Adventure of a lifetime

Tales from Thailand.

Our plane has just landed, and we are back in South Africa.  In just a blink of an eye, our trip was over and I had the realization that we spent two weeks in the beautiful, friendly Thailand.  

In the months ahead of our trip, the excitement built as the time came closer.  Every day we were one step closer to a dream of international jet-setting and culinary adventures.  Passport in hand, tickets ready and the journey begins. 

One night in Bangkok: Oriental City

The First stop in our 14 day trip was the busy, oriental city of Bangkok. I had a culture shock of a lifetime.  My senses were overwhelmed and everything came flooding to me.  I didn't know where to start, what to eat or even in what direction to go.  The temperature and the humidity is enough to make you go crazy, but alas one adjusts to this feeling very quickly and welcome it in an unexpected way. 

The streets are scattered with food stalls with everything from deep fried scorpions to mopane worms and wieners on a stick. The air was filled the with scent of Durian Fruit, a prickly spiked green fruit filled with off yellow interior. (Unfortunately I have not grown accustomed to this, and I'm quit sure that I probably will not invest in this kind of fruit very soon).

Every nook and cranny at the market is filled with smoothie stalls, mini bars and water stands (to quince your thirst from the pressing heat). Note that the temperature almost stays the same day and night. The City is filled with sweet treats, out of this world, reminiscent of an alternate version of Candyland. The taste and color combinations is enough to make your head spin!

Let's go Shopping!

The MBK Center is the prized shopping jewel of Bangkok, situated in the Pathum Wan Destrict. Boasting 8 floors filled with 2000 shops, ranging from clothing stalls, cellular tech outlets to medicine shops and restaurants.  The center is easy accessible via the BTS Skytrain, taxis and scooters.  Level 6 is dedicated to food and restaurants, and its here that I had my first taste of real Thai cuisine.


Lunchtimes were spent scouting the food court for any food remotely familiar.  I had to remind myself to be daring and try something new and built extraordinary experiences.  I finally laid my eyes on Wonton Egg Noodles with pork (apparently every meal should have a boiled egg).  A flavorful marriage of chewy heaven, tender meat and prickly sensations. 

Our stay in Bangkok was short lived and quick, and our next destination awaited: Patong Beach, Phuket.

10 Days in Heaven

Patong Beach is the party central, food eccentric, cool kids place to be. Streets are filled with tourists from across the globe, young and old alike.  

Our hotel was centrally located.  The beach and all it had to offer was a quick walk or Tuk tuk ride away. On the days not spent island hopping, we indulged in the cool beach life, sipping away on smoothies (made from fresh fruit and ice) and cocktails, having a blast.  

Typically cocktails are served in the main fruit component it's made of, whether it's coconuts or pineapples. Pina Coladas and Mai Tais quenched the thirsts almost daily, swapped out once and a while for Chang Beer - brewed in Thailand and consumed by locals and tourist alike. 

Developing a different "taste"

By now we had forgotten what Western Food tasted like.  We traded comfort food, for something more exotic and colorful.  Pad Thai, Fried Rice and Dim Sum became favorites.  Nights were spent exploring downtown, stumbling into Bangla Road - grabbing a quick drink, discovering cute little restaurants, ice cream stands with Fried Ice Cream and popping into every  7-Eleven we could. 

At night, the beachfront was lit up by restaurants, appetizing food and restaurant waiters beckoning you towards menus.  Eventually giving in into temptation and bargaining for better prices, we grabbed a table and relaxed on the beach.  

Friendly people attended to our every food desires and served with smiles on their faces. Fried rice, with squid - served in half a pineapple, waves crashing in the background and conversation continuing into the dead of night was bliss.  Iced coffee drinks after supper was a total must, and never a missed opportunity. 

Morning came, and the next adventure awaited us.  Many of the food stalls are filled with other worldly creations ready to be served to a lucky tourist passing through.  I was grateful to find that my love for deep fried food could be filled almost anywhere.  I didn't mind the addition of egg noodle to almost every dish.  Seafood is extremely big in Thailand, featured on every menu and consumed by everyone. 

Nighttime has fallen upon Patong Beach and people started to pack up their mobile food heavens, scramming everything onto a scooter fitted with a sidecar.  Every third scooter was filled with a full family of five commuting to an unknown destination. 

Home... 

Short before long, our little time in heaven on earth had to come to an end, and we started to head back home.  On the airport I was fortunate enough to experience Roasted Duck Soup for the second time (my taste buds not understanding if it tasted like chicken of beef).  Coming into full circle, we boarded our plane on our way back to South Africa, back to reality.

I find myself day dreaming and longing back to our time in Thailand, remembering the tons of fun we had.  With so much gratitude in ours hearts for the opportunity we were given to explore the world, I'm ready to jump into every adventure of a lifetime.

Tales from Thailand.

Tin-Tin