The Journey That Started with a Deep Breath
When we stepped off the plane in Bangkok, the air was thick with incense and jet fuel. It smelled like potential. For Tennis Destination founders Mo Ridaoui and Roseann DeRosa, this wasn’t just a scouting trip—it was a rite of passage. We came searching for courts. We found courage.
Bangkok: Rallies Over Rooftops & Market Dares
Rooftop Drills with Skyline Backdrop
The first swings happened above the city chaos—on a rooftop court haloed in sunrise mist. Coach Preecha shouted adjustments over passing river barges. The temples below looked on, unmoved.
Spices, Silk & Sweet Risks
By afternoon, we were chasing flavors in Chatuchak Market. A vendor challenged me: “Hit this mango with your racquet, get a discount.” Roseann grinned and crushed it. Tennis wasn’t paused—it was translated.
Nights on the Chao Phraya
Dinner floated by lantern light aboard a rice barge. The tom yum hit like a perfect drop shot—fiery, precise, unforgettable.
Chiang Mai: Jungle Courts, Sacred Focus & the Tiger Gaze
Under the Bodhi Tree
We rose before dawn and stretched near a teak-framed court. Monk Phra Somchai blessed our racquets with holy water and a whisper: “Swing with compassion.” Elephant bells chimed behind us.
Slice Epiphanies in the Forest
Rallies came softer, deeper. Roseann’s topspin lifted higher than usual. I adjusted my slice, and something shifted. It floated.
Tiger Moment: Eye Contact & Everything Changed
Later in Mae Rim, I knelt beside a resting tiger. Roseann captured the photo. My heart pounded. No racquet, no defense. Just a stare. But instead of fear, I felt stillness. Five seconds that recalibrated every serve.
Food & Flow in the Night Bazaar
We closed the night with massaman curry in a lantern-lit alley. The spice was slow—like a fifth-set rally. We took notes for our guests: flavors, footpaths, the best seats.
Hua Hin: Muay Thai & Salt-Stung Smashes
Footwork Lessons from a Fighter
At a Muay Thai camp, Khun Tuk wrapped ropes around our ankles. “This is court movement,” he grinned. Every dodge mirrored a sidestep. Thirty minutes later, we felt like new players.
Rallies Beside the Sea
Courts beside the Gulf of Thailand brought us breeze-challenged serves and sand on socks. We played until the light softened. Then—grilled prawns, lime, and laughter.
Luxury Recovery
The InterContinental Hua Hin offered poolside cabanas just steps from the sea. We noted the exact ones for post-match chill.
Phuket: Cliffside Serves & Courage in Calm Waters
Topspin Above the Bay
On a cliff above Phang Nga Bay, our balls arced into the wind. Salt in our hair. No distractions—just rhythm.
Private Island, Private Breakthroughs
A long-tail boat whisked us to the Phi Phi Islands. We snorkeled. We feasted on pla kapong. We breathed.
Dinner by Bioluminescence
As night fell, our table floated above glowing plankton. It looked like stars dancing in the ocean. Mo whispered, “This is what tennis feels like at its best. Calm power.”
What We Learned
| Challenge | What It Taught Us |
|---|---|
| Rooftop heat | Focus through discomfort |
| Temple stairs | Every climb is a mindset |
| Eye contact with tiger | Presence is power |
| Market games | Fun is serious business too |
| Ocean cliff serves | Adjust. Recenter. Fire again. |
We didn’t just scout hotels and courts. We found something we didn’t expect to bring home: a new kind of courage.
External Link: Learn more about Wat Doi Suthep
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