Apparently beating on the electric bits with a large pole is optimal for fixing power outages.

Between the internet and power problems I’ve been lucky just to get online for 5 minutes anymore and answer an e-mail or make a few blog comments. Luckily there was a crack team of electricians and internet people to fix everything yesterday. Why the lateness of this post you ask? Because this is Thailand and when something is fixed correctly it breaks again just so you are sure it was actually fixed.

When I last left you I was lamenting the fact that I had one cigarette left and a budget that wouldn’t tolerate another cigarette purchase and then I left the above picture as a teaser. Well, as luck would have it I didn’t have to make any phone calls because my buddy Julie called and asked me if I wanted to hang out and watch a movie and have a beer or two, I said “sure, and could you pick me up a pack of smokes on the way?” she said yes

When Julie arrived she brought with her 2 large bottles of Heineken plus 2 bottles of San Miguel and the Hangover 2 movie ( Good things come in 2′s ), she then proceeded to let me know that she didn’t buy cigarettes because they are bad for me and I should quit. After she poured some beer she relented and gave me a pack of Marlborough lights she had bought. I don’t really care much for Heineken but I didn’t want to seem rude to my guest so I had a glass or two   We settled in and watched Hangover 2 which I very much enjoyed.

Living Like a Thai Day 16

Today was going to be a day of very little spending and much cooking. For breakfast I waived down a fruit cart in front of the condo and bought a very nice ripe mango for 20 baht ( $.68 ). I warmed up some rice I had cooked the day before and ate my mango on a bed of warm rice mmmm.

For lunch I headed to the Buakow night market ( they are semi open during the day ) and got a bit of fried tofu for 20 baht ( $.68 )as well as picking up a small onion and red pepper for 20 baht ( $.68 ), they would be used for dinner. I needed some coconut milk and didn’t want to go to the supermarket so I asked one of the merchants if they had any and a small bag of coconut milk was then purchased for 5 baht ( $.17 ).

As dinner time rolled around I started my cooking. I split all of my vegetables and chicken in half and put half back in the fridge for later. The other half I chopped up as I started cooking rice and steaming cauliflower. I sauteed the onions and pepper and as they were finishing up I added the chopped kale. I removed this from the burner for a bit as I cooked off my chicken and then added back in the vegetables. To this I added a dollup of chili paste, some hot basil sauce, a little soy sauce and coconut milk.

After reducing a bit I added in the cauliflower and dinner was served. I’m not sure how Thai the dish is but it was definitely spicy and although it didn’t have that restaurant presentation I assure you it still tasted great. Luckily it went very well paired with the one leftover San Mig from the night before, I might have to marry Julie The best part …it’s enough for two meals so it looks like I have lunch settled for tomorrow.

Observations today: At the Thai markets if you don’t see what you want or need ask and you shall receive, someone has it and wants to sell it.

Living Like a Thai Day 16 Expences

The following is Chef Talen’s instructional pictures for making Thai Stroganoff: