1. Es Pisang Ijo – Yogyakarta, Indonesia (originates from Sulawesi)

Es Pisang Ijo roughly translates to “green banana ice,” and that is precisely what it is, along with some added goodies.  This mixed bowl of refreshing goodness can only be described as green bananas floating in an icy red syrup with a creamy pudding like substance coating all things and unable to dissolve into the liquid.  Es pisang ijo is a brilliant icy creation and a wonderful dessert in Indonesia.

2. Gula Melaka Baba Cendol – Melaka, Malaysia

Melaka Malaysia’s sweet and popular treat on a tropical heated afternoon is a gula Melaka baba cendol.  The queue sprawls out the door at Jonker 88 and waiters rapidly serve the glorified treat.  The glass bowl starts off with sweet beans, kernels of yellow corn, and green jelly cendol noodles.  Shaved ice is then formed on top and then a masterful combination of condensed milk, sweet coconut cream, and the famous Melaka palm sugar is sloshed over the ice.  The mango version also included candied mangoes and another ultra sweet fruity syrup.

3. Nam Kang Sai – Bangkok, Thailand

Paralell to the extent and customization of the best Thai food specialities, there are also so many options to choose from when exploring nam kang sai or iced mixture dessert in Thailand.  A typical street stand is covered with glass bowls filled with all kinds of colorful and sometimes transparents morsels.  A mixture of chopped ingredients are added to the bottom of the bowl prior to larger chunks are added to the top.  The typical artificial syrup is doused on top generously.

4. Shave Ice – Honolulu, Hawaii

There’s nothing like a famous shave ice cone in the late afternoon after being scorched by the afternoon sun or thrashed around from waves in Hawaii.  Choose a cone or bowl with ice cream or sweet azuki beans, or nothing on the bottom.  Fine shaved ice is packed on top with a choice of flavored syrups poured on.  Some people like a squirt of condensed milk to cap it off.  One of my favorite places for shave ice is Waiola Shave Ice in Honolulu and Matsumoto Shave Ice in Haleiwa.

5. Halo Halo – Manila, Philippines

The local Filipino mixed ice desert usually consists of sweet palm fruit, jack fruit, coconut pulp, sweet mung beans, deep purple yams, and maybe some corn or tapioca pearls.  Shaved ice is then piled on top usually followed by a scoop of creamy ice cream or combination of ice creams.  Halo Halo melts together into a sweet creamy soup that refreshes on the hottest of Filipino days.  Chow King restaurant serves a pretty popular Halo-Halo!

photo courtesy of cjess45

6. Kakigori – Kyoto, Japan

When Japan starts to heat up in the summer months like it’s South East Asian counterparts, Kakigori shaved ice starts to become a necessity.  It’s commonly served pretty simple, shaved ice in small chunks with a choice of syrups and condensed milk.  Some stores also offer ice cream or sweet bean paste.  Gourmet variations with creamy green tea or covered in Japanese black sugar and candied chestnuts are also available.

photo courtesy of Bibil

7. Patbingsoo – Seoul, South Korea

Korea much like Japan heats up in the summer months and nothing refreshes like a patbingsoo.  The Koreans have taken this iced treat to a complex and elegant level.  Along witht the typical shaved ice is a mixture of sweet azuki beans, rice cakes, daintily chopped fruits (like kiwi, banana, and berries), condensed milk, sweet syrups, and sometimes ice cream or frozen yoghurt and whipped cream.  Patbingsoo is a colorful refreshing meal of a dessert!

photo courtesy of Klara Kim

8. Eight Treasure Ice Baobing – Taipei, Taiwan

With a name like “Eight Treasure Ice,” you know right away that this is one treat that should be respected in the hierarchy of icy desserts.  Beginning with a bed of shaved ice, the bowl of treasure is then piled with mounds of red mung beans, green mung beans, taro, yams, peanuts, starch balls, almonds, grass jelly, and other jellies, until reaching the fabulous 8.

photo courtesy of xymox

What’s your favorite iced out dessert on a warm day in South East Asia?

- Migration Mark

I spent about 3 months in Buenos Aires taking a TESOL course.  This is my list of ways to have fun (mostly in order) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  If you have spent time in BA and know other ways to have a blast in Buenos Aires, I’d love to hear your comments!

1.  Boca Juniors Football Match at La Bombonera

photo courtesy of DhubaX | Eduardo Lacerda

2.  Asados/Parillas…and other Food

The single thought that enters my mind when reflecting on BA is the precious BEEF. There can be absolutely zero human resistance to a kilo of the tenderest “bife de chorizo” smothered in an equally delicious chunk of grilled provoleta (spiced provolone) cheese to create a personal tantalizing fantasy. The unrealistic great quality of beef will actually blow your mind and force you into thinking of nothing else for the first week (set aside the first week just for beef) of being in BA.

I had the privilege of staying in a student house for a month where we would pool our funds together on Sundays and our landlord would create an Asado fit for Royalty.

Beware that an Asado is often not served until dangerous hours of the night around midnight, and one is therefore forced into a deep slumber immediately after swallowing the final bite (Not the healthiest, but inevitable).

Other honorable eats:

• Milanesas
• Empanadas
• Pastas
• Pizzas
• Pastries
• Fresh fruits and vegetables

Check out the top 10 foods to eat in Buenos Aires that are not steak and see the Buenos Aires Foodies blog!

3.  Monday Night La Bomba de Tiempo

On Monday nights a drumming band by the name of La Bomba de Tiempo plays their hearts out at an energetic and highly entertaining percussion show.  The excited crowd flows to the continuous beats and people guzzle brews.  Don’t be embarrassed, all forms of dancing or attempts are embraced and accepted.  The general vibe is Bohemian and people can be found from around the world pulsing to the drums.

Show is held at Konex venue on Monday nights.�
The line can be out of control, so arrive at about 7pm.

4.  Drink Yerba Mate (tea) with Random People or Friends

Letting a day pass while sipping yerba mate from a cow hoof gourd through a metal straw while relaxing in a patch of green grass is high on my list of priorities.  At first the mate may seem stout and bitter, but choose to enjoy it, and soon it will be a daily if not hourly ritual that your life depends upon.

photo courtesy of Rayerza

5.  Nightlife

There are books written about Buenos Aires and it’s teeming nightlife and places to party.  I won’t go in depth as there is an abundance of information out there already.  If you like to listen to thumping techno or reggaeton music, watch massive crowds, drink Fernet, or observe attractive people, you must venture to one of the many nightclubs.  Check out Museo in San Telmo, Mint in Palermo, or Crobar under the railway.  Tons and tons of options.

For more extensive information check out Buenos Aires Nightlife Guide.

6.  San Telmo Sunday market

San Telmo on Sunday is a pleasant place to walk through and observe the market that sprawls for a good couple of kilometers on the cobble stoned street. Purchase Argentine leather goods, antiques, handmade jewelry, clothing, shoes, souvenirs, and other spontaneous trinkets. Admire amateur musicians, aspiring actors, tango dancers, Argentine mimers, Diego Maradona impressionists, artists, and hippies, as they all attempt uniqueness.

For more information check out San Telmo on a Sunday.

7.  Walk around/check out the Obelisk

Don’t miss checking out the central Obelisko from close and far as well as the surrounding town area. The reason I like it is not necessarily because of the monument itself but rather the central confluence of roads that intersect and the traffic and masses that surround.

See the official tourism site of Buenos Aires.

8.  Relax in the Japanese and Botanical Gardens

There are few better ways to relax than to sprawl around a manicured garden with a book and a beverage, and maybe a friend. The Botanical garden is free of charge but the Japanese garden charges a small but worth it fee. Both are equally soothing and can be explored near Palermo.

