Bangkok Part 3

This is a letter I wrote to my grandson Blake, whose surrogate Hungry Blake is accompanying me to this conference for international school educators. I had told him that I was going to a fancy pool party and would take pictures of the exotic foods that were to be served.

Dear Blakers,

Well if you woke up feeling hungry, it is because the reception last night was a real bummer. I walked over to the big pool area where the reception was held. It had been decorated very nicely with lanterns and there were local young women dancing and singing, but the singing was, shall we say, strained and dissonant to the western ear. There were about a thousand hungry teachers who, when they know there is free food and drink, circle and circle the buffet like vultures over carrion. (You need to look up some of these words as part of your continuing education)

When I could get close enough to the food stations, which was a real challenge, I noticed that most of it was really what they call western food, as opposed to local food.  Hunks of ham, dozens of roasted chickens, and oodles of pig parts I couldn’t identify, were being hacked and tossed on plates for the multitudes, who appear to have not eaten in several days.  The only local stuff was a noodle station but they were already out of noodles by the time I got there.  There was something that looked like Sushi, but all the good bits were gone and what remained had not improved in the 90-degree heat.  Even the wine, which was really not very good, was warm, as was the beer and juices so I decided that it would be best to skip dinner, rather then eat bad food or risk getting sick.

So you can imagine how Hungry Blake and I were looking forward to breakfast this morning.  After a brisk walk on the crowded sidewalks, there are no parks or running paths here since we are on the edge of a river right downtown, I headed back to the hotel to wash up and go to breakfast.  Boy, did we eat well this morning.

For starters we had little sweet Chinese bananas. They are only about three to four inches long and are delicious.  Papaya, guava and watermelon were also available and I had to be careful not to eat too much of them since I was saving myself for the main course.  Today I chose to have pineapple fried rice with cashews, grilled salmon with ginger and garlic, cauliflower and carrots in a Thai red curry sauce that really opened up my sinuses, and some crisp pickled assortment of vegetables to go with the curry.  Every time my mouth got too hot from the curry, I would take a sip of my peppermint tea and that cooled things off for the next bite.  Goodness, everything tasted so wonderful that I might not eat again tonight!

I’m told there is a food market tomorrow morning, not too far from the hotel. If so, you can be sure that Hungry Blake and I shall be there to see what is available and hopefully to take some pictures.  More later, love opa.