Not even thinking about it much, we decided to spend Saturday in. We hung out at the pool, I went and had a pedicure for $5 – yeah – $5 USD. And that was about it. We sautéed up some chicken tenders and made a grilled chicken salad, and ate on the balcony. Then just hung out at the condo, watching Damages Season 4.
It wasn’t until Sunday evening, as we were walking over to the Sunday Walking Street, and saw a sign at the Greasy Gekko, that we realized there was an alcohol ban from 6pm Saturday until 6pm Sunday because of the pre-voting for elections. We didn’t even think about it! But, heck, by the time we want a drink tonight it will be after 6 – so all is well!
We truck on over to the Walking Street – which is more local and handicrafts than the Night Market, and typically more Thai people attend. Tonight though, it’s crazy packed and it’s a lot more Farang than we’ve seen in the past.
We graze our way through. First with bacon wrapped enditkitake mushrooms – OMG – they are so so good (and only 50b or $1.50).
Then we have dessert – banana spring rolls – which I LOVE. They were so good with this cream/glaze stuff on top (didn’t take a pix – too busy eating!). We figured snacks were enough because we were going to eat at the Garden, where we traditionally eat when go to the Sunday Walking Street, but they were closed! Shock. Disappointment. We can only figure it was because of the election and no alcohol.
So onward we trek, through the madness of the Walking Street. I must say that I normally enjoy it, but tonight, I’m over it. Too many people, too close in, hot (even though it is relatively cool outside), just not fun. The sandals I bought 2 years ago are no where in existence. There is one place that has similar stuff, but not the same – so I jettison that – and basically we just get the heck outta there!
We wander down the moat road and stop at the Blue Mango for dinner. Basic Thai – and basically good! Ed has the Crispy Pork which turns out to be pork belly. I have Pork with Cashews, in a great spicy sauce.
It’s a really cute little place – on the corner of a hotel and the main moat street, right by the old gate. So, the atmosphere is fun – and we just sit and eat and watch the madness ebb and flow past our table.
The only disturbing thing is that there is a little lost boy. About 5 years old. A couple of girls who work at the hotel and travel agency next to the restaurant have found him and they come up to us asking us to help. We try, but the boy only nods his head yes to any question we ask. So we’re not much help. They solicit another couple (Thai girl, Farang guy) to help and they actually take the little boy across the street (because he keeps pointing there). After about 30 to 45 minutes pass, and still there is no one frantically looking for a lost child (really? We are just amazed, I mean where could these parents be???). Finally the couple comes back across the street with the child and it turns out the dad has appeared and is in the hotel. Finally! What a relief. That had to have been so awful. You can’t imagine the chaos of a Sunday Walking Market night with vendors and people and traffic – and to lose your little 5 year old – just brutal. But all is well that ends well.
We pay our tab and instead of taking a Tuk Tuk home decide to hoof it. The map says it’s only 18 minutes. We actually cross the moat roads pretty easily – because all the traffic is basically at a a crawl. We make our way down to Loi Kroh street – the way to the Night Bazaar . Oh yeah, well Thai translation/spelling, never the best – you could make a fortune on proof reading here…Of course you’d have to learn Thai….
Too funny! We figure we’ll stop at the ChiangMai Saloon and have a drink and maybe their chicken strips (which are totally delicious) but they have a sign out that says “No alcohol because of the elections.” Hmmmm. Odd. Did they not get the memo? Coz Greasy Gekko started serving at 6pm and we just had beer and wine at the Blue Mango, so, don’t really know what’s up with that. But sadly, we’re not stopping there. Bummer, I really like that place.
We end up stopping at the Terrace, which is the bar on the street at the hotel we stayed for our first night here. It’s right on the corner of Loi Kroh and Chang Klan, right where the night market stalls are, so it is definitely a people watching sort of place. But it is really western – and priced accordingly. The wine is 180b, which is more expensive than anywhere we’ve been – yeah, it’s from a bottle – but it is Chardonnay from Australia – come on! And the pour is weak – so we opt to share a “jug” of Chang with song kaew (two glasses – I’m learning Thai! LOL). That’s even pricey at 220b ($6.70) – especially when we can get 3 big Chang at Greasy Gekko for 179b ($5.45). Oh well – it’s refreshing and a break on our walk home. And of course, Sunny enjoys it.
Walking back home, it’s like a ghost town. Very, very slow tonight. Half the vendors aren’t even set up. Odd, but makes for a much easier walk home! Blog, balcony, wine (cheap!), beer, and bed!
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