- "Orange Juice" = Tang
- "Coffee" = Nescafe Instant coffee
- EVERYTHING comes with egg
- Western food is a waste of time
- Traffic rules or laws do not exist
- Seat belts do not exist
- The word "boutique" in "boutique hotel" means "overpriced" in Thai
- Everything is spicy
- There is no such thing as "emissions control"
- Everything has too much sugar
- Pretty girls are often pretty boys
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Interesting Thailand Observations #01 - Eric's take
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Cooking Class - Chef Eric's report
We just returned from the Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School where we learned all about thai spices, veggies, and ingredients. We spent the day with master chef Sompon Nabnian and learned how to cook 6 thai dishes. Coincidentally, we also spent the entire day eating. :) This is something I was very much looking forward to and am very glad I got to do it. It was very fun and I really learned a lot. Well worth it. We leaned how to cook:
-Eric
Mmmmmmmmmm food.
Tasting chef's dish for comparison.
I cut you.
Julie looks cute in an apron.
Future Thai chef's.
Everyone smile for Tom Yam Goong!
- Thai Hot And Sour Prawn Soup (Tom Yam Goong)
- Green Curry With Chicken (Gaeng Kheo Wan Gai)
- Thai Thai Style Fish Cakes (Tord Man Plaa)
- Fried Noodles (Phad Thai)
- Spicy Minced Chicken Salad (Larb Gai)
- Water Chestnuts With Sugar Syrup And Coconut Milk (Tab Tim Grob)
-Eric
Mmmmmmmmmm food.
Tasting chef's dish for comparison.
I cut you.
Julie looks cute in an apron.
Future Thai chef's.
Everyone smile for Tom Yam Goong!Monday, May 12, 2008
Scooting around in Chiang Mai - Julie's post
We're now in Chiang Mai, where we've been for the past three days.
We went to the Sunday night market, an open air market each week that spans many city streets. That's been the most memorable part so far of the city. The nice thing about Chiang Mai is that it's nicer, cleaner, and more laid back than Bangkok. However it's still a large city in that there seems to be endless amounts of people living here and still an amazing amount of things to do and see.
The first full day here we rented motor scooters. When we were in Jenny's village I got to ride one for the first time which was tons of fun. However, Jenny's village was small and there were two-lane roads everywhere with barely any traffic.
I had numerous mini heart attacks on that first scooter ride in Chiang Mai. First of all, there's really no traffic laws here other than stop signs and traffic lights. People ride their scooters 3 to a lane, with a tuk-tuk trying to cram its way between them. Our first adventure on the scooter was trying to get gasoline. We had to leave the relative ease of the inside of the city which is surrounded by a moat and venture outside of the moat area into the horrendous multiple lane traffic. We did a u-turn to get to this gas station. This u-turn entailed scooting into 4 lanes of oncoming traffic, many of the cars, tuk-tuk's, and scooters were in various lanes and nobody stays in the lanes. I think lane markers are just a suggestion here. People frequently cross over the double yellow to get in front of people.
I quickly realized I don't do well with no traffic laws. That u-turn was the scariest, most insane experience I've ever had behind any vehicle. I nearly had a panic attack. Needless to say, we returned the scooters the next day. I spent a total of about 30 minutes on that thing and each time, felt like I could die at any second. It's hard enough remembering which way to look, and having to drive on the left side, which seriously screws with your left and right hand turns...but then to put a bunch of crazy free-for-all driving in the mix. I wanted to come home alive, but more importantly, in one piece. I'll leave the crazy driving to the tuk-tuk drivers.
They have great food in the city and a lot of international cuisine. Two days ago I decided to be adventurous and try American food, getting a hamburger and french fries. Honestly, it was pretty good although all yesterday I felt the pain of that decision and stayed in bed most of the day trying to recoup from the GI pain and distress.
Eric got traveler's diarrhea while at the Amari resort. Within a few hours he started to get chills and a nasty fever. I was really scared for him. The last thing you want on your vacation is to get deathly sick. Thankfully we got a prescription for Cipro, a powerful antibiotic, which I was hoping we wouldn't have to take. He took it that night and started feeling better the next morning. He's all better now. I just hope I stay healthy until we get back to the States.
