Thai Cooking school in Bangkok.

Cooking Thai food in Bangkok.  After checking out several schools this one proved to be the most entertaining and actually low key as well as informative.  With a classroom full of internationals from Brazil, Australia, Japan, England, Switzerland and the US, we enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and yummy food.  So after freezing my tush off in Italy for the last several months, I am now sweating it off in humid Bangkok.  As this was rather spontaneous I am glad for the few warm weather clothing items I happened to pack.  Mostly yoga clothes. These are quite a few photos beginning with a market visit and through various classes on different Thai dishes. Wow what a switch in food.  And after the crappy food we were fed at the Italian Institute of crappy food and abuse, Im thrilled with the fresh and fantastic food i am experiencing in Thailand.

this is coconut milk processing , this bowl contains the shredded coconut that later we will squeeze to get the coconut mil we use for the amazing dishes we prepare.

Fish and shrimp, Thai style.  I love going to different market.  This one is actually quite small and really clean and no stinky smells.  Other markets have all of the dried fishes, shrimps and other sea things then when dried smell very strong ! this one is bright and cheery perhaps it caters to all of the cooking schools in the area.  It seems to be everywhere that I see little signs for cooking schools, so it is quite a business.

our baskets of goodies

Buddhas in Bangkok

Here are a few photos of a few Buddhas in Bangkok.

This is the reclining Buddha.  It is huge.  I took several photos from various angels and in some included people to show its enormity.

A special touch at the hotel

A special touch in the room.  The day I arrived I had an array of small purple Orchids, so perfect in fact I assumed them to be fake.  The next day I noticed a change and then realized these to be real.  So I am taking a photo of all of them as they change because I appreciate the touch so much.  This hotel is a lovely oasis from the chaos outside.  I don't think it is extreme traffic, having grown up in Chicago and lived in several cities.

Another day in Bangkok- night too- the night market scene

Another day in this bustling town.  What a difference from the sleepy town we were in near Soverato, Italy.  Another friend has appeared in this town and a group of us went out to enjoy more yellow curry crab and a night out in the night market.  ( more like meat market- and not the steak kind) Back at home I was often in bed by 10 and up by 6, my schedule has had several changes over the past few months.  In Rome, I adjusted to the mid day huge lunch followed by an equally huge nap and later nights and large meals most of the time.  This continued for most of Italy until school- no naps but my nights were now later as I discovered blogging,online books and online movies/tv.  (old habits die hard).

Now it would seem that staying out until 2am and sleeping until noon was the new for last night.  I am attending another cooking school tomorrow so an earlier night is preferred.  The night market was so intense I forgot to take photos so I will do my best to explain.  I'm embarrassed to say what shows were being offered for our viewing pleasure ( some involved ping pong balls and others darts or "lady boys") I had heard about this before but as this trip was impromptu I had conveniently parked this information deep in the dark hallways of my mind.  Until last night.  We walked through areas of stalls selling clothes, watches, t shirts , knock off purses and wallets, lighting , jewelry and other trinkets.  Most stalls repeating the wears every 4 or 5 stalls.  these stalls were along the main road and through the center of a wide side road.  These stalls were flanked by various bars and night clubs and the occasional restaurant.  It began to close down around 1 am.  at least the stalls selling .  It looked as if the bars would continue for a while.  After an interesting cab ride back to the hotel I was happy for a shower in my beautiful rain shower.  The hotel is very nice.  the room is great and a perfect size.  The bed is dreamy comfortable and the AC is perfectly cold.  All in all the hotel is a great find.  But again I have the newest set if jumping kids above my head.  Tonight going out to see a rooftop restaurant or two...

Ronald McDonald in Namaste

Namaste

Day one Bangkok- doing pretty well so far

After a disappointment with the Culinary School in Calabria my friend Abeehru and I decided to make lemonade out of lemons.  We arrived in warm and friendly Bangkok.  I have never been here before and am pleasantly surprised with the warmth of the people every where we go here.  We began our day with a delicious lunch of fried grouper and yellow curry crab and the best iced coffee i've ever had.  We will try another school here, and plenty of culinary research - eating :)  

A view from the restaurant near the hotel

beautiful and yummy too, this came with a green papaya salad that was quite hot ( not quite rip your tongue off hot but hot !)

Yellow Curry crab

We are happy now, good food, good friendship good day!