WEEK 15 ~ Thailand Pt 3

While Mary Kate's friends, shoutout Jenna & Ciara, are visiting, I have hi-jacked the blog duties again {insert evil laugh}. After the whole xanax joke thing about the cockroaches & my campaign to keep the mustache "went a little too far", I have been banished to the food reviews.

Just kidding, I just had to add something at the start. Here's the blog.

Plans are always changing, but we made sure to make some great memories in Thailand this week! 

We spent a few more days in Bangkok. The highlight being the Muay Thai at the Rajadamnern stadium, which is the birthplace and world renown epicenter of Muay Thai.

Our first live fight and it was such a cool experience. We were up close and personal to the stage. Was learning about the history and traditions associated with Muay Thai. We even witnessed a knock-out, ironically done by the only American fighting that night. 

Seeing an elbow knock out was crazy.. a little cringe, but also just crazy. We thought that was the biggest surprise of the evening until we found ourselves on the intermission cam. 

No photos or videos from this because if you hold your phone up when a cam is pointed at you at a sporting event, you are lame. 

Naturally, I saw a camera and had to do my best to become the center of attention. They were filming a dancing couple in front of us. Seats behind them had become empty so I started miming like I was walking down the stairs. Crowd goes wild. Pans to shirtless fan. They knew where the real entertainment was at, camera back on Nick and I. We dance our little hearts out and leave a lasting impression on the Muay Thai community. 

First time on a sports cam for both of us. I'm glad our talent was finally recognized in Thailand.

On to Chang Mai, commonly known as the cultural city of Thailand. 

We had an incredible walking tour of some of the city temples in Chang Mai by an ex monk. There are 38 temples in Chang Mai, with the color gold being the most prestigious coloring used throughout the beautiful temples. We learned about the extensive beef between Thailand and Myanmar. The history of Siam and Lanna being merged into Thailand. We learned about the Chinese and Indian influences. We learned so much about Buddhism, but there is still so much to learn. 

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While it is impossible to see everything, there was one thing in particular that I was sad to miss in Chang Mai... and that was the spiritual pillar in one of the temples where only men could see. According to our guide, the inside was too sacred to have women go in, in case they got period blood on the floor. No joke.

Don't worry, the foreigner went in to view on behalf of both of us.

We completed an incredible open-air yoga and found a super cool sauna/ice bath spa to hang out at in the old city walls of Chang Mai. Tan was an incredible instructor.

We also had some of the best coffee and fruit smoothies. (even competes with the Vietnamese coffee). 

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Speaking off food, here is the Thailand food review from the one and only international chef.

Thailand Food Review

Rating: 9.2

This is my highest rating yet. I don’t think I ranked Argentina, but I think Thailand has

had the best food so far.

In the US, when we get Thai, typically takeout, the order is fried rice, drunken noodles,

and sometimes a curry. We got to experience real Thai food during our travels across

Thailand.

The highlight of Thailand food – Chiang Mai.

Khao Soi - noodle soup

- In the world of noodle soups, Ramen is king. Khao Soi is really really good tho. It

is a spicy coconut broth, egg noodles, and typically chicken. It is topped with

crunchy noodle things, similar to what you would get on the side with wonton

soup at a Chinese restaurant. It is served with a lime & red onion on the side. It

ranks number 2 in the land of noodle soups for me.

Pad Kra Pao: Crispy pork & basil

- Really solid staple. Pork & basil stir fried together. Eaten with white rice & a fried

egg. One of my first meals in Thailand.

Mango Sticky Rice: Dessert or breakfast, whichever.

- A dessert. But, I ate it for breakfast yesterday. Ripe mango, sticky rice, and

coconut cream. Combo the three together & it is very good.

Curries

- Green curry: Coconut-based with Thai eggplant and basil

- Panang Curry: Thick, creamy curry with kaffir lime flavor

- Massaman Curry: Rich, mildly spiced curry with potatoes and peanuts. A Thai

favorite.

- Ginger Curry: had in Chiang Mai at a place rec’d by our guide. Eaten with hands

and sticky rice. Like fufu (Ghana)

- Sticky Rice: blue sticky rice for eating curry with hands.

Duck: Full ducks hanging from racks.

- Specifically hong kong style was my favorite. Roast duck, sliced, with a plum

sauce. Had it twice in Chiang Mai.

Pad Thai: The classic

Pad See Ew: wide noodles

Tom Yum: soup

- More of a mid tier noodle soup in my opinion.

Coffee w/ Coconut Milk

- Introduced to us on Koh Phangnan, along with kitesurfing. It has become a Mary Kate staple in Southeast Asia.

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Coconuts

- I love coconuts. Get hydrated & also a snack. Thailand has some good ones.

HLUL

Nicky:

High: Muay Thai event & the American KO

Low: being in Thailand haha. But actually, Bangkok traffic

Unexpected: Khao Soi is an elite Thai dish

Learned: there have been 26 Buddhas before the current Buddha. The current Buddha is the Buddha for 5000 years.

MK

High: Temple & history tour in Chang Mai

Low: Bangkok traffic 

Unexpected: Making it on the entertainment cam at the Muay Thai stadium, not once but twice

Learned: Chang Mai has 38 temples. Oh, and there is an insane, dramatic storyline about the royal family of Thailand. 

Thank you for following along!

Love,

MK & Nick