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Dining in Chiang Mai, Thailand vs. North America

admin — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:50:03 +0000

Foreigners love their hamburgers, French fries, soft drinks and Thai’s just have to have rice with every meal. But which would I prefer after living most of my life in Canada and now having retired to Chiang Mai, Thailand?

As with any large city there are an abundance of fine restaurants catering to different tastes and budgets. Chiang Mai is no different. Thai people love to eat. Restaurants are full of Thai’s and foreigners enjoying all types of cuisine. Rather than deal with fine restaurants which we all dine at but not every day this article deals with the day to day dining of the Thai people here in Chiang Mai.

Popular restaurants in North America are Harvey’s, McDonalds, and Burger King. Here we have the street vendors. The end result is a quickly prepared affordable meal.

The street vendors may sell fresh fruits such as pineapple, mango, watermelon, strawberries (locally grown), and more. Each fruit is cut up into small pieces and placed in a plastic bag and you are provided a long wooden stick with which to eat it. Cost is normally 10 baht which comes to about 25 cents U.S. and the fruits are kept cool and are delicious. Also vendors here sell fast foods and snacks. Get a meal of cooked rice, meat and veggies again placed in a plastic bag but this time wrapped tightly by an elastic band for about 20 baht or 50 cents U.S. Take your pick of a rice dish, or a noodle dish or a soup. Tasty and normally already prepared and wrapped and still warm or if you want to wait one minute they will take it out of the pot and put it into the bag while you wait. So a cooked meal and a tasty snack for a total of about 75 cents U.S. For many Thai’s in Chiang Mai this is there most common meal. They then proceed to drive home, unwrap the elastic, put some rice in a bowl, place several cups of the table with a bottle of water and that is one of their meals.

We all love fast foods and we all want it to be affordable. That we have in common. What you will find different between here and there is the price, quality and service.

Price. The price of meals whether it be at restaurants, or street vendors is cheap compared to what we are used to. A filling meal can be had for less than a 1US dollar for a meal I described above which includes a bowl of rice, cooked meal from street vendor and fruit from street vendor. For only .50 U.S. you can dine out at an all you can eat full course buffet, desserts, coffee, tip and taxes included as well as a tip for the parking lot attendant The prices are low because the ingredients are locally grown and because the labor cost is inexpensive.

Quality. The quality of the food is much healthier here than back home. Back home KFC, McDonalds, and Harvey’s are popular lunch and dinner restaurants. If you think you are thinking healthy foods there think again. Here you do not have the greasy French fries, Hamburgers stuffed full of ketchup, mustard, onions, mayo and more to hide the taste of the meat you are eating. Here you eat rice, fresh vegetables, fresh fish, drink water with the meals as opposed to a bucket sized plastic container packed full of ice and watered down sugar flavored soft drink.

Service. A teenager earning a few extra bucks in a fast food restaurant or an adult making a living out of working full time in a restaurant here. Which one would you expect to provide the best service? Nothing more needs to be said.

If you come to Chiang Mai do not go searching for restaurants that have what you normally eat. You may as well stay home and buy a video about Thailand, or watch a TV program about Thailand.

The foods here are tasty, healthy, and inexpensive.

The basic ingredient in all the meals is rice. Yes rice for breakfast too. I have never been one for rice. Potatoes was my staple. But here potatoes are pricey and although I admit to buying them and making potato soup and french fries it is the exception and not the rule.

As I have said before, the Thai’s are known for making anything taste good.

So take fresh ingredients combine that with rice and special sauces which are the key to the taste and there you have it – Healthy, Tasty, and Inexpensive meals.

Top if off with locally grown fresh pineapple, watermelon, mango, strawberries or a dozen or more fruits and you have a meal you will enjoy and which is good for you.

The funny thing about foods is that whatever you really like is NO GOOD for you. What are your favorites? Cake, pies, French fries, hamburgers, ice-cream. Well they are not that good for you in terms of eating them regularly. What do you hate to eat? Broccoli, asparagus, spinach, brown rice, boiled chicken. Well these are good for you.

