A common flavor in Thai food is tom yum, a combination of hot and sour flavors. I ate pizza, drank cocktails, and ordered soups and salads with this flavor profile. Tom yum is made from fresh ingredients including lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal (similar to ginger), lime juice, fish sauce, and crushed chili peppers. I think the flavor is especially tasty because the herbs are so fresh. I…
Category: Thailand
Railei West & Phi Phi 2.28.17
Tourism is a major contributor to Thailand’s economy. In 2014, it is estimated tourism accounted for almost 20% of the country’s GDP (source). With so much money coming from tourism, it is no surprise the Thai people have processes, infrastructure, and information to make visiting easy. Compared to the other countries where I traveled, travel in…
Bangkok & Chang Mai 2.26.17
It is time to share a travel secret. The truth: most days during this Year of Sarah Joy begin around noon and include a maximum of 4 to 6 hours of sight seeing. Leaving the hostel before 8:00am is a rarity. My slower pace is a comical contrast to my life before travel. My morning routine as a traveler is one example…
A Visit with Peace Corp Volunteers 2.22.17
In January I dropped into the life of Peace Corp Volunteers (PCVs) Paul and Bob in rural Thailand. Brian, my former co-worker at the Carlson School, connected me to this amazing couple who are now one year into their two-year PC service commitment. Living with Paul and Bob was a lovely reminder of life at home. Home cooked meals,…
Tonsai Bay & Railei West Beach 2.19.17
After 5 months of primarily solo decision-making and experiencing, I was unsure how I would adjust to traveling with partners. When Justin visited (and later Brittany and Parker) I quickly realized traveling with companions is as wonderful as traveling solo. The biggest difference between the two experiences was meeting people. As a solo traveler, I make a conscious…
Eating Well: Thailand 2.13.17
Pictures of food from my first three weeks in Thailand. The Once Again Hostel cafe in Bangkok served tasty food and eating here was a convenient option. With three stays in this hostel over more than 10 days, I ate a lot of caesar salads and egg omelettes. When I needed a snack during the day, the ubiquitous 7-11…
Bangkok 2.9.17
My month of travel in Thailand included visitors from Minnesota who planned their vacations to coincide with my trip. It was a gift to spend time with close friends. Meeting my first friend, Justin, showed me I am no longer the structured, organized, planned person who left Minnesota! We both found the following mistakes hilarious. Oops #1 I confused Justin’s…
Bangkok 2.2.17
New, pretty, clean gear purchased in Minnesota prior to departing 6 months ago, is appropriately dirty, torn, discolored and worn. Arriving in the western and cosmopolitan city of Bangkok, Thailand, I had the opportunity to replace clothes and restock toiletries. This post is an update on my gear. I bought jeans at The Gap and donated this pair to the…
Bangalore 1.24.17
Writing this post almost three weeks after leaving India, I still feel mixed emotions about departing. Previous visitors to India told me I would either love or hate my time in that country. Difficulties included, I declare myself a member of the ‘love it’ camp. Even as a fan of travel in India, when I booked my flight to…
The Year of Sarah Joy 