Julie
We went to the Sunday night market, an open air market each week that spans many city streets. That's been the most memorable part so far of the city. The nice thing about Chiang Mai is that it's nicer, cleaner, and more laid back than Bangkok. However it's still a large city in that there seems to be endless amounts of people living here and still an amazing amount of things to do and see.
The first full day here we rented motor scooters. When we were in Jenny's village I got to ride one for the first time which was tons of fun. However, Jenny's village was small and there were two-lane roads everywhere with barely any traffic.
I had numerous mini heart attacks on that first scooter ride in Chiang Mai. First of all, there's really no traffic laws here other than stop signs and traffic lights. People ride their scooters 3 to a lane, with a tuk-tuk trying to cram its way between them. Our first adventure on the scooter was trying to get gasoline. We had to leave the relative ease of the inside of the city which is surrounded by a moat and venture outside of the moat area into the horrendous multiple lane traffic. We did a u-turn to get to this gas station. This u-turn entailed scooting into 4 lanes of oncoming traffic, many of the cars, tuk-tuk's, and scooters were in various lanes and nobody stays in the lanes. I think lane markers are just a suggestion here. People frequently cross over the double yellow to get in front of people.
I quickly realized I don't do well with no traffic laws. That u-turn was the scariest, most insane experience I've ever had behind any vehicle. I nearly had a panic attack. Needless to say, we returned the scooters the next day. I spent a total of about 30 minutes on that thing and each time, felt like I could die at any second. It's hard enough remembering which way to look, and having to drive on the left side, which seriously screws with your left and right hand turns...but then to put a bunch of crazy free-for-all driving in the mix. I wanted to come home alive, but more importantly, in one piece. I'll leave the crazy driving to the tuk-tuk drivers.
They have great food in the city and a lot of international cuisine. Two days ago I decided to be adventurous and try American food, getting a hamburger and french fries. Honestly, it was pretty good although all yesterday I felt the pain of that decision and stayed in bed most of the day trying to recoup from the GI pain and distress.
Eric got traveler's diarrhea while at the Amari resort. Within a few hours he started to get chills and a nasty fever. I was really scared for him. The last thing you want on your vacation is to get deathly sick. Thankfully we got a prescription for Cipro, a powerful antibiotic, which I was hoping we wouldn't have to take. He took it that night and started feeling better the next morning. He's all better now. I just hope I stay healthy until we get back to the States.
Julie
Chiang Mai, Day 3 - Eric's report
Chiang Mai kicks ass. It's a great city. Not as big, polluted, hot, expensive, and most people speak way more English... although my Thai is getting better every day. I am trying to learn new phrases daily. Jenny has been teaching me verbs, phrases, and basic sentence structure. I can now say:
This city is basically split up into two parts... the Old City, which is surrounded by moat and walls, and everything else. Its very artsy, very hippy, and very quaint. I could probably live here. Oh, and did I mention it's like 5c cooler and way less humidity (see: doesn't suck) than Bangkok. The food here is also much better and much more diverse. Instead of choosing noodles or rice for every meal there's middle eastern, mexican (yes, mexican food.. and it's 1/2 decent).
We arrived here at 11pm on Saturday night and went straight to our guest house and to sleep. Sunday we rented motorbikes and got accustom to the city. Needless to say, in a city with what seems like 0 traffic rules or laws, we cut our motorbike tour short and returned to the tuk-tuks. To quote Julie... "That was the scariest, most nerve racking thing I have ever experienced in my life." lol. Sunday night was the weekly night market. It was amazing. People from all over come and set up shop along the main road here, they block off the streets and shopping ensues.
Yesterday (Monday) I strolled around the streets solo as Julie was not feeling well. I was cat-called by the local prostitution houses / bars as I strolled along the main drag. Just like you see in the movies, it was crazy. Julie started feeling better and we wandered over to the banks of the river for a snack and to relax. Later that night we had a drink at the Tiny Bar, a bar that bills itself as "the smallest bar in the world", with an inside capacity of two and an outside seating area for 6, I think it might truly be the smallest in the world.
