Thai Boxing

Phuket
Originally uploaded by sherryworld.

7 fights, one bloody eye, and two K.O.'s... First thing I did in Thailand was watch a kickboxing match. Remember that game Street Fighter 2? That Sagat character? The hypnotic music that goes with it? This is the real deal, complete with a live eight-piece traditional Thai ensemble. The "girl match" was between two children, ages 15 and 16, both very capable of kicking my ass. Their under-aged-ness, however, isn't exactly what I would associate with proper child labor laws. That may soon change though, with the new military regime that recently ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Is that wishful thinking? Perhaps, but in a conversation with my taxi driver from the airport, I found out that over 80% of the people approve of the new government. What does that mean? Probably not much to a seasonal tourist like me, who's only interest lies in beaches, girl-boys, thai boxing and food. For the average Thai, let's hope the change is for the better.