Sawad-dee kha. (Hello) Sabaai dee mai? (How are you?)
At my 56 plus years of life on this beloved planet Earth, yours sincerely made his maiden trip to Bangkok (BKK) . The wife had been there a few times and never failed to sing praises of the city, especially the food! This is my first impression of BKK. Messy, haphazard, dirty but interesting. I just wonder how BKK technicians manage those wires you see overhead, but they function properly; very much like the clogged pavements, roads, " sois" (lanes) , touristy spots, public transportation etc etc. And amazingly, " Bangkokians " keep clean toilets ( unlike ours back home, including the ones at Penang INTERNATIONAL Airport's Departure lounge.)
This trip, the wife and I, agreed on eating "Anthony Bourdain's style." We ventured in the "sois" or small lanes and patronised the best and cheapest food stalls, especially at night. Btw, in my next life, if I get one, I choose to be "Anthony Bourdain" of the "Travel & Living Channel" - travelling, eating, talking and writing! What a life!
This seems to be the Thais' national dish. Once you see your grandmother's mortar and pounder, you know that this dish " Som Tam" is available. It is a pounded mixture of pickled papayas, cucumber, tomatoes, salad leaves etc mixed with peanuts, chillies, anchovies, and a host of other vegetables and finally lavishly wetted with a type of chilly sauce. It goes down well with some barbequed chicken, pork or beef, and, of course, lots of cold coconut juice.
So, like "Anthony Bourdain" we ventured through the nooks and corners of BKK, looking for food. They are found at a 'soi" and it is "o..la..la....." We went "bananas" and "durians" and "mangoes" over them. Mango with glutinous rice and coconut milk. Young bananas cooked in coconut milk. Glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk and eaten with creamy durian. I know they are high in cholestrol. But who cares? My friend who works in a hospital says that between eating and not eating, the difference is only two hours!!!
My newly cultivated taste for bugs. They are
deliciously fried. What is a visit to BKK, without
trying out the bugs.
This is my first attempt at swallowing a fried
grasshopper. Yummy ! De..li..cious. Wonder where
I can get them back home? I might have to catch
them at the football field near my house.
This is another delicacy. Fried glutinous rice pancake
coated with egg. This vendor also sells hard boiled
eggs with bamboo skewers attached for easy handling. Few
Thais have the time to stop and eat. They will grab
a stick, unshell and eat it while walking.
Food galore at almost every "sois" and street.
It is like a "Food fair." The colour, texture and smell
are so inviting. You just want to try every thing.
deliciously fried. What is a visit to BKK, without
trying out the bugs.
This is my first attempt at swallowing a fried
grasshopper. Yummy ! De..li..cious. Wonder where
I can get them back home? I might have to catch
them at the football field near my house.
This is another delicacy. Fried glutinous rice pancakecoated with egg. This vendor also sells hard boiled
eggs with bamboo skewers attached for easy handling. Few
Thais have the time to stop and eat. They will grab
a stick, unshell and eat it while walking.
Food galore at almost every "sois" and street.
It is like a "Food fair." The colour, texture and smell
are so inviting. You just want to try every thing.
Don't worry about getting chocked with the food.Many varieties of drinks are available in mugs,
glasses, bottles, plastic bags and even in coconut shells.
My other half is evidently enjoying her chilled coconut!
Price : 200 bths, i.e RM 2.00 only.
More bugs for snacking!
This is another delicious item. The mouth of the
fish is stuff with lemon grass to add to the aroma.
It is to be eaten with a special chilly sauce.
More stalls for you to ogle hungrily at the food.
Some of the best food we had was at the Damnoensaduak
Floating Market on one of our day tours.
How these food vendors balance their wares, cooking
utensils and cook the food in the tiny space on
their boats is a puzzle. The food comes in small helping
but exceedingly delicious. I wonder whether they use
the water from the canal!
This is another delicacy, noodles with "wantan.'
Our first day trip to"Bang Pa-In Palace" was
accompanied by several bus loads of pupils
from a Thai girls' school. Yours sincerely was
impressed by their discipline. See for yourself.
The Thais are said to be farmers and gardeners.
This grass elephant stands proudly in
Bang Pa-in Palace huge compound.
The Bang Pa-in Palace consists of many palaces of
different architecture. This one looks like a wedding
cake to me.
This elaborate and intricately Thai sculptured pavilion
was built by King Chulalongkorn and used to be his
resting place.
The king's main palace is a Chinese-styled two-storey
mansion built by the Chinese in BKK and presented to
King Chulalongkorn in 1889. It is surrounded by the king's
concubine mansions. These concubine mansions are visible
from all the windows of the palace. His Royal Highness simply
had to wave his hand to anyone he so desired. (No hand phones
those days.)
Have you ever wondered how to stop prowlers
from coming into your compound through the
"klongs" or canals? This is the gate of a canal.
It can be raised or lowered according to the tide of
the river.
Yours sincerely did a bit of archeology at Ayutthaya,
the ancient capital of Thailand for 417 years. Now you can
only see ruins of wats/temples and palaces. It was
destroyed by the Burmese.
This is the most photographed site at Ayutthaya where you can
see three different architectures: the Sukothai, the
Cambodians and the Burmese.
A photograph with the better half in front of
Wat Chaiwattanaram.
The pointed structure is supposed to be of
Burmese influence.
This Buddha's head is found naturally entwined in the
roots of a tree at Wat Mahathat.
Wat Lokayasutharam holds one of the largest outdoor
Reclining Buddha Images.
