Crabby in Krabi – The Rocky Part of our Thailand trip
Krabi by The Sea .. Leaving Chiang Mai in the beautiful mountains it was time to spend the last two weeks of our Thailand trip by the sea. For months Alberto and I watched our favorite YouTuber Paddy Doyle document his entire journey through every providence in Thailand and we couldn’t wait to see the breathtaking seaside for ourselves. If you’ve been reading about my trips you know what I mean when I say there’s a “dip in the trip “.. This is usually the part where I’m not feeling it or enjoying myself . August is the monsoon season in Thailand so expect a lot of rain . We arrived to Krabi airport late around nine-thirty P.M , and were bombarded with driver’s who insisted on taking us to our hotel as there were no other options .. It was a bit unnerving , being crammed into a van with ten other people , completely dark , pouring rain with a two hour ride to the other side of the island since our hotel was the furthest away but here we go! Low Tides and Limestone cliffs We finally arrived to our Hotel http://krabihomeresort.com and it was going to be sweet relief to climb into bed after a day of traveling. A staff member (BLESS HIM) waited for us to arrive (at midnight no less) had an umbrella , change (for our shuttle driver ) and big smile on his face as he carried our luggage up the hill to our bungalow. Morning brought us overcast skies but warm smiles from the wonderful staff at our resort and a good breakfast . We’d have to wait until tomorrow to get a longtail boat since the forecast was rain and rough seas. We decided to explore our beach area Tubkaak , and spend the day relaxing and eating some good home cooked Thai food.. The tide was low so I was able to Vlog and walk quite a bit. The sunset was stunning.. Hong Island (Koh Hong) Our hostess at our resort booked a longtail boat so we set of to Hong Island . It takes about 20 minutes and is an easy quick day trip . Located in the Thanbok Kharanee National Park the beach is divided into two sections. The landing spot for the longtail boats is where you pay 400 thai baht to enter the national park . We climbed the 420 steps to the Hong Island Viewpoint which was quite a workout but you’re rewarded with the most breathtaking view of this magical island . The white sand beach is super soft ,clear, and warm. We took some beautiful photos then got back on the longtail boat so we could swim in the Hong lagoon .You have to pass through a narrow rock opening to enter the lagoon but it’s another world . The towering limestone cliffs , and turquoise water are breathtaking … Have your hotel pack a lunch or grab food and snacks if you plan to spend the day on the island or boat. I don’t recall if there’s a shop to get food or snacks once you get to the island.. A watertight beach bag is a must to protect your clothes, phone, and anything you bring with you onto the beach.I recommend checking with your local host also for the weather since it can change rapidly. We were having the sweetest sea time here , so why did I have to suggest we see something else… Rocky times in Railay So here’s where our trip gets rocky.. Railay Beach was a quick trip from Ao Nang the main hub and starting point of Krabi . After 3 days I thought let’s go see another part of the Island! It’s not that I get bored (well sometimes) . It’s that I want to see as much as I can when I’m in a new destination. So we drove the two hours to the Ao Nang pier , then a 10 minute longtail boat ride and finally we were towed into the Railay Beach resort and spa by a tractor . My first impression of Railay beach west wasn’t a good one. The scenery and landscape is pretty but the beach itself was dirty. Or should I say .. messy ? Walking the beach path towards our resort I couldn’t help but feel like we stepped into some some kind of trap. Tourist trap maybe ? Weed shops, fast food and a few tiny cafes lined the concrete path along the trash filled beach…. Eager to escape the loud techno music and the sound of crocs shuffling against sandy concrete we checked into our room and planned out our next three days… What the heck were we going to do for three days here ? Our resort was big and although outdated in terms of aesthetics three big crystal clear pools called out to me so I could cool off in the scorching humid heat and watch the moneys squabble over snacks they’d steal off of tourists breakfasts plates LOL We found one cafe that served good Pad Thai and wasn’t blaring music 24-7 so that’s where we enjoyed our meals . On our way back from the cafe that first night my husband decides to stop by and inquire about rock climbing tours and signs us both up ! Why not! Those limestone cliffs look easy to climb AND what else is there to do around here! No I’ve never rock climbed in my life but in my Kevin Hart voice “you’re gonna learn today! You’re gonna learn what rock climbing is today ! And here’s how it went .. Phra Nang Beach Shadowrock climbing met us bright and early at Phra Nang Beach along with hundreds of other tourists also geared up and ready to scale the gorgeous cliffs. I went first and let me tell you what you might already know ; ROCK CLIMBING IS HARD . Mad respect because
My week in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
