Vancouver b.c., canada. First time heading here, and really, the only thing i ever heard about canada was BC bud, nature, rain and that the people were really nice.
As always when i travel, i look forward to: walking, eating, drinking, shows and of course- muay thai.
First thing on the agenda as soon as we fly in is of course, to eat dinner but more importantly is check out the local music scene. I like to see touring bands play, check out the crowd, the venue, the environment, the fashion. I decided on watching Death From Above 1979, a canadian band i followed here and there in my youth, but never had the opportunity to check out live. Great show, great sound and not bad considering they’re a bass player/drummer duo.
After many drinks, it was time for a drunken midnight snack and off to get some rest for tomorrow’s muay thai session. That hot dog was probably my favorite thing i had to eat the whole time there, it was fucking tremendous.
Much to my remorse in a hungover stupor, it was time to train. I always say- ‘hey take it easy because you gotta work out the next day. Fuuuuuck that! few beers later you catch me grooving to the music. Live, laugh, love or whatever bullshit i see on stickered on people’s walls.’
I checked out district warrior in downtown vancouver. A muay thai fitness gym owned by husband wife duo Ali Khanjari and Farinaz Lari, two former Iranian Muay Thai national team members now located in Vancouver. The training was a bit dutch style, with pads, some drills, bag work and sparring. Ali was pretty serious at first and it took me a good half hour to finally get him to laugh but the training was tough, the sparring was great and picked up some new training techniques to torture my members and clients with.
After getting my ass kick thoroughly it was off to explore the rest of the city.
The majesty of nature in vancouver was something to behold. The air was clean, the leaves were colored and the landscape was sprawling. A huge difference from the concrete jungle and palm trees that is Los Angeles. There is a such bareness to LA that you almost forget that nature still exist.
All and all, an excellent time was had, a ton of drinking, eating and walking and exploration.
MUAY THAI:
FOOD:
(gastro pub new american/new canadian)
(oysters, awesome happy hour)
http://www.fannybayoysters.com/location/oyster-bar–shellfish-market
(brunch spot, amazing belgian waffles, expect a 2 hour wait.)
(french dessert and wine bar, great ambiance)
SIGHT-SEEING
(45 CAD entrance fee)
https://www.capbridge.com