Hi everyone…first I really want to apologize that I didn’t post any recipe at all since last 2 weeks. We went to Thailand for 2 weeks and all 2 weeks we’ve been busy with traveling and so many things to do, so my vacation it was suppose to relax but not really…that’s why didn’t see any post either from me or Steve.
Of course even we both freaking busy but still had a lot of fun over there. So many things to do, so many things to eat, so many places to go and travel a lot…

We got to Bangkok on Nov.11th around 4.30 pm and then right away check in to the hotel, showered and have to out right away because we have appointment with my friends for dinner that evening. Still even so we didn’t get to the restaurant until around 8 o’clock. Rush rush rush…but its worth it you know? Because we both miss Thailand a lot and for the time that we got there it’s just like morning time in the U.S. so we’re both awake by then.

We spent one night in Bangkok and then on 12th at night have to travel by bus to my hometown right away because I told my mom and dad that we both will come to meet them on the 13th so it means have to travel on 12th at night. Spent almost 7 hours in the bus, can you imagine that? After spending 17 hours in the air plane…make me feel sick! But still can’t rest because when we got there my mom and dad they both already prepare a lot of things for both of us to do…OMG!

Most of the time over there just travel to see spring water and shopping at market nearby river Moei (because everything there so cheap!!! even cheaper than in Bangkok). On 16th my dad took us to see my granddad in Uttaradit province and we travel back to Bangkok on that night. Have time for rest for one day before next day we will go to Samet, I think we’re really have time to rest really just in Samet…because no need to think about anything …just sea, sand and the sun…its just like heaven!

We spent 4 nights at Jeb’s Bungalow…it’s quite nice bungalow to stay and not so expensive too compared to another place on Samet there. Anyway we will talk about it a little bit more in a later post.

We’re back to Bangkok again on 22nd and I was glad that we decided to do that because we have to go shopping for some foods yet. Unfortunately we have to head back to the U.S. on 23rd at night (actually the 24th because we didn’t leave until 1 o’clock in the morning). That’s what make me really mad because I thought we both will leave in Loy Krathong day and have time to see this festival in Bangkok first but NO…we missed it!!! Really want to cry

At least we had a lot of fun…and make me not miss Thailand too much now!

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Thai style barbeque rib (serves 2)

- 1/2 kilogram pork sparerib cut into 2-3 inch pieces
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp soy oil
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp chopped garlic
- 2 tbsp Thinly sliced Thai Fresh Lemongrass
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger
- 1/4 Thai Fish Sauce
- 1/4 coarsely sliced coriander

Start with cut the sparerib into pieces about 2-3″ long and put them in the big mixing bowl. Toss the ribs with sesame oil, soy oil, light soy sauce, lime juice, sugar and fish sauce. Add garlic, lemon grass, fresh ginger, coriander and mix well. After that cover with clear plastic or put them in the zip lock bag and put the mixed rib in the freezer. Let the ribs marinate for over night.

Take the ribs out when you’re ready to cook and let them sit at room temperature about 30 minutes. Start the oven at 300′F and warm the baking dish for cook first. Break the ribs into the pieces before baking and put into the baking dish. Bake the ribs in 300′F for 45-60 minutes until well done. Between that take them out and turn the ribs upside down and paint with the oil (that come out from the rib) once a while. When it is cooked you will see the edge of ribs start to open then take them out and let them sit for 5-10 minutes before serve. Between waiting for the ribs cooling down you can start making the sauce…

Thai style barbeque rib sauce

- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- 2 tbsp coarsely sliced coriander
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- 1 tsp chopped garlic
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil

The sauce would be easier than rib of course! Just put everything in the mixing bowl and then start mix well until sugar melts.

Serve rib with sauce and also rice …hmmm awesome! I hope you’re enjoy with this recipe,ok?

And same same see you next Wednesday but probably we will in Thailand on that time…next week I will show you how to make Laab Gai (spicy chopped chicken)!

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Just 5 days until we fly off to the warmth and smiles of Thailand and I’m in that “don’t want to do anything” frame of mind. I’m ready to go NOW and keeping my mind focused is a huge chore. Since my mind is off on the beaches of Thailand I thought I might as well write about them so today it’s time to learn a bit more about Koh Chang’s beaches.

As I wrote before in the post Beaches of Koh Chang there are seven major beaches on the island. The largest, most well known and busiest of these is Had Sai Khao or White Sand Beach. It is the commercial center of Koh Chang and there are many restaurants, beach bars, hotels and bungalows here. Really something for everyone from the more upscale Chang Buri Resort and Spa (formerly Koh Chang Hillside Hotel) to the budget conscious Alina Resort or Baan San Sabay Resort. If you’re on a budget, rooms can be had for as little as $15 a night in the off season if you don’t mind forgoing luxuries like air conditioning.

Had Sai Khao is a long and gently sloping beach. An easy stroll will take 20-30 minutes to go end to end on the beach and during high tide it is very wide as well. Many activities can be found on the beach from football to frisbee or volleyball. People bring their dogs to play in the water as well and Golf and I find this quite fun to watch. And if you get thirsty in the heat there is an assortment of beachside bars to stop at for a quick, or lingering, drink.

The water close to the beach is quite gentle, but beware as you go out deeper that the current can be quite strong and there are no lifeguards at Had Sai Khao.

As the sun sets the beach becomes transformed as tables are set out on the beach, candles and lanterns are lit and a relaxed party atmosphere descends. You’ll find a multitude of beach side restaurants all with tables set up in the sand and great food, especially the seafood. Having dinner on the beach while you watch the sun set into the Gulf of Thailand is truly amazing.

You’ll find that Had Sai Khao can be just as crowded at night as during the day. As the night goes on there are two bars that have fire dancers which are very entertaining to watch, even if you’ve seen them before. Several bars will also have live bands playing and during the full moon the Sabay Bar will bring the band and the party out to the beach itself.

If you’re looking for quiet and serenity then Had Sai Khao is not for you. If however, you want to party and have a good time this is the beach to hang out at. And thanks to the small size of Koh Chang you can actually have both if you want. Simply stay at the northern end of Had Sai Khao, Remark Cottage and Baan San Sabay are both good choices, and travel 5 minutes by motorcycle to Had Sai Khao.

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As I said in a previous post you’ll want to learn at least a small amount of Thai words for food unless you plan on eating Pad Thai and fried rice for your entire stay in Thailand. I like pad thai and fried rice as much as the next person, but not everyday for weeks.

Thai food words:

Rice = Kao

Shrimp = goong

Pork = moo

Chicken = gai

Beef = neua

Duck = bped

Watermelon = tangmo

Pineapple = subparod

Coconut = ma-prao

Orange = som

Lime = ma-now

Banana = gluoy

Speaking Thai in the restaurant:

Boiled Rice = Kao Tom

Thai Spicy Grilled Beef = Neua Naam Tok

Chicken with rice = khao mun khai

Omelette = kai jee-o

Fried Vegetables = pad pak

Tomato Chili with Pork = Naam Prik Oog

Chicken cook in Spicy Basil = Khapraew Gai

Papaya Spicy Salad = som tum

Fried Chicken Wings = Peek Gai tod

Chicken Fried with Cashew Nuts = kai phat met mamuang himmaphan

Spicy Lemongrass Soup with Shrimp = tom yum goong

Coconut Soup with Soybeans = Lon Dtao Jieow

Red Pork with rice = khao moo dang

Eat here = gin tee nee

Take away = glub baan

Clear the table please = geb jaan khrap/ka

Hopefully this selection of Thai words will make your stay in the Kingdom of Thailand a little more palatable. There are so many delicious foods to be eaten that you definitely want to experience as much as possible and by learning a little bit of the language you’ll be able to get away from the same same dishes that all the tourists to Thailand are eating.

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Aside from the shopping and nightlife of Bangkok there is also a very spiritual side to the city and one can find over 500 temples or ‘wats’ spread throughout the City of Angels. The most famous of these is probably Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha located in the Grand Palace, but the largest of the temples in Bangkok is Wat Po or Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

Wat Po is absolutely stunning. The reclining Buddha is a beautiful, huge and majestic reclining Buddha measuring 138 feet long and covered completely in gold leaf. The Buddha’s feet are 9 feet long and exquisitely decorated in mother-of-pearl illustrations of auspicious ‘laksanas’ (characteristics) of the Buddha. In addition to the reclining Buddha there are other Buddha artifacts which by themselves would be quite beautiful. In addition, the grounds are like a sea of serenity within the hustle and bustle of Bangkok.

You can easily reach Wat Po from the Grand Palace, it’s a short 10-15 minute walk and there is a small market across the street which has some interesting things and the typical tasty street food vendors. Beware however the touts on the sidewalks surrounding Wat Po. They will try to tell you that the temple is closed (for any variety of reasons) and will offer to get a taxi or tuk-tuk for you to see other sights around Bangkok. These guys are NOT really trying to help you and if you accept their offers you will end up who knows where. Most of them will send you off to various shops which are tourist traps selling dubious quality products at inflated prices.

Wat Po is also one of the best places in Bangkok to get a traditional Thai massage. In fact, the massage school at Wat Po is one of the oldest traditional Thai massage schools and the monks at Wat Po effectively wrote the book on Thai massage. The massage school isn’t all that obvious, but you can find it in the backyard area of Wat Po. The massages are 120 baht for a ½ hour and 200 baht for an hour which may be a bit expensive for Thailand, but still not expensive at all by western standards. And it’s a great way to both invigorate and relax at the same time!

Wat Po is open daily from 8:00am until 5:00pm and massages are available until 6:00pm

The entrance fee is 20 baht.

Please remember that Thai temples are sacred places and you should dress and behave accordingly. Do not come to the temple in shorts, sleeveless shirts or other revealing clothing. Think of it the same way as if you were visiting a church in the west and use your best judgment.

Also for you ladies…Monks are not permitted to touch or be touched by women. So if you want to give something to a monk you can either hand it to a male to give to them or you can place a cloth on the ground and then place the item on the cloth for the monk to pick up.

Wat Po really is quite amazing and if you only get to see a temple or a few while in Bangkok make sure that the Temple of the Reclining Buddha is one of them. Trust me you won’t be disappointed at all.

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