For more info on the Japanese Gardens check this out.

photo courtesy of RolAdn

9.  Head to Barrio Chino for some Chinese food

Chunks of beef, grilled cheese, creamy pastas, and crusty loaves, are delicious, but growing up with rice in my blood, Chinatown every now and then is a must. Though it is a small area, the buzz, the products, and the smells, are equivalent to those of any Chinatown around the world.

Check out more information about Barrio Chino.

10. Recoleta Cemetery Stroll

The Recoleta cemetery is a neighborhood of famous deceased people who are housed in mansions with chandeliers. The cemetery is a sight to have a brief walk through and check out a place where the very rich or very famous lay rest.

Location: Calle Junin 1790, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hours: Open daily from 8 am to 6pm
photo courtesy of Stuck in Customs

11. Check Out Some Tango Dancing

I never made it to an official show, but the Tango dancing I saw on the streets of La Boca and San Telmo while stuffing my face with beef, were surely a flavor of the artful and beautiful dance that Tango is.  Even if you are not into organized dancing, the talent is enough to appreciate and be entertained by.

photo courtesy of Lídia Ramalho

12. Palermo Walking and Shopping

The streets of Palermo Viejo, Hollywood, and Soho, are a joy to stroll.  The avenues are lined with boutiques offering dangerous fashion, restaurants serving upscale Italian and fusion gastronomy, and affluent people sipping red wine outside of neo-expressionist art displays.  On the weekends, try to hang out in Plaza Serrano, a decent place to unwind for a pint or bite to munch and chill till sunrise hours.

Tip: Never miss a 6 am hot dog in Palermo square after being up all night.

13. Head To People Watch and Shop on Ave. Florida

Avenida (Avenue) Florida located near the central Obelisk0 is a street to tackle when you have mentally prepared for massive crowds of humanity and solicitation.  Leather products will be offered at the same rate of tuk tuk rides being offered in Cambodia. It is however an easy place to purchase anything from a digital camera to a mate gourd or a football jersey.

photo courtesy of dgflyer

14. Rollerblade In The Huge Bosques de Palermo Park

The atmosphere is parallel to that of Lumphini Park in Bangkok and if someone was going to booty shake for exercise this is exactly where they would do it.  At first I thought rollerblading around the park on a Sunday would be a goofy activity to even entertain.  We arrived at the park, rented the correct size of blades for an hour, and awkwardly roller-ed our way around the park with a choripan (sausage in a bun) in hand.  It proved to be much more entertaining than I had previously thought and I would call it a great way to spend a midday afternoon.

Location: Bosques de Palermo Park, Palermo Viejo at- Avs. Del Libertador, Dorrego and Figueroa Alcorta

15. Puerto Madero, Rio De la Plata Riverfront

The most prestigious neighborhood in Buenos Aires offers baller status accommodation and entertainment.  The area has been and is still being developed into a beautiful and well thought out urban plan. Consider a walk through Puerto Madero, maybe an afternoon coffee, or if you want to splurge, a meal or couple drinks at one of the ultra trendy restaurants or bars.  There are also a number of stalls that sell incredible sandwiches like choripan’s and bondiola‘s near the Ecological Reserve in Puerto Madero.

Don’t get too caught up with a schedule and plan in Buenos Aires.  Walk around, take the metro train and walk everywhere, check things out, and see what happens.  Buenoes Aires is a phenomenal city where you can easily have a blast, even without a plan!

Any other ways to have a blast in Buenos Aires?  Please leave a comment!

-Migration Mark

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Jaow Restaurant

Location: Yaowarat, Chinatown, Bangkok, Thailand
Address: Yaowarat, Soi Plaeng Nam (On the corner of Thanon Charoen Krung and Soi Plaeng Nam) Phone: 24 02 623 0907, Check out the map here!
Price: Dishes are around 50 baht with rice, a buffet feast will cost about 100 baht per stomach

It is my duty as a human and citizen of this world to bring this precious dining establishment to your immediate attention.  While nosy-ing about one day like I often do in Bangkok’s Chinatown (Yaowarat), my subconscious senses lead me directly to an eatery that shocked me.  On the quiet Soi Plaeng Nam (side street) perpendicular to the boisterous Thanon Yaowarat and Thanon Charoen Krung lies this culinary Shangri-La that should be on the food pilgrimage map in Bangkok, Thailand!

The pre-cooked piles of the best Thai-Chinese food neatly displayed will make your jaw drop to the ground with excitement.  The smiling chef in her baby blue apron will chit chat with you and even offer you a few samples of the most enticing dishes.

To list the dishes would take an extensive and mostly unimportant list that fluctuates from day to day, so I won’t.  Rather, my advice is to go there, have a look, maybe taste, and then order whatever looks delicious.

I got my hands dirty with a red curry fish dish, a plate of stir-fried green vegetables (pad yod mala), and a tofu seaweed soup (gang jued).

This black vegetable concoction called “Ga Na Shy” is cooked in a thick oil and is a Yaowarat specialty.  It’s actually quite a lot better tasting than it looks!

Jaow Restaurant is a spectacular display of ready made food.  Though most of the dishes are meant for takeaway order and ballooned up in plastic bags, there are 2 or 3 tables to sit at if you choose to “dine-in.”  Lucky for all of us, the restaurant is easy to spot as the array of delicacies overflows onto the sidewalk on a makeshift table supported by plastic chairs and gas bombs.

This small eatery is an incredible place and I can hardly resist myself from moving into the neighborhood with the sole purpose of Jaow.

-Migration Mark

Along with football (soccer) skills, each team competing in the Fifa World Cup 2010 brings its own unique and distinct culinary flavors to South Africa creating a fusion of clashing delicacies.  The agglomeration constructs a tremendous assortment of national dishes and comfort foods that are both contrasting and complementary to each other.  All countries have mastered techniques of food cooking and distinct flavors to please their populations.

Welcome to the World Cup of Cuisine 2010!

I am aware that each country is full of dishes to be proud of and not even close to all of them have been mentioned.  If you have a favorite dish or comfort food from one of the competing nations, please let me know with a comment!

Of the 32 Nations competing for the Fifa Football World Cup, who do you think deserves the top three positions for the 2010 World Cup of Cuisine?

The decision was tough for me, but I prefer spice infested cuisines over grilled chunks of meat.  That being said, I still “loooove” grilled chunks of meat.

1. Mexico
2. Japan
3. South Korea

Take a look and let me know what you think.

Group A

South Africa- Braai Barbecue

The South African version of the barbecue known as a Braai is an important part of the South African way of life and culture.  Meat in the form of steaks, lamb chops, pork ribs, kebabs, and also grilled bread called Roosterkoek, are all thrown on a wire mesh grill above a bed of flaming coals.  The feast is usually eaten with a dish called mielie pap(maize meal porridge), and complimented with various sauces, breads, and salads.  I can imagine there will be an abundance of Braai South African style feasts taking place in cities throughout South Africa as the World Cup 2010 accelerates into full force.
Image courtesy of Joits

France – Bread, Pastries, Fondue

French food is characterized by elegance, innovation, and years and year of experience with cooking methods. Jen Laceda points out that the French, like many from around the world, are obsessed with food.  Flawless baked creations of crusty baguettes, sweet pastries, and other loaves, are all perfectly made in France.  Cheeses paired with wines of excellence, fondue savoyarde, chocolates, and all kinds of dairy products are all huge hits.

Image courtesy of Woaw7Provence

Mexico – Tacos

Mexico has developed a wonderful array of cuisines to be considered highly important in this gastronomic world.  The country has contributed worthy dishes of praise like burritos filled with beef and beans, tacos loaded with greasy meats and salsas (tacos de cabeza), tamales made with strong corn flavors, chili rellenos, chili con carne, mole, and a host of other famous world renowned specialties.

