Bangkok Day 1

Hey everyone!

Great first day here in Bangkok. Couldn't sleep very well (jet lag) last night so I got up this morning and grabbed a quick breakfast at the hotel, and immediately felt the need to crash. After a nice little midmorning nap I went exchanged some more money, and got a new SIM card so I can have internet/phone all the time. What I'm quickly learning is that a working phone is an absolute must. So far I have had 4 Taxis and 1 TukTuk (more on that in a minute), and only one spoke even remotely decent English. it is so tough that google maps isn't even good enough because their language doesn't even use our same symbols. Google Translate paired with googlemaps has been the lifesaver. First country I have ever been in where they use a different set of characters, so I can't even derive pronunciations to try and get my point across. 

On to the fun part. Day 1 of my suit fitting <33333333 b="">

Welp as you may expect, I think my entire trip budget is going to go towards clothing. This place was a great experience. Unfortunately so much was going on I couldn't get pictures, but I will at the next fitting. The tailor I picked out is famous in the town for his good work (over 43 years), and has over 30 people working under him. One of his employees works with you to select materials and linings, his senior staff member then comes at walks you through cuts, collars, buttons, etc. Then the owner himself does every measurement. Quick count was about 40 separate measurements. I'll return Monday before leaving Bangkok to do a second fitting. This will be the point where I can see the initial cut of one suit and a shirt. If you can't tell this is one of the coolest things I have ever done.

It's hot here, about 98 degrees today, so at the peak of the heat, I headed back to the cold AC. Grabbed a cab and found a 75 year old gentleman who speaks great English. He went on to tell me he was a driver for the US Military during the Vietnam war. He seemed like a really good guy, and I was asking him about a lunch spot, so we ate some lunch together from a street vendor. Street food scares me a little. I'll append with some pics later, but the sanitation isn't elite. Everything I have read talks about going for the busy places, and don't eat anything that is sitting, have them cook fresh. Fried dumplings, straight from the icebox to the fryer seemed to be safe. It was awesome. All that to say, "Lung" (Uncle) Kamol will be my tour guide all day tomorrow. 

Dinner Cruise on Chao Phraya River-

Awesome old Rice barge. Two stories, they cook on the bottom, we dine on top. Private tables, with a waiter dedicated to you. SO MUCH FOOD. Tried a little bit of everything, and tried to take pics of most:

Moo/GaiSat-ay (Barbequed Pork/Chicken Satay in a shot glass of Satay Peanut Sauce) - not shown

Dtom Yam Goong (Mildly Hot and Spicy Shrimp Soup with young Coconut) - Not Shown

Working from outside in (two of each)

• Miang Som Oh le Pak (Pomelo & with fresh young coconut served on a Betel Leaf) - far left and right
• Nok Grata Num Chim Yam (Quail Egg Ceviche marinated in lime, sugar, fish sauce with cilantro & onion)
• Dtow Hoo gap Jaem Prik (Seared Tofu with a slow-braised Capsicum Jam)
• Gai Hor Bai Toey (Sous-vide marinated chicken with a perfume of Pandanus in a Pandanus Basket & Thai Plum Sauce) - these are in the middle. wrapped in banana leaves

  

• Salat Ped Num Makaam (Warm salad of Roast Duck with a sweet Tamarind Sauce)  - right
• Tord Man Moo/Gai (Deep Fried Crispy Pork/Chicken Cakes with a Palm Sugar Sauce) - left

• Gaeng Massaman Neu-ah (Mild Southern Massaman Curry of Aged Australian Black Angus Beef)
• Gaeng Kee-aow Wahn Gai (Green Curry of green Thai aubergine with Coconut Cream & Chicken cooked sous-vide)

Thai Spices - these are no joke. Thai Chilies in oil, fish sauce, and a very spicy chili medley - it looks like salsa. Will edit later - think I have some more pics I didn't pull off phone.

• Pat Pak Roo-am Mitr (Stir Fried Vegetables in Oyster Sauce)
• Kao Horm Malee (Steamed Jasmine White Rice & Royal Project Organic Brown Natural Rice

And Dessert: (right to left)

• Khao Neeow Mamuang (Sticky Rice Sushi of Mango with Coconut Cream & Sesame Seeds)
• Khanom Chan (Thai Flag Jelly of Pomegranate, Coconut Cream & Blue Pea Flower)
• Saparot Song Yang (Pineapple Two Ways - Fresh Phuket Pineapple & Pineapple Sweets)
• Salat Ponlamai Ruam (Salad of Unique Thai Tropical Seasonal Fruits & Berries with Thai Basil & Mint)
• Rang Nok Kai Tua Luang(Sweet Taro Bird's Nest, Yellow Bean Eggs & Rice Flour Bird)
• Roti gap Gluay Kai, Num Manaow, Num Peung (Lemon Curd Pancake with Thai Miniature Banana, Sauce of Lime & Tropical Forest Honey with Candied Citrus)

Included some pics of the cruise:

Tuk Tuk ride to the boat - its like a three wheel motorcycle with a small cab