wjmark

back on-topic - why is nobody up for a ride doi suthep on their beloved CBRs?

I'm available anytime, almost. . .

jbeck

I would (I do the ride regularly), but you scared the hel_l out of me...

Feel free to pass me anytime!

did i see you today?

I wish! Won't be back in CM until late September. See your tail-light then!

Looking to bring a load of herbs and spices back to cook my own, unless anyone has found somewhere to get them cheap in Chiang Mai?

There's an Indian spice shop inside Wararoot market. Just ask any vendor and they'll point you to it. When my mum visist, she likes to cook for me and she says she's gotten everything she's needed there.

Thanks, I'll take a look when I get back, you've saved me a bit of space in my luggage

Yup - they carry most of what you need. I think they even have 'hing' - asaefotida, and also brown cardamom (both a little rarer than the 'regular' spices).

I am pretty sure they don't have any pickles (lime, mango etc), or any curry pastes, but I might be wrong on that. Pickles are easy to find in Bangkok - stock up there and mail them to CM...

Also, they do not have any Indian snacks - Bombay mix, Chevdo, Dal Moth, etc., but those are also easy to find in Bkk.

I liked New Delhi best (will try Loi Kroh when I get back to CM), but I still satisfy most of my Indian cravings with the 'ready-to-eat' pouches of vegie Indian food (can't find them yet in CM 'though).

back on-topic - why is nobody up for a ride doi suthep on their beloved CBRs?

I'm available anytime, almost. . .

jbeck

I would (I do the ride regularly), but you scared the hel_l out of me...

Feel free to pass me anytime!

I don't know how big your bike boxes are, but I regularly mail 22kg boxes from the airport to a CM post office 'poste restante'.

Costs about 300bt each...

They are open 24/7

Usually takes just a couple of days

Where did you drill the new holes in the airbox? and how biggish? maybe a stupid question.........

Actually, it is the other way around. I have a stupid answer to a good question. I don't know!

My mechanic did it, and I never looked at what he did. I do know that when I first took the airbox completely off and put on a big K&N air filter, the noise was objectionably loud.

I am guessing only - perhaps two holes golf-ball size?

Anyone?

Mark

ps - I will look when I get back next month...

I worry that ANY aftermarket pipe is going to attract the attention of the police regardless of what anyone selling them to you says. It's not like they are going to do an emissions test or measure the noise levels, they'll just take a look at it and realise it's not the original and, more than likely, has the words racing written on it. I was talking to a guy at work today that seemed to think any changes from stock legally need to be recorded in your green book.

I have been looking at maybe getting a new downpipe put on the stock silencer. Faddybike quoted me 3200 Baht for this and said it would be done in 3 weeks as they are made to order.

I think wjmark put on a stainless steel oversize downpipe so maybe he can comment on the noise increase and performance difference, IF my memory serves me right. I need to do this soon as well as my stock downtube is pretty corroded.

Yup!

Stainless down-pipe - 2500bt. This coupled with some holes in the air box really changed the bike. Much nippier.

It is definitely louder and buzzier, but not extreme - nothing like changing the muffler. Cops don't even blink when I pass by.

And T-Dog, let's be clear - it is not really an 'oversized' pipe - it is just that the stock one is undersized. The inside diameter of the stock pipe is smaller than the exhaust port on the engine. Just one of the ways that Honda 'de-tuned' the bike for normal street usage (I believe that is their motive).

The restrictive air-box, the CDI limiting at 11.5k (clearly 13k is not a problem for the engine), the 44 tooth rear sprocket (47 and my bike actually has a higher top end, and gets there more quickly), the small down-pipe, etc have all de-tuned the bike.

So to open up the bike to its 'normal' potential:

Holes in the air-box, unlimited CDI, change the down-pipe (and muffler if you don't care about noise), 47 tooth rear sprocket, fancy spark plug, fancy spark plug cable, synthetic oil (I do believe I felt some performance difference with the synthetic), 95 octane fuel...

.... and it is a different bike (same same but different - wah wah wah wah!).

The only thing I haven't done (this is all called 'stage 1' mods, isn't it?) is go to a bigger carb. Still running the stock jet too. The only problem I have with the bike is a slight dead spot from 6-7 k revs, but it sure lights up over 7k. I usually cruise at 9k+, so not much of a concern.

Don't forget to get good rubber.

One more thing - I removed most of the plastic stick-on decals from the bike, and that made it not only more beautiful (black is beautiful - Repsol is so ugly), but also faster (less wind resistance!).

Oh God how I miss my bike (and my girl-friend too...).

Back in about a month................

With the 47 rear, 11,000rpm = 140km/hr. 11,500=143. 9,600rpm=120km

With the old 44, it was 9,000=120

This is with my Michelins.

One thing about the 47 is there is much more oomph in 6th. I still hit 140 easily, and perhaps more easily than with the 44. Seems like the torque band pulls much better in 6th. With the 44 I remember it flattening out at 10,500rpm, but now it pulls easily to 11,500.

Well, this topic has it all.

Don't like something? Don't dare say something - just leave. Whiners

Make a spelling mistake or typo - get pounced on.

People who can't read - and then have to be corrected a hundred times (worker fired, 3 times then company gone)

Nobody has ever stolen from MY bag

We are guests - shut up or get out. Whiners

Thailand is corrupt

Thailand is not corrupt - same everywhere. Whiners

Even some humour - 'I'll take those bags for you, sir'... (good one!)

Good to see AOT finally doing something

The AOT is avoiding their responsibility and not really doing anything

This will solve the problem

The crackdown warning is ridiculous, and everything will be the same a few weeks later

And some untranslated German with an editorial comment - "By uns zum hause is alles viel besser, which is obviously nonsense". (Good thing I don't understand German - I don't like reading nonsense)

There are other problems in Thailand, so this isn't an important one

What sort of idiot checks in luggage with anything in it? Carry-on everything or stop whining. Your fault if someone steals from you...

I am better than you because I carry on my valuables. You are stupid.

At least woman are cheap here

Thai women are dishonest

My wife is honest

Things were better under Thaksin

Things are better without Thaksin

The only real problems are with the whore-mongers in Pattaya getting ripped off (and tossed)

Chiang Mai had a few farang murders - it is as dangerous a place as Pattaya

Whining about the whiners

Cracks on the runway

Thais like farang

Thais hate farang, but like their money (and toothpaste apparently)

Lots of newbies online - what is their agenda?

John Lennon

Spicy food...

---

Actually there is one common line missing from this thread: I haven't seen the "I hate smelly backpackers - they have no right to be here" line yet.

---

And to add my own comments on all of this...

Why are thieves merely being fired? Shouldn't they be prosecuted - just like any other thief?

And, I love Thailand, but not all of it. The massive corruption here stinks - it is worse here than many many other places (whiner). And if whining might help fix it, then I say "whine away!"

I try new restaurants pretty much most days and have tried hundreds here in the last 18 months .If anyone out there knows of similar aharn sung restaurants in town of the above description, I would like to give them a go.

Regards Bojo

OK - here is one.

My local feedery is great. All the locals acknowledge it as very special. My GF says best bbq pork ever. Clean, fresh, and not greasy or too sweet. I think it is called Pen Sen, but there is no English sign.

Easy to find (if my directions are clear!)...

If you are going north on Neimenheman, you cross Huay Keow, it becomes SuperHighway.

About 100 meters up SuperHighway on the left is a small road that veers left (not a sharp left, just a veer).

30 meters up this road on the right is the open-air (but covered) restaurant. It is actually nestled between the small road and Superhighway (can even park on SuperHighway if you want).

Open about 7am , and close around 1:00pm - when the run out of food. 6-8 dishes every day - always changing.

Cheap (20-40baht) fantastic food - changes every day. Sometimes they have a Northern version of Gang Som - not as spicy or sour as the Southern version. A little tomato-flavoured - almost like a bouillabaisse.

Always a different nam-prik - I like the minced pork and tomato one.

Always one or two different coconut curries.

Great bbq (deep-fried) pork.

When they have the hearts of palm, I always have a double order.

Deep-fried, hard-boiled eggs in sweet sauce with crispy onions (this they have almost every day).

Usually some type of Tom Jood (clear mild soup)

on and on and on...

And of course they do take out.

I didn't enter them in the Kao Soi thread, but they also have two versions here - one with pork blood (I like), and one with chicken (I like it too)

I vote - take it down...

Gentlemen ( and possibly ladies ), it's time for me to seek your expert knowledge on CBR aftermarket exhaust systems. Was hoping to avoid the mail order route but it appears I have no other option. Basically looking for a system that gives a better exhaust note without attracting the attention of the BIB and obviously improved performance I've been looking on aseanmoto.com and faddybike.com and would value your experience in helping me decide which exhaust to go with.

Jack

Or just change the down-pipe and keep the muffler - not quite as much power (but still gobs more than before), and no noise concerns - only a little louder...

There is a shop that makes choppers on Chang Phuak soi 4.

He fixed the frame and straightened the swing arm on my little dirt bike, and did a good job. How he is for your problem, I don't know, but he did do a good job for me...

Going north on Chang Phuak from the moat, turn left at the first lights (just at the small bus station there, which is on the left).

About 500 meters up on the left (south side) is the shop - just on the corner of a little soi.

It is not as far as the shop (also on the south side) that has all the old scooters and Challys... The scooter shop is just across from the road that goes up to the old Simon Cabaret and to the new Tops.

So, again, on the south side of soi 4, between Chang Phuak and the north turn-off to Simon, Tops, and Novotel.

You will see a variety of choppers on the street. The guy is really nice and not too expensive. Speaks minimal english...

He straightened my swing arm, extended it 6cm!, and fixed a crack on the frame for 1,000bt.

AND, on the north side, just across from the chopper shop is a good all-round welding shop - nice guy - speaks english ok, and very reasonable. The boss is the one who recommended going to the chopper shop to straighten my bike. As he said, 'the guy does build bikes, after all!"

I hope this helps...

wjmark. i'm not sure but if the carb has an adjustable needle then you may need to raise or lower that for the midrange.

Thanks. I will check that out when I get back to Thailand in Sept.

It idles well, runs well, pulls well, but dogs under mid-range load.

No motorbike here in Canada... sigh

Like Sinewave said, i went 2 sizes up and it works fine. had to change the screw for air/fuel intake some but not that much. I tried both with the cone and airbox filter, the cone filter increased the sound alot and i lost some power in the high rpms but that is prolly coz i didnt have a long enough pipe to the filter ( like sinewave mentioned ), but the lowend power went up more, but not worth it for me since im driving on highways alot. I now use the airbox filter which i like more, less sound, and better pull in the high rpms... i tried to make more holes in the airbox aswell but i lost power in the 6th gear so i change back.

this is with a aftermarket pipe and k&n airfilter ( in the airbox ).

/peace

I have about the same - aftermarket pipe and k&n airfilter ( in the airbox ), holes in air-box,and stock silencer.

My mechanic kept the stock jet, and there is a dead spot from 5800 to 7000, but other than that I have great hi-rev power.

I have an unlimited cdi, but what really put it all together was going to the 47 tooth sprocket.

I didn't lose any top end. Maybe even gained - 151 often, and usually only 145 with the 44t. And 6th is punchy always now. Of course 150 is over 12,000...

Stays cool 'though. I might try one jet size up to see what happens for that 6,000rpm deadspot...

Had a flat on my Wave front tire, and pulled into the Honda dealership about 15 minutes before closing. All the mechanics were cleaning up, so they had 'the kid' change the tire.

