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Amazing Thailand
It was truly an 'Amazing' Paintball tournament weekend for
everyone who traveled all the way to Pattaya Thailand for the
PIPC. The exotic location, the people and the event organisation
was great. Everyone got to experience an exotic Thailand Resort
style weekend and played paintball too.
The Amari Orchid is an impressive hotel with a lovely garden and
pool. Having breakfast in the garden and a dip in the pool was
something we don't get to do on tournament weekends. The hotel
was walking distance to the beach and the bars and clubs so it
was easy to get around especially when we found motorbikes that
were easily available for rent. Actually everything is easy to
do in Thailand- if you wanted to go somewhere, do something or
eat something, it would be easy to organise it.
We got to do so many new things we don't get to experience on a
typical paintball tournament weekend. We went for massages, shot
real guns, drove go-karts and rode motorbikes around town like a
bunch of bad ass paintballers. The food varied from eastern
exotic to western, I ate Thai style deep fried fish eggs and
jelly fish to German sausages and baked sole and I will never
forget our dinner of Saturday night where we just ordered the
whole menu at some seafood coffee shop in town and the total
bill turned out to be about $6 Singapore dollars each.
The opening dinner party and Captain's meeting at Club Climax
has got to be the most glamorous and hottest Captain's meeting
and opening party ever. They had girls in bikinis parading and
grinding on the pool stage and that just about kept every one's
attention for over 2 hours.
The tournament field at the Eastern Indoor Stadium was excellent
- it was FLAT and smooth, it was like playing on a grass court
for tennis with very short or little grass. Our feet were dry
with no risk of sprained ankles. Dives and slides went smoothly.
The only thing that got to everyone was the heat. The Iranians
had the most innovative way of cooling down which was to cover
their whole body from head to toe in prickly heat powder which
has a cooling effect.
Despite the Eastern Indoor stadium being in an isolated place,
there was enough food and drink stalls around the event to keep
everyone happy. The drink stalls serve drinks with loads of
crushed ice which was excellent. Cokes, Sprites and Fantas with
crushed ice went down real nice in the heat .
I thought it would be a hassle to have to walk across the field
to the other side to get air and enter the field but we got used
to it. Having consistent 3500psi plus air all weekend was a big
plus for everyone. Any minor problems with the air nozzles was
quickly fixed. I thought everything ran smoothly throughout the
weekend and the players could just concentrate on their game.
Paint, water, toilet and vendors were available on hand nearby
and despite the sun and heat we were quite comfortable in the
tents and tables provided. With the dry climate we could have
our gear bags on the ground and not worry about getting them wet
and we had a lot of chairs to sit and put our gear on too.
I have never been to a players party and the party at Differ was
pretty cool. We had something to eat and got down to the serious
business of getting our trophies. It doesn't get any better than
having drinks with our trophies on the table. Dave Youngblood,
the CEO of Dye pretty much summed it up in his sport speech
where he praised Thailand and its people and Thai paintball. Yes
congratulations to Thailand Paintball which has come along way
and now have topped it with a great event in the PIPC.
On a side note I must say that despite the political protest
that went on at the same time. We didn't see anything apart from
people smiling and waving in cars and trucks honking around
Pattaya. We went to Bangkok on Monday when the protesters gave
the government an ultimatum to resign. We didn't see a single
red shirt protester and everything was peaceful.
This PIPC tournament was memorable because it had that special
Thai hospitality touch. The contrasts, the laid back style, the
exotic, the beautiful people and the wonderful welcome made this
event that much special for us all. I look forward to coming
back next year.
Kop khun kap Thailand.
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