Ep. 3: Laura Dal Farra - Minimalism, Muay Thai, and the Eastern Mind

In this episode, I speak with Laura Dal Farra.  Laura is an entrepreneur, writer, blogger, traveller/adventurer and Muay Thai practitioner.  Based in Toronto, Canada, Laura runs a site called Milk Blitz Street Bomb which focuses on “where travel and martial arts meet.”  Laura was recently featured in the travel section of  The Toronto Star. 

 

In 2006, Laura spent six months in Chiang Mai, Thailand studying the art of Muay Thai.  She got enamoured with how the art was practiced in the country, particularly the purity of the discipline and the humility of many of the practitioners.  She also got a taste for a certain kind of life.

 

After returning to Canada, Laura decided to make a bold move.  She re-designed her life and moved back to Thailand where she ended up training for over three and a half years.  She first spent a year in Bangkok and then in Buriram in NE Thailand, near the border with Cambodia. In going back to Thailand, that’s when the adventure really began as Laura immersed herself in the Thai culture.  Adventure of course implies challenge, adversity and of course, facing uncertainty.  Through her time in Thailand Laura ended up having a number of wonderful experiences that served This inspired her to create Milk Blitz Street Bomb in which she provides advice, stories and resources to those seeking to follow a similar path.

 

We have a great conversation and spend time discussing:

 

•Why Laura started training in Muay Thai and when she first got the idea to spend some time in Thailand;

•The decision to move back to Thailand longer term;

•The challenges associated with living in the country, particularly as a solo female traveler;

•Culture – we spend a lot of time discussing cultural differences and how Laura unpicked the layers of Thai culture – including different way of thinking (Western vs. Easter ways of thinking) and navigating a culture that is quite hierarchical;

•How and why she started Milk Blitz Street Bomb;

•The challenges associated with “re-entry” shock

 

Laura is very authentic, inspiring and cool.  We have a wonderful conversation that perhaps was a bit too short (which only means that I will have to have her back on the show).  I hope you enjoy it!

 

Show notes:

 

•Check out Laura site: www.mbsb.us or www.milkblitzstreetbomb.com

•Check MBSB on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MBSBx

•Buriram: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buriram

•Laura in the Toronto Star: http://bit.ly/1Swr0o2

•I make mention of the book “The Gift of Fear” at one point: http://amzn.to/1Q0dEhp 

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