Phang Nga, Thailand

Sawadee kap!  I am leaning back on a palm tree as I write.  In Thai terms, this is really living on the edge with the constant danger of falling coconuts!  However, the view of a white sandy beach and turquoise sea is amazing so I’m not going to worry about a thing.  Bangkok was frenzied yet fascinating.  The food markets were captivating and some of the new dishes I found are just brilliant, but I’m glad now to be relaxing in Phang Nga with its mountainous backdrop of lush rainforest.  As I write, long-tailed boats are gliding across the bay, their iconic phut-phut sound carrying across the water.  I can see the distinctive needle rock island of Ko Tapu otherwise known as ‘James Bond Island’ since its appearance in ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.  Cooking aromas are wafting past me too, emanating from a handful of bamboo huts scattered along the beach.  I saw a lady on a motorbike with a covered side-cart – called a Samlor – bouncing over the sand between the frangipani & casuarina trees  and I resolved to buy my lunch from her. They call this ‘the land of smiles’ and sure enough as I approached, her face lit up.  Neng introduced herself and I was fascinated to learn she was from Ko Surin – the community of traditional sea gypsies!  I told her all about my travels, my love of spicy food and my search for new recipes.  Before I knew it she had promised that her son would take me fishing and then tomorrow evening we will cook together.  This is going to be great…

My lunch was delicious too –  prawn Penang and sticky rice!  Chok dee!