Today, when I was out for my Saturday walk, there was ice on the fjord for the first time this year. That means it's time to brace for winter by delighting in summer memories.

Samui

Wat phra kaeo

Chao Phraya River

This summer we visited Thailand for the first time. It was one of my best holidays ever:

• Thai people are friendly and mostly laidback and cool.
  
• The culture isvery much influenced by Buddhism and there are fantastic temples virtually everywhere.
  
• Thai history is interesting: Thailand is the only country in the region that never was colonized. In fact, Thailand was quite an empire at one time.
  
• And of course the food! Thai food isn't just spicy -- you can have ti any way you want: Flaming hot curries or mild and gentle noodle dishes like pad thai, crispy salads and some great soups.

Here are some highlights in a short yet colorful video:

Thailand07

I have more photos online here.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Massaman Curry

This potentially embarrassing question was posed to me by a waiter at our hotel on Chaweng Beach on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand this summer. She was not being rude or saucy ;) She was worried about my western palate and afraid that the food I had just ordered would be too hot for me.

And in case you are wondering: Yes, I am. Spicy. I like all things hot and savoury and I enjoyed every single meal in Thailand -- 3 weeks of steaming curries in red, green and yellow, noodles, soups and all kinds of crisy exotic vegetables.

I liked Thai cooking so much that I enrolled in an evening class at the Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts (SITCA). If you are ever in Thailand, I recommend a cooking class. Some of the larger hotels in Bangkok have them too. I have blogged about my experience over at Enjoy Food & Travel.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Monkey temple guards

Are you taking a vacation this summer (or this season)?  Where are you headed and who's going with you?

My husband and I are going to Thailand. 3 weeks! We'll spend a whole week in Bangkok first. Then we go south to Koh Samui to relax after what we have heard is one of the world's most exciting and exhausting cities.

In Koh Samui I will spend a lot of time snokrling and perhaps I'll even learn to scuba dive. That's a dream I have had for a long time. I love the ocean and I am convinced that I will have a great time diving.

We are both fascinated with Buddhism and we are looking forward to what will be our first visit to a buddhist country.

Thai food has been one of my big favourites for years and years. Now I have a chance to try the real thing: The fire of the chillies, the sweetness of the fruits, the great noodle dishes... I can't wait!

This will be our second time in Asia -- we visited Bali in October 2005. I haven't posted on Vox yet about Bali, but that is a good idea, now that you mention it ;)

Read and post comments | Send to a friend