Day three (Sunday) was another full day, this time with family members.  First item on the agenda was to stop and pick up lunch before heading to Leo’s house.  I was amazed at how he knows about all these little food shops scattered around the central area, each with its own specialty.  I think we ended up making 4 separate stops to get everything Leo wanted.  One shop for chicken, another for noodles, and so on.

At the last stop, Leo suggested I just wait in the car.  He left the motor running and A/C on so I’d be comfortable.  While waiting for him to return I watched a guy in a small pickup truck rear-end a Toyota like the one I was sitting in.  The guy wasn’t moving very fast at all, so I was surprised at the damage it did to the Toyota.  His truck, on the other hand, appeared to have made it through this incident without so much as a scratch.  The man driving the truck got out first, with a predictable big smile on his face.  The lady in the Toyota was not smiling, but no harsh words were spoken.  They just pulled to the side and did whatever Thais do after an accident.

Leo soon returned, with yet another bag of food and we headed for his family home. Dad was at work, and younger brother just getting out of the shower when we arrived.  Mom brought out some serving dishes and eating utensils and Leo dumped everything from the plastic bags on or into serving plates and bowls.  For those that aren’t aware, food purchased for take out, at small family run restaurants, is almost always placed in small plastic bags and tied at the opening with a rubber band. Occasionally you will find places that put food in styrofoam boxes, but it’s extremely rare.

Source: Dish A Day Blog

Leo’s home has plenty of room for a kitchen and dinning area, but the space is not used for them.  The only thing that resembles a kitchen is a small refrigerator with a microwave on top.  Everyone eats from the coffee table in the front living area.  If a table and chairs are to be used, they’ll be set up outside, as was the case with the BBQ the night before.

After lunch we (Leo, Brother, Mom and I) drove over to his Aunt’s new 1.2 million baht home.  The home is in a new housing development, one of many in this suburb of Korat.  I was very impressed with what approximately 35 thousand dollars will buy.  It is a very nice three bedroom, 2 bath, home.  The property is completely surrounded by a stucco covered brick wall with gated driveway entrance.  It has a nice covered front porch, huge living room, and separate rooms for kitchen and dining.  The kitchen design looks more like a closed in patio, with lots of ventilation.  This is typical in Thai homes as they do not air condition their cooking areas. The front living area has lots of big windows that open to let the breeze through.  I must say it was quite comfortable inside.  In fact, I noticed there was no air conditioning in the front rooms.  I’m not sure if they have A/C in any of the bedrooms, but I didn’t notice any compressors when we walked around the exterior of the home.  There were no screens on the windows, so I asked if mosquitoes were a problem and the Aunt said no.

Home Similar To The One I Looked At

Behind her home was a very large two story house, so big it needed a double lot to fit on.  Leo told me it cost 2 million to build and was owned by a farang and his Thai wife.  Lots in this housing development cost 100k ($3k), so if one wants a bigger home, or large yard, it’s very affordable.  All the homes are made with stucco covered brick and have tiled floors and roofs, so there is very little that would need repair as they get older.  I didn’t think to take any pictures, so the photo I’m using is just an example that looks very similar to the one I looked at.

After our short visit at the Aunt’s house, with a not so hidden agenda to get me excited about buying my own, we hopped back in the car for our next destination.  I thought it was just going to be the four of us, but then Aunt and 12 year old cousin climbed into the small Toyota with us.  Two full figured women and a couple of skinny boys made for a full back seat on this one hour trip to Bung Talau Lake.  My fat ass was in the front passenger seat and Leo’s plump brother was driving, so there was just enough room for all with the 12 year old sitting on Mom’s lap.

Sneak Peek - Lake Resort

In my next post I’ll talk about the lake and resort we went to, and there will be a lot more photos.

After returning from our day trip to Phimai we dropped Little and O off and stopped at our hotel just long enough to freshen up.  From there it was off to the family home for a BBQ dinner.  We got to the house around 5pm and some of the women and kids where already preparing food.  There was enough meat on a skewer to feed an army, plus a tray of chicken, and about 5 or 6 whole fish.

Some of the food.

They had already lit the grill, but it wasn’t cooking evenly so Leo stepped in and started instructing everyone on what to do, as he made things right.  It was at this point I began to notice Leo is the dominant member of the family.  His father is very soft spoken, but when he talks everyone pays attention.  Yet, throughout the evening Dad rarely issued any orders.  For the most part, he only got involved when Leo wasn’t around to deal with it himself.  Leo is the eldest son, so maybe this is typical in a Thai family unit…I don’t know.

