Ahh..

What do you do when you catch yourself watching foreign tv and enjoying it?

I can tell you, the one thing i miss are the creature comforts. Ever taken for granted the news that plays in the background? Tracy grimshaw explaining some awful neighbourhood dispute on today tonight? Well! Dont!

As much as i enjoy watching and listening to tv in thai, it does make life a wee bit harder. I can pick up certain words and put it all together based on the images and the body language of the presenter, but its still hard. Ive found myself reading news alot more.. As biased as Rupert Murdoch papers are! :).

If anyone is a fan of Australia's got talent or x factor etc etc, i implore you to watch some clips of thailands got talent. Honestly, some of the funniest tv i have ever watched. So so creative and all those boring rules seem to go out the window (and the time limit!). Similarly, the show 'dance your fat off'  is equally as hilarious. And yes, the plot is exactly that... A dance competition mixed with the biggest loser. Ha! So funny.

Anyway, apart from trying to watch Thai tv i have also been eating, drinking and even some well earned exercise. My diet has been better than ever (uhh i think I'm putting the weight back on i lost earlier in the year ha!) and i genuinely can't believe how many options of food can exist!

I'll include some pictures of my recent food adventures (some riskier than others!). I also indulged in an hr thai massage on the weekend... 100thb ($3 or so). It hurt like beeeeeep, but felt awesome! Now i can run like Cathay freeman.... (in her old age ha ha).

Anyway. Better start packing! Home time on the weekend :)

Enjoy the pics xx

Foooooooood

How's your diet been lately? Lots of breads, potato and carbs?

Well, say no more! I'll include some pictures of the last few days meals. Simply delicious.

My favourite (and always will be) is Pad Ga Pow Moo Kai Dow. Pretty much, pork with chilli, basil and oil and with a fried egg on top :). I prefer crispy pork belly for mine, but it's really up to you. As you may know, Pork is definitely the most common meat (from what I have seen anyway) - as opposed to chicken/beef in AU.

Coming up close to my favourite is Guay Jab , which is like a noodle soup with crispy pork (Belly), pork strips, egg, tofu and spices. The traditional dish will come with some pork intestines, tongue and pork blood. I choose not to have them as the texture is a bit TOO much for me. but i have tried :)

Third standard one is garlic pork and rice -  Kao Moo Tod Kratiam (my spelling might not be legit). It's pretty simple - pork cooked with garlic cloves and oil. When you eat it, you usually dribble over some chilli oil to give it some extra life, but you don't have to. I do, and also finish off with the cucumbers - extra fresh!

Kao Moo Dang is also really nice - I usually get crispy pork with duck. It is covered in almost like a BBQ sauce/gravy and usually served with a boiled egg and cucumber. Very refreshing and simple :)

Tom Yum is your standard spicy noodle soup. DELICIOUS ! It's Thailand, so naturally the real Tom Yum is SUPER spicy. At first I could not eat it (you'll understand why - the liquid is RED from the chilli). However, I'm now somewhat accustom to it and love it. Very refreshing and tasty :)

Som Tam  - I have tried, but i personally was not a fan. My local friends jokingly said "Mmm, gastro!". It is generally a mixture of dried shrimp, chill, tomato, peanuts, string beans, fermented fish and papaya. It's very fresh, but not my cup of tea. You should try!

Unfortunately this site won't let me put the pictures against the food type, so you will have to match them. I think it will be pretty easy :).  I also include a picture of butter pancakes and my man making them. Just 20 THB :) Buttery GOODNESS.....

All you reallllly need to know is that all are delicious.  And before you ask, Thai food recipes are not as easy as you think. The flavours in the food are relatively simple, however many are as a result of a number of different ingredients/spices mixed together to create one (very complex) - which makes it even more intriguing :) plus, on each table there is always a variety of toppings to add... Chilli, chilli oil, sugar, fish oil, tomato sauce, etc.. 

Anyway, enough from me. ENJOY x    (p.s touchwood no gastro)

Chatuchak / Jatujak Market (ตลาดจตุจักร)

Firstly, I now understand what all the buzz is around these markets. They are big, they are messy, they are busy, they are hot but they are also amazing.

My day started by catching the BTS (sky train) all the way to the end of the line. From here, Chatuchak is about a 5 minute walk and as soon as you descend from the station, the craziness begins. P E O P L E - E V E R Y W H E R E. A decent mix of foreigners and Thai.....interesting!

I took the shortcut through H.M Queen Sirikit Pk - which strangely reminded me of Cairns/tropics. Buffalo grass, humid and palm trees? Anyway, as i emerged from the park I walked straight into the markets. Now, there are a million ways to get into the actual markets, and I later found out that I didn't exactly go through the "main" entrance - oh well!

First impressions though:

- Okkkk, this is kind of like MBK. But bigger.  (MBK is the discount shopping mall in central Bangkok)
- I need a beverage. Sweat is pouring off me.
- Wholesale price?  Ahh, it clicked! This is where a would-be market Staller would buy their goods in bulk then pretend they are theirs? I get it i get it..
- What do i actually need? How much luggage do I have?

As i keep walking through the sections I slowly became disorientated, but reminded myself to use physical reminders - like the clock tour in the 'middle' to focus on. Don't bother using market stalls to remind you - they all start looking the same.

I'll be honest, I've put off going to these markets for month now because they are seen as a bit touristy. After now experiencing them, I stand by that, however I also understand why it is a must do for any tourist (and surprisingly - it wasn't all foreigners - a lot of Thai too).

You really can buy anything you want though, such as but not limited too:

- Puppies (YES. See the pictures. A bit cruel though..)
- Slingshots/guns
- Denim bags (HA!)
- World cup memorabilia
- Any FOOD you can think of (honestly - the food looked AMAZING)
- and then all the usual stuff...flowers, shirts, shorts, candles, oils, burners, decorations, jewellery, Buddha's, furniture, etc.

Overall I would definitely recommend it. Put a whole day down to it, go as a group, get a map and just enjoy yourself. Eat as much as you can but only buy what you need (don't be THAT tourist that walks out with too many bags to carry).


Oh, and don't wear thongs. Amazingly I had black feet when i walked out....... oops....

Could talk more but pictures explain things MUCH better. Now Enjoy xx

P.S - After this I went and saw Dawn of the Planet of the Apes @ Siam Paragon. Amazing !!!!!  (and only 220 THB - $8~).

MAP: