Some tourists come to Bangkok solely to experience Thailand’s infamous, fiery food first hand. Others visit Thailand merely hopeful that they can successfully point to a dish that won’t make them ill or set their mouths ablaze. Almost every backpacker in Thailand has one food related story fraught with mayhem, tears and a new-found respect for Imodium AD. The best advice you’ll hear is to be prepared, be adventurous and try not to cry too much at the dinner table when you accidentally pop a spoonful of Jungle curry into your mouth.
Keep in mind that the more you eat spicy foods, the more your tolerance will build until you start getting ideas about adding pepper spray as a seasoning. For anyone who thinks that the hot mustard sauce at McDonald’s is bad, this should be enough to bluff your way through Bangkok’s food scene until you can handle the full force of Thai cuisine.
Beginner’s advice
Thai iced tea, in a bag
It’s always fun watching someone order a drink to go with a street vendor for the first time. If you aren’t in a touristy area, it’s often in a bag overflowing with ice. Don’t try to set it down anywhere, it’ll spill.
Drinking Thai iced tea (chai yen) is one of the few ways to ensure you’ll stay refreshed in Thailand’s boiling heat. Vendors often have stacks of condensed milk cans lining the booth – you can spot them a mile away. Be careful of the calories. Another tasty option is Thai iced coffee (conveniently called gawfee yen).
You’ll also see stacks of young coconuts at street markets. It’s quite fun to watch the vendor slice off the top with a cleaver and hand you the entire coconut with a straw.
A quick note about drinking in Thailand – magic mushroom shakes may be readily available, but they can be dangerous to try in large crowded places like Koh Phangan during Full Moon. Rumors abound of young women who are caught streaking through the beach after trying a “special” shake or omelet. It’s impossible to tell how a person will react, so be extremely cautious.
Also, don’t be surprised to ask for a Vodka Red Bull and be handed a bucket filled with liquor, ice and straws. The southern islands are accustomed to dedicated partiers with a high tolerance for alcohol.
A crash course in Thai dining vocabulary
Links to learn more:
Good general Thai food site: http://www.sawadee.com/thailand/food/index.htm
Thailand travel site with good food section: http://www.thaizer.com/
Another good Thai site with a nice food section: http://www.1stopthailand.com/thai-food/
