Things You Must Try: Thailand Part 2, Beyond Bangkok

While I spent most of the trip in Bangkok, I also managed to venture outside of the city as well as visit a few beaches. I certainly ate my fair share and then some. Thailand's beaches were my kind of paradise (i.e. the kind with fantastic fresh food and a lot of it)!

When you're dining at an island resort in Thailand, definitely go for the fish and seafood as much as you can. Even if you do happen to get a little homesick, the resorts tend to have some Western dishes to console you with like toast and eggs, hamburgers, and french fries (not gonna lie, I totally had some fries). 

Pranburi Beach was not too far from the very touristy Hua Hin, but in contrast, it was quieter and still had just as good if not better food offerings!

Pad Phak Ruam (stir-fried mixed vegetables) and Tam Mamuang (fresh julienned green mango salad with fish sauce, carrots, and onions) at Tonto, Pranburi Beach

Pad Kra Phrao (Fried squid and holy basil with rice and fresh cucumber slices) at Tonto, Pranburi Beach

Pla Thot (whole deep-fried fish served with spicy dipping sauce) at Khraw Kheiyng Khlun in Cha-am District near Pranburi Beach

Khao Tom (boiled rice soup with minced pork served with fresh herbs and chilies) at Hua Plee Lazy Beach Resort, Pranburi Beach

I will miss this dearly. Coconut milk ice cream in Canada doesn't have anything on the fresh stuff in Thailand. Durian coconut milk ice cream from a small street market by Pranburi Beach.

Koh-Poo/Koh-Jum is a small island near Krabi that only got electricity 2 years ago. The resorts are a bit quieter, but that wasn't a bad thing. The food is stellar and so is the water and sand that you see every morning and every night that you're there.

Sapaketti Phat Kee Mao (Spaghetti noodles stir-fried with Thai chilies, mixed veggies, and seafood) at Krabi International Airport

Cha Yen (Thai iced milk tea) at Zoo Coffee, Krabi Town

Pla Nueng Manao (steamed whole fish with chilies, cilantro, and lime juice) at Ting Rai Bay Resort, Koh-Poo/Koh-Jum

Khao Pad (fried rice with chicken, eggs, and mixed veggies) at Ting Rai Bay Resort, Koh-Poo/Koh-Jum

Koh-Chang is one of the largest islands in the Gulf of Thailand and has a beautiful beach that doesn't have as many large waves passing through it. As a result, it's great for families, and has numerous resorts to choose from. There are also some great snorkeling tours you can book, which also include lunch.

Kailan Ikan Masin (Stir-fried gai lan with chilies and salted fish) at Iyara Seafood, Koh-Chang

Bu Pad Phong Kari (fried softshell crab with eggs and curry powder) at Iyara Seafood, Koh-Chang

Hoi Kraeng Luak (Fresh boiled sea clams served with a spicy dipping sauce) at Iyara Seafood, Koh-Chang 

Aside from beaches, I spent a day in Thailand's old capital, Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya may not be the capital city anymore, but it carries a lot of rich history and good food to boot. There are definitely tourists seeing as tourism is one of Thailand's most prevalent industries, but it's not the same crowd as you'll see in Bangkok.

Guay Tiew Ruea (Thai "boat noodle soup" with flat rice noodles and pork in a rich broth of spices and pork blood) at Krung Kao Boat Noodles, Ayutthaya

Thot Man Pla (fried patties of minced fish, lime leaves, and curry paste served with sweet chili dipping sauce) at Ayutthaya

Kanom Lod Chong (sweet pandan noodles in coconut milk and ice) at Ayutthaya

Thailand is basically a constant food festival wherever you go. I can't wait to come back to revisit some of my new-found favourites and try more new delicacies! I hope you've enjoyed looking at these food goodies from the other side of the world, but for the next little while, I'm going to back to posting from good ole E-Town :)

-M