They say "snack is hot", but it's cold - why?

[henrik2000]

Hello,

on bicycle day trips around rural Isarn occasionally I made the following experiences that I never once made in other Thai areas like the lower North or upper South. I speak enough clear tried and tested Thai and Lao. What do you think?

A) I point at freshly grilled, fried or baked snacks and ask in Thai, “are they hot now”? Sometimes it's even clear that I will eat the snack right there. They say, “yes, it's hot”. I buy, I bite, and it's cold.
B) I ask at a simple coffee stall if she can do a HOT cappuccino (I know that some cannot). She says clearly, “yes, can”. I get a cappuccino looking hot, but actually COLD (not a typical cold cappuccino with ice); she mumbles something about cold milk.
C) I call ahead to restaurants, “open today?” They say, “yes, open”. I bicycle there and they are fully closed. (I note that some who actually say, “sorry, closed today”, seem pained by having to give me this information.)

1) What's going on here?
2) Why does it happen in Isarn repeatedly and in many other provinces never?

Thanks!

 

[GypsyT]

1 hour ago, henrik2000 said:

1) What's going on here?
2) Why does it happen in Isarn repeatedly and in many other provinces never?

Dunno what's going on but I red "most girls leaving home and marry farang come from Isan!

Maybe THEY too got same services as you and voted with their feet?

 

[Will B Good]

Cappuccino in Isaan is always cold.......they make the coffee hot but either CBA or don't know to heat the milk as well.

 

I have to tell them to heat the milk....same with latte or any milky coffee.....I guess.

[Will B Good]

1 hour ago, henrik2000 said:

Hello,

on bicycle day trips around rural Isarn occasionally I made the following experiences that I never once made in other Thai areas like the lower North or upper South. I speak enough clear tried and tested Thai and Lao. What do you think?

A) I point at freshly grilled, fried or baked snacks and ask in Thai, “are they hot now”? Sometimes it's even clear that I will eat the snack right there. They say, “yes, it's hot”. I buy, I bite, and it's cold.
B) I ask at a simple coffee stall if she can do a HOT cappuccino (I know that some cannot). She says clearly, “yes, can”. I get a cappuccino looking hot, but actually COLD (not a typical cold cappuccino with ice); she mumbles something about cold milk.
C) I call ahead to restaurants, “open today?” They say, “yes, open”. I bicycle there and they are fully closed. (I note that some who actually say, “sorry, closed today”, seem pained by having to give me this information.)

1) What's going on here?
2) Why does it happen in Isarn repeatedly and in many other provinces never?

Thanks!

 

 

 

On a more general note......they just don't care.....plans, if they have any, are no more than a very rough idea of what might or might not happen.

[SunsetT]

1) Maybe they don't understand your Thai, so they just agree with you and say yes. Keep it as simple as possible"Ron Mai"? or "Aow Ron krap" pointing at the grill. They are usually willing to reheat grilled items. Hold your hand over it to check if it is hot. Don't pay for it until you're sure it's hot/warm. If cold in the bag hand it back. 

2) They will say anything to make a sale.

3) or as someone else has said they  probably just don't care.

[youreavinalaff]

6 hours ago, henrik2000 said:

Hello,

on bicycle day trips around rural Isarn occasionally I made the following experiences that I never once made in other Thai areas like the lower North or upper South. I speak enough clear tried and tested Thai and Lao. What do you think?

A) I point at freshly grilled, fried or baked snacks and ask in Thai, “are they hot now”? Sometimes it's even clear that I will eat the snack right there. They say, “yes, it's hot”. I buy, I bite, and it's cold.
B) I ask at a simple coffee stall if she can do a HOT cappuccino (I know that some cannot). She says clearly, “yes, can”. I get a cappuccino looking hot, but actually COLD (not a typical cold cappuccino with ice); she mumbles something about cold milk.
C) I call ahead to restaurants, “open today?” They say, “yes, open”. I bicycle there and they are fully closed. (I note that some who actually say, “sorry, closed today”, seem pained by having to give me this information.)

1) What's going on here?
2) Why does it happen in Isarn repeatedly and in many other provinces never?

Thanks!

 

I've lived in Isaan for 21 years. This is not my experience. You speak in plural. How many times has this happened?

 

You do know that Isaan isn't just Thai and Laos, don't you?

[henrik2000]

46 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

I've lived in Isaan for 21 years. This is not my experience. You speak in plural. How many times has this happened?

 

You do know that Isaan isn't just Thai and Laos, don't you?

Thanks for your experience, which is nice to hear. Getting cold snacks that had been called "hot" before happened about three or four times out of maybe 50 or 60. It NEVER happened in other Thai rural areas.

Getting told the restaurant is open and then finding it closed happened at least 2 times out of 20, and it NEVER happened in other areas.

Being promised a hot cappu and then getting a cold cappu looking like a hot one happened only one time - so far. I can add here that I told her I would drink it on the spot and that this special coffee made my tummy revolt, which never happened with any food before for a very long time, not even in Bangladesh.

 

[youreavinalaff]

4 minutes ago, henrik2000 said:

Thanks for your experience, which is nice to hear. Getting cold snacks that had been called "hot" before happened about three or four times out of maybe 50 or 60. It NEVER happened in other Thai rural areas.

Getting told the restaurant is open and then finding it closed happened at least 2 times out of 20, and it NEVER happened in other areas.

Being promised a hot cappu and then getting a cold cappu looking like a hot one happened only one time - so far. I can add here that I told her I would drink it on the spot and that this special coffee made my tummy revolt, which never happened with any food before for a very long time, not even in Bangladesh.

 

So, 90% of the time you receive what you ask for. 

 

Why come on here and complain? Especially if you can't be sure that 10% could be misunderstanding, bearing in mind you are in a multi lingual area.

[youreavinalaff]

6 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Cappuccino in Isaan is always cold...

No, it isn't.

[Will B Good]

16 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

No, it isn't.

You're 'ave in a tin barf.

[youreavinalaff]

2 hours ago, Will B Good said:

You're 'ave in a tin barf.

I know it's not "always cold". I've had hot.

 

You are having a laugh if you think you've been to every coffee outlet in Isaan.

[LittleBear57]

Getting rice in a a restaurant first and then waiting 15 minutes for the rest of my food annoys the he'll out of me.

[henrik2000]

On 1/5/2025 at 6:38 PM, youreavinalaff said:

Why come on here and complain?

Please DO blacklist me.

[henrik2000]

Two other examples from Isarn:

– I book an available, posh condo in 101 on Airbnb 6 months ahead and get the usual confirmation. 3 months later I get canceled and an apology from the landlord: “Sorry, the current renter wants to stay longer, that's why I must cancel you.”
– On a tiny village market around closing time I spot two good looking grilled snacks on the grille and order them. The lady squeezes both snacks critically, frowns, and says, “not yet well”. No last-minute business.

-- I walk out of a small town coffee shop after an excellent hot cappuccino; suddenly 3 Thais scream and run excitedly after me - they bring me my forgotten mobile phone out onto the sun-baked parking lot.

 

[youreavinalaff]

3 hours ago, henrik2000 said:

Please DO blacklist me.

Why would I?

 

I'm just saying, if you have issues, complain to the people you have issues with.

[NanLaew]

On 1/5/2025 at 11:39 AM, henrik2000 said:

I speak enough clear tried and tested Thai and Lao. What do you think?

 

You don't speak enough clear tried and tested Thai and Lao?

 

On 1/8/2025 at 10:49 AM, LittleBear57 said:

Getting rice in a a restaurant first and then waiting 15 minutes for the rest of my food annoys the he'll out of me.

 

Maybe try another restaurant?