Last night I also got to witness my first Muay Thai fight! Front row. Holy crap. It was the most intense thing I have ever witnessed. These guys are truly insane fighters. It's so much different actually being there hearing the kicks, punches, and elbows connect.... and to see the sweat spray off these guys as they delivered hit after hit. Also the rules here are different than in the states... elbows to the back of the head are legal, knees to the head also legal. Devastating. The post-fight ladyboy (ladyboy = thai shemale) cabaret show was also a spectacle but in a much different way.
Beauty by the river.
Us at the Riverside Cafe.
Muay Thai!
Lady boxers.
A weary traveler.
Street around the moat.
Thapae Road... we stayed here.
Tha Pae Gate... where Sunday market starts.
They're everywhere!!
- Hello & goodbye
- how are you doing?
- I'm fine.
- no thanks
- excuse me
- straw
- nice to meet you
- does this contain xyz ?
- I don't eat xyz...
- This doesn't contain xyz, right?
- That was delicious.
- Check please.
This city is basically split up into two parts... the Old City, which is surrounded by moat and walls, and everything else. Its very artsy, very hippy, and very quaint. I could probably live here. Oh, and did I mention it's like 5c cooler and way less humidity (see: doesn't suck) than Bangkok. The food here is also much better and much more diverse. Instead of choosing noodles or rice for every meal there's middle eastern, mexican (yes, mexican food.. and it's 1/2 decent).
We arrived here at 11pm on Saturday night and went straight to our guest house and to sleep. Sunday we rented motorbikes and got accustom to the city. Needless to say, in a city with what seems like 0 traffic rules or laws, we cut our motorbike tour short and returned to the tuk-tuks. To quote Julie... "That was the scariest, most nerve racking thing I have ever experienced in my life." lol. Sunday night was the weekly night market. It was amazing. People from all over come and set up shop along the main road here, they block off the streets and shopping ensues.
Yesterday (Monday) I strolled around the streets solo as Julie was not feeling well. I was cat-called by the local prostitution houses / bars as I strolled along the main drag. Just like you see in the movies, it was crazy. Julie started feeling better and we wandered over to the banks of the river for a snack and to relax. Later that night we had a drink at the Tiny Bar, a bar that bills itself as "the smallest bar in the world", with an inside capacity of two and an outside seating area for 6, I think it might truly be the smallest in the world.
Last night I also got to witness my first Muay Thai fight! Front row. Holy crap. It was the most intense thing I have ever witnessed. These guys are truly insane fighters. It's so much different actually being there hearing the kicks, punches, and elbows connect.... and to see the sweat spray off these guys as they delivered hit after hit. Also the rules here are different than in the states... elbows to the back of the head are legal, knees to the head also legal. Devastating. The post-fight ladyboy (ladyboy = thai shemale) cabaret show was also a spectacle but in a much different way.
Beauty by the river.
Us at the Riverside Cafe.
Muay Thai!
Lady boxers.
A weary traveler.
Street around the moat.
Thapae Road... we stayed here.
Tha Pae Gate... where Sunday market starts.
They're everywhere!!Friday, May 9, 2008
monsoons and nothing to do but write
After leaving the jungles of Palian and the mountain range of my village, it was a drastic mind warp getting used to resorts, idyllic beaches with emerald water and fruity alcoholic drinks brought to your door.
We arrived first at the Amari. The most beautiful and tranquil place I have ever seen in Thailand, let alone stayed at. I felt like a movie star and we got to act like it because there was like 5 other guests.
2 days of recuperating from the go-go-go life of trying to find a way to fill the buckets in my bathroom was not enough. I felt pains of regret as I left my little air-conditioned heaven and king-size bed all for me.
A bath tub for two and a shower in SEPARATE locations, recessed lighting, cable, four pillows and free water and bathrobes. Need I say anymore.
But leave we did, because the island life was beckoning us from the shores of Trang, from PakMeng pier which is where we departed from two days ago. We headed to koh ngai, an island I had never visited in my two years here and was super excited to check out.
Good thing we arrived with daylight to spare to enjoy the sunset. The next day it rained ALL DAY! And then we left this morning. Islands are like prisons during the monsoons. That sucks. Good thing the sea scape was so breath-taking, good thing there was air-con and good thing they have the most extensive list of cocktails I have yet to see.
