Food and Shelter - Matt and Robin's Wide World of Travel (WWT)

September 06, 2004

Food and Shelter

Many of you have asked about our daily life...not too exciting, but it beats working...

So, as far as food goes, we've had some ups and downs, but mostly ups. We eat from street vendors serving us stir fries for less than a dollar a meal. This has been generally point and smile, due to our lack of Thai, but we've gotten to know a few words for vegetables, rice and chicken, which has helped vary our diet a bit.

The restaurants we eat in are usually small, local ones. They almost always have an english language menu, that even has different prices! (but not by very much at all....)

Matt's been enjoying a wide rice noodle dish, Pad See Eew, (not a good Thai translation, but it works). Robin's mostly been eating a lot of fried rice and tofu..except for the American Fried Rice dish at the Chatuchak Market, which, neither of us ate.

Other than Thai food, we've had great Indian, Japanese and Middle Eastern food as well as a great meal of ravioli here in Chiang Mai.

Our intrepid-ness hasn't really shown up in the food aisle yet, we have yet to try ant eggs, or crickets or some other bug. Shopping for food is not at all like Safeway, here's a picture of the fish seller preparing some serpent-head fish for our cooking class that we took in Chiang Mai.

Last night we had a great little snack at the night market, a small pancake with chocolate on a little stick, like a popsickle. It was cooked on the griddle right in front of us and we got to pick out its shape--animal cartoon characters. It was very fun!

We've had both good and ok rooms so far. Some have been really nice, teak wood, views, etc. Others have been less memorable, bad grout, interesting plumbing and terrible decor. One even had a swimming pool....All have been fairly inexpensive and as far as we can tell, locally owned places.

Posted by Matt & Robin on September 6, 2004 04:33 AM
Category: Southeast Asia

Comments

The night market looks really cool!

Let's figure out how to make those treats when you get back.
Glad to hear you're not starving, but I'd like for you to try some ant eggs and then tell us about it.
Of course, you can't eat crickets! What would Riley think?!

Posted by: Pamster on September 7, 2004 04:40 PM

Finally had a chance to look at your site. Boy do I miss the Far East. Love your photos, they bring back lots of great memories.
My advice to you - travel, do everything you can, travel some more, explore, travel, talk to everyone you meet- the people you meet along the way will be what you remember. You'll talk about the people more than the places you saw.
When you get homesick and think about coming back - don't - go back out and travel some more, and when you get sick of it again - remember you could be back in the US working like the rest of us.
It all goes by so fast, and you may never be able to do it again.

Posted by: Karen on September 7, 2004 05:16 PM

I have finally gotten back to this site to see how your doing. Love the pictures and the journal. Sounds like you have done quite a lot already. We have been busy getting Corinne off to Mary Mount. So far she is enjoying it but a little home sick. How about you guys I bet your wishing for a McDonald's (HA!)

Posted by: Di and Jim on September 7, 2004 06:01 PM

It's very exciting to see what the three of you have been up to!! I've never been to Thailand but is definitely way up on my personal list! We are looking forward to tracking your adventures and will be checking back regularly. The two of you are very inspirational and are bound for hero-hood! :) Please have some Pad Thai for us.

Love,
Mark, Monica, Mackenzie and Chief
(M3+C)

Posted by: Mark & Monica on September 7, 2004 07:42 PM

Hey looks like you are having a great time. Do you have any tips for three girls that are going to Europe next summer? (yes that includes me!!)
Have a great time and please email me as soon as you can. Thanks
Erin Kuhlke

Posted by: Erin on September 8, 2004 04:14 PM

Hi Robin,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM ALL THE LACHMANN'S IN SAUGERTIES! Hope everything is going along all right. Great to read about all your trials and tribulations. Have a great time. We're thinking of you. Love from all!

Posted by: mom and dad on September 9, 2004 05:10 PM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBIN -- What a way to celebrate your birthday where ever you are on Sept 10th - maybe you can have chocolate covered fried ants instead of birthday cake to help celebrate!!
Remember -- don't overlook what you may now think of as the mundane -- I kick myself for not having a picture of some of the "lesser" accommodations I had to stay in to let people know what I had to endure and to remind even myself when I got back. Even the transportation over there may seem mundane, but when you get back you realize how special a tuk tuk is or a bus with all the tassles and garland hanging in the windows would look really cool in your picture collection or even a picture of everyone jammed on a bus with their chickens etc, etc. But when you're over there you think -- I"m just taking a bus to get from here to there. My favorite picture is one of the guy washing my clothes --- I paid the equivilant of $12 for him to do my laundry for 3 weeks while I was on safari in Africa.

Posted by: Stephanie & Michael on September 9, 2004 06:31 PM

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Robin, happy birthday to YOU!!

Love and miss you. Enjoy your day and all the adventure that comes your way!!

Posted by: Lisa and Liz on September 10, 2004 12:04 AM

Hello Matt and Robin. Greetings from 34th! It is our first visit to this site. Absolutely wonderful to see ya on the other side of the world! All is well here... the house has not blown away. Olivier is a little miffed especially when he hears of Riley's adventures. Keep bringing us news and keep on trucking.
Cheers.

Posted by: Sarah, Scott, Hoyt & Lulu on September 10, 2004 09:36 PM

Hey Rob and Matt!! happy birthday birdie!! I was so thrilled to see that your arrival went smoothly and travel integration has begun. This is my first visit to your site and I'm sitting here grinning and getting such a huge kick from tuning in to your adventures and twists and turns!! the markets! the motorcycle rides! the crickets and squirrels,,, and Riley! You guys rock!! You've done so much already and sound like you're naturals!! I'm hanging in north portland, just now listening to sleat-kin, and savouring an uncluttered Saturday. General homeownership preparations are going smoothly. Loving the last of the warmth, and the bike lanes. I think I could get addicted to your blog, a happiness addiction. I send you a huge hug, waves of smiles, and travel spirit blessings.
What a wonderful world... Joan

Posted by: Joan on September 11, 2004 03:46 PM

Sounds great you guys - and don't worry your house has become quite the party house, and the Red Sox are going to catch the Yankees.

Will keep you posted.

Alec

Posted by: Alec on September 13, 2004 02:22 PM

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