As the little league all star game had come to it’s conclusion and awards we about to be handed out, 2 dads went crazy and began fighting in the small town of Columbus, Georgia.
The fathers, Charles Davidson, 38 and Iram King, 36 got into an argument over some loud music which quickly turned into a huge brawl between the two behind the outfield fence in front of about 100 people.
Here I am getting some pitching practice. There isn’t a lot of space in Bangkok but luckily I found a good place to throw not too far from my apartment.
In this video I’m mainly just working on spotting my fastball in and out as I’m training to get ready for the 2012 summer baseball season in Austria.
Baseball fever is running hot and it’s in my veins. I decided to go play somewhere in Europe again this summer and the country that happen to make the best fit was Austria.
Here is a link to a recent interview I had with Baseball De World.
Adam Sowell -Baseball Interview
Last summer I played in Czech Republic and loved it. Although it wasn’t until the season was already several weeks deep that I randomly decided to go there out of the blue… I do regret playing completely out of shape. I had a little bit of a slow start and while my bat came around, I never really settled in on the mound.
This upcoming season is much better prepared, I’m in pitching shape and feel great. I’m really looking forward to meeting all of my new teammates and getting to experience a summer and adventure in the beautiful country of Austria.
2011 Pattaya International Softball Tourney
Spent the weekend playing with the Bangkok Softball team in the international softball tournament down in Pattaya near the beach. The annual softball tourney is usually held in Bangkok, but because of the flooding they moved it south.
2011 Bangkok Team (click)
We finished 4th after being eliminated by the Korea Guzzlers who we beat in the 1st round of the double elimination playoffs. The Guzzlers were hot on the 3rd day went on to play the undefeated San Diego Fattboyz in the finals. However, Jeff Hall and the Fattboyz were not able to hold off the Korea team and the Guzzlers took the trophy with back to back wins.
Here are the 12 teams that competed this year.
Bangkok HRBG (my team)
USA Fattboyz
Korea Guzzlers
Taiwan Taichung Big Lemon
Singapore River Rats
Singapore Headhunters
Shanghai Boozers
Shanghai #1 Sons
Shanghai Blackouts
Saigon Water Buffalo
Saigon Monkeys
Tokyo Coco Bay Stingrays
May 11th – October 1st
I stayed in an apartment near Kacerof metro station which was about 20 minutes from the center of the city. It was a small 3 bedroom place that I shared with Andy Bergland, another american, and Natlie who was from Czech and played on the Softball team.
Czech Koruna. 16 crowns = $1.
The basic beers in Czech were outstanding. The typical price for a pint of draft beer was about 30 crowns or ($2.00). Pilsner Urquel was probably my favorite and they had it just about everywhere. Gambrinus was my least favorite although it wasn’t bad.
I have to say that I wasn’t too impressed with the overall food options in Prague. They had different pasta dishes, dumplings, goolash, pizza, sausage, bread and while nothing was horrible, there wasn’t anything that stood out. The price to eat out at a non tourist place was about 150 czech crowns ($8) for an average meal. My favorite thing to eat was KFC spicy chicken strips, which were actually better than in the states, white meat, very juicy, I was surprised, best strips I’ve ever had. 109 czech crowns for an 8 piece basket.
There were some hot girls in Prague, not doubt, but compared to other countries I’ve been to this wasn’t one I would rank on the top 10 easiest to get laid in. English wasn’t well spoken and most of the time I got action was with tourists visiting Prague. Now there were a couple of girls that were from Czech that I did enjoy my time with and their English was good, which I am grateful for. But I found myself many times in loud bars having painful conversations with broken English girls that just wasn’t worth my time. I guess I’ve been lucky enough over the years where I don’t care how hot a girl is, I’m not going through boring painful conversation just to get laid by some chick that in reality can’t be any hotter than most of my ex’s.
Women in Prague. Before I go any further, I want to say that there are hot girls in Prague and I did meet quite a few. My point is, I hear people talking about how hot the women are in Prague and mention it over several other countries. I spent 5 months in there and I have to say this just isn’t true. Maybe I ran bad? I don’t know.. but I can say that I’ve seen much hotter girls with a much higher ratio of them in lots of other cities and I wouldn’t mention Prague as being in the top of any list.
Prague is a great place to visit for a week or two, however anytime longer than that it can be a little boring. The main things that contributed to my boredom was a combination of living just far enough away from the center to make it a hassle to go to and not having any good food options nearby. Just wasn’t convenient enough for me for such a long period of time. I’ve only been gone for a few days and what I will say that I will miss is the good draft beer everywhere and the friends that I made there, especially everyone on the Eagles Baseball Team who I spent so much time with practicing, playing and drinking at the club.
And yes.. epically is a word, I just evented it.
As we lost in the 1st round of the baseball playoffs, it marked the end of my time in Prague, Czech Republic. As broke as this summer has left me, it was time grind poker very hard until I had enough money for a flight to Bangkok, the city I’ve planned to live in the next half year or so.
It 10 straight days of focusing long hours on Pokerstars and I had made enough for a one way flight and new apartment rent and deposit cost. If it wasn’t for my alcoholic ways, I might of been able to shave a couple of days off that total.
Last minute one way ticket from Prague to Bangkok, $434! Sweet Jesus, great deal. Normally the best price is $680-700ish. But fuck! I can’t book it, I lost my credit cards and atm cards when I lost my wallet. Okay, no big deal, I’ll find a friend to book it for me and ship him money. NO LUCK, everyone was gone or didn’t have a pokerstars account. CRAP! 24 hours later… ..
When I thought all hope was lost of snatching this sick last minute deal, my friend Pavel came to the rescue. We booked the flight and I was set to leave the next day early.
It had marked 1 year since I left Las Vegas and now everything I owned was in a laptop bag and two suitcases waiting on the corner as the bus pulled into the stop. 1 hour later I arrived at the airport and was one of the first people to check in for my flight. No Money, Mo Problems
I hand the clerk at Aerosvit Airlines my confirmation number, passport and flight details, only to find that the flight wasn’t paid for! WTF? He tried to explain to me in broken English that my ticket was reserved, but I needed to pay for it. After 20 minutes of relentless arguing, I am pushed aside as new passengers approach the desk. Did Pavel’s credit card not go through?
Thinking back, I had lost out $100 the day before. We booked it on Cheapoair.com and at the last page, the credit card confirmation froze. Pavel was scared that it charged his card, but I got no confirmation email. We waited about 10 minutes then tried again, flight price went up from $434 to $530… crap… oh well bad beat, but we did get confirmation.
My cell phone had no time, I couldn’t call anyone, I use my laptop to check my email, sent Pavel a message if he could call me and double check my flight confirmations. I wait in line again… the clerk, who didn’t seem happy to see me, listened as I pleaded my case again and I showed him my email confirmations , however, he explained it didn’t matter because he computer showed different. If I wanted to fly, I would have to buy a new flight, $1,200.
My throat became dry, the pulse in my neck seemed to throb rapidly beyond my control. I did everything right, but I felt so helpless in this situation, it was 6am in the morning now, no one was awake, Pavel confirmed 100% with me the flight was booked and I already gave him my saved money. If I left now, would I lose my money? My only choice was to take a 1 hour bus back to Prague and grind poker for another week or two until I could purchase a new flight.
I cut through the people at the desk and leaned over to get the clerk’s attention, I asked to speak to a manager. The clerk asked for my passport and left. I’ve heard horror stories about people booking through 3rd parties having major problems at airports before, but in all of my traveling days, I never experienced anything like this. I hear my name in broken English off in the distance, I follow the clerk across the airport to a “Student Agency” desk. He leaves.
The lady sitting behind the glass nods in recognition as I rant about my situation. I wait patiently while she hammers way at her computer keyboard. ”Do you have a return ticket?” she ask. ”No, I don’t have a return ticket, I’m not coming back to Prague” She then explains that to go to Thailand I would need a ticket showing that I would be leaving from Thailand in 30 days. I tell her I’m taking a train to leave the country, I’ll be traveling all over South East Asia, I don’t have a plane ticket to leave because I haven’t decided where I’ll go, maybe Australia, maybe New Zealand. She prints out some documentation and sets in front of me, I begin to read it as she resumes typing away at her computer.