Chiang Mai Thailand Week Two My second week in Thailand we traveled north to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. A quick one hour flight from Don Muang airport in Bangkok took us to the beautiful mountain ranges of the Thai highlands. Chiang Rai was also on our itinerary and this is where my grandmother is from. Chang Mai is such a refreshing , green , lush contrast to Bangkok. Northern Thailand is simply breathtaking. I could live out the rest of my life here in these mountains , growing my own food and just enjoying the serenity We had so much fun over the next eight days even though it started off wet with heaps of rain pouring down on us from the moment we landed! Things to do in Chiang Mai We stayed at Nanta Glam CM .What a beautiful home with the sweetest family who make you feel so welcome. They have their own bakery and brew their own Kombucha which is some of the best I’ve had in my life. My husband HATES Kombucha and he drank it everyday so that’s saying a lot ! We were pretty hungry since we landed around dinner time but finding a restaurant that wasn’t closed , flooded or fully booked was becoming a task. Like Bangkok, Chiang Mai uses the Grab app . It’s their version of Lyft and I highly recommend it for getting around if you don’t want to walk or take a tuk tuk. http://www.grab.com If you plan on visiting Thailand Grab will be your best friend in Bangkok and Chiang Mai … We decided to take a tuk tuk and found MAADAE Fish kitchen. Cold wet nights like this need Tom Kha Gai or Tom Yum soup. We had a heaping bowl or Tom Yum seafood soup with a Crab omelette that was perfect. We spent the next few days exploring Chiang Mai by bicycle (another perk from Nanta Glam CM) We had two memorable meals at http://thehousebygingercm.com . The Pomelo Shrimp salad , fried whole fish with cashews and red curry in a whole coconut was to die for. Their version of a Pisco sour is the beautiful purple cocktail I’m pictured with …. There’s some incredible french bakeries Chiang Mai is known for. L’Opera had fantastic pastries and eggs for breakfast ,also a good baguette sandwich if you prefer take away. Lady Bake was a delicious breakfast spot with a full breakfast , amazing coffee and fruit . Khom Chocolate house http://linktr.ee/khomchocolatierhouse is next door and we stopped in to have some after our Day with Elephants . We had the Double dark chocolate drink and dark chocolate ganache cake.. We really wanted to visit an elephant sanctuary in Thailand . Seeing these beautiful animals up close in Africa is something I’ll never forget. Asian elephants are quite smaller in size , have a double domed head, and the females don’t grow tusks! For years I always wondered why asian elephants didn’t have them but it turns out only male asian elephants grow tusks .. Over the years I’ve heard stories and seen documentaries about elephant abuse through tourism . Elephant shows, rides, and bathing are still common practice and it can be a challenge to find an ethical sanctuary . http://elephantnaturepark.org was an amazing experience . We chose the half day excursion and it was the perfect amount of time to see all of the animals with a vegan lunch included. It’s a one hour drive into the mountains and the scenery is so beautiful. There are many other animals like water buffalo and dogs that have been rescued and live out their days on the reserve which is massive , and well maintained. Chiang Rai It’s about three hours to drive up to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai . We stayed at Le Meridien resort in Chiang Rai. It was cozy with great food which was what I needed over that weekend. Their Tom Yum soup mmmmm … It’s quite a bit cooler here in the mountains and we had a lot of rain . August is the monsoon season so make sure you wear a good jacket , boots for hiking (there was mud) and layer up against the wind! I still have no idea WHY I wanted to see the White Temple or Wat Rong Khun as it’s called. It is just a tacky tourist trap that reeks of evil and something nasty I can’t put my senses on …. We did see another beautiful white temple with beautiful dancing dragons . I regret I can’t recall the name BUT I do remember the Hello Kitty tram that took passengers up and down the Wat and you all know I adore Hello Kitty … Phu Chi Fah Summit If you want to see the most beautiful part of Chiang Rai then head north to Phu Chi Fah summit. The sunset view is just incredible and we spent hours here just marveling at the beauty . As I stared out into the mountains and rice paddies I was envisioning my grandmother with my mother strapped on here as she tended the paddies… I watched the women with their children for hours and it was just mesmerizing … On our way back to Chiang Mai we passed this buddha that I remembered seeing when we left to Chiang Rai. I wanted to see it up close it was just pulling me in ! I took a picture and its name is WAT PHRATHATSANPAHIANG . I had to write it right I don’t want any bad juju! This place was just calling out to me as we drove by . It was a Sunday and it was empty . We could only hear the wind chimes above the Buddha but it was so serene and wonderful to be in it’s presence . Fun spots in Chiang Mai We stayed our last night in Chiang Mai at http://elbarriolanna.com . WeLOVED this hotel and