So if you come here to Thailand. do try several different types of Thai foods. You may find a soup that you just cannot get enough of, or a Thai dessert that you have no idea what it was and which you absolutely enjoyed, or fresh fish which is abundant here. Prawns, sea bass and more cooked up on a large plate will leave you wanting more.

I have eaten meals, snacks and fruits sold by small roadside food vendors and never experienced any problems. The ingredients are fresh, kept on ice if required and cooking areas cleaned regularly. So I see this as a safe, inexpensive way to buy snacks and meals. I would recommend that you carry a bottle of water which can be purchased at 7-11 for only 13 cents as you may get a bit dehydrated especially if you are doing a lot of walking and this if anything may be the cause of a quick jaunt to the rest room.

Are there things that I do not eat that Thai’s eat? Yes there is a fruit called Durian, the Thai’s just love it but it has such a foul odor that when I gave it a try I had to breathe through my mouth. Apart from the odor it has the texture of a pudding and is rich in flavor. What I did not have the courage to try and which I expect would be healthy to eat was the fried insects. I suppose that it is just a matter of getting used to the sight of them. Perhaps I could dine on both the fruit and insects regularly if I kept breathing through my nose and kept my eyes shut while I ate.

But you should try what we call Suki. It is a soup that you cook on your table in a pot with hot coals underneath. You decide on the ingredients such as chicken, beef, liver, fish and add them and take them out when they are cooked. Normally the meats go in first as they take longer to cook and then the vegetables. In about 5 minutes you have your soup. Two small bowls will accompany the meal. They are both made of hot peppers. One has the appearance of a green paste and the other a red paste. You can either dip your meat or fish into the paste or put a teaspoonful into your soup. The green paste is spicy, makes me perspire a bit and gives me a longing for a cold glass of water during I eat my soup. The red paste I do not touch and would not recommend you try it unless you are accustomed to eating it or you are Mexican. My girlfriend eats her Suki with the green paste and admits to making trips to the washroom during the middle of the night and not to brush here teeth. A filling meal for 4 people for about U.S. and that includes taxes, tip, and bottled water with a bucket of ice.

Remember how earlier on I said that the Thai’s have a reputation for making any food taste delicious. That is true. The KEY is the sauce. I do not know what ingredients go into the sauces but I do know that I was not a rice eater and now with I will be scraping the bottom of each bowl of food that is served to me. Normal white rice cooked in a rice cooker combined with fried vegetables and meat with the special sauce is simply delicious.

And if you want to know where I would eat given the choice now, a fast food restaurant there or a street vendor here? My reply would be a street vendor here. After the meal here I am filled up, the food is delicious, the fruits are fantastic and prices are so low and I feel fitter.

Want to learn more about Thai foods. Check out our Thai foods and recipes on our website.

Thailand Travel 10 Tips

admin — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:33:35 +0000

1. Koh Chang – Don’t stop at only Koh Chang because Koh Mak, Koh Kood and Islands surrounding Koh Chang also have more beautiful beaches and water.

2. Chiang Mai – Try to find hotels outside of the city such as on Hangdong – Samoeng and Samoeng – Sankamphaeng routes because there are better views and hotels along the mentioned route are less expensive than the hotel in the city with the same standard. The true nature of northern Thailand can also be experienced.

3. Phuket – Don’t pay too much attention to sea-view rooms because the limitation in space. The sea could not be seen directly from rooms in most hotels. The tourist should pay more attention to the standard of the hotel and the distance from the beach.

4. Koh Samui – If you have limited fund, the best way to travel to Koh Samui is by speed boat from Lomprayah Catamaran Company. Lomprayah offers less expensive service than taxi for hire and service provided by the hotel directly. Nevertheless, if you have no problem with fund, you should hire a taxi because this would create job for the locals.

5. Andaman Sea – Trang Sea is as beautiful and interesting as nearby provinces such as Krabi. The prominent tourist spots in Andaman Sea are Koh Libong, Koh Hai, etc.

6. Krabi – Although Railay beach in on the mainland, you still have to travel by boat from Ao Nang beach because it is surrounded by mountain and cannot get to by land transportation.

