So Not Lost!

It’s unfortunate that when one mentions Bangkok these days, the first thing that people think of is violence and danger, no thanks to the ongoing Redshirt drama. Indeed, people are reconsidering and ultimately dropping Bangkok from their itineraries following recent violence in the city which saw a Japanese tourist wearing a red shirt get beaten, not to mention calls by Arthur Frommer – not once, but twice – to completely avoid not just Bangkok, but the entire nation of Thailand.

(As I’m writing this article, things have only gotten worse, so much so that I personally wouldn’t recommend going to Bangkok right now, either.)

And that’s a shame, because Bangkok is such a wonderful city. I visited it at the end of February this year, just a little over a month before the madness began, and I had a great time there. One of the major factors that contributed to my enjoyment of Bangkok was the food. All you need to do is walk around Bangkok, and you’ll find some great Thai food, either at a roadside stall, a sit-in restaurant, a marketplace, or anywhere within walking distance from the city’s major tourist attractions. Step outside the Royal Palace, for example, and you’ll be greeted by an entire area with plastic chairs and tables, large umbrellas, and signs advertising Pad Thai.

Thai street food stalls

In Bangkok, I was fortunate enough to reconnect with Mark Wiens, who I’d met in Manila the previous year thanks to CouchSurfing Also known as Migration Mark (or simply @migrationology to Tweeps in the know), Mark introduced me to some delicious authentic Thai food. It’s always great when you’re taken care of by someone who’s “in the know,” and Mark is definitely “in the know” when it comes to Thai food, as evidenced by his list of 100 Food Dishes To Eat Like a King in Bangkok: The Ultimate Thai Eating Guide.

with Thai food expert Mark Wiens (yes that's the best photo we have together)

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Kao Pad - Click to View Hi-Res Image

Food is an important part of travel. Admit it: One of the best (and simplest) ways to experience another country’s culture is through its food. Whenever I visit a new place, I make sure to try some of its local cuisine.

Food in Bangkok was AMAZING. There were the usual entries, stuff you find in almost any Thai restaurant, and then there was other stuff that the locals ate. Mark – also known as @migrationology – took me out to dinner and it was absolutely amazing… but I’ll talk about that at length next time.

In this photo is my first Thai meal in Bangkok, albeit one that’s more touristy and relatively common (even in Thai restaurants outside of Thailand). This is Kao Pad, also known as Thai fried rice. It was delicious, and it made me fall in love with Thai food right away.

That was this week’s TravelTuesday Picture of the Week. Enjoy the rest of TravelTuesday on Twitter and follow me @hyperren. Come back next week for another PotW!