Duncan's Favorite Things, Part 1

We know that we have had several heavy posts – that’s the nature of what we encounter here much of the time. But lest you think it is all gloom we have a couple lighter posts coming beginning with a list of a few of my (Duncan) favorite things in Bangkok at this time:


Street Food Vendors – No other country does ‘Gin Len’ (literally ‘eat-play’) as well as Thailand does. Thais will eat three meals a day – usually rice or noodle based – but they may eat several other small meals or snacks throughout the day ranging from coconut/sticky rice creations to fresh cut up fruit to a variety of deep fried creations, you name it. We eat most of our meals either at or bought from stalls/vendors on the street. Whether it’s a spicy stirfry or Gway Tiaw (noodles – like Pho in the US) or sticky rice and grilled chicken most of it is created in little push carts with the particular chef/vendor specializing in a couple dishes. And the best thing about great tasty Thai food off the street is that it is usually under $1US for a filling healthy meal! (Initial three pictures show one of our favorite vendors and Andrea having lunch with Pii Oo, our Thai tutor.)


Vendors (of food or whatever) that make it easy on a farang (foreigner) whose Thai isn’t that good at times - Some just make it so easy to engage with while others are so thrown, discombobulated and uncomfortable with a farang speaking thai that they miss everything that is said – or maybe our thai really is bad. But then these others disprove that and completely put us at ease and understand everything we say.

Building relationships - Becoming a regular with a vendor is a great thing. Love getting a smile each day. It’s much cheaper to become a ‘regular’ here at anything than in the US.
It’s also great to build relationships with the people that we pass every day. Most apartment/condo buildings have one or more security guards that are on site every day. Much of the time they are sitting around bored and more than willing to engage with us which can be super helpful when needing to practice Thai.



Orange/Tangerine Juice – I know there’s a theme so far in this list, but one of the many options of refreshment on the street are the vendors who spend their day squeezing and/or selling fresh Tangerine juice which hits the spot every time – and again, you can’t beat 10-20 Baht per bottle! (35 baht to $1US)


Marian Plum/Ma Phrang – Twenty years ago I spent six months with my parents here in Thailand instead of being at boarding school. It was during the same time period we are here currently. ( Jan/Feb to July) At that time we were in Chiang Mai at the old OMF mission home/guest house which was a beautiful decaying home that formerly belonged to a Thai princess. On the grounds there was a Ma Phrang (Marian Plum)tree. Ma Phrang fruit come into season in February and March so this was the first time I had ever been in Thailand at that time since I was usually off at boarding school. Thailand has spectacular fruit of all kinds and shapes and flavors, but I had never experienced the delight of a Ma Phrang. It’s almost as if a Mango and a Kumquat were magically combined – about the size of a plum but with a tougher skin, you bite into it and hmmm, it’s an explosion of all things good in your mouth. For the month they were in season that year I ate and ate but it’s been twenty years since I have tasted one again. I knew they would be coming into season right as we got here but I was shocked to see them being sold for 200 Baht a kilo. I thought at some point the price has to come down – and sure enough after a few weeks, boom – 60 Baht a kilo – and twenty years later the tongue experienced it again. You have no idea what you are missing!







Duncan