Market. + Farm + Cooking + Eating = Super happy Elana! - Chiang Mai

Now this blog deserved as many pictures as I can bare waiting for uploading. I had a fantastic day! Not only did I get to visit a local market, harvest ingredients from an organic farm, cook various dishes and eat, I met some great people and a lovely thai girl who made my day an incredible one! I've shared videos and pics to share with you all. I will have to figure out how to include recipes when I get the chance!

I had so much fun at the market. There was everything there from veggies, meats, poultry, fish, condiments and for the kids toys ;) now this one brought out that inner child in me!!
Do you notice the variety of rices? Oh the things I am learning here!! (hope the video works, first time trying it out)

Below is a picture of "my helper". This sweet thai girl kept on staring at me so I welcomed her near me to help with the cooking. Although no words were exchanged we made our connections and many smiles were exchanged.
First picture is of us in the farm and the second in the kitchen. She was darling.





First course: Red curry. I muddled the paste myself and made this delicious dish in a snap!



Second course: Tom kah. So easy and so delicious. No man power needed like the paste. Just some chopping and mixing. Yummy!



Third course: Papaya salad. Ahhhheaven!



Fourth course: Stir fry wide noodles. Sauce is a combinatation of molasses and mushroom sauce. Believe it or not it was delicious!



Fifth Course: Coconut milk with pumpkin for dessert. Others who made mango sticky rice had a better dessert (I have to be honest)



So, how did I like it?

Goodie bags and a recipe book to take home. My friend and I were sad to leave one another but had such a special time together :)








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Getting business done - Chiang Mai

I made it! Im safe, happy, and still in awe that Im actually in Thailand! Its my first full day in Chiang Mai and I'm exhausted. Big surprise. 26 hours of travel time and a 10 hour time change will make anyone tired. Luckily I slept a lot last night but am still pretty tired today. I woke this morning with 2 things on my agenda. 1. Find a fruit market with freshly cut mango to fill my stomach! 2. Visit the India consulate to apply for my visa. (needs at least a week to process so wanted to take care of it asap. Of course I can't give myself a day to just settle in before taking care of business. There is a voice in my head yelling "Elana... Let go of being efficient! You are on vacation!") Ya well that voice also screamed pretty loud as I was determined to find the consulate by foot and deny any option of jumping in a tuk tuk or taxi. "stop roaming around a strange place and get in a taxi!" But how could I listen to myself when I just love walking around a strange town?! I didn't want to give up. I felt sure I could find my way. 3 hours later... sweat rolling down my back, my feet starting to hurt from wearing in my chacos, not seeing another white person for the last hour of my journey, I finally found it! Talk about a goal accomplished! I took care of my visa and decided to take a tuk tuk back. Awesome, only $1 for the entire trip. Nice Elana, a 3 hr journey or a $1 tuk tuk ride? Well I'm on vacation... Wouldn't have done it any other way :)

So I accomplished my second task but my first one was shockingly difficult to accomplish!! I expected fruit markets on every corner, or at least fruit stands on every corner. Well I was wrong. I'm sure they exist, they have to exist, but they weren't in site on my 3 hr adventure. Shame. I missed out. Well I'm not giving up. I did stumble upon a small market that had a small assortment of fruit but didn't satisfy my giddiness of what markets usually bring out in me. But not to worry.... Im certain they will appear soon enough!

After my long walk I was starved. So found a guesthouse to grab a bite.

My first meal. Pad thai $2 (yep $2!!!) delicious!



For my first day it's been productive and now I'm exhausted again. I'm going to take the rest of the day easy since I'm on vacation and because I can ;)

One thing I saw that I couldn't help but share. As i was walking around Chiang Mai this morning I peeked through the gates to get a glimpse of a temple. Look who I found in the bottom left corner!!



Yep - Donald duck!
Hope that made you smile just like it made me :)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Ratchamanka Road Soi 3,Phra Singh,Thailand