Winter 2019-2020

  Still in Chiang Mai! I went to a New Years Eve dinner on Saturday and it was an interesting time. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures that I can post as they are on an app I don't know how to access. I asked what I could bring and was told a cake. Sumana said to get the cake from S & P bakery. I took Grab to the bakery and got the cake - it was labelled as a black forest cake but as with everything here  - same same but different!  It did have one cherry on it and whipped cream.  I stood outside in 37 degree weather with it waiting for Sumana. Then spent an hour in the car getting to the dinner. Once I got there I handed it to the hostess and said that it needed to go in the fridge. Nope, it sat on the counter. The house was huge, well manicured and had no furniture to speak of inside. The host is a university Chemistry professor and most of the guests were profs so this was a very educated group. When we arrived there was chicken, pork and noodl...

Even the dragon has to stop for lunch - microwaved noodles from 7/11 Quick stop for some coffee and bought some beans to bring back Pumpkin soup for lunch - just OK It's not that the cat is on a food counter it's that the cat has a collar on! Chiang Mai moat Sprinkler fountains up and down the moat. Getting tired of drinking plain water so I made some Butterfly Pea Tea last night. I first had it on a Thai Airways flight from Dubai to Bangkok and when I asked the steward what it was he said Butterfly Pea and I assumed that it was just a mispronunciation.  Turns out he was right. The tea is actually from the Butterfly Pea flower , it starts out blue and once you add some lime or lime flavoured sprite it turns purple. Add ice and there you have it. Went back to the JJ Market this morning - got there at 8:30 and it was packed. Several vendors were sold out - particularly the ones that had baking. It was so crowded it was un...

One of my favourite things to eat is Papaya Salad aka in Thailand Som Tom most times it is just plain but it can also be found occasionally with chicken. I already bought the papaya scrapper tool, once I get home I'll buy a wooden mortar and pestle. The ingredients - sideways Garlic,chilies,beans and limes first Ta dah.... delicious   Today I went to a friends of Sumanas and she taught us how to make Bai Sri. Each item used has significance. Yellow flowers mean longevity,calotropis flowers mean long lasting love...... you get the drift. It is a time consuming process. One which I was not very good at. Our first stop was at the market where we bought Banana leaves, flowers an food to eat while we were there. Banana leaves  pork rinds or something similar? And of course everyone loves bamboo worms as a snack! This little kid photo bombed my picture of the older lady! Sumana's niece, and dinner . Sitting...

Just a lazy day, slept in until 9:30!  Did a load of laundry and followed a yoga class on you tube. Went to the pool and what a disappointment. The water was really cold and there are so many trees that the sun can't shine through. This evening I went to The North Gate Jazz Co-op. Recommended via Facebook. It was packed. I started out on the fourth floor then the band moved down to the first floor. People were out on the street and across the road. I saw this on the gate yesterday when I walked by and now I know why it's there. As is typical with Thailand the signs are merely a suggestion. View from the fourth floor! The crowd on the first floor before the band even started. The view from across the street  

My new motto! Started my day with an 8 am yoga class  - truly an ungodly time of the day! I am so glad that I discovered GRAB  - it makes life a lot easier here. I came back to the apartment had some yogurt and a green apple - best breakfast yet! I decided to just wander the old town so I started at the Tha Phae Gate, five hours later I headed for home. One of the cutest carts I've seen - a little too early for ice cream tho! Came across this sign as I was wandering and just couldn't resist. She was really strong, made me jump a few times with the pressure but all in all excellent massage.  I stopped to look at a menu and looked over to find these two little pups just waking up!  The restaurant looked good and they also ran a cooking class so I sat down and ordered pumpkin soup  -  no soup today so I went back to the ole stand by  - panang curry! It was delicious - perhaps the best I've had on this tr...