7. Pattaya – North Pattaya beach and Central Pattaya beach have many facilities but the true nature can be found at Koh Lan, which is 7.5 kilometer from Pattaya. You can get there in 45 minutes by regular boat and 15 minutes by speedboat.

8. Hua Hin – Hua Hin is a popular beach that is close to Bangkok but that does not mean that it is the most beautiful. Not far from Hua Hin, Pranburi beach is much quieter and more suitable for relaxation but the transportation may not be as convenience as at Hua Hin.

9. Koh Samet – You should contact travel agency or the hotel in order to find out which pier to get on the boat. Some hotels provide their own service. Don’t trust strangers because you might end up higher price.

10. Bangkok – Jatujak market has products from all over the country e.g. cloths, decoration, house hold items, souvenir, food, pet, etc.

My blog : Thailand travel tips

Travel In Thailand Travel in Thailand Special Hotels Promotion

admin — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 17:33:37 +0000

Thailand is a very preferred travel destination, which isn’t surprising considering how varied travel in Thailand is. Different regions of the kingdom have untouched beauties to find out from the snow tipped mountains in the north, the white wonderful beaches with wonderfully clear waters of the southern islands to the Buddhist culture and customs. That is not even to say the amazing nightlife of spots like Bangkok and Pattaya, if that’s more your style. The good news is that all have Thailand hotels for you to remain at.

Wherever you go, especially if you plan to visit numerous different regions in Thailand, you’ll need to find good Thailand hotels. This is best done prior to your trip, as a well planned trip will make travel in Thailand more memorable, pleasurable and much less nerve-wrangling.

In this planning stage, you can do some research on the places you would like to visit in Thailand, like the floating market just outside Bangkok, the pretty beaches of Koh Samui and Phuket, or Chiang Mai to experience the culture of the hill clans. You’ll need a hotel Thailand for every location you visit.

Something a large amount of folks like to do when they travel in Thailand is see the elephants. In some places they will make the elephants dance for you, in others you can go trekking on them in the lush jungle and then wash the elephant in the brook, when you are finished. There are some truly glorious experiences available in Thailand. Make sure that you have a good hotel Thailand, wherever you make a decision to travel.

It might be a shame solely to visit one place in this various country, so take advantage of the infrastructure and transportation for travel in Thailand. Experience all it must offer by seeing the maximum amount of it as you can on your trip. Also book your Thailand hostels well ahead to get a good price and place to stay while you are there.

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Travel In Thailand Travel in Thailand Hotel Deals

Dining in Chiang Mai, Thailand vs. North America

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:10:00 +0000

Popular restaurants in North America are Harvey’s, McDonalds, and Burger King. Here we have the street vendors. The end result is a quickly prepared affordable meal.

We all love fast foods and we all want it to be affordable. That we have in common. What you will find different between here and there is the price, quality and service.

Price. The price of meals whether it be at restaurants, or street vendors is cheap compared to what we are used to. A filling meal can be had for less than a 1US dollar for a meal I described above which includes a bowl of rice, cooked meal from street vendor and fruit from street vendor. For only $2.50 U.S. you can dine out at an all you can eat full course buffet, desserts, coffee, tip and taxes included as well as a tip for the parking lot attendant The prices are low because the ingredients are locally grown and because the labor cost is inexpensive.
Quality. The quality of the food is much healthier here than back home. Back home KFC, McDonalds, and Harvey’s are popular lunch and dinner restaurants. If you think you are thinking healthy foods there think again. Here you do not have the greasy French fries, Hamburgers stuffed full of ketchup, mustard, onions, mayo and more to hide the taste of the meat you are eating. Here you eat rice, fresh vegetables, fresh fish, drink water with the meals as opposed to a bucket sized plastic container packed full of ice and watered down sugar flavored soft drink.
Service. A teenager earning a few extra bucks in a fast food restaurant or an adult making a living out of working full time in a restaurant here. Which one would you expect to provide the best service? Nothing more needs to be said.

If you come to Chiang Mai do not go searching for restaurants that have what you normally eat. You may as well stay home and buy a video about Thailand, or watch a TV program about Thailand.

The foods here are tasty, healthy, and inexpensive.