Uruguay- Asado, Chivito

Uruguay, much like the host South Africa as well as Argentina, is crazy about huge amounts of slow roasted meat, grilled to perfection.  The Uruguayan barbecueis a social event revolving around a monstrous grill that slow raosts a mess of meat over wood coals.  A Uruguayan Chivitois a sandwich made with a slice of fillet Mignon, mozzarella cheese, mayonnaise, olives, and sometimes bacon and tomatoes.

Group B

Argentina – Asado Parilla, Choripan, Milanesa

Argentina, like a few of the other World Cup contenders know how to grill meat to superlative standards.  Argentina Asado is ingrained into the culture and is a part of all aspects of life.  Its not uncommon to see ribs, chicken, steak, baby goat, spicy sausage choripan, black pudding sausage, and a hunk of provolone cheese, all smoking away together on an extensive grill.  The meats are heavily salted, marinated with olive oil and black pepper, and served with chimchurri salsa, and bread.

Image courtesy of dr_pablogonzalez

Greece – Souvlaki

From kebabs grilled on small sticks to eggplant casseroles like Moussaka, Greek food is fresh and full of herbs.  The extremely popular souvlaki kebabs are roasted cubes of marinated pork, chicken, or lamb embraced with spices and Greek herbs before being seared on a grill.  Pita bread, rice, herbed tomatoes and onions, french fries, and tzatziki sauce are also a vital part of the meal.

Image courtesy of robwallace

Nigeria – Groundnut Stew, Tuwo, Efo

With Africa’s largest population, Nigeria has an extensive selection of cuisine.  A lot of the food is comprised of soups, stews, and vegetables, eaten with starch pastes made from corn, cassava, or yams.  Tuwo, Iyan, and Fufu, are all popular and filling staples. Ground nut stew, Nigerian spicy fish stew, pepper and leafy vegetable soups like Efo, and plantain chips, are a few other delicious treats to eat in Nigeria.

Image courtesy of kitchengeeking

South Korea – Bulgogi and Kalbi Barbecue

South Korean food is a joyous display of dainty salads and condiments along with a selection of grilled masterfully marinated tender meats, herbs, and vegetables.  Bulgogi Korean BBQ is thin slices of marinated sirloin seared and then sometimes wrapped in a lettuce leaf with raw garlic, a few chili pastes, and a chopstick full of kimchi.  Kalbi is a greasier delicious exploding version of Korean style short ribs.

Group C

England – Bangers’n'Mash, Roast Dinner

Though English food is not known for its vibrant and spice-licious flavors, locals are still passionate about a number of classic dishes.  Banger’n'Mash is comprised of mashed potatoes below a couple of traditional sausages and sometimes doused in gravy.  A traditional roast dinner consists of slowly cooked potatoes, roast beef, some vegetables, and possibly Yorkshire pudding.

Image courtesy of blackbyrd

Slovenia – Goulash

Slovenian cuisine is a fusion of Mediterranean, German, Austrian, Hungarian, and Italian foods. There is often heavy cream involved in the production of Slovenian favorite dishes.  Soups and various forms of goulash are quite popular and stocked full of vegetables, mushrooms, and barley.  Ocvirkovca is a flaky traditional bread torn off in pieces and eaten with dishes like goulash.

Image courtesy of hadaway

United States – The Cheeseburger

The United States has taken a world of cuisine and modified a lot of it to accommodate an American version and taste.  That being said, almost all forms and styles of food from around the world can be found in the United States.  Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, American pizza, and doughnuts, are a few of the everlasting selection.

Algeria – Berber Couscous, Merguez, Roasted Lamb

Located in Northern Africa, Algeria was blessed with a fusion of Mediteranian, Middle Eastern, and African cuisines, all merging together.  Lamb and fish curries, roasted lamb (Mechoui), and spicy lamb sausage (Merguez), are usually partaken of with flatbread or Algerian couscous.

Image courtesy of masha2606

Group D

Germany – Bratwursts and Sauerkraut

Beef, pork, and chicken, are extremely popular meats in Germany, and they are all eaten in abundance.  Sausages of every form, shape, size, and taste, are all important in Germany and bratwursts have spread to grilling parties around the world.  A great diversity of bread and rolls accompany almost all meals.  Don’t forget a healthy dosage of sauerkraut pickled cabbage!

Image courtesy of KissMonika

Serbia – Pljeskavica

Pljeskavica, also known as the Balkan Burger, is a Serbian food of minced meat mixed up with a handful of spices and then grilled in patty form. Apparently, the Balkan Burger could be so good that its taste can unite people!  Sarma is another dish that consists of rice and minced beef encased in a cabbage roll-up. Roasted meats, cheeses, and breads, are all important parts of dining in Serbia.

Image courtesy of ywds

Australia – Vegemite, Aussie Barbie

Yeast extract made into a dark paste, spread onto toast, bread, or biscuits, and called Vegemite, is an Ausralian delicacy.  Barbecued meat is also taken quite seriously in Australia.  Lamb, beef, sometimes Kangaroo, prawns and other forms of seafood are all popular items for the Barbie!

Image courtesy of blentley

Ghana – Jollof Rice

Jollof rice is an essential and delicious part of the West African diet and is fundemental in Ghana.  Rice is mixed with meat or chicken, tomato sauce, chili pepper, some onions, ginger, nutmeg among other spices, and then cooked up altogether in a single pot.  The result is an ultra fragrant all-in-one meal of a dish.  A few fried plantain bananas go well with the Jollof rice for super satisfaction.

Group E

Netherlands – Dutch Cheese, Heineken

Holland is world famous for their exquisite Dutch cheese making skills.  From gouda to edam, cheeses are aged to perfection and extremely tasty.  Cheese is often eaten with delicious crusty bread.  Ever heard of Heineken? it’s a pretty popular beverage around the world and I’m sure quite a lot will be drunk in South Africa 2010.

Image courtesy of Romedesign

Denmark – Smørrebrød, Frikadeller

Denmark is known for it’s open faced sandwiches called Smørrebrød.  A hearty piece of fresh rye bread is spread with a layer of butter and then topped with an assortment of cold cuts, vegetables, seafood, cheese, or spreads.  The resulting sandwich is artfully crafted to look appealing and fully decorative.  Frikadeller are Danish style meatballs made with minced meat, eggs, milk, onions, bread, and salt and pepper.

Image courtesy of pope_jakob

Japan – Sushi

The pleasing cuisine of Japan is popular and now trendy worldwide.  Raw fish is sliced thinly in its purest form and displayed artufully before being dipped into wasabi soy mixtures.  Variations of rolled sushi with Japanese sushi rice, a bit of raw fish, a few sprigs of vegetables, and sprinkled with furikake, are all Japanese culinary gems.  Japan also has an amazing amount of cute and ever evolving niblets to snack on, like onigiri rice balls, bento boxes, gyoza, takoyaki, and tonyu doghnuts.

Cameroon – Fufu and Ndole

Ndole is considered the national Cameroonian fooddish.   It is a meat or fish stew cooked with bitter leaves and nuts.  Fufu is one of the staple and most filling dishes in Cameroon.  It is a thick paste or mush, usually made from cassava, yams, or corn.  The mush can be handled with the hands and bite sized pieces can be dipped into stews or gravies.

Group F

Italy – Pasta and Sauce, Gelato

From the diverse pasta dishes to evolving pizzas, Italian food has permeated countries around the world.  In it’s simplest form, Italian food is made with fresh ripe ingredients and lots of herbs. Apparently the Italians brought along their own supply of pastas to South Africa!  Italian delicately made ice cream known as Gelato is a sure way to please any female worldwide.

Image courtesy of motofoto

Slovakia – Bryndzove Halushky

Slovakian cuisine is different from region to region though most of it has been influenced by Hungarian and Austrian food.  One of the national and typical Slovakian dishes is called Bryndzove halushky.  It consists of potato flour chunks (similar to gnocchi) cooked in a gravy of sheep cheese and eaten with bacon pieces or smoked fat.

