@마리오 **

made me laugh 😃. "Mother may I" kind of country. Seems accurate, though.

@James *******

I agree. I was also advised to stay put by the embassy. I wouldn't risk it.

@James *******

Yes, the Jakarta embassy had very professional and helpful staff members 👏.

Anonymous participant 112 Muay Thai Fever Gym supported my dtv application for a course fee of B15k, which is now the cheapest in Chiangmai, I think.

I think they might have raised their prices to B20k, according to their website. Not sure. If you ask Derry nicely, I bet he might still do it for B15k.

26 lessons; one per week for 6 months.

My original primary motivation was the dtv but the trainers make it so much fun. It's given me newfound energy. The only downside is that I'm eating a LOT more protein.

Mostly eggs 🥚 🪺 n mushrooms 🍄.

@Ha**

No, this was a month ago. Walk-ins for the dtv were still possible.

Anonymous participant Mostly teaching biology, supply/substitute teaching, simultaneous warehouse work security guard work and construction labouring.

Taught me heaps about communication, conflict resolution and hard work, running on fumes, working with no energy in the tank.

After my good friend, Dave, died of cancer at 62 having lived a similar life to me but older, the most important lessons I learnt are to follow your gut, learn from others' mistakes, make your own mistakes, use fear as a fuel and remember that I'm going to have to give a good account of how I used this life at the end. Regret is the worst feeling.

I read that the account needs to be a personal account and in your name. However, I hope your application gets accepted. Better to leverage geographical arbitrage to learn new skills and learn to earn money 💰 in a more independent manner online, here in Thailand, than to save one's pennies over the years, overworked and underpaid, working for tight companies like i have. Better to sidestep all that nonsense if you can. Sincerely, good luck!

Jakarta Indonesia took 4 working days (6 Inc weekend) and were very helpful and super polite.

@Andy ***********

The muay thai application does seem to be the most concrete route to getting and (probably) maintaining the dtv. However, I think it's much better to attend the classes. They're great fun, albeit in a masochistic sort of way, and my body hasn't felt this energetic in a long time, even though I've been going to a normal gym for years.

The lessons I'm getting at Muay Thai Fever Gym are excellent. Mr Boonlai (former 2x lumpini champ) and Kru Nai (northern champion) are the trainers I've worked with most, though I've seen Mr Burklek Pinsinchai (former 2x lumpini champ) trainging others around in the gym as well.

The 2 trainers I've worked with are incredibly humble whilst providing world-class training. (Imagine being trained by Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson AND Chris Eubank all in the same gym).

Having said that I'm an overweight Biology teacher and my fitness levels were appalling 3 weeks ago. Mr Boonlai gives me lots of extra breaks to catch my breath (He's very considerate) and insists that I go slower to build my endurance slowly. It's working. I haven't yet sparred with anyone and there hasn't been any pushing from anyone for me to do so, for which I'm so grateful. The gym owner has a no tolerance policy for any kind of bullying in the gym, too.

Even though I was huffing and puffing, one of the competitive fighters (Sam) told me after the session that I had done a great job. I felt like I'd just gotten a gold star in school, lol.