[CH] Thailand request
Shantihhh@aol.com
Sat, 19 Dec 1998 14:29:37 EST
Subj: Thailand
Date: Saturday, December 19, 1998 7:20:07 PM
From: Shantihhh@aol.com
To: machismo@u.washington.edu
Dear Shamus,
When I saw your request for information on Thailand I thought I'd better give
you a few sugestions. If anyone heads to India I am there even more often!
I am in Thailand several times every year for about the last 12 or so years.
I am in love with this part of the --India and Thailand!
Actually I think we may go over to BKK and onto Burma on 12-26 for a couple of
weeks. As to restaurants in BKK:
Somboon is a real favorite for the best Curry Crab in the world!!!!!!!!!
Don't get it shelled--- go through the work as the flavor is much better. It
is located not far from Patpong Road. Patpong is the place for "copy watch"
although they have cracked down on this and the infamous girlie bars. Just a
word of caution and a reminder Aids is rampant there. Buyer beware for sure!
Real Thai massage available by the blind is good, also at the Temple by the
Emerald Bhuddha and Grand Palace.
Insight Guide is excellent for History and culture which will make your trip
and visit much more meaningful.
The Seafood Market is a fun experience but best done with several people. You
take a shopping cart and pick out your ingredients. Some items are pricey so
watch out. The fresh straw mushrooms and fresh baby corn oh my gawd!!!!!!!!!!
Remember prices are in Kilos (2.2 # per Kilo). Their crab fried rice w/
chiles is great and cheap.
Street food can be fun this time of year as the weather is quite cool and less
chance of spoilage. Fried Bananas from street vendors are terrific. They use
a coconut batter. YUMMY
I love the Namya (Fish curry over somen noodles) stalls at Chatichuak
Park/Weekend Market. That is a must see. Unbelievable open air covered
market with hundreds no thousands of stalls. Go early like 9:00 a.m. and
spend the day. Bargain-bargain-bargain. Over at the end of the live plant
area there is a little air-con restaurant and there food is real tasty.
Believe it or not some of the best food at the Erawan Hyatt Hotel in their
Thai Restaurant. They have an all you can eat/order from the menu lunch.
Everyone I send there ends up going back several times. The food is very
authentic, beautifully presented and the surrounds are a delight. Also you
can drink the water at this hotel as they have their own purification system.
Busscaram over behind Silom Plaza has excellent food and a great Thai buffet
lunch as well.
The key to getting good food is tell them "no farang food" (farang person of
European heritage) tell them original Thai taste. Also good word to learn.
Prik-nue means those wonderful little Thai Bird chiles YES!!!!!!!!!!!
Most places cook up curries and they are sitting in pots and the old point and
choose works. Key to safe food, look for refrigerator. Many restaurants are
just open areas.
Have you been to Thailand before? I hope you did the Hepatitis
serious...DON'T eat raw or under cooked seafood. Water, well bottled only AND
watch them open it at your table!!!! Filtered water won't work for us
farangs! Honest! Singah Beer is a great alternative, also. No fruit sitting
on ice either. You can't believe how bad it can be. I have been there more
times than I ever want to remember.
You can go into any drugstore and pick up a much better lomotil there without
a prescription. Also Cipro which is an antibiotic that kills the bacterial
intestinal bug you probably will get. It's in the water for sure. Charcoal
tablets for food poisoning as well. The pharmacy in the Sogo Center behind
the Hyatt up on the 3rd floor I think is excellent. Negotiate your prices
even there! Great time to load up on any drugs like birth control pills, etc.
Our US and European manufactured drugs are so much cheaper there for sure.
While at Sogo go to the food court store. You can bring back chiles, chile
pastes, dry herbs, coconut cream powder, etc. Nam prik is a great snack with
shrimp chips. Singha beer is half the price when purchased at a grocery and
brought back to your room.
BARGAIN like crazy every where. Taxi from airport insist on meter taxi and
set prices before you get in. Taxis are actually cheaper in BKK than the Tuk
Tuks and you can breathe! If you're prone to allergies or respiratory
problems be prepared. This is a wonderful city but very polluted.
You must go down the River Phyra in a River Taxi with the locals. Watching
the life along the Klongs and the floating water hyacinths. *Sigh* gawd I
love that country and the people.
You will have a wonderful time, enjoy the people the culture and learn of it
via their food and markets. That is the way to understand a culture. I hope
this is of some help. I could write volumnes on this wonderful country.
Steve and Mary-Anne