As I have said before, the Thai’s are known for making anything taste good.

So take fresh ingredients combine that with rice and special sauces which are the key to the taste and there you have it – Healthy, Tasty, and Inexpensive meals.

Top if off with locally grown fresh pineapple, watermelon, mango, strawberries or a dozen or more fruits and you have a meal you will enjoy and which is good for you.

But you should try what we call Suki. It is a soup that you cook on your table in a pot with hot coals underneath. You decide on the ingredients such as chicken, beef, liver, fish and add them and take them out when they are cooked. Normally the meats go in first as they take longer to cook and then the vegetables. In about 5 minutes you have your soup. Two small bowls will accompany the meal. They are both made of hot peppers. One has the appearance of a green paste and the other a red paste. You can either dip your meat or fish into the paste or put a teaspoonful into your soup. The green paste is spicy, makes me perspire a bit and gives me a longing for a cold glass of water during I eat my soup. The red paste I do not touch and would not recommend you try it unless you are accustomed to eating it or you are Mexican. My girlfriend eats her Suki with the green paste and admits to making trips to the washroom during the middle of the night and not to brush here teeth. A filling meal for 4 people for about $3 U.S. and that includes taxes, tip, and bottled water with a bucket of ice.

Want to learn more about Thai foods. Check out our Thai foods and recipes on our website.

Thailand Is Their Land: Travel To Thailand

admin — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:03:38 +0000

The true magic you’ll find when you travel to Thailand is its alluring authenticity. Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation never to have been colonized by European powers; consequently, the still-standing and functioning monuments of the past attract visitors who admire thousands of years of history integrated into present day society. Even more appealing, Thailand offers the diversity of a society running in parallel: booming city life and leisurely beach escapes, thickly canopied jungles and white sand islands, indulgent cuisine, clubs and cocktails and the sanctuary of Buddhist lifestyle. Thailand has come of age as a traveler’s dream destination, an affordable gateway to paradise with all the modern conveniences at your fingertips.

What’s In a Name?

The Kingdom of Thailand was known as Siam until 1939, when a bloodless revolution instated a constitutional monarchy and the name was changed to literally mean “free” land. The original kingdom was founded in 1238, but largely influenced throughout history by China and India. Geographically, Thailand is surrounded by countries whose turbulent 20th century histories have defaulted tourism into its exotic but more accessible borders. For this reason, Thailand is also a wonderful home base from which to explore Cambodia and Laos to the east, Myanmar (Burma) to the west, and Malaysia to the south.

Wat You Waiting For?

Thailand is littered with just as many exciting cities as beautiful beaches. Where you might notice the imbalance is in the inconceivable number of temples, or wat. As the main center of the very north, Chiang Mai is a large, beautiful and historic city. A visit to the famous Night Bazaar or the nearby Wiang Kum Kam archeological ruins is certainly not enough to distract even the most oblivious from the more than 300 Buddhist temples that sprinkle the skyline with shiny gold, red and green hues. Make sure to visit Wat Chiang Mun, the city’s (and possibly Thailand’s) oldest temple, located within the old city walls and dating back to 1296. Heading south, do not miss Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, Thailand’s two former capitals (the latter being the founding city) classified as World Heritage Sites filled with hundreds of beautifully maintained temples, statues and bustling human activity, all embedded within the lush green environs.

Bangkok is perched on the Gulf of Thailand, but this humming, vibrant and congested 24-hour capital city is a far cry from the resort cities and towns found east and south along Thailand’s sub-tropical coastline. Thailand extends south into the Kra Isthmus, providing for extensive coastline and some of the most filmed beaches in the world. Phuket is the most famous resort island, but more rewarding is a trip to one of the smaller and less commercialized areas. Ko Tao is of particular interest for scuba divers, while Ko Pha Ngan has become famous among younger travelers for its regular full moon festivals held all night on the sparkling shores. Ko Phi Phi is far more breathtaking in person than even the camera angles of the film “The Beach” could do it justice.

Some rudimentary social customs aside, Thailand is an extremely easy going and welcoming travel experience. Everything from simple to luxurious is at your disposal, and all with a very fair price tag, not to mention an unbeatable combination of picturesque beaches, rainforested mountains, and an intense metropolitan culture. So really, what are you waiting for? Start planning to travel to Thailand today.