My Week in Thailand – Bangkok
Teradise found … It’s exactly one month since I’ve come back from Thailand and I can say with absolute certainty that this was the greatest trip of my life so far. Thailand is country number one hundred and two that I’ve visited and why have I waited so long to visit my motherland ? Let me dive deep for a minute and give you a bit of my background… For those of you who don’t know I’m half Thai from my mother’s side and my father is English and Dutch. My parents met in Thailand during the Vietnam war when my father was stationed there. My mother left Thailand pregnant with me in 1976 only to return once more when her father died in 1985. She happily left Thailand for a new life in America and never took us back to visit or spoke Thai with my sister and I after we started primary school. In fact all I really remember in Thai are colors , numbers ,basic phrases pertaining to food , salutations, and I can recite The three little pigs. So random … As I got older I’ve always wanted to take my mom back to Thailand so I saved this trip thinking we would return together . As the years passed and I kept asking my mother to go with me I started to realize then accept that she just didn’t want to go. She had her reasons and after having many of my own life experiences I understood why she didn’t have the same desires I did to see her homeland. My Dad, best friend Charmane and countless other friends kept telling me I needed to go to Thailand . I should see and experience this incredible country for myself. So finally in August of 2023 with my husband we spent one incredible month in Thailand. Week one Bangkok Beginning in Bangkok we arrived into Suvarnabhumi which serves as the main airport for international arrivals. My first tip is get a Thai SIM card here http://www.ais.th I can’t believe I had to go to Thailand to have BETTER wifi and cell phone service but here we were! Two Youtube channels we binged on were Retired working for you https://youtu.be/NFw-WizIt50?si=poCQYbuH0Sgr4oq2 . Chris is so funny and in this video he explains how to make your arrival into Thailand much easier . Paddy Doyle has fantastic guides that we bought from his channel https://youtube.com/@PaddyDoyle.?si=IX6PAHHzrtCkWvQd .Although he’s lived in Thailand for many years he’s made countless videos of himself traveling the world and I like is carefree enthusiastic personality as he documents his journey. I booked our tickets six months in advance to Thailand from Italy and we had an idea of the regions we wanted to visit so we made an itinerary based on where we were going to be from one week to the next. In the four weeks we would be there we started in Bangkok . We stayed at The Carlton Hotel on Sukhumvit RD .The Carlton hotel is incredible and within walking distance to great shopping malls , food markets, breakfast spots , Thai massage and anything else you could possibly need. Some spots near our hotel we shopped and ate at were http://terminal21.co.th where you can get anything from clothes to electronics . http://emquartier.co.th had the most beautiful food market I’ve ever seen in my life! This luxury mall has all the high -end shops and on our last night here we ate delicious Mexican food at La Monita . There was this twenty -four-hour mango sticky rice spot across from our hotel that we hit up after a long day of sightseeing temples and it was SO GOOD. The mangos in Thailand are on another level .. ask anyone who’s had one seriously ! We also had Pang Cha which is Thai Iced Tea with shaved ice, soft white bread topped with tapioca pearls. It’s hard to describe unless you try it but its a sweet crunchy chewy combination of pure deliciousness ! We took ours to go and strolled Bangkok at night absorbing all of the beautiful chaos that is this fantastic city! Our first night we were exhausted so we had our first dinner Of Pad Thai, Tom Yumm Goong , and red curry at Pak Bakery and passed out early. Day Two Our second Day we headed to Lumpini park because I wanted to see the Thai Monitor lizards. You all know how obsessed I become with animals and this was my goal for the trip. We took a tuk-tuk to the park and after walking around for a good twenty minutes I finally spotted one! He (I’m assuming a male but I’m not sure ) just slinked past me and I got so excited and took my first selfie of the trip with him . They are super chill I mean we found them mostly sleeping on the grassy banks or swimming slowly in the water . I read a sign at Lumpini that said the Thai Park Authority had to remove many lizards because they would frighten the tourists but I was happy nevertheless to see about twenty of them just living in the park .. It was close to lunch time so I remembered my girlfriend Christy Bomb a few years prior had mentioned a Street food chef by the name of Jay Fai . She’s also profiled in the Netflix show Street Food Asia but it was Christy who sent me a YouTube link of Jay Fai cooking her famous crab omelette years before that sparked my curiosity . She was located a bit far from Lumpini so we got back in a Tuk Tuk and headed over not knowing what to expect but we had some luck on our side that day for sure… I’ll say this about OUR Jay Fai experience , we loved it. Yes you have to wait.. a long time. We put our names down (party of two)
