I have a bit of a funny story about this photo...

Selena and I went to see some Muay Thai while in Bangkok - you know, the typical tourist thing. After sitting in a cab for about two hours which cost us only about £4 to get to the stadium (you could stay in cabs in Bangkok!), and thus thinking we'd missed all the action, we raced up to the tourist hatch to buy our seats. Now tourist prices for the boxing are not cheap. You're looking at £40 per person for ringside seats, and since you will probably only go once in your life ringside seemed the way to go.

As we were contemplating the wallet dent that count have paid for massages and boutique hotels and handmade clothes, a rather eager young ticket sales guy dashed up to us. All smiles, as is the Thai way, baring his braced teeth. He tells us that two American girls had pre booked tickets (and paid 50% deposit) for that night but had not shown up, and that we could have those tickets if we paid the remainder of the 50%, on the condition that if they showed up we could pay the rest of the ticket price for 2 new tickets. Seemed a bit suspicious, but because he was so encouraging, we though ok - whatever, all part of the fun.

Anyway, so we get into the stadium and it seems we're on the early side as it was showcase fights with 13 year olds, and ancient exhibition matches. We were seated by a woman as we went in, and they were unusually attentive.

After about ten minutes the original guy who sold us the tickets came back in, and said "oh o! I'll find you better seats"... so he ambled off and then excitedly beckoned for us to sit down next to the referee on this raised platform, and added another seat to cater for the both of us. Every two minutes, he appeared, or some other attendant appeared offering us drinks, or snacks. It was all very bizarre, as the rest of the Westerners were sitting in their allocated seats without any special treatment.

Then the real fights began, and this guy won some kind of title. Then "our man" popped back and asked me if i'd like to meet a Thai boxer, so I was ushered off and followed him to this special room where this boxer was, who promptly posed for me till I was happy with the shot, and then I was taken back to my seat.

I told Selena about how bizarre it was, and showed her the picture - we were both slightly mystified. Anyway after another 30 minutes, we'd seen enough so headed out of the stadium... "Oh you're leaving already - did you have a good time?", our man asked. "Yes thank you, quite lovely, and thank you for your hospitality", we replied. He was packing up his stuff to leave too, as were the other people in the ticket office, and before we could head off in a hurry he said "Can I tae a picture with you?" - we thought it was a bit odd, and said "erm...ok".

So out bundle three ticket office girls, all of whom were overexcited and almost falling over themselves to get into this photo with the guy and us.

"You're a singer", one piped up (aimed at Selena). "No I'm not, I'm a teacher" said Selena.

"Hahaha, yes very funny" said the girl.
"You Jessie J from England" the other one said.

"No, I'm just a teacher" said Selena.

"I love your songs" said another.

"This your sister?" they ask about me.

"Umm, no" says Selena sheepishly.

"Can we have your autograph?" they all said in almost perfect unison.

"ummm" - Selena looks at me. I just nod at her, and she scribbles something.

They were all extremely thankful and we probably made their day... only so many times you can deny something.

It rather explains the excessive attentions though! but as a result, I got to take this photo. It might not look like much, but it certainly has memories attached!

Related tags:

boxing, muay thai, lumpini, jessie j

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