Image courtesy of Oldsoft

Paraguay – Mandioca, Cassava, Yucca

Eating Mandioca also known around the world as cassava is mandatory in Paraguay with almost every meal.  The starchy potato like substance is boiled and eaten with a collection or stews.  Locro is a traditional stew made from corn and sopa Paraguaya is a bread made from corn flour and cheese.

Image courtesy of chickybuddy

New Zealand – Lamb, Sweet Potatoes, Māori potato

When thinking of New Zealand one might immediately be drawn to the famous lamb that roams the green hills.  Lamb chops with mint sauce is an entree to remember in New Zealand.  Another cuisine that resides in New Zealand lies with the traditional Māori people.  The cuisine includes kumara sweet potatoes and Māori purple potatoes cooked in various bush herbs and spices.

Image courtesy of gabrielteixeira

Group G

Brazil – Rice and Beans, Feijoada, Churrasco

Brazilian food‘s diversity is almost as big as the country itself.  The combination of rice and beans is a basic dish, but still ever so popular and made with highly delicious ingredients in Brazil.  Feijoada is a stew made with black beans, pork, beef, and onions. Like many South American nations, Brazil is also knowledgeable about grilled meat known as Churrasco.

Image courtesy of victoriafee

Portugal – Bacalhau

Portuguese food is a Mediterranean style culinary mixture utilizing a series of spices, herbs, and olive oil.  Bacalhau, preserved and salted cod fish, is one of the unofficial national Portuguese foods that is commonly available.  Grilled seafood is found at almost all restaurant and dishes like Arroz de Marisco (rice and seafood) are vibrant dishes to partake of.

Image courtesy of rochafoto

Cote d’Ivoire -Fried Bananas, Kedjenou

Aloko or fried bananas are ever present in the Cote d’Ivoire style cuisine.  Slightly sweet plantain bananas are cooked in oil until golden brown and served with meals or just for snacks.  Kedjenou is a delicious chicken and vegetable stew slowly cooked with only a little liquid to emphasize the chicken flavor.  Fufu like in much of West Africa is a very common starch filler.

Image courtesy of spartan_puma

North Korea – Cold Noodles

GalbiJim expresses that the big difference between North Korean and it’s well known South Korean neighbor in the realm of food, deals with the selection of cold noodles in the north.  Mul Naengmyeon is one of the most popular noodles dishes made with sweet potato flour and served in a soup with cucumbers and beef.

Image courtesy of avlxyz

Group H

Spain – Paella

A Spanish paella originates from Valencia and though there is an extensive list of Spanish foods and cooking techniques, it has become symbolic as a national dish of Spain.  There are many variations of  the paella, but most consist of white rice, vegetables, a form of meat or seafood, and mild seasoning, all unified in a single pan.

Image courtesy of bpt

Switzerland – Chocolate, Rösti

Rösti is considered as one of the national dishes of Switzerland.  Grated potato mixed with salt and pepper is fried in butter or oil in the form of a patty.  Bacon, cheese, herbs, and other ingredients are also sometimes added to the rösti for extra tastiness. With a world high reputation, a flavor that will melt someones heart, and texture that’s smoother than silk, Swiss chocolate is famed around the world.

Image courtesy of divania_nogueira

Chile – Churrasco Completo

Meat, avocados, and crusty loaves, are three foods that Chileans are passionate about.  A combination of all three, plus a few added extras like tomatoes, sauerkraut, and some special sauce, forms the basis of the famous Chilean Churrasco Completo.  This is an all-in-one massive sandwich meal-deal where bread is the least used ingredient.

Honduras – Plato Tipico, Beleada

Honduran cuisine is an agglomeration of South American, Spanish, and African foods.  Meat, seafood, corn, beans, tortillas, and plantains, are all Honduran specialities and sources of nutrition. A plato tipico or typical plate of food consists of barbecued beef, pork sausage, beans, rice, plantains, a small salad, and cheese.  A beleada is a Honduran tortilla filled with mashed beans, salty cheese, and various creams.

Image courtesy of cphon

Who do you think should take gold, silver, and bronze, in this 2010 World Cup of Cuisine???

-Migration Mark

Mark Wiens has spent most of his free time from Yaowarat Chinatown to Victory Munch (also known as Victory Monument), pursuing a mastery in the edible arts of Bangkok.  He has naturally partaken of most edible things in sight and has sampled seemingly infinite tidbits.  With a voracious Thai food eating habit, he has managed to start making som tam (papaya salad) at his personal street cart vendor and has even patented a dish to his name at a neighborhood eatery (hint: # 29).

I feel like a King every single day in Bangkok due to the ambrosial and affordable cuisine I devour.

This list does NOT include the everlasting selection of deep fried and sweet snacks that fill all street crannies or the array of Thai desserts (they will produce later articles).  This is a list of 100 dishes to eat for a memorable feast at a street restaurant or hole in the wall eatery!

Note: Many Thai dishes can be ordered with chicken (gai) or pork (moo) interchanged as well as with all kinds of vegetable variations.  Most dishes can be tweaked to personal satisfaction.  Don’t be afraid to experiment!

Other Important Words: gai (chicken), moo (pork), kao plao (plain rice), phed mak (very spicy), prik (chili), gung (shrimp), plah (fish), nam plao (plain water), kai (egg)

Hope This Helps You Eat Like a King!

asterixed* dishes are my personal recommendations!

Soups/Curries

1.  Tom Yum Gung Nam Khon* (Spicy Thai Soup w/ Shrimp) – An exquisite flavor of Thailand in the form of a super tasty fusion of delights combined.  Shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal, chilies, kaffir lime leaves, onions, and a host of other lively ingredients and herbs are boiled together before a generous pour of condensed milk is added to make the soup rich and creamy.

Tom Yum Gung Nam Khon

2.  Gar Por Plah (Fish Stomach Soup) – Though it may not sound overly amazing, a good fish stomach soup can be outstanding.  The tender stomach is cocked in a thick gravy soup with flavors of ginger and soy sauce.

Gar Por Plah

3.  Tom Kha Gai (Chicken Galangal Soup) – Tom Kha Gai is a thick and hearty coconut milk soup combined with chicken and teeming with fragrant lemongrass.  The soup is usually not overly spicy so it is a flavor that can cater to those who are not accustomed to the chilies in soups like Tom Yum Gung.

4.  Tom Saap* (Lemongrass Soup) – A brilliant Issan style lemongrass soup with crushed lime leaves and usually pork or fish.  The clear broth can be potently sour for an extremely vibrant taste.

Tom Saap Plah Duk

5.  Gang Som Pak Ruam* (Sweet and Sour Vegetable Soup) – Sweet, sour and spicy all come together with Gang Som.  The soup broth is loaded with a handful of fresh vegetables

Gang Som Pak Ruam

6.  Gang Phet Nuaa (Pepper Beef Curry) – Coconut milk sauce based curry blended with various immaculate curry sauces and mixed with beef.  This type of curry also includes an abundance of fragrant peppercorns which truly add to the taste.

Gang Ped Nuaa

7.  Gang Som Cha Om Kai (Sweet and Sour Soup with Omelet) – This is a wonderful sour chili soup with a vegetable omelet egg dish chopped up inside.  The omelet is made with the fragrant cha om or acacia leaves for a unique flavor.

8.  Kanom Jeen Nam Ya Kati* (Orange Coconut Curry with toppings) -  This is a spectacular dish of soft rice noodles topped with a creamy orange curry and then garnished with a selection of herbs and fresh vegetables.  The soft noodles melt into the coconut milk curry for a spectacular dish.

Kanom Jeen Nam Ya Kati

9.  Gang Keow Wan* (Green Curry Chicken) – An ultimately flavorful green curry blend with ingredients of coconut milk, bamboo shoots, chicken, Thai basil, and the ever present herbs and roots.  The green curry paste has an insanely delicious aroma that will instantly turn you into a lifetime fan of Thai green curry.

