Thailand travel notes

People who are accustomed to fast-paced urban life come to Chiang Mai and will fall in love with the slow pace of life here. But at the same time they have to adapt to this rhythm to work efficiently. I reckon that no matter how impatient the temper is, it will slow down after staying in Chiang Mai for a long time. The mantra that people in Chiang Mai like to say is "za yin yin", which means calm and don't worry. I remember a time when my finger was injured and I needed to go to the hospital for bandaging. I went to an old hospital near the hotel. There were not many patients in the empty hospital, but the male nurse who bandaged me took almost 50 minutes from the registration to the end of the bandaging. He was still chatting and laughing with his colleagues, while asking me to "za yin yin". I thought to myself that is lucky my injury wasn't serious, otherwise the "blood tank would have been empty" long ago.

If the "za yin yin" in the prosperous world cannot explain the life attitude of Chiang Mai people. Then after the epidemic, now this October, when I contacted the chartered car guide and the Thai food teacher I met before when I traveled. Facing the current declining tourism industry , they are still actively facing life. The travel industry guys are working hard to learn photography and editing, ready to use these time to enrich themselves and aspire to become a travel photographer. And the Thai food teacher didn't stay idle during the suspension of classes, and went to the farm to set up a tent homestay to plant coffee trees. Their full of positivity and optimism makes me feel that it is unfounded to worry about them, za yin yin!

"Thai Fresh" ----local market JJmarket

Chiang Mai's markets are dazzling, and names are also divided into day markets, night markets, weekend markets on several days, and so on. It can be said that there is no Chiang Mai without night market!

All night markets are similar. I have been to a Thursday night market that locals go to. The location is next to the lotus supermarket. There are few tourists, mostly locals. The food is cheap, but the taste of Thai food in the market is really northern Thailand, Spicy and heavy! Babies who are afraid of spicy food, be careful!

But among all the markets, what I loves most is Jing Jai Market which is visited by the locals the most, also known as the organic market which belongs to the weekend morning market. This market is quite large, and it is divided into many blocks according to the different products sold.

Since it is an organic market, there are many agricultural and sideline products sold outside. And there are many organic fresh fruits and vegetables. The price is cheap and the quantity is sufficient. Many locals and foreigners who have lived in Chiang Mai for a long time will buy food here. Going further is the handicraft daily necessities. From costume jewelry to hand account books, from ordinary products of wholesalers to handmade items of designers. It depends on whether you have such a pair of eyes and are willing to spend time. There are definitely more small surprises that can be found here than the Sunday Night Market in Thapae Gate, and they are more refined and artistic. There are also many homemade leather goods, homemade silver ornaments, porcelain, etc., and the quality is not bad (of course, the price is also proportional to the quality. ).

There are a lot of food varieties in the food area. From local curry noodles, dazzling Thai desserts to Japanese sushi and crepes. People with different tastes can find what they like according to their preferences. The price is moderate and not more expensive than outside.

"Fresh Thai"----learn Thai food in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai was the site of the Silk Road in Southeast Asia hundreds of years ago, and it is close to Myanmar and Laos. The Thai food in Chiang Mai has always had a diverse and integrated taste. People who have been to Chiang Mai will like the dazzling food here. You may have tried Teresa Teng's favorite curry noodles, tried the Feng Fei Fei pig's feet rice at the overnight market, or have been to the endless stream of online celebrity shops to check in, such as Mango Tango and Mix bar at Ninman.

However, how can people who really love life be satisfied with eating? It is more interesting to learn to cook Thai food with authentic Thai people! There are many local cooking schools, and I found this studio run by a local.

The young teacher Ping from Chiang Mai has come to China to study. She has been a graduate student at Anhui Normal University for two years, so she speaks very well in Chinese and understands Chinese culture relatively well. There is no language barrier at all when I take a few elders from home to class!

The class takes place at Teacher Ping's house. I made an appointment for the class time in advance. A driver would pick us up at the agreed place in the ancient city and then drive for about half hour to stop in front of a single-family house, which is Teacher Ping's home.

Unlike some cooking school teachers who will take students to the vegetable market to buy ingredients. Mr. Ping’s yard grows lemongrass, galangal, coriander, chives, hornet orange, lime and some seasonal vegetables. Purchasing vegetables can be done self-sufficiently in the small courtyard while teaching everyone to identify the ingredients! The ingredients are fresh, and the process is fun and doesn't have to be exhausted.

In the semi-outdoor operation area, everyone has a stove and the ingredients for the four dishes they are about to cook. Because everyone has different dishes, the teacher should give everyone instructions according to each person's menu. Washing, cutting, serving, oiling, cooking...because the six of us are really busy in class together, the teacher has to watch and listen to all directions. My biggest feeling is that Thai people really like to put fish sauce in cooking and palm sugar! But Thai food is really not as complicated as you think!

After a few hours, everyone's four dishes were successfully cooked. There was a long table full of them to eat together, and they couldn't finish it! Because the teacher taught to cook the most traditional Thai dishes, the taste is a little heavier for the elders who are not very fond of spicy food, but it is more authentic! Ms. Ping has taught many students who have learned Thai cuisine over the years. Some of them have opened Thai restaurants after returning to China. Ms. Ping will make some curry sauces and provide them to the students who open restaurants in China.

Postscript: I recently contacted Ms. Ping to greet her current living conditions after the epidemic. I learned that she could only suspend classes after the epidemic. The whole family went to the farm to cultivate, and then a new idea came up. She has not been idle during the recession in the tourism industry in the past few months. She starts to set up tents and B&Bs for Thai tourists to live in. Recently, she plans to plant coffee trees and resume classes! Young people in Chiang Mai who are "za yin yin" always look hope vigorous!