Leo’s cousin having fun being the cook.

The autistic male cousin is 22 years old.  He helps Leo’s Mom at her work, and this evening he was in charge of going on his bicycle to get more soda, coke and ice when they needed replenishing.   Between supply runs, he was also given the responsibility for keeping everyone’s glass of whiskey full.  He is very shy, but always has a big smile on his face.  This would only change if things got a little too exciting for him, at which point he would quickly withdraw.

Fence

Leo’s two autistic aunts rarely showed them selves.  The single room home that had recently been built was occupied by one.  There is a small fence that separates the front of here home from the rest of the open common area.  Leo told me she was free to go anyplace, and I could see there was nothing restricting her from walking out to the main road, so I suspect the fence was there to create a sense of security or separation.  A difficulty with social interaction is the most common feature of autistic individuals, so I didn’t find this arrangement unusual.  Every once in awhile she would come out of her room and stand at the fence to watch what was going on, but never engaged.  Later I asked Leo about the fence and he said the aunt requested it, but he didn’t know why.

What might he be thinking about?

I thought it interesting that Leo’s parents never once got involved with the preparation and serving of food or drinks.  Well, it was actually no surprise Dad didn’t, as this would not be one of his responsibilities.  I didn’t think it appropriate to ask Leo why this was, but assumed they were concentrating there efforts on being a good host.

Early in the evening I noticed the 22 year old cousin had returned with a big banana leaf.  He started to cut it up when one of the aunts took it from him.  I assumed they were going to wrap fish in it for cooking.  As it turns out, the ladies needed a basting brush, and strips of banana leaf tied to a stick would do just fine.

Banana Leaf Basting Brush

As the evening progressed, and never an empty glass of whiskey to be found, things started to lighten up a bit.  Leo had asked that I go slowly with the whiskey consumption, because we still had the gay disco on our agenda for later that evening.

Things went well, and everyone seemed to have a good time.  Once all the cooking was done two of the aunts seated themselves on either side of me.  Both were a bit aggressive, to the point I was feeling a little overwhelmed.  Leo saw what was happening and quickly announced we needed to get going.

It was a bit early for the disco, so Leo decided we should pick up Little and O and spend some time at the Khunying Mo monument before heading over to the club.

I’ll save those two experiences for my next post.

DISCO BALLS AND MIRRORS

Disco Ball and Mirrors

The first night we were at Leo’s home I noticed several small disco balls hanging outside the homes.  On the second night my curiosity got the best of me, and I asked Leo what the deal was with all these disco balls hanging everywhere.  He explained that some Thais believe mirrors will scare away the bad spirits, and a disco ball has MANY mirrors.  Next Leo pointed out all the small mirrors stuck to walls and pillars outside every door. He then said the larger mirror mounted outside his home was also good for one last check of your hair before leaving.

Big Mirror

There is a vegetable favored by Thais that is used mostly, if not exclusively, in soup dishes.  When prepared, the thick green skin is usually removed and the white meat inside cut into large chunks.  The vegetable is hard when fresh, but softens after boiling in the soup.  Once cooked, it looks and feels similar to a potato, but the taste is very different.

The Thai name for this vegetable is fuck, something the BF finds quite humorous.  I have no doubt the exact pronunciation is subtly different, but to the discerning ear of the BF they are identical.

So when sitting in a restaurant, if a boy asks, “You want fuck?”  He probably isn’t propositioning you for an intimate recreational activity.

Photo Courtesy of Private Boy Movie

I’ve just added yet another page on the subject of eating in Thailand.  This one is probably of more interest to those living here or on an extended stay.  Although I guess you could apply the same concepts while eating out.  Just make sure you go to places where everything on the menu is priced roughly the same. Otherwise, the boy may end up ordering the most expensive items, like an 800 baht crab dish, and you won’t really get the true experience of eating every day meals.

I’ve mentioned numerous times in the past that the boys are typically not impressed by fancy restaurants, and may not care for farang food.  Isan and Southern boys in particular prefer good Thai food, and generally favor dishes from their region.  However, I have discovered one exception that boys from any region tend to enjoy.  In fact, some get very excited when hearing they are going to eat there.

Over time I’ve had several farang tell me they were taking their boy to Sizzler Steak House, adding that the boy really likes to eat there.  It was only recently that a farang friend told me all the boys love Sizzler.  I don’t know if I would go so far as to say “all”, but certainly a large percentage really do enjoy it.

From what I gather, the big attraction is the restaurant’s all you can eat soup, salad, and pasta bar.  For some reason the boys absolutely love it.  I had one boy tell me he orders something small from the menu and then fills up at the salad bar.

I don’t know about other parts of the world, but with Americans Sizzler has a reputation for being a budget steak house.  The boys, on the other hand, see this as upscale dining.  It’s actually quite reasonable for a western import.  While there are more expensive items on the menu, you can find a good selection of dishes for 320 baht.  There are also selections down in the 200 baht range.  All things considered, Sizzler delivers a lot for the baht.

Sizzlers are all over BKK, and in other cities.  A complete listing of store locations can be found on their web site.  The one I’m familiar with is at the MBK mall, located on the same floor as the cinemas, perfect for dinner and a movie.  So if you are looking for a nice western style restaurant to take your boy too, Sizzler is most likely going to be a safe choice.  Just suggest to the boy diner at Sizzler and see if he lights up.

Can I talk to you about… diarrhea?

Photo Courtesy of Gay Asian Network

I don’t know what the percentages are, but a lot of us living in Thailand experience frequent cases if mild diarrhea.  Even the boys get it and I don’t think it’s always associated with bacteria.  For me, it seems to be more closely tied with how spicy hot the food is.  I also know there is a leafy green plant used in some Thai dishes that is a natural diarrhetic.  In addition, I’ve read hot peppers, ginger, and curry tend act as diarrhetics.  It doesn’t seem to bother the boys.  Their reaction is its good for your body, because it cleans you out, and there is truth to that.

None the less, it can be annoying and even inconvenient at times, but as frequent as it occurs I was reluctant to make heavy, or prolonged use, of over the counter remedies.  Then I remembered that bananas, if eaten in excess, can cause constipation.  I think this came from some old survival training where we were warned not to eat too many bananas if marooned on a tropical island. So I decided to try eating one or two bananas a day, and sure enough it worked.

Photo Courtesy of Gay Asian Network

Later I was visiting with the doctor for a regular check up on my blood pressure.  He said in addition to the medication I’ve been taking I should try to lower my salt intake.  I told him it’s difficult for me, because I don’t know how Thai foods are prepared.  He then suggested I eat a banana a day, because they are high in potassium, and that neutralizes the salt on one’s diet, including salty fish sauce commonly used on Thai foods.  I told him I’d heard that MSG caused high blood pressure, and he said it does, because it’s in the salt family.  He went on to say that bananas would neutralize the MSG, as well.

Next I asked about taking potassium supplements, and he discouraged it.  He said you can accidentally get too much potassium in your diet using supplements and the body deals with the natural potassium in bananas much better.

So much for the familiar old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Photo Courtesy of Gay Asian Network

MORE ON MSG

Someone is probably going to comment on it, so let me just say I know there are other health concerns regarding the use of MSG in food preparation.  While I’m on the subject…

For those that don’t know it, MSG is used extensively in the preparation of food here in Thailand.   Restaurant owners wanting to offer an MSG free menu find it exceedingly difficult to get their cooks to stop using it.

A boy once told me that one must use MSG sparingly or risk excessive hair loss.  My first though was someone had told him this rather than going into detail about the side affects of chemotherapy treatment.  Come to find out, there is a common myth, even in America, that MSG causes your hair to fall out.

Best I can determine, the Thai name for MSG is phong churot.

Photo Courtesy of Private Boy Movie

This newest page talks about the best ways to feed the boys hanging out at your home. They tend to eat when hungry, so something simple yet satisfying that they can make themselves is the best way to go.

I was surprised to discover how many don’t know about the McDonald’s McCafe Restaurants, so I thought I’d give them a mention.

First off, these are not unique to Thailand, but have only started popping up here in the past year or so. Many are new, and some are renovated traditional McD’s. The primary intent of these new stores is to compete with Starbucks by adding an upscale coffee shop. But it doesn’t stop there. While I’ve only been in one, my understanding is all of the McCafe stores are bigger and have an upgraded interior. The stores also offer a larger menu selection, and most important, they serve the traditional line of breakfast meals! From what I read, they plan to expand menu offerings in all McDonald’s, but so far I’ve only seen it in the McCafe stores.