Gang Keow Wan Gai

10.  Kanom Jin Gang Keow Wan Gai (Fermented Rice Noodles with Curry Sauce and Vegetables on top) – A sweeter green curry usually with chunks of coagulated blood and chicken on top of fermented and super soft rice noodles.  The noodles sop up the curry like a sponge for a sweet treat!

11. Hau Mok Ma Plow Aun* (Seafood Curry in Coconut) - An assortment of seafood is cooked in a delicate coconut cream based curry and then served inside a coconut shell itself.  It is a thick and super rich dish that should always be a part of a special Thai meal.

Hau Mok Ma Plow Aun

12.  Panang Gai* (Red Curry with Chicken and Coconut Cream) – Panang is a succulent and chili filled red or brownish curry blend of coconut cream and chicken.  The unique taste is the abundance of finely chopped kaffir lime leaves generously mixed in the dish and thrown on top.

Panang Gai

13.  Gang Gali- a pleasant blend of spices in a chicken curry gravy

14.  Massaman Gai (Muslim Chicken Peanut Curry) – Massaman Gai is usually a Halal dish that caters to the Thai Muslim community.  It is a reddish brown sweet curry with a strong presence of peanut flavor.  A piece of soft chicken with the blended curry sauce over rice is a taste that’s out of this world!

Gang Massaman

15.  Gai Pad Pongali* (Thai Egg and Chicken Curry) - chicken, onions, and peppers, fried up in delicate yellow curry sauce and curdled with eggs

Gai Pad Pongali

16.  Boo Pad Pongali (Thai Egg Curry with Crab) – Crab chunks fried up with parsley and yellow curry sauce and covered with eggs to create a Thai curry sensation.  This dish made with crab is highly popular for upscale parties and get-togethers!

Boo Pad Pongali

17.  Gang Jued* (Vegetable Soup) – a healthy vegetable soup of carrots, cabbage, onions, pork, usually tofu, and glass noodles

Gang Jued

18.  Gang Jued Tow Hoo Tod (Vegetable Soup with Fried Tofu) - healthy vegetable soup with fried chewy tofu

Gang Jeud Tow Hoo Tod

19.  Gang Hed (Mushroom Stew) – an array of mushrooms boiled in a salty and lemony pot of shrooms, the time I ate it I thought I was hallucinating

Gang Hed

20.  Jim Jum* (Soup Hot Pot) – a clay pot over charcoal used to boil your own vegetables, meat, eggs, and basil, in a provided broth that is laced with ginger, garlic, lemongrass, and an assortment of other fragrant items

Jim Jum

Meat Dishes…Mostly

21.  Moo Krataa (Thai Barbecue) - a massive buffet of all things meat and seafood that you cook right in front of your nose on a provided griddle, huge Thai buffet

22.  Kai Rabud (Fried Egg and Meat Sauce) – fried egg, chopped up, and smothered with a sweet and sour meat and vegetable sauce

Kai Rabud

23.  Yam Kai Yeow Ma (Black Egg Salad) – Black egg salad, fried, then chopped up with fried basil into an egg salad.

Yam Kai Yeow Ma

24.  Kai Toon (Steamed Egg) – steamed egg with shrimp or pork chop, great with a pile of white rice

Kai Toon

25.  Hoy Tod (Oyster Omelet) - greasy fried oyster omelet on a bed of bean sprouts

26.  Aor Suan (Sizzling Oyster Omelet) – greasy fried oyster omelet on a sizzling skillet

Aor Suan

27.  Kai Jiew Moo Saap* (Thai Pork Omelet) – Thai style omelet filled with minced pork and loaded with flavor, awesome with sauce prik

Kai Jiew Moo Saap

28.  Kai Yad Sai* (Stuffed Omelet with Rice) - minced pork in a salty and tangy sauce with vegetables wrapped in a thin egg omelet over a bed of rice

29.  Kai Jiew Mark*** (Thai Omelet with Basil and Red Onions) – Migration Mark’s patented omelet found at a small eatery on Rajavithi Rd. Soi 6 near Victory Monument (Pumpkin Family).  If you need it (you do), get in touch.  This omelet is loaded with minced pork, red onions, and the Thai sweet sweet basil.

Kai Jiew Mark

30.  Kao Niew Moo Yang* (Grilled Pork Sticks with Stick Rice) – sticky rice with grilled pork skewer kebabs, always available everywhere and delicious

31.  Moo Manow (Lemon Marinated Pork) – sliced pork that is lemon and herb coated

thai dish of lime pork or moo manow

32.  Gai Satay (Pork Sticks with Peanut Sauce) - yellow BBQ chicken usually dipped into a peanut sweet sauce

Gai Satay

33.  Ped Yang (Roasted Duck) – Duck is an ever popular form of poultry to eat.  Roasted duck can be found all over Bangkok and lining the streets of Yaowarat.

Phed Yang

34.  Yam Khor Moo Yang* (Grilled Pork Salad) – tender grilled pork neck chopped up with mint and onions into a meaty salad

35.  Moo Dad Diew (Dried and Fried Pork) – Pork is first dried for super saltiness and then deep fried or grilled.  The salty pork is eaten with sticky rice and dipped into jim jao chili sauce.

Moo Dad Diew

36.  Gai Tod (Fried Chicken) - Crispy deep fried chicken served with a tangy chili filled hot sauce known as jim jao.

Gai Tod

37.  Gai Yang (Grilled Chicken) – succulent marinated and perfectly grilled chicken right off the fire on countless mobile carts throughout Bangkok

Gai Yang

38.  Kao Ka Moo (Soy Sauce Pork) – tasty cured pork in a boiling sweet soy sauce that’s served over rice

Kao Ka Moo

39.  Kao Mok Gai* (Rice and Chicken Biryani) – Halal dish of yellow curried rice, curried chicken, a cucumber pickle garnish, and of course a killer sauce

Kao Mok Gai

40.  Kao Moo Daang* (Pork and Rice with Sweet Red Sauce) - popular red barbecue pork served with rice and red sweet barbecue sauce smothered all over

Kao Moo Dang

41.  Kao Man Gai (Chicken and Rice) - simple dish of boiled chicken atop a bed of rice made with chicken stock and served with a special garlic chili blended sauce

Kao Man Gai

42.  Kao Pad (Fried Rice) – a dish that can’t be messed up of fried rice with chicken (countless variations of fried rice can be made)

Khao Pad

43.  Nam Tok Moo* (Marinated Grilled Pork with Dressing) – grilled tender juicy pork neck mixed with lemon juice, green onions, chili, and mint leaves

Yam Nam Tok Moo

44.  Larb Moo* (Minced Pork Salad) - minced pork, lime juice, mint leaves, cracked wheat, and onions all combined into a heavenly treat

Larb Moo

45.  Yam Tuna* (Tuna Salad) – a can of tuna mixed with lemongrass, onions, mint, and chili peppers (best can of tuna in the world)

Yam Tuna

46.  Kao Pad Tom Yum Gai (Spicy Fried Rice Supreme) – Take a combination of spicy tom yum soup and fry it up with rice and chicken and you have the world’s tasties form of fried rice!

Khao Pad Tom Yum

47.  Tab Wan (Liver Salad) – Issan dish of semi cooked liver tossed with mint leaves and cracked wheat

Tab Wan

48.  Khao Khul Kaphi (Fragrant Rice with Mixed Toppings) - Khao Khul Kaphi is a Thai style casserole goulash.  Rice is fried up with a light shrimp paste and then covered with fresh ingredients like grated green mango, Chinese sausage, sliced string beans, red onions, assorted eggs, and then doused with a sweet porky au jus!

