Street Food

Saturday morning I awoke early feeling hungry. Not everyone was up yet, but I made plans with two of my friends to go for lunch at Toni's; she opens up at 10:30. Unfortunately when we went downstairs, there was a handwritten note up on the door to the restaurant telling us she would be closed that Saturday, but would be open for business again on Sunday. We've been eating at Toni's nearly every day because it's cheap, clean, and has a great atmosphere (not to mention air-conditioning). Saturday however, we were on our own. For the first time since arriving in Bangkok, we stepped out into the already sweltering city looking for street food.

There's a small noodle cart across Lat Prao from the soi where we live. I don't know what it's called, but it has a yellow sign with red letters. Grant had told us about it last week, and he really recommended it. The lady who runs the cart doesn't speak English at all. You just hold up a finger and say "one" so that she knows how many orders you want. There's only one item on the menu, and it costs B30, about a dollar.

After handing her a few Baht, she started preparing the meal. It's fascinating to watch her, she puts everything together quickly and expertly, and hands you two plastic bags, one full of broth, the other with noodles and other ingredients. You have to assemble it yourself.

We stopped in at the Family Mart next to the cart, the one where the nice old man works, to get a drink. We then headed home. When the group from last year left Bangkok they left lots of stuff in their rooms for us. Meow, the lady who runs the apartment collected it all up and put it into a special storage room for all of us. Last week she opened it up so that we could help ourselves to whatever we wanted to take. I took a water heater so that I could make noodles and tea. She also gave me some bowls, cups, mugs, and silverware. Back in my room I put my lunch together in one of my bowl. I was not disappointed! My first street food experience here was definitely a success. There's a little food market nearby across the street. I'm going to walk down there sometime soon and see what they have to offer too.