eating through thailand

There's something I like about trying American fast food in a foreign country. It's never *quite* the same. Don't worry, we didn't waste a chance at an authentic Thai meal. This was at the airport.

This McDonald's (different than the one above) had chocolate dip soft serve!

Curry prawns

Kao Soi, a Chiang Mai noodle specialty

Egg noodles and crispy onions in a spicy Chiang Mai curry broth, accompanied with condiments to add to taste including pickled veggies, shallots, lime, MORE chili!, banana, coconut milk, fish sauce, and sugar.

Thai night markets

What is this???

Roti for dessert!

Banana, sweetened condensed milk, nutella

Thai cooking class #1 at Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School. First dish - panang curry.

Fried fish topped with onions, peppers, chilis, and sweet basil

Sweet and sour vegetables, Chiang Mai curry

Floating market in Bangkok

Thai cooking class #2 at the Baipai Cooking School

Spring rolls - delicious with the cucumber and sweet basil

Spicy grilled beef

Green curry

Mine is the one at the top of the picture. P's is at the bottom. I kinda burned mine.

Duck egg custard

yum-ME! You need a fresh duck egg for this, which I discovered you can get at Whole Foods for 99 cents a piece.

le motorbike

Motorbikes rule the roads. You know you're in a foreign land when you hear their motors chug - they make southeast Asia feel like southeast Asia. They are awesome for weaving through traffic (sometimes in a scary and too close for comfort kinda way), good for carrying whole families (just put a helmet on your 2-year-old and hold onto her - it's safe don't worry), and good for mobilizing food carts (sometimes a delicate balance). Despite their convenience and versatility, their #1 downfall is that they also subject you to inhale the exhaust from all neighboring cars and motorbikes. Some people go around with face masks; others, like us, just inhale the carbon monoxide and try not to think about the health consequences.

We took a ride one night in Chiang Mai from this couple. He was driving, and she was just along for the ride. His tuk-tuk (motorbike cab) was like a low-rider, and she was about 4' and just there to keep him company. There was a lot of that - spouses just riding along for the night. Not a care to how much exhaust they're inhaling.

We look happy here. Probably at the beginning of the ride. We took a day tour, which involved a stop at the orchid park, a hike to a waterfall, a visit to the hill tribes, an elephant ride, whitewater rafting, and bamboo rafting. It took the whole day, and this is what we rode the entire time. An open-air truck with padded benches along the sides of the truck bed. Which is cute when you're using it as a bus, but not cute when you're chugging along on highways the entire day. This thing spewed so much exhaust, and we helplessly inhaled it.

Just for funs. First time creating an animated gif! This was a seriously long traffic light. I wanna say it was red for something like 5 minutes! You can see some motorbikes leaving before the traffic light turns green. :)

On the plane ride back to the states, I read an article about motorbikes. It talked about all the different styles and colors they come in, from the low-end models to the high-end Vespas. Super cute. Me wants one to scoot around NYC! I will wear sunglasses and be cool, green, and cosmopolitan! :P

people heart animals everywhere

I'm not the only one who melts in the heat in Thailand. There are plenty of dogs on the streets of Bangkok and Chiang Mai, but they always seem to be napping/lounging!

Here's one being blessed by a monk.

Grande Palace in Bangkok

Monkey Forest in Chiang Mai

Ibad Villas in Ubud, Bali

Madrid: working or playing?

Lots and lots of balconies.

Pup sitting at attention... why?

... to listen to the musicians of course!

Jamon jamon dame mas jamon!

Churros con chocolate! There are very few cafes open early in the morning by the way. Late partyers and late risers those Spaniards.

WHY IS STARBUCKS HERE. :( AND WHY ARE THEY ALSO IN BANGKOK, CHIANG MAI, AND BALI. WHY. GET OUT OF THOSE COUNTRIES STARBUCKS. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN COFFEE CULTURE.