yeah fee for almost any form of littering, but it keeps the city pretty clean! It is a must to explore the city by nights, the have so many lightshows and light almost everything up so nicely, that your breath will be taken away. 

 But I am not into the big city life, I prefer it dirty, relaxed and not so developed, so my heart wanted to go back to a place like Cambodia. 

 

Places that I visit in Singapore: Gardens by the bay, Mount Faber, Sentosa, Martina Sands, Botanic Garden and more, but those are the best one’s so far.

Heart, Fame and Tomb Raider

Arriving on an airport with only about 9000 passengers a day is quit a nice change from the big airports, everything goes so fast no lines nothing in and out in about 5 minutes. 

If you do just a little research you will find out they want to take advantage of the “rich” tourists. So my first contact with a TukTuk driver was, when I told him I take the bus, he lied to me and said there was no bus, after I told him the line, he just smiled smirky. The other passenger starred at me, I think they are not used to have a tourist in a local bus, they even took pictures. My 5 minutes of fame. 

 

Cambodia is still a developing country, everything is simple, cheap and has his own charm. If you know a little bit about the story of the country you know why, it is the way it is. Only about 30 years ago 25% of the people died, most of them the educated ones, because of the dictatorship of the Khmer Rouge. You should visit the Genocide Museum and the Killing fields, it won’t be easy what you will see but it’s definitely an eye opener about cruelty of mankind. One other stop that is almost mandatory is Angkor Wat, one of the UNESCO world heritage sides. You may better know it as it is one of the temple in Tomb Raider. 

 

Like always a lot of my time doing what I love, BJJ. I went to the first and only real BJJ academy in Cambodia H/ART. What do I have to say about them, Vy the main instructor, is an excellent teacher, he breaks down the technique perfect and teaches in a way that every beginner can understand it and practice it easily. The BJJ scene isn’t that big mostly white belt with a lot of heart, but there are some very good blue and purple that want to challenge you, so you will have some fun rolls! And the best about all of it, everyone has such a big heart and you will feel comfortable from the get go, they even take you in as a part of the family! 

Thank you!

The City of TukTuks

Bangkok

Uber is one of the best things if you are new at a place and do not know jack shit, it made it easy for me to get from the airport to my Airbnb flat. But hell, I will have to walk 6 floors up that will suck a little bit for the next month at least it will help my conditioning. :D 

Pedro Sauer Seminar

No rest for the wicked, for me it was straight to the flat, grabbing my Kimono and meet up with Vara to go the Pedro Sauer Seminar at Bangkok Fight Lab. The gym that will be my first stop for the next week. I got my good twice a day training in and was great to meet all those people at the gym very laid back and friendly environment! 

Oh yeah we went out some times saw the normal Thai Hookers, because you can not miss them they are almost everywhere, okay that’s a little bit exaggerated. And sorry guys, I did not enjoy a famous lady ping pong show, I do not want to have this image in my head. But there are plenty of other things to do, which is even suited for kids like me, no worries. Great night-markets, sky-bars, malls and much more!

My second gym for 3 weeks was EMAC, less expats and more Thais, the classes were a little bit smaller but the level was high, and the headcoach Niti makes sure you have a great time! Thailand is still in the development with it Jiu-jitsu scene. 

Ask Vara

Overall Bangkok is a good place but for a whole month, not my kind of deal, so busy, you have to look out every time you cross the streets not to get hit, but about one thing I can not complain is the food, you find everything and I just like the amazing street food for around 2 dollars! 

And thanks Vara for taking care of me!