PATTAYA, Thailand — It was a peaceful moment for Chalermpol Sawadsuk, who has had very few peaceful moments during his life of violence and crime. His girlfriend, Saranya Meesuk, leaned on his tattooed chest after his long day of training in Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, and Chalermpol turned reflective.
“Could you ever imagine that such a bad person as me would have a chance to have a nice family one day,” Chalermpol, 30, asked in his native Thai. “I think love is rehabilitation. I get up and find breakfast waiting for me each morning. But I wonder even more what kind of woman would fall in love with a man like me.