Stores with McCafe counters have helped individual McDonald’s increase sales 10-20 percent, so I’m sure we can expect to see more of these in the future. The one I visited is in Silom, directly across the street from Soi 4. I’ve heard the steps outside are a favorite after hours hangout for the lady boys, but I haven’t bothered to confirm this.

I would like to change one thing about my earlier review of McDonald’s. They now have the Double Big Mac, so there is a hamburger at McD’s that you can actually taste the meat.

The other night I was at one of my favorite watering holes, with a couple of boys and a bottle. The waiter that usually takes care of us routinely brings some sort of snack to the table. I’m not sure if the waiter is buying it or its complements of the owner, or a little of each. More likely it’s the later, but either way I enjoy the kind gesture.

Photo Courtesy of Asia Boy

It’s always something different; rice chips, pork balls, or grilled squid are common offerings. This time the boy brought something very unusual. Covered in a layer of ice, I couldn’t tell if it was a meat or vegetable. Looking through the ice, the small bite sized pieces had a similar color and consistency as that of raw fish or chicken.

I ask what it was, and the boy said, “Dragon Eggs.” He then skewered a piece and held it to my mouth for a taste. As I began to eat he said, “Is vegetable.” I immediately recognized the tasted, and asked if it was an artichoke heart. The boy explained he didn’t know the western name for it, but the Chinese call them dragon eggs.

I described to the boys what an artichoke looks like, and they all agreed it was one in the same. Thus, I’m reasonably sure that’s what the waiter had served us. It’s easy to understand why the Chinese would call it a dragon egg, as it is round like an egg and has scales like a dragon.

The boy said the Japanese tourists pay through the nose for it in their restaurants here, and have no clue it’s actually very cheap to buy in Thailand. He explained when purchased, the man chops them open and removes the heart for you. I asked what a plate like this (approximately 20 pieces) would cost, and he said about 50 baht, roughly $1.50.

I love Thailand.

Unlike us westerners that adhere to a daily breakfast, lunch and dinner eating schedule, Thais tend to graze. They are often completely overtaken by the desire to eat, right at that moment. It’s as if a spell gets cast, briefly turning them into a food eating zombie.

One time, a couple of the boys went into the kitchen to make some noodles. I told them we would be going out to eat soon so they might not want to ruin their apatite. The two smiled, put everything back, and returned to watching TV. Within 5 minutes both were back in the kitchen making noodles.

The same two boys and I were walking to the BTS one night when we passed a food stand selling grilled pork balls. The boys just had to have them, so everything came to a halt while we stopped to buy pork balls. We were headed for Balcony Pub, and the boys knew they could order something there, but it didn’t make any difference. The boys wanted pork balls, they wanted them now, and nothing else would do.

A group of us (Thai boys and farang) are walking to a restaurant one evening. Next thing we know the boys have disappeared from view. Turns out they spotted some delicious grilled squid two blocks back and stopped to buy some. Once reunited, I asked them why they would stop to eat on the way to dinner. It was explained to me the restaurant we were going to did not serve grilled squid and they wanted to eat some…silly me.

Both farang thought it was a bit rude of the boys to stop and eat when we were about to buy them dinner. The boys insisted it was acceptable practice in Thai culture, and no one would have taken offense. It was further explained that Thais eat what they want, when they want, regardless of the circumstance. Later I was able to confirm, with several other boys, this is true. It was further evidenced while I was at lunch today and observed a Thai woman, two sticks of grilled pork in hand, walk in and join a table of friends getting ready to order.

With another Thai cultural lesson under my belt, I thought it appropriate to return the favor. So, it was explained to the boys that it’s probably a good idea to avoid offending their farang host by suggesting the food he is about to buy them is no good. I didn’t notice either boy taking notes during their farang cultural lesson, but something tells me these two will never again stop to by something yummy while we’re in route to a dinning establishment. Not that I mind at this point, but it will be interesting to see if the Thai grazing gene is more powerful than the desire to achieve cross cultural harmony.

I was also a bit disturbed both boys stopped for food and didn’t tell the rest of the group. I ran this by some other farang that have Thai boyfriends. They said this happens to them all the time. As frustrating as it is, any efforts to change this in a boy are, for the most part, an exercise in futility.

When something tasty catches their eye it becomes the number one priority. The boys briefly loose contact with space and time, as they dedicate all of their mental and physical energy toward satisfying the craving for whatever has caught their food grazing eye. Once the boys have their food in hand, they snap back to reality and everything can move forward as planned.