Missing Thailand

Down town Chiang Rai

Today I was reminiscing to a friend about "the Italian restaurant." This restaurant was in downtown Chiang Rai. we went there relatively often, at least once or twice a monthbut then again, it was one of about 3 restaurants of American type food that was available to us. They had this absolutely amazing lasagne, but I think most things tere were pretty good ( although some of the specials were pretty special if you know what I mean :-)- well maybe you don't- but once one of the girls got the special and it was completely raw ( and I don't think it was supposed to be like that or that was not what she was expecting at all) and so she asked if they could microwave it for her. the waitress gave an interesting look, but wanting to please the foreigner, took the food back, and later brought it back the same was it had arrived- still raw. my friend asked again- can you just microwave it- the waitress sheepishly replied I think only the bar has that. again my friend getting frustrated, asked if the waitress could just bring the dish to the bar then and have the bartender microwave it. again strange look.... well then after a few more waiters and lots more confused looks- we figured out the thai staff of this italian restuarant had NO CLUE what it meant to "microwave" it. most thai people do NOT own a microwave, let alone use them on a regular basis. so once we figured that out, life was a little easier, but fun story....

Anyway, after reminiscing about the italian restaurant, I was remined of the other restaurant in town that had decent american breakfasts ( well there were a couple- but one we frequented more often at the beginning of the year). mind you we all ate american breakfasts in our houses, but it was fun to go out and breakfast was a pretty safe bet, and even though it was a little extra, it was nice to get out of the norm every once and a while, and the weekends or on days off, it was especially nice just to have someone else make eggs and "sausage" and bring you coffee or something. It was just such a fun little experience. Actually it was probably kind of close to being in europe, since the place is really set up for european tourists that visit this small norther city.

I am so thankful that I was able to have those experiences of european style breakfasts, with fun miscommunications, and friends that you make, because they recognize you as the same foreigners who come once a week or so for a year! as we ended the year,there was even this little coffee shop Doi Chaang, you might have even seen me where my shirt sporting their logo, but this little place became our stomping grounds. we didn't have air conditioning, and during the very hot days of hot season ( up to 110 degrees- or hotter even inside our house b/c of the sun), but during hot season we would go there during our free time to get out of the heat. they had food, coffee, cocoa, wireless internet, air conditioning, and cushy seats... what more could you want? so needless to say, the staff there got to know us pretty well. They knew what we were going to order even! when we told them goodbye, they we sweet and gave us free t-shirts to remember them by. I just miss all the fun times we had there, and I miss the little things like that. I often find myself longing to hang out at coffee houses still, and I do many times, but none are quite like the service and variety( of food and drinks etc..) that doi chaang had.

This thermometer was in my room and reads 90F I am sure I took a picture of it when it said 120F one day, but I can't find so 90F in my room( not including humidty) will have to do for now :-)

( here is a website that is more thai- looking to me- not so official- but more of the dai chaang stylehttp://phuketdir.com/coffeedoichaang/)