I waited about 10 minutes, watching 'the kid' struggling with the wheel. Finally he got it off, changed the tube, put the tire and wheel back on. Then he wheeled the bike back up to me at the front of the shop.

I paid, got on the bike, grabbed the bars, and nearly shat myself.

'The kid' had turned one of the forks around, so the lug for the axle bolt was at the front of one fork and the back of the other.

My handlebars were facing one way, and the wheel was facing the other.

'The kid' had wheeled this monstrosity up to the front of the shop, and had not noticed the 60 degree angle between the wheel and the bars - incredible!

One of the mechanics came up, yelled at 'the kid', and then set things right.

What amazes me is not the error of turning the fork around and still putting the axle in - anyone can make a mistake. No, what amazes me is 'the kid' wheeled this bike to the front of the shop (about 20 meters), and didn't notice that he was steering one direction, and the bike was going a different direction...

sigh

I build studio-quality Pilates exercise equipment. But I am in Canada until September. Can you wait?

Cheers,

Mark

(Pilates-Chiangmai)

What type of equipment do they use for Pilates? I thought you just needed a floor...

There are two basic aspects to Pilates work. The first is indeed the 'floor work', done on a mat and without any other equipment.

This is the popular form these days - you find large mat classes in gyms and all over the place. Mat work is important and helps stabilize the whole body with its emphasis on deep core abdominal engagement.

Unfortunately, a group class of 40 people is not a good place to start dealing with injuries etc. Also, there has been a real degradation of teaching quality in the last decade, with people able to get 'qualifications' in teaching mat work in as little as a weekend...

Equipment work - done on some of the most amazing equipment ever made (my opinion!) - is usually rehab or athlete focused. Pilates invented 4 major and another 4 or 5 smaller pieces of equipment. The Reformer, the Wunda Chair, the Cadillac, and the Ladder Barrel are the large ones, with the Spine Corrector, Spine Supporter, Magic Circle, and the Arc Barrel are the important small ones. (Contrary to popular belief, the large Swiss Ball, while used a lot in Pilates, was not invented by Joe himself).

For the last fifteen years the whole rehab profession has been incorporating Pilates methods into its work. It is very common these days to find a Pilates Reformer machine in a rehab or chiropractic setting.

Many athletes and sports-teams have added Pilates to their repertoire and they use a lot of the equipment, as it can take athletes to a much higher plane.

Generally it is only at the Pilates studios that you will find a full complement of equipment, and these are the places that have the higher qualified teachers...

Here are some photos of Pilates equipment in action http://pilates-chiangmai.tripod.com/id7.html

Those are commercial pieces of equipment - the units I build can be seen on the web-site's main page.

Cheers, Mark

ps - I built and sleep in a bed designed by Pilates - amazing. Wake up feeling loose and limber, rather than all stiff.

I build studio-quality Pilates exercise equipment. But I am in Canada until September. Can you wait?

Cheers,

Mark

(Pilates-Chiangmai)

One thing we both didn't mention about Moti Mahal in Toronto is its incredible decor.

This place really is the MacDonalds of Indian food; plastic booths with seats fixed to the floor, a self-serve counter, and paper plates!

Cheap like borscht too. 2 1/2 to 4 bucks a dish.

Need one in Bangkok. And Chiang Mai.

How about the credentials and resumes of the practitioners?

I remember one proudly proclaiming that she had studied the full five days at Wat Po...

Five days...

slightly off topic but...wjmark i was in toronto last year and we stumbled across this place called moti mahal on gerrard street, and their non veg thali was one of the best i've had. you should check it out.

Absolutely no relation to the Moti Mahal in Tokyo - which is in a class by itself.

But Moti Mahal in Toronto is my favourite Indian restaurant in Canada. I spent 4 years in Toronto, and often went down to the Gerrard St. Bazaar area. Some decent (not great) S Indian there too.

Did you know that greater Toronto has over 1/2 million Indians living there. I have heard that sometimes people travel from India to Toronto to buy their saris. (But that is just a rumour).

Ya - Toronto for great cheap food. Except Thai - have yet to find any really decent Thai food anywhere in Canada - good thing it is easy enough to cook!

Still curious about Gujarati foods in Bkk. Anyone know?

See ya'll in 3 months. I'm in transit in Vancouver now, and if I had enough time I would shoot down to Samurai Sushi - big slabs of good quality fish for a buck (Canadian - 30 baht) each. BIG slabs. Not enough time...

sigh.

Went looking for Auntie Malaysia's today, and finally found it. Looked a little dingy (which doesn't bug me - I have been to India, you know), but it only has South Indian snacks (Dosa, idli, etc etc). The rest of the menu was Northern...

Ended up just a hundred yards away at a new (6 months) Tamil Pure-Veg restaurant.

Saravana Bhavan

Split one Thali - real S. Indian taste - Sambar, Rassam, a vegie dish, dahl (with a light smoky taste), lime pickle, yoghurt, one roti (chapati), one S Indian Papad (made from wheat), and Kessari (a semolina pudding).

Personally I don't consider Al Hossain 'Indian' food except in the most remote sense, ie, the Persian origins of Moghul cuisine, which informs northern Indian cooking but not most of the rest of India. I find Al Hossain extremely bland. To me everything tastes the same there. Royal India, for my palate, is good middle-class Indian cooking (albeit northern Indian cooking).

Dosas, idlis, vadas, etc - they are S Indian staples, whether 'snacks' or not.

For S Indian, that's what you get in Bkk. If you can find a S Indian food that goes beyond that, let us know.

Our credentials are similar, but different tastes. Hey that makes it all interesting. Eat where you enjoy the cooking, to each his own, etc

It's not interesting - it is just time to duke it out!

Rather than that, I'd be happy to try Royal again - sometimes restaurants have an off day (or the chef has a day off). I'll be back from Canada in 3 months, and would love to try a few places with you - goes for anybody - not just my sparring partner ;<}

I'd even try an expensive place!

And as for the South Indian - yes, I love the snacks - don't get me wrong. But I also love the southern curries as well, and the place I mentioned had a very South Indian taste to its thali.

Gotta catch a plane back to the Winnipeg - a city with only one decent Indian restaurant. At least we have one. But we sure do have great Chinese food...

Cheers, Mark

Chicken Biryani was decent - I find most Biryani's boring anyways, but this was good.

Then get thee to Curry Pot for the lobster biryani! Ooh mama! Then again, you'll never shell out for it... get Bkkjames to take you. Or Sabaijai - he big man, many money.

OK - I'll bite!

Where? And, how much?

Thanks for merging. And now I must criticize your taste!

I went to Royal about a year ago, and found it very mediocre. Can't remember what we had, but I do remember it being rather unpleasant. I do remember not saying anything at the time as my girlfriend was enjoying it, but after eating the leftovers the next day, she said (unprompted by me) that it wasn't very good at all.

Seriously 'though, any restaurant can have up and down days, so just kidding about your sense of taste!

===

Update on our Indian adventures this week. When we come to Bkk, we try to eat exclusively Indian, as we get lots of great Thai where we live (Chiang Mai and Nakhon Sri Thamarat). Also, my girlfriend is really interested in going to India (how's that for a great Thai girlfriend!).

---

Went back to Al Hussain last night with two friends, and it was a great experience again. Firstly i have to correct my previous post - the Seekh Kebabs were beef, not lamb. So yesterday we had Lamb Tikka, which my GF did like, so she is still in my good books!

The lamb was chewy and tough, but not way too much, and the flavour was great. We had Keema Paratha (minced beef in fried bread - crappy description, I know), and it was so good we ordered another.

Chicken Masala was excellent - a little oily and a little salty, but not over the top like so many other places.

Chicken Biryani was decent - I find most Biryani's boring anyways, but this was good.

Sag (green leaf - spinach) was still a vegetable and not creamed and had a light delicate taste.

The Shrimp Khorma (my GF's fav last night) was light yet creamy. The waiter called it 'sweet' but it certainly was not overly so. Not cloying at all. Lots of shrimp. Great with the Paratha!

Salad was salad - lots of cucs tomatoes and onions.

They forgot the dhal, but that was ok - we were stuffed. Oh yes, the Nan was good.

Funny place - they also have lots of Arabic foods, and they don't have Spiced Tea (ever been on an Indian train? "Chai chai chai chai chai..." echoing through the carriages.

Total, including 4 water - 1230 baht. And they deliver. And they are open 24 hours.

---

Went looking for Auntie Malaysia's today, and finally found it. Looked a little dingy (which doesn't bug me - I have been to India, you know), but it only has South Indian snacks (Dosa, idli, etc etc). The rest of the menu was Northern...

Ended up just a hundred yards away at a new (6 months) Tamil Pure-Veg restaurant.

Had Masala Ghee Dosa - huge, crispy and fantastic Sambar. Also had Dahi Vada - incredibly light and fluffy lentil balls with tamarind, yoghurt and cilantro sauces (chat) - a little sweet for my GF, but I loved it.

Split one Thali - real S. Indian taste - Sambar, Rassam, a vegie dish, dahl (with a light smoky taste), lime pickle, yoghurt, one roti (chapati), one S Indian Papad (made from wheat), and Kessari (a semolina pudding).

I love my girlfriend - the only thing she wouldn't taste a second time was the lime pickle! She loved the Sambar.

Also had Tomato Uttapam - a rice/lentil pancake thicker than a dosa. Fantastic. Crunchy and still creamy.

Yes, we eat too much in Bkk!

The name of this little gem is Saravana Bhavan, and it is on that little street that is parallel to and just north of Suriwong road. Near the Hotel Manohra at the Charoen Krung end of Suriwong.

Also they have 100% Pure Veg Jain food (no onions or garlic) and a selection of N. Indian dishes too.

---

Stopped to look at the India King's menu - to me it is really expensive. Almost 300 baht for a Chicken Kebab - too steep for my tastes. So unless someone can convince me that it is really a 'haute cuisine' Indian restaurant, then I will forgo the super fancy table-clothes, and eat at the more 'pedestrian' restaurants.

For what it is worth, the only really great 'haute cuisine' Indian I have ever had was at Moti Mahal in Rapongi Tokyo. Fresh herbs and spices in everything. A step above anything I have ever had. But I have eaten in plenty of super-expensive yet mediocre Indian places.

For South Indian, Dosa King, formerly on Sukhumvit soi 19, but relocated to the old Hair Design digs on Soi 11/1,

or Malaysian Aunty, who was a victim of the Great Soi 10 Bulldozing and Liquor Grab. She now has a tiny place off Surawong, almost to the river. I can't think of the name of the road, but it runs parallel to Surawong, and just north of it. She has dosa, and many South Indian dishes, EXTREMELY reasonable pricing.

Sateev

Tried a dosa at Dosa King - very nice. But their food is basically North Indian - no South Indian dishes - just the snacks (dosas, idlis, vadas, etc.). It also seemed pretty expensive for vegie food, but that is also my pet peeve!

Can you give better directions to Malaysian Auntie? I would love to have some real South Indian food. Especially Keralan food, You know: aviyal, fish molee, pongal, etc.

Do they have a real South Indian thali?

Also, does anybody know if there is a Gujarati restaurant around - I love peanut curry! And Khadi (yogurt curry). And dhokla. And please don't forget the slab of butter on their thali! Yes, a Gujarati thali is heavier than a South Indian one.

Cheers!

My turn. Two reviews - Rainbow, and Al Hussain.