Asia Travel Guide

admin — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 22:02:48 +0000

While Europe will always be a popular tourist destination as well as the beaches of Hawaii and Australia, why not try out Asia travel the next time you plan a vacation?

Take for example, the country of China, which has always been one of the places that easily come to mind when you think of Asia travel. Must-sees while you’re in China are the Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, Great Wall of China, Tiannamen Square, however, these are all just from the Northern part of China, there’s still so much to see in the other parts of this huge country, like the futuristic city of Shanghai and the cuddly pandas that abound in the city of Cheng and the wholesale markets in Guangdong where a lot of the fashion accessories that you see in malls may have come from. Visiting China may be fairly cheap – but it does depend on which city you go to, small cities like Dongguan may have a low cost of living as opposed to the bustling city of Shanghai, which is very similar to the very cosmopolitan city of Hong Kong.

Of course, engaging in some Asia travel practically requires you to immerse yourself with the local culture. One great example is China’s local food culture, which is definitely a lot different from what people are used to in Chinese restaurants abroad. Some people say that enjoying Chinese cuisine is an acquired taste, especially when it comes to the street food. Expect to see all sorts of animal parts and insects, cut up into little pieces and skewered on sticks – as snacks. Unique treats like fermented tofu and mung bean soup are also something for the more adventurous.

But what about other countries to explore for Asia Travel? Well, if you are the beach bunny type then you might want to check out the lovely beaches of Bali in Indonesia or the relaxing waters of Phuket in Thailand. Both are very budget-friendly Asia travel destinations by the way, from the accommodations down to the food, you will surely get more bang for your buck at these places.

For city slickers however, there is the lovely city of Singapore which is just beside the equally charming Malaysia where tourists can find the city of Kuala Lumpur. It is interesting to note that as neighbors, there are a lot of similarities between these two countries like the huge ferris wheel. As for hotels though, expect Singapore to offer higher rates – even for backpacker hostels. In order to make the most of the great shopping opportunities in both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, schedule your trip starting from May to August wherein there are myriad of shopping sales available.

Of course, there are definitely a lot more places to explore while you are in Asia, like the tropical country of the Philippines and the ever-vibrant city of Tokyo in Japan, among others. While Asia is a continent which is fairly safe to travel to, do keep in mind that you should always be aware of your surroundings and take caution in whatever you do. Do not keep your money in just one place, make sure that you keep your passport in a secure place, and don’t just trust strangers – especially the ones who are very eager to take you someplace. Don’t forget to bring your credit card in case of emergencies, an updated guide book and map, as well as list of the local emergency numbers – just in case.

Ko Tao, Archipelago From the Gulf of Thailand

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:07:15 +0000

This beautiful island is located south of Thailand, known as Turtle Island because of the abundance of green turtles, which are tended with great care by the institution protective of the environment of the island, surrounded by calm waters, clear and beautiful beaches that invite so heavenly rest of the landscape that is dominated by the presence of thousands of coconut trees along its shores.

Ko Tao is famous for being the ideal place for diving or snorkeling, so much so that there are schools teaching the sport in which internationally recognized instructors offer their knowledge to those who want to learn this sport.

If you travel to Thailand may happen to discover this beautiful island that offers the visit, beautiful scenery, extraordinary sunsets, outdoor activities like hiking through the island either on foot or by bicycle, walking along the coast by boat, snorkel, see the bottom coral, turtles and sharks, the beauty of this island is remarkable.

In recent years, tourism to the island of Ko Tao has increased considerably, in part to its tropical climate and beauty of its landscape and especially the desire of tourists to find places where nature still remains and there is no pollution. Today it is still a paradise, and it is necessary that mantega thus avoiding contamination, ie practice responsible tourism.

Ko Tao is the smallest island of the archipelago and is easily accessible by which can be accessed throughout the year, one of the ways to reach it is via the ferry from Surat Thani or from Ko Samui. The ideal months to travel to visit is between the months of February and March are the hottest months and rainfall is low.