Khao Khul Kaphi

49.  Pad Ga Pow Moo Kai Dow* (Stir Fried Chicken with Basil and a Fried Egg) - stir fried chicken or pork with Thai basil, chilies, and a fried egg on the side, served over a bed of rice (this dish is popular and always available at every eatery, something to rely on)

Pad Ga Pow Moo Kai Dow

50.  Gai Pad Nam Man Hoy (Chicken Stir Fried with Oyster Sauce) – stir fried chicken with salty oyster sauce and onions

Gai Pad Nam Man Hoy

51.  Gai Pad Met Ma Muang* (Chicken with Cashew Nuts) – flavorful stir fried chicken with onions, cashew nuts, and dried chilies

Gai Pad Met Ma Muang

52.  Pad Nor Mai Gang Keow Wan (Stir Fried Bamboo Shoots) – A handful of bamboo shoots cooked with pork/chicken, onions, and sometimes Thai eggplant and stir fried with green curry paste.

Pad Nor Mai

53.  Pad Priew Wan Gai (Sweet and Sour Chicken) – chicken stir fried with peppers, cucumber, carrots, and onions, in a sweet and sour sauce

Pad Priew Wan Gai

54.  Pad Gai Tua Fock Yao- stir fried green beans with chicken and chilies

55.  Hoy Nang Lom (Thai Style Oysters) – Small raw Oyster’s are de-shelled and laid over ice on a plate.  The best way to eat this dish is to fill a spoon with a little chili paste, a dab of chili vinegar, a few oyster’s, a couple of fried onions, and a few herb sprigs.  Put the entire contents of the spoon in your mouth at once and enjoy the chili sauces with the salty oyster!

Hoy Nang Lom

56.  Tod Man Plah Klai (Fried Fish Cake) - deep fried spicy fish cake

Tod Man Plah Klai

57.  Plah Kah Pung Neung Manow* (Steamed Lemon Snapper) – steamed snapper swimming in a vibrant green chili sauce and lemon juice

Plah Kah Pung Neung Manow

58.  Gung Pow (Grilled Shrimp) – Whole roasted shrimp on the grill are served with the entire shell and tentacles still in-tact.  After peeling out the succulent shrimp meat, it is dipped into a sweet and spicy, chili and garlic infested seafood sauce.

Gung Pow

59.  Gang Som Plah Chon** (Snake Head Fish with Sweet and Sour Soup) – an awe striking snake head fish swimming in a stunning sweet and sour soup and laced with herbs

Gang Som Plah Chon

60.  Plah Chon Lui Suan (Snake Head Fish with Vegetables) - steamed snake head fish with vegetables and served with a wondrous chili sauce

Plah Chon Lui Suan

61.  Plah Plow (Plain Grilled Fish) - highly salted Tilapia stuffed with lemongrass and lime leaves for flavor and then grilled to perfections

Plah Plow

62.  Plah Chon Plow (Grilled Snake Head Fish) – grilled snake head fish prepared the same as plah plow

Plah Chon Plow

63.  Yam Plah Duk Foo* (Deep Fried Cat Fish Fluff) – deep fried fluffy catfish essence served with a sweet and sour peanut sauce of incredulence and garnished with onions, green papaya, and herbs

Yam Plah Duk Foo

Vegetables…Mostly

64.  Som Tam Plah Lah (Spicy Papaya Salad with Fermented Fish Sauce) – green papaya salad mixed with a fermented fish sauce dressing, a taste many must get used to

Som Tam Plah Lah

65.  Som Tam Thai* – green papaya salad mixed with dried shrimp, peanuts, green beans, and then pounded in lemon juice, fish sauce, and sweet dressing

Som Tam Thai

66.  Som Tam Boo (Spicy Papaya Salad with Crab) – green papaya salad with miniature crabs pounded into the mix

Som Tam Boo

67.  Tum Sua* (Spicy Papaya Salad with Noodles) – green papaya salad with rice vermicelli added for extra weight

Tum Sua

68.  Som Tam Tod (Deep Fried Papaya Salad) – green papaya salad battered and deep fried with an exquisite sauce to accompany (rare dish, contact me)

69.  Tam Tang (Spicy Cucumber Salad) – similar to som tam but made with cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions instead of papaya, ultra fresh dish

Tam Tang

70.  Tow Hoo Song Kreung* (Mixed Vegetable Tofu) – tofu stir fried with onions, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, and little bit of minced pork

Tow Hoo Song Kreung

71.  Kalam Bhee Pad Khai Sai Moo Saap* (Cabbage with Pork and Egg) - stir fried cabbage, onions, and pork, then covered in raw egg and fried into a delicious delicacy

Kalam Bi Pad Kai Sai Moo Saap

72.  Gai Pad King* (Stir Fried Chicken with Ginger) – stir fried chicken with huge amounts of grated ginger, mushrooms, and onions

Gai Pad King

73.  Pad Pak Gai (Stir Fried Vegetables) – an assortment of stir fried vegetables with chicken (or any other meat you propose)

Pad Pak Gung

74.  Gai/Gung Pad Prik (Stir Fried Chicken/Seafood with Chili Paste) – Chicken or seafood cooked with peppers, green chili’s, small vegetables, and then smothered in chili sauce paste.

Gung Pad Prik

75.  Gai Pad Prik Yuak (Stir Fried Chicken with Banana Pepper) – A great dish of stir fried chicken with yellow green banana peppers, onions, and few carrots, and spring onions.

thai gai pad prik yuak

76.  Pad Pak Bung Nam Man Hoy* (Known as Morning Glory or Water Spinach) – stir fried morning glory and chili’s in oyster sauce

Pad Pak Bung Nam Man Hoy

Pad Yod Mala

78.  Kana Moo Krob ( Stir Fried Chinese Broccoli with Crispy Pork) - green kale stir fried with crispy pork and oyster sauce

Kana Moo Krob

79.  Miang Plah Tu (Fresh Vegetables wrapped with Noodles and Fried Mackerel) – A fried Mackerel, some kanom jeen fermented rice noodles, a selection of lettuce leaves and herbs, and a spice bowl full of peanut lemograss sauce makes is served on a wooden platter.  The small bit of fish with the herbs and absolute life-changing sauce is miraculous!

Miang Plah Tu

80.  Pak Pak Ruam Mit Moo Prik Pow (Stir Fried Mixed Vegetables with Chili Paste) – stir fried vegetables and pork, fried in chili paste

Pad Pak Ruam Mit Moo Prik Pow

81.  Kao Yam (Rice Salad Mixture) - rice salad with special sauce

Khao yam pak tai

82.  Nam Prik Kaphi* (Fermented Shrimp Sauce with Assorted Things) – an assortment of steamed vegetables with a fermented shrimp paste chili sauce

83.  Nam Prik Plah Two (Fish with Fermented Fish Suace) – mixed vegetables and deep fried tuna with shrimp chili sauce

Noodles Dishes

84.  Gai Pad Kee Mau Sen Yai* (Fried Wide Rice Noodles with Assorted Vegetables) – wide rice noodles stir fried up with an assortment of vegetables and chicken

Pad Kee Mau Sen Yai

85.  Pad See Eiu (Wide Rice Noodles Fried with Soy Sauce) – wide rice noodles stir fried in soy sauce

Pad See Eiu

86.  Guay Teow Khua Gai* (Rice Noodles Slow Cooked with Chicken and Eggs) - wide rice noodles fried with chicken and smothered in eggs and slowly cooked with salty meats

Guay Teow Khua Gai

87.  Pad Thai (Thai Fried Noodles) – classic dish of sweet and salty stir fried noodles with dried shrimp, peanuts, eggs, onions, and garnished with bean sprouts and spring onions

Pad Thai

88.  Guay Teow Lui Suan* (Thai Spring Rolls with Herbs) - wide rice noodles wrapped into spring rolls and filled with ground meat, carrots, lettuce, Thai herbs to accompany, and outrageously delicious garlic sauce

Guay Teow Lui Suan

89.  Gung Ob Woon Sen (Glass Noodles cooked with Shrimp and Soy Sauce) - stir fried glass noodles with shrimp in soy sauce

Gung Ob Woon Sen

90.  Yam Woon Sen- glass noodle salad with tomatoes, parsley, and onions

Yam Wun Sen

91.  Mee Krob- crunchy noodles with sweet sauce

Mee Krob

92.  Guay Teow Ped/Khao Na Ped (Duck with Rice or Noodles) – noodles on top of roast duck and brown gravy

Khao Na Ped

93.  Giew Nam (Pork and shrimp dumplings) - Chinese influenced dumplings filled with a variety of meat and spices and then placed into a mild boiling soup.