Thai Curry in a hurry
Good evening it’s dinnertime around here who’s ready for some Thai curry ! There are five different types of Thai curry I grew up with that my mother and father always cooked. My mother is Thai and my father is English /Dutch. My father was in Thailand during his two tours in Vietnam and he cooked a lot. It was when he was courting my mom that he learned Thai cooking from her family.Both my parents are incredible cooks and growing up as a child all of my friends were white. Thai food wasn’t as hip as it is today and I can remember not wanting to carry Massaman curry for lunch and trying to trade that for a bologna sandwich in first grade. So not happening lol My best friend and only friend who dared eat with me at lunch was a Lebanese girl, Anita who’s food might have been smellier than mine just a tad… Fish sauce and crab paste are hard to beat though!! Anyway back to curries! I made Massman but my personal favorite is Red curry. Green curry has become bitter tasting to me but I still love it and the yellow is fragrant and mild. It’s comforting to me. In order of spiciness we have: 1.Green Curry I usually cook this with veggies only. I make proteins but keep them on the side because veggies seem to just really soak up how spicy these green chilis can be! I use mostly Eggplant with this curry it really soaks up the flavor! Eggplant, Zucchini, baby corn that’s it so good! 2.Red curry which is my favorite curry! It’s spicy but rich and sweet. It’s the perfect mix! Red curry paste is Thai Red Chilies, crushed with garlic, lemongrass, shallots, ginger, and fish sauce. For protein I use chicken, tofu or shrimp with usually zucchini, spinach, or kale.I only use two combinations so I would do shrimp and kale or chicken and spinach or tofu and zucchini. To me adding too many things doesn’t allow you to taste all the different flavors and spices! 3.Yellow curry is mild and rich. This is my “baby Curry ” Many people I know who don’t care for too much spice or just want something exotic but can’t climb to even a medium level (BELIEVE ME there are peeps) I cook this one. The base of this paste is turmeric, cumin, mustard seed, nutmeg, kaffir lime leaves and lime juice. This I cook with pretty much the same two ingredients chicken and Potato. Similar to this curry is Massaman, it’s Indian influenced with cinnamon, cloves and peanut flavors. It’s not spicy at all it’s more sweet and also very comforting. So how do you cook these curries! Well there is a pretty easy formula and it’s like this. Use The curry Pastes. Don’t try to make it from scratch. I mean if you WANT to by all means but the Curry pastes already have all you need, you can even get two, three maybe even four uses out of the canned curry pastes! If you do want to make your own curry paste from scratch my favorite Thai Chef Pai from http://youtube.com/@PailinsKitchen has an incredible Thai cooking channel that I often find myself going to since I don’t have my Mom around . I photographed the two brands I use. The one in the can Maseri does NOT have any Fish, crab or shrimp paste in it. It’s suitable for vegans and like I said it’s just the chilies and spices grounded into the paste. boom done. The one in the pouch is also a great brand BUT some of them like the Tom Ka and a few of the soup pastes have MSG or fish / shrimp pastes in them.. Yea Not NO I can’t do either… This is where I’m considered “Fake Thai ” lol MSG a flavor enhancer is common in asian foods and it makes me itch so bad so I really rake over the labels to make sure it’s MSG free!! I also found this brand called “Roland ” and it’s from Malaysia. I was shopping at the mercado in Costa Rica and I found many of my curry pastes and just asian sauces in general!! It’s funny I have to shop for my Thai groceries every time I travel to another country NOT home in Italy. Crazy right? This Roland brand I bought the Yellow Curry Paste and the Sweet Thai Chili Sauce which is SO tasty for dipping egg rolls, spring rolls, dumplings, gyoza, chicken satay, I mean just pour it all over your plate. Now I’m getting hungry …I will have some more amazing recipes for you guys XO Enjoy! Heat your pan or pot with a little sesame oil and add a one teaspoon of curry paste. Sauté this together for a minute , you want to release the herbs , spices and aromatics into the oil. Now add some veggie broth. I use a veggie bouillon cube and about one cup water let that simmer. Then add your coconut milk.If you use fresh lemon grass you will want to peel off the outer stalks until you get to the inside fresh fragrant ones. Cut lengthwise into small pieces and boil them in the beginning when you add your water- veggie broth. You can also cut up extra pieces of ginger and boil it at this time. Lemon grass takes time to cook so if using fresh add it at the beginning. Curry cooks fast about 10 minutes let it boil but not a hard boil for a maximum of 15 minutes from the time you start your sauté .You don’t want to overcook your veggies and the coconut milk will have a “burnt” taste. If you want to add lime juice do it at the end after you’ve turned off the heat . You want to taste the freshness of the lime juice . I always cook my proteins separately.
