tastes like popcorn

Day two in Bureerum village the gang set out again. Doan drove the pickup with the six of us riding in the back sweating like it was a sauna. We stopped at a market on the outskirts of town, and now I understand why they wouldn't let me out of the truck to explore. They wanted to break me...

The road trip snack for the day was fried crickets. Tastes like popcorn. And that's how Thai people eat them, by the handful like popcorn!

I have to admit my stomach did the "are you sure you want to do this" flip-flop as I put the first squeaky jumper in my mouth. They actually do taste like popcorn... Well, I suppose anything fried in oil and doused with salt tastes like popcorn...

But by the time we had reached our destination I was eating the tasty little buggers by the handful too...

Bureerum

Bureerum, not a mixed drink, it's a small village in northern Thailand you probably won't find on a map.

An took me to meet some friends of hers in Bureerum, a great trip to a little town in the Isaan countryside. We hopped a few buses and met her friend Jak and her adorable three-year-old daughter Namfon. The four of us rode the over sized tuk-tuk into Bureerum and met the friends where I was given the standard tests. Can the farang speak Thai and can it eat spicy food... Well, I must have passed both tests because they decided to buy me beer and let me sleep in their home.

It was a rather cool afternoon of 39 degree Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit). We piled into the back of the pickup and went to the river for swimming - probably because I was just sitting there sweating. Floating around on inner tubes on a river was heaven for this farang. What a lovely afternoon eating food in the shade along the river and swimming.





Dinner was it's own adventure. Ant egg soup. But that's a different blog entry...

Wat Nong Wang Muang

The view from the nine story Wat Nong Wang Muang located on the lakeside of Bueng Kaen Nakorn lake in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The ninth floor houses relics from the Buddha and affords a wonderful panoramic view of the lake and Khon Kaen city. The carved wooden doors and window covers are simply amazing.

An, my friend from the Roma Hotel took me by motorbike to see the temple and take me out for breakfast. Thanks for a wonderful morning!

khon kaen coffee friends

My friends Dtao and Pim who adopted me in Khon Kaen. Every morning I would meet them for a cup of coffee and practice speaking Thai with them. I would order something for breakfast from the lady at the next door shop. She can make the best kai yasai, egg omelet with vegetables, I have ever eaten.

But the best part was the treats that Dtao and Pim would bring from the market everyday for me to try. One day it was khao tom, pounded sweet rice and coconut wrapped in banana leaves. The day before was koy jap, a Vietnamese pork noodle soup. Next day was donut ball things.

What fun people. Thanks for sharing your culture with a farang with such enthusiasm.