The printed sheet explains the rules for foreigners arriving in Thailand, and how you can be denied entry, I already knew this stuff, but never had a problem before. She then hands me a paper with some new numbers on it. ”Those are your flight numbers, take them back to the desk”
I return to check in and rudely by pass the line to see my “friend” at behind the clerk’s desk. He sighed as I handed him the papers. 60 Seconds later I had my boarding pass in hand and my 2 suitcases were floating down the baggage loading isle. 2,400 crowns? What? Clerk Jerk now said that I needed to pay him ($150) because my baggage was over the kilo limit. 25 kilos, the limit is 20 kilos, 600 crowns per extra kilo, he was doing me a favor because he is only charging me 4 kilos instead of 5. No way, I told him to get my bags, I could easily remove 4-5 kilos that would be well less than $150 value.
However, my bags were already gone down the shoot, we starred at each other in silence for about 30 seconds, seemed a lot longer. ”fine” he said, “just go” WTF I thought. I shook his hand thanks and headed to the security gate.
Seriously though… WTF? I wonder if they ever pocket that money? And $35 per extra Kilo, that seems steep. I wonder if its even a legit fee? Such a stress morning so far, but the worst was yet to come.
I had been in Prague for 5 months without making a visa run or without paying for an extention. I was 2 months overstay and wasn’t sure what my fate would be. As I walk towards the passport control desks, I look at my options : An older man with thinning hair, a 20′s girl with brown hair, and a
I hand over my passport and try to breathe normally but my body seems to be holding my breath in uncontrollably. After flipping through it back and forth a few times, she becomes fixated on my arrival date. ”When did you arrive in Prague?” she questioned. ”I messed up” I explained. “I got here May 9th, 5 months ago, but I have traveled to several other countries thinking that I was able to do that, but I just realized a few days ago that I wasn’t allowed to do that” she responded. “Which countries, do you have proof?” I didn’t have proof, just showed her my Budapest Hostel shirt I intentionally wore for this encounter and explained how time just flew by as I traveled between hostels and drank a lot of beer.
I was allowed through with no fees! Something was going right, I had read about similar situations in the past that had resulted in bans from the country and 200+ Euro fines before you could ever return.
13 hours and 2 flights of no sleep later. I landed in Bangkok. The Joneses is a good movie by the way. I really enjoy Californication and David’s part in this was similar. Now… just a few more stressful steps to get through before I can relax and sleep.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I handed over my passport to the security at customs control. Was not having a return flight going to bite me in the ass? I had just spent 8 months in Thailand before Prague, was that going to be a problem? I didn’t apply for any Visa, just showed up, would that be okay?
YES!
Passport Stamp! No Questions, done and done.
Now all I had to do was exchange the little cash I had left into Thai Baht and then buy a cab over to my new apartment.
If only it was that easy! They do not take Czech Koruna at the airport. In Fact, they don’t take Czech Crowns anywhere in Thailand! No Thai Money, No Credit Card, No ATM card, No Wallet. AND… i realized my sim card was also in my lost wallet, so I can’t even use my phone in Thailand anymore. The worst part of it is, its 3:30am, I don’t know many people in BKK and they wouldn’t be awake right now anyway.
I grab my suitcases from baggage claim and sit down on a bench in defeat. I just want to sleep. Sleep for 10 hours, I lean back and close my eyes. I drift away into the dream world, my mind floating through space into a never ending existence and a new reality.
I have an idea, I log into my computer and check for WiFi, bingo. I get online and as luck would have it find Quinn, my friend who lives in the same apartment complex I am moving into. He agrees to help me, I take the taxi to the apartments and pay the driver when I arrive.
Welcome to Bangkok! May new and exciting adventures await.
You will be missed…
Late September 2010 – The Cops had had enough….
We had to move out
Teaming up with Roommates Ryan Parker and Jonas Dick, we went to Los Angeles for a few days
Getting HAMMERED at the Airport
I do not remember this...
Spent 3 days in Bangkok
Temporary stay in Bangkok, then caught a Flight to Phuket.
The Island of Phuket
1st Night Kata Beach with Ryan & Jonas
Beautiful Beaches all over Island. Kata Beach only a 5 minute walk.
The Island of Phuket (October 5th- December 26th 2010)
Found a hotel for $15 (500 baht) a night and partied it up for all of October.
Me, Ryan, Rudy and Thai Girls.
Rudy (yellow shirt) a fellow poker player and poster on twoplustwo, has been living in Phuket for many years and really helped us adjust to the new life in this strange land.
Beach House, November and December 2010.
Moved into a Beach House where I lived for 2 months with some fellow poker players
Partying in Patong Beach, Phuket.
