lvdkeyes

You are right, western food has had an adverse effect on Thai kids. Traditionally, Thais eat very healthy food in smaller amounts, but frequently, which keeps the metabolism running high. The spiciness also speeds up metabolism. If you ever notice how Thais eat, you will see them taking a bite or two to their plate at a time. When they have had enough to eat, the stop eating. Being the product of Depression Era parents, I was always told to "clean your plate".

Can any of you guys recommend a good Thai cookbook?

IMHO. The best Thai cookbook is IT RAINS FISHES by Kasma Loha-unchit. It won the Julia Child award for the best cookbook in the international category. It is not just a book of recipes, but it explains the ingredients and how to prepare them. She is the woman I learned from and Thais are always amazed when I cook Thai food for them. One guy asked me, "What restaurant did you buy this food? It is so good."

which is made using salty seasoning such as fish sauce, lemon juice, chili, garlic and shallot.

Thais don't use lemon juice; they use lime juice, but they call it lemon juice. It's a bit confusing. Apparently, when westerners first came here and saw the limes growing, they mistakenly thought they were unripe lemons, hence the misnomer.

Is there anything you can recommend that goes well with fish sauce?

Almost all Thai food has fish sauce in it. I can't think of any dish besides desserts that doesn't have it.

When fish sauce is cooked into foods, you probably wouldn't even know it's there.

The shoe thrower missed, dammit.

What about being called Mikey? In Thai Mai Kee means no shit.

I think the damage caused was due to the hype and not to an actual threat to safety.

I don't think this is true since it is cheaper to sms than to call. I do both depending on what my intentions are.

"Bin" comes about because of the Thais' difficulty pronouncing words ending in "L". "L" become "N", therefore "check bin".

Biggest event in my life was when I was sent to England by my "Uncle Sam" for three years. It was and still is the biggest event for me because it was so life changing. Moving to Thailand was also big, but I had been here many times, so I knew what to expect, unlike when I went to England. Also, my 21st birthday, which was spent on a ship sailing from Italy to Greece.

Have those of you who live there had any reason to be concerned about your safety during the political unrest of the last few years?

I never have had a moment's concern for my safety here in Thailand at any time.

I think Obama doesn't want to be one of those people who plays the race card. He must know that the outburst was racially motivated.

I have been to Chiang Mai several times and enjoy the city tremendously, especially during Loy Krathong. In CM Loy Krathong is 3 days not just one as here in Pattaya. There is a huge nighttime street parade and canals to float your krathong. It is the most romantic time in Thailand. If you go to CM, one thing you must find to eat is kow soi, a curried noodle dish which is specific to CM area.

I wouldn't swim in Pattaya, Jomtien or Dongtan Beach. There is a ferry that goes to Koh Larn from Bali Hai Pier several times a day. The beaches and water are much cleaner than here in Pattaya. It is a nice day outing to take the ferry early morning and return mid afternoon.

"The chilies may make you live longer but they can make pooping an interesting experience."

The secret is to eat ice cream after a spicy meal; in the morning when the first starts you will be saying "Come on Ice Cream."

"I've been working on the same bottle in my fridge for several months now and should probably throw it out and buy another one."

There is no need to throw it out. It is fermented and will keep forever. I don't store it in the fridge.

When I took Thai cooking classes the teacher said, "When you taste a dish you have prepared and you feel it needs something, just add fish sauce." She was right.

There is so much wrong with the American health care system, I wonder if it can ever be fixed. I also think it isn't fair not to be able to use my Medicare (which I paid into since its inception) simply because I am not in the US.

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Is Zicos on the Beach Road side or Second Road side of Central Festival?

Does this contest preclude people who live in Thailand since the trip is to Thailand?