It is draped with a massive saffron robe.
The highlight of the trip was to see this structure.
Being an ardent reader on the Second WW, I have
always wanted to see the "Bridge Over River Kwai."
This is the infamous bridge.
This is the type of bomb that destroyed a good part of the
bridge and only its middle span survived the bombing.
This is the original middle span that survived
the Allied bombardment.
After the enthusiastic crowd had made their
crossing, yours sincerely took a stroll across this
notorious bridge, imagining the whistles of the
bombs on my right, on my left.... wheeee...
whee..... bom.....bom......bom......
We took a train ride on the Death Railway.
We had made history.
It always costs more for tourists, everywhere.
The trains balances precariously on the original
wooden bridge.
The train is inches away from brushing against
the cliff.
The museum at Thailand-Burma Railway Centre in
Kanchanaburi is worth a visit. The green and well
manicured war memorial by its side is for only Allied soldiers.
I just wonder where are the Asians buried.
Never, never believe your wife if she says she
has no intention of shopping in BKK.
On the other hand, you cannot blame her for the
temptation. Platunam, where we stayed, is BKK's
fashion hub. You can get a blouse for 19.90 bths
and reduceable to 16.00 if you know the game.
Another export of Thailand is...... massages.
The Thais massage everything. Yours sincerely
and the wife tried foot reflexology, very ticklish and
soothing after a long day of walking.
We bade farewell to BKK on the fifth day. The Suvarnabhumi
Airport is the pride of the Thais. I like its environment
friendly concept. The departure section uses solar power- sun light.
Canvas are used to filter the light, very ingenious.
It was a care free, exploratory and interesting trip.
glasses, bottles, plastic bags and even in coconut shells.
My other half is evidently enjoying her chilled coconut!
Price : 200 bths, i.e RM 2.00 only.
More bugs for snacking!
This is another delicious item. The mouth of thefish is stuff with lemon grass to add to the aroma.
It is to be eaten with a special chilly sauce.
More stalls for you to ogle hungrily at the food.
Some of the best food we had was at the Damnoensaduak
Floating Market on one of our day tours.
How these food vendors balance their wares, cooking
utensils and cook the food in the tiny space on
their boats is a puzzle. The food comes in small helping
but exceedingly delicious. I wonder whether they use
the water from the canal!
This is another delicacy, noodles with "wantan.'
Our first day trip to"Bang Pa-In Palace" was
accompanied by several bus loads of pupils
from a Thai girls' school. Yours sincerely was
impressed by their discipline. See for yourself.
The Thais are said to be farmers and gardeners.
This grass elephant stands proudly in
Bang Pa-in Palace huge compound.
The Bang Pa-in Palace consists of many palaces ofdifferent architecture. This one looks like a wedding
cake to me.
This elaborate and intricately Thai sculptured pavilion
was built by King Chulalongkorn and used to be his
resting place.
The king's main palace is a Chinese-styled two-storey
mansion built by the Chinese in BKK and presented to
King Chulalongkorn in 1889. It is surrounded by the king's
concubine mansions. These concubine mansions are visible
from all the windows of the palace. His Royal Highness simply
had to wave his hand to anyone he so desired. (No hand phones
those days.)
Have you ever wondered how to stop prowlers
from coming into your compound through the
"klongs" or canals? This is the gate of a canal.
It can be raised or lowered according to the tide of
the river.
Yours sincerely did a bit of archeology at Ayutthaya,
the ancient capital of Thailand for 417 years. Now you can
only see ruins of wats/temples and palaces. It was
destroyed by the Burmese.
This is the most photographed site at Ayutthaya where you can
see three different architectures: the Sukothai, the
Cambodians and the Burmese.
A photograph with the better half in front of
Wat Chaiwattanaram.
The pointed structure is supposed to be ofBurmese influence.
This Buddha's head is found naturally entwined in the
roots of a tree at Wat Mahathat.
Wat Lokayasutharam holds one of the largest outdoorReclining Buddha Images.
It is draped with a massive saffron robe.
The highlight of the trip was to see this structure.
Being an ardent reader on the Second WW, I have
always wanted to see the "Bridge Over River Kwai."
This is the infamous bridge.
This is the type of bomb that destroyed a good part of thebridge and only its middle span survived the bombing.
This is the original middle span that survived
the Allied bombardment.
After the enthusiastic crowd had made their
crossing, yours sincerely took a stroll across this
notorious bridge, imagining the whistles of the
bombs on my right, on my left.... wheeee...
whee..... bom.....bom......bom......
We took a train ride on the Death Railway.
We had made history.
It always costs more for tourists, everywhere.
The trains balances precariously on the original
wooden bridge.
The train is inches away from brushing against
the cliff.
The museum at Thailand-Burma Railway Centre in
Kanchanaburi is worth a visit. The green and well
manicured war memorial by its side is for only Allied soldiers.
I just wonder where are the Asians buried.
Never, never believe your wife if she says shehas no intention of shopping in BKK.
On the other hand, you cannot blame her for the
temptation. Platunam, where we stayed, is BKK's
fashion hub. You can get a blouse for 19.90 bths
and reduceable to 16.00 if you know the game.
Another export of Thailand is...... massages.
The Thais massage everything. Yours sincerely
and the wife tried foot reflexology, very ticklish and
soothing after a long day of walking.
Airport is the pride of the Thais. I like its environment
friendly concept. The departure section uses solar power- sun light.
Canvas are used to filter the light, very ingenious.
It was a care free, exploratory and interesting trip.
