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X Speak Xplained

I'm getting the hang of my motorbike. Maybe too much so in fact, I hit 70kph on the beachfront road straight away! That's only about 50mph but the straightaway is only a quarter of a mile long and packed with various other vehicles. At first I was scared of these winding back roads, most of which have huge potholes that I have yet to see dry! Who knows how deep they are? I caught myself thinking I was on a moto-X bike. One thing about being at an X Games, wherever you are, you have a tendency in your own way to try and be "extreme". Being around all of this energy, witnessing the creation of an entire event site, greeting the various familiar faces that roll into town to help, and seeing the reactions from the athletes and spectators as they check out the ramps for the first time, just amps you up all the more. Competition time becomes such a small part of the whole experience. The X Games is a separate lifestyle for the staff, athletes, and spectators. Don't get me wrong! Watching skateboarder Bob Burnquist boost out of the vert ramp, or bike stunt rider, Dave Mirra pull double back flips on the street course, or even Travis Pastrana nearly yawning when he soars 100ft. in the air on his MotoX bike is still unreal! For some reason when you are surrounded by such an event, not ollieing over curbs, going through potholes on side streets, or even riding ANYTHING slowly is just BORING? I used to bad mouth bikes with motors, but now I know I have to buy a moto-cross bike when I get back to the states. I might get in trouble for saying this; after all I didn't even rent the motorbike!

Woke up this morning to nearly 100 degree heat; the humidity makes you feel like you're carrying an extra twenty pounds all over your body. The temperature changes I put my body through in the morning after an hour in the pool, a warm shower in an air conditioned room I'm drenched in sweat by the time I walk up three flights of stairs to the hotel's outdoor dining area. Yet, a smiling Thai hostess, who is dressed in a long sleeve shirt and long skirt, greets me; she looks as if she were dressed for a cool spring morning! Her greatest pleasure in the morning is teaching me Thai. I've learned how to pronounce a handful of sayings rather well, so well that locals assume I understand Thai! I just smile, shrug, and shake my head and say, "Mai kha." which means "no" in Thai. The hostess at the hotel is a perfect example of all the Thai people I have meet during my first two weeks here on Phuket Island. Smile and they smile back; they are gracious, giving, and extremely trustworthy. You don't have to worry about leaving your towel and bag on the beach here while you go out for a swim in the ocean. Thai culture is based on respect, show a little toward your local 7-11 cashier and you'll see the toothiest smile ever! The Thai people here on Patong beach, smile excitingly and their eyes light up when I tell them I am here for the X Games. I wish I could understand what their excitement is about. Have you ever listened to a Spanish soccer announcer ramble on and on, faster than an auctioneer and then scream excitingly "GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL"? Then you wondered what he was excited about BEFORE the goal? I suppose now that I've mastered moto-bike maneuvering, learning Thai is next. Whatever way we communicate our excitement, one thing is for certain, tourist and Thai alike are amped for the gates to open! Two days to go!

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