Eating In Thailand

The only real DINING experience we’ve had was at a remarkable organic vegetarian boutique type restaurant in Bangkok. It could have been in Berkeley with the air conditioning , the artistically exposed brick walls hung with colorful abstract paintings and delicious healthy food. Just before discovering the restaurant we had bought a charcoal baked yam (an extra one was especially selected and included) and a bag of something flat, fried and probably crispy from the vender you see below. The mystery something turned out to be coconut and yummy. Another tasty snack we got was a potato stuffed pastry deep fried and sold 3 in a plastic bag. We watched this vender working near the Grand Palace.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 






Most of our meals are still a surprise to us, a pleasant surprise, even though there may be a picture menu as a guide. We ordered from the menu you see here a Tom Yuk Veggie Soup and a Veggie Cleary Soup both which could have had meat options added. The former was a spicy soup as Marianne found out. Rajiv’s was a coconut based spicy one, too. We liked them and went back another day.

 

 

Here in Phitsanulok we had dinner last night at a more permanent open air stand operated by a family. The high school age girl saw our questioning look and said it was noodles, Pad Thai. Rajiv asked if there was meat. She responded, “No meat - egg.” We indicated we wanted one for each of us. There were smiles all around. Ours bigger when we saw there were fresh bean sprouts, green onions and limes on the side. Then lunch today was at a similar place. The man trying to know what we wanted showed Rajiv a box of meat. A shake of Rajiv’s head and the woman showed us eggs. She then stir fried rice, eggs and a small amount of veggies and served it with a delicious clear soup. The condiments which we are always grateful for were covered with a blue domed plastic cage keeping condiments in and insects out. The customary condiments are salt, ground red peppers, white vinegar, ketchup and several varying fresh hot pepper concoctions. A beautifully plumed rooster under a back table caught our eye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again, as in India, in Bangkok we found peanut butter (Jif J) and bread so we were able to have breakfast in our room. Of course, we also got instant coffee (the only kind to be had), creamer and sugar (3 mini lumps for Rajiv). To make the meal complete we sliced bananas on the peanut butter. Now, however, we are in a guest house that includes breakfast, Western or Thai, and the peanut butter isn’t necessary.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, the 24th, we will begin a 10 day Vipassana Retreat near Phitsanulok if, of course, we are successful at finding the right bus station and bus to take us there. There is a language barrier but the Thai people are very friendly and helpful and not competitive with each other making it an easy country to travel in. Our next blog will come sometime after the completion of the Course on December 5th. Happy Thanksgiving and remembrances of gratitude on Nov. 25th.

It looked to us as if this monk may have just successfully completed a 10 day Course.

Peace and Love to you all, Rajiv and Marianne