Giew Nam

94.  Pad Mi Kati- stir fried think pink rice noodles

Pad Mi Kati

95.  Sen Yai Latnaa* (Wide Rice Noodles with Gravy) - wide rice noodles covered in a brown gravy of pork and small vegetables

Sen Yai Latna

96.  Guay Teow Rhua* (Soup Noodles) – popular noodle soup with a choice of wide or thin noodles, and with pork, beef, or pork balls, and a sensational spicy broth, served in small bowls so you must eat 5 to 10

Guay Teow Rhua

97.  Sen Lek Nuaa* (Beef Noodles) – choice of noodles with soup and chunks of beef, onions, and bean sprouts

Sen Lek Nuaa

98.  Ba Mi/Sen Lek Tom Yum (Noodles with Spicy Soup) – choice of noodles thin egg noodles/medium rice noodles in a red spicy peanut soup broth

Sen Lek Tom Yum

99.  Guay Jab (Rice Noodles Rolls in Soup) - rolls of wide rice noodles in a salty soup with crispy pork

Guay Jab

100.  Yen Ta Fo- rice thread noodles in a pink tofu flamboyant soup base

Yen Ta Fo

For more Thai gourmet advice or if you want to feast, please contact me or leave a comment!

If your most outstanding Thai dish of indulgence has neglected to make the list, please let me know.  I would love to try it, and then include it on the list.

Please leave a comment to let me know what your favorite dish is!

-Migration Mark

From spending 24 Hours at Angkor Wat to aimlessly walking around the capital of Phnom Penh, in order to fit in to the Cambodian lifestyle, you will need to follow a few or possibly all of these tips.

1.  Parkas and Gore-Tex

If you venture outside or somewhere onto the street, whatever you do, don’t forget the North Face down parkas.  Locals don’t appreciate the glorious sunshine.  I saw numerous people rocking the latest in mittens, leggings,  scarves, and long johns.

2.  100cc Family Vehicle

The Dodge Caravan is no longer the family of 5 vehicle of choice.  Rather a family of five or six (and 2 or 3 generations at that) comfortably manages to finagle their way onto a 100cc Honda motorbike and cruise from place to place as a routine activity.

3.  Guerrilla Marketing

Local Cambodians have taken guerrilla marketing to the highest of world levels.  If you have something to offer, offer it at a price (includes advice).  If you have a 2 seater motorbike, ask everyone if they need a ride, even if it’s obvious they don’t.  If you have scissors, offer a haircut.  If you have hands, just start massaging unsuspecting victims.  And by the way, getting rejected 5 or 6 times is absolutely “NO” reason to give up.

4.  Wear Pajamas

This mostly goes to females and is directly correlated with the winter gore-tex.  Women love pajamas.  It is a frequency to see ladies dodging across traffic on streets, riding side saddle, or vending, all while  sporting the latest in Berenstain Bears or Digimon.  If you leave the house, don’t forget to “NOT change,” or if anything, add a parka, mittens, and a scarf to the repertoire.

5.  Invent the Remix

You better be up on the latest rap and pop songs, because they need to be remixed in Khmer, ASAP.  As I heard very familiar rap songs blasting on buses and in restaurants, very unfamiliar voices were projected.  If you are good at remixing, a video must also be produced, like Ghost Ride the tuk tuk in Bangkok.

6.  Overload Your Vehicle

If you have a truck, it is mandatory to load it to capacity, then add a few more tons of cargo, then add a couple family vehicles on top (100cc’s), and then add a couple generations of families to the very top.  This must be done even if no one really wants to go anywhere.  After completion of loading, you can get more advice from how to successfully drive a car in Indonesia.

Overloaded Truck in Phnom Penh

7.  Play House

Get comfortable on microscopic tables and chairs and sometimes using tiny utensils or other “play house” essentials.  The toy food sets and furniture I played with when I was a kid, become a full grown adults reality when eating outstanding cuisine on the streets of Phnom Penh.

8.  Chill Out

If there is not much to do in the afternoon it is required to take a nap on the back of a motorbike, in a hammock, on a fence pole, or with your leg vertically propped in some position that looks ridiculously uncomfortable.

If you can master these daily norms you will easily fit in and possibly even start to become a local Cambodian.

-Migration Mark

A three day break from teaching English in Thailand was clearly a justifying claim for a brief excursion to Hong Kong from Bangkok.  I arrived mid afternoon to the very friendly and high tech airport.  The airport link train located literally inside of the airport was an easy ride to Hong Kong train station.

Hong Kong View from Window

Through the green forested mountains we traveled.  For a jiffy I thought I might come face to face with an Orangutan, when abruptly the green dissolved and transformed into monstrous fabricated structures of engineering impossibility.

That evening we indulged in a variety of fried delights accompanying a Chinese style massive portion of steamed rice (I’ve become so accustomed to rather small Thai portions).  Neck deep in awe of this urban dwellers wonderland, I was introduced to the uber materialism of the SOHO region where glittered shops caught everyone’s attention from infinite directions.  From there we hiked to the ferry terminal in order to catch a vessel across Hong Kong Bay to the Kowloon side, ecstatic to inspect the outrageous blaze of illumination like some kind of crazy aurora.

Hong Kong Skyline

“How did Hong Kong ever happen?” I gawked, dazzling at the cliff faces of the man made edifices.  The display of electricity in visible form had me wondering if I was actually hallucinating.  At around 12 am we began our trip back to Hong Kong Island where I would be faced with the most ambrosial dumplings I have ever ingested.

I could actually smell the dim sum from across the bay.  At a small local joint, next door to our apartment of rest, lay a fine dim sum eatery that begins it’s nightly vending of artistic dumplings at 1 am.  Curious upon entrance, it took merely minutes to begin involuntarily seizing bamboo steamers and gobbling ferociously.

Hong Kong Style Dim Sum

The next day began with a trip to Mongkok where fanatic shoppers and eating erudites can both reside in harmony.  Humans seemed to be going bazurk on greasy treats like tube steak surprises and everything off a stick.   Shop stalls of all things spread through slot canyons of concrete buildings.

When I didn’t know if my simple mind could handle another flashing light or billboard, we arrived in the Causway Bay area where people stampeded around like wildebeests migrating from one street to the next.

We hung around Causway Bay before relocating to Wan Chai where we caught a live band covering popular English songs.  In the A.M’s we headed home, making the ever vital dim sum stop.  Don’t hesitate to jump to a conclusion about a pattern forming.

On day three I was able to dive into one of my favorite activities, aimless wondering, which eventually lead to the Hong Kong viewpoint at Victoria’s Peak.  The touristic clusters and the overall haze of the air distracted from the otherwise unbelievable view of the Hong Kong metropolis.

For our last night in Hong Kong we thought it might be appropriate to observe jockeys as they battled each other at the famed Hong Kong Jockey Club.  Robust horses sprinted by, carrying puny, wide stanced jockeys, under an enlightening starry night backdrop of illuminated cubicles and shrieks of unlucky betters. I must say, my debut horse race was quite enjoyable.

Hong Kong Jockey Club

Again we hung out in Wan Chai to the benefit of wonderful conversation with awesome friends.  We went home, but obviously not without gobbling my favorite divine delight also known as dim sum.

