Krabi 2025

This time I embarked on an all-female trip to Krabi to tick off one experience I’ve been keeping on my bucket list. I’ve been training Muay Thai ever since the days when I was trying to shed my pregnancy pounds and I’ve been addicted to it ever since. When the opportunity arose to train at one of Asia’s best Muay Thai gyms, Khunsuek Muay Thai, I jumped at the chance at the drop of a hat.

There were ten of us with varying levels of proficiency in the martial arts. Like me, all of the others grew to like Muay Thai and came all the way to Thailand to learn from the best. One of the best parts of the trip, apart from the training, was to experience what sisterhood feels like, with us girls, being visitors in a foreign country, having each other’s back. Here, not only did we throw hard punches, but we also went on an adventure to discover what Krabi had to offer, from elephant feeding to shooting at a range and revelling in the province’s beautiful landscapes.

Khunsuek Muay Thai gym lies on a sloping hill near Ao Nang beach. It is strategically built and can be easily accessed, a stone’s throw away from the bustling town. The gym, perched on a slope, held breathtaking views of the Andaman sea, where we were able to see small islands emerging from the waters. It’s perfectly idyllic – the views, and the open space where we could feel the wind blowing gently as we sweated it out during intense training sessions with very capable and friendly trainers. It’s an unforgettable experience, for sure. I came out of it with improved technique and I now carry the badge of honour that I have trained Muay Thai from the place of its origin.

A Muay Thai venture is not perfect without seeing a real fight. That Saturday, among the rowdy crowd of people rooting for their favourite fighters, my female comrades and I found ourselves in the stadium watching fighters pulling punches and kicks to knock out their opponents. It was an intense affair as we held our breaths watching the suspenseful fights. The crown of the match was between a European fighter against a Thai national and with one determined strike, the Thai national won.

Being in an all-female trip showed me what sisterhood feels like. During one of the nights in Krabi, I had a long heart-to-heart talk with my roommate, and found similarities in our life experiences. We women understand each other’s pain and suffering, more than any man can. I realised, after having spent five days in Krabi with a group of girls, how times have changed from my mother’s generation to ours. Our generation of Malaysian females has experienced emancipation. We can hold our own and we can do it all – earn our own income, take care of the family, drive in foreign lands, and punch like a guy. How far we have come!

I stayed an extra day in Krabi to experience the wonders of its nature. I went on a half-day island- hopping trip among 4 islands in Krabi. The views were captivating – the waters green and clear, the sandy beaches white and clean, and the limestone hills both fascinating and intimidating. Krabi’s nature is unique to its location. There are not many places where we can see such distinct natural features like the Andaman, where Krabi shares the seas with other popular vacation spots like Phuket and Langkawi. The green waters were so clear, despite the throngs of people swimming in it, and we could see fishes swimming freely. It’s picturesque, perfect for a postcard.

My trip to Krabi taught me an important life lesson. We are all connected to one another, especially as women, since we carry the burden of the world where its advantages tip in favour of men. Therefore, females should not feel like they are in competition with each other, but should lift each other up instead.

Training Muay Thai in Thailand has been a dream come true, albeit being just a short stint. To be honest, I don’t know what the future holds for the world, which seems to be writhing in instability and teetering on the edge of conflict. Therefore, if there arises a chance for me to experience what I have long yearned for in my heart, I should take that chance. Life should be well-lived, for we don’t know what tomorrow holds.