My lunch was gained the way most Thais eat here. You walk down the street, past numerous little carts. You see what looks interesting, and you get a little take-out baggie of it. My lunch has: spring rolls and the afore-mentioned corn fritters, BBQ chicken leg, cucumbers, an Asian pear and a Blue Mountain espresso. All for about 110 baht or about $3.15. Eating Thai-style is very inexpensive and entertaining: each meal you get to play, "Guess what THAT is?" LOL! The corn fritters came with a honey-chili-peanut dip that is so HOT but oh-so-good. Deb would be in heaven. Dad would be in hell!
The one thing that has struck me most about this country is the profusion of odours. Some good, some neither good nor bad, only new, and some just downright awful. Your nose is assaulted constantly: the sweet smell of a profusion of plants and flowers; the smells coming from the numerous food carts selling crispy-fried anything; incense from the many temples; the odd funk of the mushroom-based broths in many soups; coffee carts; must and mildew from the humidity; odours from the sewers; body funk; tobacco and perfume...it is almost overwhelming!
Market-hopping has been fun. During the week, there are fewer shoppers and you can haggle your way into some good deals. Stephen took me out to "show me the ropes" so to speak, and I promptly haggled a wooden fruit bowl down for 50 baht less than he paid...here endeth that day's lesson!
Chiang Mai was very much a small vacation city, and Bangkok is a bustling metropolis. I posted on Facebook that, with a few exceptions, you'd think you were in New York or Toronto. The people drive on the left, very British. And they have great respect for their King, as shown by decorated overpasses. They also have great respect for their religion, Buddhism, and there are many vegetarian restaurants, preferred seating for monks, and advertisements to not sell replica Buddhas.
Some of the more interesting things I've done: patted a tiger; used a squat-only toilet; tried the coconut jellies (a local "dessert"); braved the zip line; got up close and personal with a giraffe. The jellies were, to be kind, different. They had a consistency between chewed wax lips, white paste glue, and stale Jello. They had a taste similar to glue and Pepto-Bismal. Yecch!
Tomorrow, I will be finally saying "Good bye" to the fat person I was. The abdominal flap that has been my companion for the past 40 or so years is leaving, and so is the final identifier of my former self. Yes, it may seem like vanity, but it is absolutely crucial to my sense of self and identity that this last piece of me literally goes away. I salute my independence tomorrow, and the start of my new journey. It will be several months to see the full and final effect, but well worth the wait.
For now, TTFT! Ta-ta from Thailand!
Terri
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