Cambodia Food Frenzy

It's been a month that has passed since I did my Thailand-Cambodia backpacking escapade, and yet my hang-over with Cambodia is still within me. I'm just fascinated with their country's culture, tradition, and of course food tastes. I even tried searching for a Cambodian restaurant around Metro Manila to satisfy my taste bud's desires!

Besides knowing a country's culture and daily ways of living, another thing on my backpacker list is to taste as much local foods as possible and appreciate their diversity of flavors. I've tried a lot of foods in Cambodia and it's like a mix of Thai-Filipino-Indian tastes actually.

Bangkok Food Tripping

Yes, food is important to me! :)

Before going to Thailand, I did beforehand my slightly "extensive" research about their country's finest delicacies and popular local dishes. I've read a lot of sources saying Thailand's dishes are bursts of each and every flavor. Interesting, right?!

Well, I've considered all the online comments I've read and listed down the must-eat foods, and now it's my time to give my verdict!

Thailand has lots of cuisines to offer to satisfy your stomach's desire. I really did my best trying all their foods may it be from a formal restaurant, food court center, street food stalls, and side walk vendors. Join me as I share with you glimpses of Thai foods that surely made my trip more satisfying.

Food Court center around Pratunam

I've read some sources online that in Pratunam Area, they serve delicious Chicken Rice [they prononouced it as "chiken righ"] and Tom Yum. Well, I found a chicken rice which costs THB 50 but it was the fried version and not the steamed one. But it still passed my taste bud's criteria.

Thai Chicken in Rice

The Tom Yum on the other hand was EPIC! With its THB 100 price, Yes, E-P-I-C! The sweet and spicy taste of the dish really brought a "stinging" sensation in my body. Somehow, I realized that Thai foods are sharing the same taste with Filipino foods. For instance Tom Yum versus our local Sinigang dish!

Tom Yum

Strolling along Pratunam Area, there were also a lot of food vendors selling lots of fruits which were delicious and sweet and cost only around THB 20 - THB 50. In the Philippines, we usually use Soy Sauce with Green Mangoes and Guavas but in Thailand, I was amazed because they used chili powder! And yes, again it was perfectly matched!

Street food spices to spice up your life!

TRAVEL TIP: Aside from Thai Food, you can also find bunch of restaurants serving Indian Food, Chinese Food, and European Food. If you're too adventurous to taste all the dishes, don't hesitate to try everything at once!

Noodles w/ Egg & Tomato Soup

   Stir Fried Noodle w/ Squid              Stir Fried Chicken w/ Peanuts

Going up north in the historical place of Ayutthaya, One Love Restaurant & Guest House, in front of Wat Ratchaburana, offered delicious dishes! I highly recommend this resto to all tourists visiting the place! Prepare around THB 400 in your pocket and it will already suffice your hunger.

One Love Restaurant

Who said we're hungry?

Going back to Bangkok, another Thai Food on my list is the Pad Thai! I have tasted before this dish from a Thai Resto here in the Philippines but my tongue is really searching for an authentic one.

Seafood                                           Chicken

TRAVEL TIP: Try the sidewalk food stall located in the entrance gate in Tha Tien Pier because they serve tasteful Pad Thai dish either in Chicken mix or Seafood mix at THB 60 only. By the way, Thai Tien Pier is near Wat Pho area.

Pad Thai Preparation

Moving on, there's a place in Bangkok which is popularly known as the "Backpacker's Haven". Where else but Khao San Road! Why? Because it's an area jampacked with tourists and backpackers alike. They have affordable lodges, pension inns, and guest houses! Additionally, the place transforms itself as a party haven at night!

TRAVEL TIP: Never miss tasting Thailand's local beer, "Chang Beer", from a bar in Khao San Road! I admit, it's cheaper because it only costs THB 60 for a 640 ml bottle. Fair deal, huh?!

Cheers to Good Health!.. I meant Good LIFE! :)

Is it maybe because Thai foods have the same tastes as Filipino foods that's why I loved their dishes? Hmmm, I think it's more on the "innovative taste" that Thai foods offer that made it worth a try, Always!

More resources about Thailand:

• Bangkok, Thailand's Krung Thep
• Bangkok Transportation
• Bangkok City and Temples

Bangkok, Thailand's Krung Thep

TRAVEL DATES: February 14 - 15, 2013

Travel Budget: USD 180

My first international backpacking experience happened in Bangkok, Thailand and Siem Reap, Cambodia afterwards. Mixed feelings encapsulated me again because this was my first travel for this year 2013 and yes, my travel adventure started outside the Philippines!

Backpack + Laptop + Camera Bag

I departed NAIA Terminal 3 from Manila, Philippines at 6:30AM (PHL Time) through Cebu Pacific Air carrier and arrived Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport at 8:45AM (THA Time). It was roughly a three-hour plane ride which I enjoyed a lot...sleeping!

Arriving Bangkok's Airport, I was instantly amazed with it's structural facade and how the airport itself was constructed. It was a huge airport. One of the nicest things about their airport was that they have the "Airport Rail Link" which connected it directly to central Bangkok. How I wish Philippines' government should have thought of this too. :)

Suvarnabhumi Airport (pronounced as "Suvarnabhum" only) 

Bangkok, or Krung Thep for locals, was a city central filled with various cultural races. It was like a salad bowl of every country in every continent of the world. It had made the city more vibrant with a lot of choices to offer. It's too premature to say that I fell in love with Bangkok right there and then but YES, it was a place worthy of such credit.

I've visited a lot of what Bangkok has to offer, from the city's Temples or locally known as "Wat", to Ayutthaya's historical ruins. I never missed the chance to taste what authentic Thai foods are, such as Tom Yum at Pad Thai. I've learned new Thai words which are commonly used for greetings like the "Sawasdee Ka" and "Khop Khun Khap".

              Tom Yum                            Thai Family in the Train 

         Tuk-Tuk                 Bangkok Wat Pho

I've noticed though that Bangkok men are more accommodating than their women. It's a bit weird because in the Philippines, women are more accommodating and always wearing a smile on their faces. Well, maybe because of language and cultural differences that's why their women are kinda assertive and frequently spoke fast.

 Food Vendors in Pratunam Area

Every country has it's positives and negatives and for me, Bangkok knew how to manage these. I'd love going back to this place, hopefully with some knowledge already about Thai Language. Well I admit, it's hard to communicate with them using English.

I remembered when we ate at a restaurant in Khao San Road, I asked where the nearest drugstore is because my head was aching. The waiter replied to me, "Drug Story, Sir?". I did my charade thingy explaining what I'm feeling but at the end of the day, we did not understand each other.

Ticketing Entrance at Ayutthaya with Thai words!

Well, I took this as a learning experience and nothing against Thai waiters. They are very accommodating and will surely attend to your needs at their best. Just be sure to wear your smiling face all the time, speak English slowly, and bring enough money, Thai Baht, because their foods and beers are deliciously addictive!

Bangkok Traffic at 9AM

We stayed at Pratunam Pavilion Hotel during my 2-night stay in Bangkok. The hotel is strategically located in the heart of Pratunam, Bangkok's business center. The hotel rate per night was USD 44 and it was a very good deal because the room was very clean and spacious! Check out their updated room rates from here: www.agoda.com.

Pratunam Pavilion Map

More resources about Thailand:

• Bangkok Food
• Bangkok Transportation
• Bangkok City and Temples