The next day was dedicated to a return to the airport and a flight away from the concrete canyons of Hong Kong.

The trip was wonderful.  We did not have the time or money to partake of all touristy norms, but what we did, saw, and experienced, was clearly a taste (literally) of what Hong Kong is and the flavors it has to offer.  Though I would find it hard to dwell in such a geometrical manufactured society, I consider a visit to Hong Kong an opportunity to put “city” into an empirical reality.

Scenes from Hong Kong

-Migration Mark

Related

• The World’s First Chinatown
• Sagada: Astonishing Adventures
• How To Maximize Relaxation in Vientiane Laos
• Vegetarian Festival in Bangkok

At the End of the English Camp

The fans were ballistic, shrieking at the top of their lungs, cell phones and cameras were flashing like Betelgeuse, hands were thrown in the air, notebooks and pens even shirts were shoved in our faces for autographs.  A three day English camp had just come to an end, and all of us camp leaders (also known as English speakers) felt like celebrities.

I had already figured out how to be a millionaire and now I was in the process of learning how to become a celebrity.

I had been a migrationologist, traveling the world for about a year and a half when I landed in Bangkok from Manila, the Philippines.  The funds were slowly depleting and I needed to find some sort of income while still maintaining my hobo-esque migrationology look and lifestyle.

After lazying in places like the peaceful shores of Lake Toba and climbing volcanoes like Mount Merapi in Indonesia, the thought of an official job was a truly unpleasant thought.

Through a number of connections in Bangkok, I was introduced to Dragonfly English Camps.  I thought, why not travel for free to a few off the beaten path towns in Thailand, meet some wonderful people, sing silly songs, booty shake, and all while speaking my native tongue, English.  It can’t be too bad right?

Enlgish Camp Introduction

The camps proved to be much more exhilarating and inspiring than expected.  Our crew arrived in Nakhon Sawan for the first English camp excited and slightly frightened, standing in front of hundreds of electrified kids, faces gleaming at us.  “Hellooooooooo, my name is Maaaaarkkkk,” I shouted into the microphone with a trembling voice.  The kids saw none of the nervous wreck that I was and the host of them cheered and shouted.  All staff were treated with the same courtesy and exuberance.

The camp continued with energetic English activities full of excitement in the form of games, competitions, singing with motions, awkward dancing, chants, English questions, and fabulous lunches.  Though we aimed to provide educated fun for the Thai kids, the day would fly by as all the staff were equally entertained.

When the camp approached the end, the kids begged us to stay.   Truly treating us like celebrities the inspiring kids wanted to take pictures, get autographs, and bid us farewell.  Some wrote personal notes wrapped in intricate origami to give us while others crowded around us with glowing luminosity.

Answering Questions at English camp

Though we left with some monetary pay, nothing compares with the memories, the personal confidence building, and the thought of making just a slight impact into the lives of some of the children.

I give you my word, your confidence will be boosted and you will truly feel like a celebrity if you have the chance to be on an English camp in Thailand.

Thank you Drangonfly English Camp for some wonderful experiences and memories!

-Migration Mark

Related:

• 17 Reasons You Know You Love Southeast Asia
• How to Be A Millionaire for $35.32

Jogging in Manila requires that all human senses be maximized to full potential and then some.  You will surely be evaluated and put through a personal examination that will fully test all human capabilities.

Just so you know, you will be forced to kick a few cats, hurdle countless stray dogs, and scatter aimless looking roosters.  One minute you are scattering a zoo and the next minute you are swag surfing through a muster of hawkers.

A waterfall will surely form at the tip of your nose and run down the entirety of your body getting trapped in your apparel.  Your skin and clothing will instantaneously be sopping with salty wetness.

You will be harassed by wires that are invisible until they have strangled  your neck.  You will be forced to dodge craters in the sidewalk, extra re-bar that managed to stick out of nowhere, and you will need to navigate the sidewalk or road that resembles a music equalizer from the side.  Along these roads you will pass convenience stores, mechanical shops, and the highly daunting (as you are jogging in jeopardy) funeral service homes.

While avoiding various obstacles, you will accidentally brush up against a man urinating into a fence and he won’t look the least bit surprised or embarrassed.  You will unleash a smile and continue onwards.

Your lungs will instantly char from the rancid spewing of everything from mega buses to homemade vehicular devices.  The stench of rotting garbage will coat your inner nostrils as you putt, putt, along.

As you gag for you next choke of oxygen, one breath closer to emphazima, is when you will think to yourself,

“I may as well be smoking cigarettes, instead of jogging in Manila, one essentially reaps the same consequences.”

But then you think again while peering out of your half closed shuttering eyelid and start to realize that because your senses are forced to be so acute, that there are many cultural and valuable things that open right before your eyes if you have the energy at this point to be attentive.

People we be sprawled out in the most peculiar positions but looking so comfortable while catching a random power nap.  You will hear the cries of children, the agony of the much less fortunate, and the laughs of excited boys.

Men will be hanging out and when you zoom past they will call out a random country they suspect you could potentially possibly be from such as “Netherlands.”  Without any energy to chat, you will nod and continue jogging as the men cheer or laugh at you.

You will see a mother with young ones orbiting around her while selling rice-licious deserts from a tiny wooden stall.  The kids will scream and possibly chase you as you go past.  You will watch as people bite the heads off 1 day old chickens, dip their squid balls into vinegar, and swat flies from pork carcasses.

You will see people living lives, some doing well, others struggling.  But hopefully it will open your eyes, help you to realize whats going on around you, and encourage you to help others directly or indirectly.

Taxi drivers will attempt to get your business as you continue to jog.  They either think that you will collapse soon and need a ride or that you will go from a straight run to hopping into the backseat of their car.  When you give the driver the thumbs down, he will eek out a smile and realize that this time instead of being lazy, you are trying to perform a little exercise.

At the end of your adventure you will be ecstatic you survived a jog in Manila.  Your body will feel slightly paralyzed and you will want to curl into the fetal position somewhere under a tree.  Your feel as if you sat around smoking a package of cigarettes.  Then you will realize that your jog unquestionably had many many more valuable benefits.

-Mark Wiens

Over a week had passed since my arrival in Manila, the Philippines, and I had eaten countless plates of Bicol Express, pork and chicken adobo, and deep fried “1 day old chickens.”

There was however one notoriously weird, some call nasty, but nevertheless popular Filipino foods that I had not indulged in, and I needed to.  This “treat with feet,” or “eggs with legs,” was featured as an eating contest on Fear Factor where they called it gross.

It often makes the top list of strange or weird foods from around the world and cracked.com rated it as the number one most terrifying foods in the world.

Yes, it was about time for Migration Mark to consume the famous boiled, fertilized duck or chicken egg including the semi developed, feathery and leathery fetus, known simply as “Balut.”

It didn’t take more than 2 minutes to locate a balut seller across the street who was proudly serving up his boiled eggs.  The vendor opened up his chest, pulled out three tame looking eggs and handed them to us.

Though it was my debut occasion, I quickly figured out that there are really only five simple steps to eating balut.

1.  Peel a small hole at the top.

2.  Drink the chicken soup from the hole.

3.  Peel the rest of the egg.

4.  Eat the yolk and egg white.

5.  Save the best for last, the feathery, wrinkled, duck fetus.

It’s really quite a simple process.

For a moment I felt like I was committing an abortion, but I got over that real fast.

Despite what many say, Balut is really not as bad as it sounds or as bad as some make it out to be.  I wouldn’t say I would jump at the chance to eat balut, however I would gladly partake in the right situation with little hesitation.  With the aid of a large amount of chili sauce and any form of carbonated beverage the little duck fetus’s can be quite enjoyable.

Nobody should be allowed to leave the Philippines without a few gastronomic balut’s.

Locals also love it when you love balut!

-Migration Mark