My experiences with Indian food in Thailand have generally been pretty crappy.

Have tried over a dozen places - maybe 5 or 6 in Chiang Mai, and 7 or 8 in Bangkok.

Firstly, I want to give some 'credentials' about my food knowledge. I was raised going to France on eating holidays every summer. I have been eating authentic Chinese (including dim sum) since the mid 1960's. Started eating Indian food in Britain in 1972. Have taken cooking courses in Chinese, Indian and Thai foods. I used to teach cooking classes in 'ethnic' cuisines (including S Indian). I have written a small cook-book on world-cuisines. I was also a festival and movie caterer for fifteen years, and my mum is a restaurant critic (I accompany her often). Plus I have spent more than a year in India, eating everything everywhere (usually the cheap dhabas where all the Indians eat).

That is me, and you can take my opinion for whatever you think it is worth!

So,

Went to Rainbow (KSR) last night - disappointing. Service was pleasant, but the server made a mistake. We asked if the Spinach Kofta had the same gravy as the Palak Paneer. He said no - the spinach was in the kofta. Well, we ended up with two virtually identical dishes - one had vegie koftas in it, the other had cheese. I say that the server made the mistake, rather than it being down to a communication breakdown, because he said, in very good English, "the gravies are not the same".

Would not have been much of an issue (I can accept all sorts of minor problems when the food is great), but the spinach was a little bitter and tasted like mud (my girlfriend's words, which I agree with). The koftas were ok - a little too potato-ish, and too much cardamom.

The Seekh Kebabs (chicken) were only ok - rubbery, and also too much cardamom.

Chicken Do Piaza (two types of onion) had very soft and juicy chicken, but the gravy was too sweet and cloying. And not quite enough chicken. But not bad.

Saffron rice (of course not real saffron - no problem!) was good, and the lassi (salt with jeera - cumin) was very good.

Oh yes, we started with Aloo Tikki (potato cakes), and they were the highlight (oddly enough, they came garnished with french fries!). Fluffy inside, a little crunchy outside - nice flavour - good side sauces.

700 baht - Chicken Do Piaza, Aloo Tikki, Spinach Kofta, Palak Paneer, Chicken Seekh Kebabs, one rice, Lassi, Lemon Juice. Barely touched the spinach dishes, and couldn't face finishing the chicken gravy...

---

I disagree with people who accept the high price for Indian foods here (I resent it with Farang food too). Virtually the same ingredients in a similar (kinda grubby) Thai restaurant would be 200-300 baht.

I don't mind paying a premium, but the food had better be special. Really special. For us, last night, Rainbow was not.

---

BUT - We have finally found the Indian restaurant that does it for us. And it is not Indian, but rather Bangladeshi (if that is the word. Perhaps Bengali?). Whatever - it is all Indian subcontinent.

It is called Al Hussain, and it is on Sukhumvit 3/1 - about 100 meters up on the left. Suk 3/1 is right across from the Nana Post Office.

In front is a big table full of prepared foods, and they look great. The man there gave my girlfriend a taste of one of the gravies, and she said that this was the place!

We ordered the Chicken Kharai, Lamb Seekh Kebabs, and Aloo Paratha.

The Chicken Kharai (160 baht) was fantastic - rich, but not too oily. Lots of chicken - lots! Tender, and what an authentic taste. They said it was spicy, but it was not killer hot at all - just a nice little burn.

The Lamb Seekh Kebabs (120 baht) finally showed my girlfriend that she can indeed love lamb. They were meaty, chewy and tender all at the same time. And what a lovely grilled flavour. Really top class (cheaper and bigger than the chicken ones at Rainbow too).

The Aloo Paratha was ok - nothing fancy, but nicely balanced. Also, for 70 baht, it was thick - just stuffed full with potato!

365 baht, including one water, and not the slightest feeling of being ripped off. Fine food, large portions, very pleasant service, and for sure the feeling that we had to return.