Flipping for Shots with new poker player friends who now called Phuket home.
And as the life of a poker player goes, the ups and downs come with them. In late December 2010 had a bad run on the tables and had to give up the luxurious beach house and move to a different.
October-December 2010 Results
Phuket to Chiang Mai 2 hour flight.
Ryan had arrived a few days earlier and we celebrated New Years Eve
I love Belgium Beer!
Chang Beer Tower only $7
Song Kran is the Craziest Holiday EVER!
What is Song Kran?? Its a giant water fight for between everyone in the entire country for 5 whole days! Yes, 5 whole days. Not lets stop and think about what this means exactly. Yes, its hot, yes, everyone has water guns, water hoses, huge water buckets in back of trucks and no one is safe. The 1st couple days were fun, but when I just wanted to go to grab something next door I would get drenched by someone. Yes, 5 days! But I loved it!!
Popp'n Bottles for $10
I'm a FOOT taller than EVERYONE
Next Stop Philippines for 2 weeks
Manila in May 2011
After living in Thailand for a while, I didn’t care much for the Philippines. Everything seems over priced and EVERYONE tried to ripped you off, hustle you, and bother you. We had repeated horrible experience with cab drivers, over charging, having faster meters, one drop us a few miles in the wrong direction to run up the meter, making us 10 minutes late. Manila was dirty, over crowded and a headache.
White Beach, Phillipines
Went to White Beach, Philippines for a few days and it was better than Manila, but still not a place I would recommend vacationing too. Plus I found out the next day that the hot girl I was making out with all night was a lady boy. Yeah, don’t go to Philippines.
May 2011 off to Prague!
After that, flew to Prague to spend the summer drinking and playing baseball for the Praha Eagles. Now its the end of August and that concludes what happened over the last 12 months.
Crystal McPherson
I miss Crystal. It was a Sunday night, we were hosting a beer pong tournament at the house and it was a little disappointing because I ended up out of the match early. However, it worked out for the best as I went outside and that’s when I met Crystal for the first time, sitting somewhere around the hammock feeling really really good. I miss all the times we spent under the influence, in a world I haven’t been back to very often. I miss the day at MGM pool and the night at Diablos. I miss looking into her eyes and knowing we both felt the same feelings and thought the same thoughts. We had many great times together and I wish that she could be here now to experience the new world I am in. I just don’t ever want to repeat the “naked Jonas in my tub” night ever again :/
Shawn Vance
I haven’t seen Shawn in forever, it was April 2010 in San Diego, California at a Padres games when the Braves were in town. Atlanta won, we had some beers and I think I took down like 7 hot dogs in the all you can eat stands. It was a good day. I miss all of the adventures we had throughout Sweden, Prague, South Africa and Las Vegas. We put back a lot of beers together and I contribute 100% of my alcoholism to him alone. Now he is living in Stockholm with his beautiful wife and baby girl and I hope them the best and hope that I able to afford to make it out to Sweden to visit within the next month.
Nanci Pietras
I remember the night we first met, Ryan and I were taking advantage of free drinks at the club before heading out to another location to meet some friends… we ended up staying there a little longer than expected. I was a little closed off at first, but your friendly and real personality had me opening up to you fairly quickly. Haha, I remember you signed into my facebook on my HTC hero phone and for some reason it wouldn’t let you sign out! It took forever to figure out what was wrong, lol. It was worth it though, however, I wish we could of spent more time together taking pictures of you with my hat and funny wig :p I wish you the best in Philly and hope we will run into each other again during our travels.
Jason Kane
We met at one of my first house parties at the Rockin Seville House around the beginning of 2009. It was unfortunate that we were never able to set up a day for his band to play at any of our parties. We did have some good times, drank a lot of beer and it would of been great if we were able to have one last party on the strip with some of those green pills before I left 
Niki Virga
It seems that all the times we spent together were pretty spontaneous, from a random drink at Ellis Island, a mid day Yankees game at Barley’s Brewery and Casino, Foundation room, Cadillac Ranch, to Stoneys with a guy who ended up being the 2009 World Series of Poker winner. I do remember the first night we met, it was at Blue Martini, you were wearing a black top with blue shorts, actually, haha, I have no idea what you were wearing, that would be creepy, but I do remember you were sitting down at a table and that encounter was brief. I hope everything is well with you and I’m looking forward to a Yankees vs Braves World Series this year!