I was excited to perch myself INSIDE; I was excited, at least, and inspired to write. It was easy to do with the rain still coming down in buckets.....
Andaman treasures, landscapes
still forming broken off, surviving
sea hawks searching, a pair of wrens
perching,
watching,
waiting for the second of sunset
still building, grass thatched roofs
the water keeps going still further
out beyond the line of my comprehension
revealing what was underneath as I swam
out an hour ago.
Where did the fish go?
I wish i was lighter, that I blended in
more, wispy I wish I
was a song that enhanced the mood
here even more, something like Enya
not Dido.
not elevator style
not jack johnson.
I will have to get back to city living and city thinking for the moment as we head to Chiang Mai for two weeks and the possibility of yoga classes is making me smile.
Also, thanks to Julie and Eric for letting me sleep on your floor. I am such a cheap peace corps volunteer :)
Jenny
We arrived first at the Amari. The most beautiful and tranquil place I have ever seen in Thailand, let alone stayed at. I felt like a movie star and we got to act like it because there was like 5 other guests.
2 days of recuperating from the go-go-go life of trying to find a way to fill the buckets in my bathroom was not enough. I felt pains of regret as I left my little air-conditioned heaven and king-size bed all for me.
A bath tub for two and a shower in SEPARATE locations, recessed lighting, cable, four pillows and free water and bathrobes. Need I say anymore.
But leave we did, because the island life was beckoning us from the shores of Trang, from PakMeng pier which is where we departed from two days ago. We headed to koh ngai, an island I had never visited in my two years here and was super excited to check out.
Good thing we arrived with daylight to spare to enjoy the sunset. The next day it rained ALL DAY! And then we left this morning. Islands are like prisons during the monsoons. That sucks. Good thing the sea scape was so breath-taking, good thing there was air-con and good thing they have the most extensive list of cocktails I have yet to see.
I was excited to perch myself INSIDE; I was excited, at least, and inspired to write. It was easy to do with the rain still coming down in buckets.....
Andaman treasures, landscapes
still forming broken off, surviving
sea hawks searching, a pair of wrens
perching,
watching,
waiting for the second of sunset
still building, grass thatched roofs
the water keeps going still further
out beyond the line of my comprehension
revealing what was underneath as I swam
out an hour ago.
Where did the fish go?
I wish i was lighter, that I blended in
more, wispy I wish I
was a song that enhanced the mood
here even more, something like Enya
not Dido.
not elevator style
not jack johnson.
I will have to get back to city living and city thinking for the moment as we head to Chiang Mai for two weeks and the possibility of yoga classes is making me smile.
Also, thanks to Julie and Eric for letting me sleep on your floor. I am such a cheap peace corps volunteer :)
Jenny
Back from the Island... on to Chiang Mai! - Eric's report
So we just got back to Trang Town, same place we arrived via train a few days ago. We spent the last two days on Ko Ngai (pronounced "Ko Hai") in a beach bungalow just 15m from the water. The place was cool and the views were spectacular..... but it rained almost all yesterday. We got just 1.5hrs of sunshine. Luckily we made the best of those 1.5hrs and managed to go snorkeling. The food sorta sucked and there was no way to go to the inner parts of the island, so when it rained we were confined to our rooms... which still had a nice view, but you go to an island resort to swim and play in the sun, not sit in your room. I guess that's what we get for going in the rainy season... duh!
So now we're going to grab a bite and catch a plane up to Chiang Mai, way north near the golden triangle. We finally got usb cables and a card reader... when I get to Chiang Mai and have some time I'll post up my pics. I'll also go back and post pics to previous blogs, so go back and review them.
-Eric
So now we're going to grab a bite and catch a plane up to Chiang Mai, way north near the golden triangle. We finally got usb cables and a card reader... when I get to Chiang Mai and have some time I'll post up my pics. I'll also go back and post pics to previous blogs, so go back and review them.
-Eric
Island Adventures - Julie's post
We're back in Trang, at the same internet cafe we posted from after our stinky train ride.
