Sunday 26 July 2015

Local Market - Wat Thepnimit



Wat Thepnimit is a Wat which I have visited a number of times over the years for the early morning Songkran celebrations. It is only about 3km outside Phuket Town and on the way to Chalong - the first time that I visited it was a stange place because you could not actually see the Wat from the road but just the school.

In the afternoons (on the empty football field opposite) there is a large market swiftly put up. There is actually a Chinese Shrine currently being built in the far corner... This did mean though that there were a lot of young children at the market!!

This is a traditional Thai Market and visit here if you wish to visit a real Thai market versus a Tourist Attraction.





There is the raw food which you may not want to see and for many will be too much.



As many times as I visit I do not know about these deep fried whole chickens - have you tried one?


I was surprised to see the fresh frogs - peeled and ready for the grill.


And then look down and see the frogs ready to be set free.




Then there were the usual bits and pieces - the handbags and the used shoes.




Then the was the wonderful grocery items - the fresh vegetables and the fresh fish.

Monday 20 July 2015

Idin Boutique Resort


ณ. ดินแดนแห่งความสุข.. ไอดิน บูติค รีสอร์ท Welcome to land of happiness..I din boutique resort.


สัมผัสบรรยากาศ..แสนสบาย พักผ่อนท่ามกลางหุบเขาธรรมชาติและสูดอากาศอันบริสุทธิ์  สู่เสน่ห์ของรีสอร์ทเล็กๆในหุบเขา ที่มีการตกแต่งอย่างมีสไตล์เฉพาะตัว ท่ามกลางหุบเขา ธารน้ำตกไหลผ่านบ้านพักทุกหลัง
Feel relaxed among nature’s valley and air purifier for a breath of fresh air. Welcome to attractivenessof small resort in the valley, our resort interior decorationto create with unique style among the valley, waterfall and stream flow through every resort.


Idin Boutique Resort was somewhere we chose to go as part of a birthday celebration. So hpw many different types of accommodation are there?



Well have a look at the website and it does go into quite great detail! When we arrived I have no idea which we got but this is part of the fun.


As the description above indicates you really do feel  in the middle of nature itself - wonderful - if you are looking for a gentle escape then this is certainly it!



The room was neat and tidy - interesting decorations - there seems to be nothing duplicated at all so please do not think of this as a Hotel - it is something different, interesting and certainly fun.



The surroundings were well - normal and amidst nature - a wonderful concept for people who would like that sort of thing!



Breakfast was a simple thing to have - Thai congee or a Western - I always feel that the Thai dishes are the best bet. Click here for more photographs.


Address: 14/3 M.3  Baan Tabwen, Tumbol Songprag, Amper Muang, Phang nga. 
Telephone: 076-679305 / 076-274889
Line ID: iloveidin
Mobile: 095-6963695 / 081-7372900 / 081-8131282

Tuesday 14 July 2015

3 otters, a snake and a house on the water




This was something that was very different and totally unexpected, we had a phone call from John Gray of the now World Renown John Gray Sea Canoe and he wanted us to meet someone special. This was certainly something different - it was down a road that I passed everyday on the way to work for the last 15 years!!




There was currently a construction of a new pier at the end of the road! 


The home that was at the end looked like it was amongst other homes but not all of them looked after and in one piece anymore! 


There was some wonderful examples of grafitti in the house next door but I do not think it was done by Alex Face...


Then the owner came out of the small house and we were quickly shepherd in to the small room and immediately we were taken by the simplicity of it all - no strings attached...


Then out popped 3 baby otters!!!



Clearly used to attention the baby otters were a real pleasure to run around us.


Taking this opportunity I went for a walk along the low tide at the adjacent beach -
 wonderfully simple!




Then out came the python - what a marvellous experience...




The one thing that I feel is that this mans life here is under threat because of the building of the new pier - do you know how to help this man and his family?


He shows John Gray that he has survived the tsunami 
but will he survive human development? 







Wednesday 8 July 2015

Fried Chicken and sticky rice



Gai Tod (ไก่ทอด)



Fried chicken and sticky rice is a favourite of my daughter's and I enjoy it as well.

It is a dish which is served throughout Phuket and is on the side of the road. We usually buy ours in Sapan Hin or Sakdidej Road (on the way home from Phuket Town) but is available in a great many places.


What I find the most fascinating is that the taste is usually the same whichever place you choose to purchase your food so there must be a standard recipe?




This day I was lucky because I managed to be at the stall at about 10 am in the morning and here was a lady with chicken pieces in a big bowl and was turning them over to be covered in the flour mixture.

I think that the secret here is in the marinade - see here for one.




After the chicken pieces were covered in the flour mixture / batter.
This is where I read things can change - I also read that if it is made by a different community it is also different, for example Muslim and Buddhist).



 I watched them being put into the boiling oil (usually palm oil if that makes a difference). I also know that there are differences in the oil that are made by adding pandanus leaves?



The chicken is cooked for a longer time than I initially thought. The second 'nugget' (sorry) of information is this - cook the chicken until it begins to dry up.

This does distinguish it from a Western version (for example: KFC) where there is a degree of moisture left in the chicken meat - there is very little but it does mean that the chicken is moist - Thai Fried Chicken is dry.


It is also served with sticky rice and fried shallots - a wonderful mixture and always a treat for us.