Chiang Mai, Thailand (continued)

Climbing onto our rented scooters, we headed north out of Chiang Mai to experience the countryside.  Sorry moms, but it wasn’t exactly our safest decision -- what with the taxi cabs swerving through all lanes, trucks reversing into the streets without tail lights, and manic scooter riders (up to 4 people on one bike) disregarding the use of traffic lanes or blinkers.  Ken confirmed we would have been safer on the 405 in Los Angeles, but we escaped town and found quiet country streets.  We came upon a national park called Doi Suthep where we trekked up to a pristine waterfall.  Great decision for the beauty and exercise, bad decision for the lack of mosquito repellant.  If we come down with dengue fever or malaria, we know where we got it.





The locals convinced us to check out Thai boxing, a combination of kicking, elbowing, punching, and kneeing - all to the rhythm of the insanely loud shrieking clarinet and drums.  At the door, they offered a free glass of liquor from a big pot (some kind of jungle juice) but we thought better and declined the unknown free drink.  We entered the “stadium” which consisted of an indoor ring surround by liquor stalls and picnic tables on all sides.  The first three rows of chairs were the ringside VIP seats for $18, but we sat in the fourth row (the cheap section) for $12 per ticket.  One could say the experience was “cultural”... but mostly it was a bunch of kids kicking the crap out of each other.  At one point seven boxers were in the ring simultaneously.  The referee blindfolded each one, and then after the bell rang, they proceeded to punch blindly -  even the referee got in the action.  

Here’s a clip of the madness: