My Koon Yai (Grandma) and my three siblings
Parrots at Wat Doi Sakhet
Stairs leading up to Wat Doi Sakhet
Me and Nong Yok (my little sister)
Hooking up to zip line 150 meters above the cave floor
Chillin out Maxin' Relaxin' all cool
Inside the Cave
Climbing with ISDSI
Birthday Concert
My little brother Nong Nim
Birthday Korean BBQ. My mom is on the left and my Papa and little brother Nong Trunk are sitting on the right.
Getting Birthday gifts
My Koon Yai
Nong Yok
Getting ready to eat marang tawt (fried insects)
Large Cricket
Parade outside the Guest House on our first night
Expect many comments from me.
ReplyDelete1)I don't like walking ALL THE WAY across campus and have you not there. I also miss you as a dance partner
2) Your family looks adorable.
3) Did you actually eat the cricket? If you did how did it taste?
4) How is the food? Does it taste like the Thai food we eat here?
and 5) what did you do for you birthday? It better have been amazing. Maybe it even topped our mojito and falafel night
Fried cricket . . . OM NOM NOM. Climbing / spelunking looks like a blast --- I'm so jealous. Please say hello to your host family from me, and keep your fingers crossed for some snow state-side so that I can /finally/ go skiing this weekend. =]
ReplyDeleteHey Jack,
ReplyDeleteFun to read your blog.
Can't wait to hear all about your experiences
in Chiang Mai when you visit me in Phuket.
Do you drive a motorbike?
Have a blast.
MJ
So, Sarah, I did eat the Cricket. I wouldn't fake anything like that. The fried insects actually don't taste at all bad--instead, they taste like a crunchy salty snack that you can munch a few of before getting absolutely tired of them.
ReplyDeleteThe food is really good, but it is nothing like we have in America. I'm not sure, at this point in my stay, that I could really fully describe the differences--it is much more 'raw' (not in the literal sense) than American Thai food. I feel like American Thai food still manages to fit in with our comfort zone, whereas the real thing is much more flavorful, sometime to a degree that can be a little too intense for me. For example, my Koon Yai sometimes makes a fishy tomato sauce with a lot of fish oil in it for use on cucumbers and vegetables that I simply cannot eat because of the really strong fish taste (and I normally love seafood).
MJ- I do not drive a motorbike- our program doesn't allow us. Plus, I would be way too afraid for my life to get on one of those in Chiang Mai by myself. My host mom has one, but won't take me on it with her because I am, apparently, too heavy for her.