We stayed at the Amari hotel in Trang for 2 nights which was the most luxurious hotel I've ever stayed at, let alone seen with my two eyes. Eric said it was nicer than anything he's seen in Maui.
I got an overpriced massage at the resort, which left much to be desired. Thanks to our friend Tanya, who by the way is the best massage therapist EVER...nothing ever compares. I'm coming to realize that the more massages I get. Jenny got a massage too which she thought was excellent so that was good.
At the resort Jenny and I took a yoga class. It was one of the many free things they had offered there. The instructor was a 20-year old Thai man who's English was on par with my Thai, ie: non existent. I couldn't for the life of me figure out half of the poses he was doing (neither could Jenny) so we just improvised. Every position we'd do, he'd say, "Next Poh-zi-Shun" very much like a robot. It was very cute, he looked like a deer in headlights teaching to two women who were advanced.
After the resort style living we headed to the island Ko Ngai 2 days ago, on a speed boat straight from the dock of our resort. The speed boat was incredibly choppy the entire way. I've never been on a speed boat in the ocean, it's pretty intense. Luckily the ride was less than a half hour, which was just enough time for me to feel disoriented and shaky when I got off the boat.
The island was fantastic, although the weather was total shit. The day we got there it was overcast but thankfully not too rainy until the evening. Yesterday was a different story. It pretty much rained all day and all night. Although there was about 1 hour of total sunshine and another hour of clouds without rain. Eric and I went snorkeling during that time. Unfortunately it was hard for me to see anything because I couldn't put the snorkel gear over my glasses. :( That was kind of sad.
When we left the island this morning, the weather was perfect, just in time for our departure. The weather made our time there more interesting, even if we didn't get to spend as much time in the water as I'd have hoped. Also, the food wasn't that good, and I've come to find that you either have to have one of the two in this country to make it a spectacular experience- good food or weather. Both were missing.
I finally got the USB cable for my camera!! Look back to previous blogs in the next couple of days for pictures to go along with the stories!
Julie
The first 6 pictures are at the Amari resort in Trang
The last 4 pictures are at our island bungalow
We stayed at the Amari hotel in Trang for 2 nights which was the most luxurious hotel I've ever stayed at, let alone seen with my two eyes. Eric said it was nicer than anything he's seen in Maui.
I got an overpriced massage at the resort, which left much to be desired. Thanks to our friend Tanya, who by the way is the best massage therapist EVER...nothing ever compares. I'm coming to realize that the more massages I get. Jenny got a massage too which she thought was excellent so that was good.
At the resort Jenny and I took a yoga class. It was one of the many free things they had offered there. The instructor was a 20-year old Thai man who's English was on par with my Thai, ie: non existent. I couldn't for the life of me figure out half of the poses he was doing (neither could Jenny) so we just improvised. Every position we'd do, he'd say, "Next Poh-zi-Shun" very much like a robot. It was very cute, he looked like a deer in headlights teaching to two women who were advanced.
After the resort style living we headed to the island Ko Ngai 2 days ago, on a speed boat straight from the dock of our resort. The speed boat was incredibly choppy the entire way. I've never been on a speed boat in the ocean, it's pretty intense. Luckily the ride was less than a half hour, which was just enough time for me to feel disoriented and shaky when I got off the boat.
The island was fantastic, although the weather was total shit. The day we got there it was overcast but thankfully not too rainy until the evening. Yesterday was a different story. It pretty much rained all day and all night. Although there was about 1 hour of total sunshine and another hour of clouds without rain. Eric and I went snorkeling during that time. Unfortunately it was hard for me to see anything because I couldn't put the snorkel gear over my glasses. :( That was kind of sad.
When we left the island this morning, the weather was perfect, just in time for our departure. The weather made our time there more interesting, even if we didn't get to spend as much time in the water as I'd have hoped. Also, the food wasn't that good, and I've come to find that you either have to have one of the two in this country to make it a spectacular experience- good food or weather. Both were missing.
I finally got the USB cable for my camera!! Look back to previous blogs in the next couple of days for pictures to go along with the stories!
Julie
The first 6 pictures are at the Amari resort in Trang
The last 4 pictures are at our island bungalow
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