One Piggy Went to Market
Trip Start
Aug 23, 2007
1
37
60
Trip End
Jul 17, 2008
Chang Mai,
Thailand
Monday, December 3, 2007
Our first stop after settling in was anyplace with a good cup of coffee. Not only did I find coffee, but I uncovered a whole new world. The world of the banana pancake. As I write this I've had six banana pancakes and each is different than the one before and more delicious. You can have your traditional fluffy pancake with bananas mixed in and cooked together with the batter. You can have a thin crepe like pancaked with bananas on top. You can have a thin pancaked with bananas wrapped in the middle and covered with honey or chocolate and cooked. You get the idea. This is the world's greatest food. But wait! There's more. After seeing a few temples (all templed-out, they say) I signed up for a cooking class. I was taken on a tour of a wet market (food market) and had all my questions answered about the different veggies and fruit I had seen, but wouldn't have a clue what to do with. Then, I was taken way out of town to someone's house and in their kitchen (imagine the Canadian Living test kitchen) was led through, step by step, how to make Tom Yum soup, Pad Thai, Veggie fried spring rolls and a green curry. We ate everything we cooked, topped with some beer and were dropped off just in time for dinner.
After a small snack, we hit the night markets that Chang Mai is famous for. Colours everywhere, food, the most beautiful clothing, duvet covers, pillow cases, jewellry and more...even Birkenstock's. I'm proud to say I resisted everything. Of course, I say this knowing I'll likely be back next month and will do some shopping then.
The next day, I said goodbye to P.C. my Thai guide and crossed the Thai-Lao border by tiny canoe to meet my Lao guide, Somedy. I enjoyed what little I saw of Thailand, but I'll be back in January to continue my journey.
