Vietnam Tales: Bangkok Ultimate Hat Tournament 2007

Ultimate is almost cult-like here in Asia. It is quite popular with expats and growing in popularity with locals. I went to Bangkok a couple of weekends ago where it was hot, hot, hot and participated in the 2007 HAT (teams are balanced by skill levels, so you do not have to be a pro-star to play). There were players from all around the globe, Miranda came in from Abu Dabi, Dave was living in Australia and stopped through BKK before returning to the UK, plus there was a few from the States backpacking, and people who live in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Malaysia there as well. There were about 180 people in all and it is a great social venue, especially if you are travelling around Asia and want to hang out with some locals or need a place to crash.

Team Vietnam had a good showing. There was a few of us who came from Hanoi, a bunch from Saigon, one from Hue, and the rest have a Vietnamese connection who live outside of Vietnam.

I was on the pink team (aka Pink Ladies, Pink Panthers, and Keep it Pink) and during the round robin we had 4 games on the first day. We had to win at least 2 games in order to get the by and most importantly not have to play at 8 am the next morning. We lost our first two games, which were hard to lose since we lost by one or two points, but then hit a winning streak and ended up winning the finals. It was pretty exciting for me since I never actually been on a sport's team that has won a championship or finals that I was beginning to think it was me ...

The venue of the tournament was at the Thai military base ... it was slightly strange having the militia do their drills (with their guns) around the fields - luckily, the sergeant was on our team. Where else would the military let civilians play on their land?!

There was a 007 James Bond theme and us folks from Vietnam decided to show up in style and wear our ao dai's for a Vietnamese Casino Royale.

My first three days in Bangkok, I didn't really get to see the city since I decided instead to torture myself and run all day long in the scorching heat (BKK was about 20 degrees warmer than Hanoi). I did some sightseeing with friends for a couple of days before I headed to Laos (to be posted). I even hung out with a cousin who is studying in Bangkok whose parents I met in Saigon.

Jeigh as a dancing buddha

How to describe Bangkok. I can say is the most modern Asian city I have visited. You can buy anything you can't buy in Vietnam, public transit is great - I loved riding the skytrain and the subway, you can find any type of food you desire, and the shopping is addictive. On the surface you think 'wow this is a great place'. Thailand is also interesting because it has never been invaded or colonized, so it has developed independently (so to speak) than its neighbours.

For a country that thrives on being on the international stage, I just don't understand how there can be a growing sex trade industry, which is so very in your face. There were so many old, overweight, unattractive white men latching the arms of young pretty Thai women. The redlight district was filled with bare-chested women walking the streets. How can a country considered to be modern be so unprogressive when it comes to half of its population?

That was my first impressive of Thailand, albeit I was only in Bangkok and did not visit any other places. I am going to be back in March for work, so perhaps my perceptions will change.