1 hour ago, marin said:

More grabbing a bite than dining out. 99% of the posters on here know local joints for noodles, Krapow, Kow Gang, Kow Phad, or a nice plate of Somtam with a piece of chicken or Kor Mu Yang

In Bangkok I eat Hang Lay for 79 baht. In rural cities I eat fried rice or krapow moo a lot. Ive been eating Thai for 25 years and tried 95% of it. Most dishes I dont care for anymore. Hate somtam.

I like Yen Ta Fo. 39 baht in Korat.

3 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

In Bangkok I eat Hang Lay for 79 baht

In a kow gang shop featuring northern cuisine. Often serving both Hang Leh and Nam Prick Ong

1 minute ago, marin said:

In a kow gang shop featuring northern cuisine. Often serving both Hang Leh and Nam Prick Ong

Bangkok has good north food. Thonburi has a few nice ones. Best variety though is Chiang Mai. More dishes to choose from.

3 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Can u buy breakfast by itself?

If you book room without breakfest, you can, but I see only lunch buffet and dinner buffet as drop in. Still cheaper to order online. For one time experience the Lunch buffet and dinner buffet is well worth the money if you are hungry. At least for one like me who have a protein and carb target to reach every day, while exercising. Hard to reach that with a few thai dishes, and adding more eggs than I already eat is not healthy either.

One hour Morning walk with my 86 year old father today. Can only hope being in same shape as him.

4 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Yes, living 'hand to mouth' , as someone describe my finance, think it means check to check, and don't know how we do it

Amazed at what I use to spend for a good meal, dining experience in the past. And for the same experience here, cost as much as back in the USA, and more than I care to spend, as just not the same, or I'm too thrifty now.

I don't find the need to impress myself any more, and buffets were never my thing, as have no will power not to over eat.

3 course, fine dining, meal, with couple bottles of wine, and that equates to about a week of accommodations for us here

Thankfully there's no fine dining venues where we live, and few to none, where we go O&A. I feel lucky to find AC with a view, or pleasant landscaped setting.

Of course, if we couldn't cook, my dining out expenses, would exceed all other monthly expenses.

Normal expat's monthly expense (non chef, no food) ... 70k

Add dining out ... 71k, yikes, I'd have to pimp out the wife or myself to eat good.

Living in poverty must suck, literally, or not.

I start to find the hotels becomes more and more overpriced during the peak periods and when there is something happens locally close by.

Many decent hotels becomes watered out, and you feel you get less for your bahts.

Wine have never been smart, but a decent bottle once and awhile have been worth it, but, honestly, alcohol doesn't taste as good as it used to do, and my body agrees with me the day after.

I'm more obsessed with quiet hotels or rooms with a view where I can rest my eyes and mind, than anything else now, and a decent gym helps Alot to.

3 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

In Bangkok I eat Hang Lay for 79 baht. In rural cities I eat fried rice or krapow moo a lot. Ive been eating Thai for 25 years and tried 95% of it. Most dishes I dont care for anymore. Hate somtam.

Try SomTum Tai w/ grilled pork / neck (mai phe). Tasty, and had best version, this week, and surprisingly at 'Som Tum Ban Pu Restaurant', Samut Songkhram. Who would have thought, and didn't think there could be that many versions of.

Not a big fan of most Thai food myself, and some a bit repulsive, though others, curries / massamans, quite tasty.

Surprisingly, l had a pretty decent sirloin (not my cut of choice) at Spaghetti Factory for B600 the other day.

Had Bangna Kitchen (my wife's favorite) today for crab-fried rice, massaman curry, a crispy pork & vegie stir-fry and a shrimp-noodle dish two slices of cheesecake and a pot of tea. Shrimp noodle was good, tea was weak, everything else was excellent. Portions are huge, we brought half the rice and noodle dishes home.

Three of us, nice setting B1,370

Surfside area with lake, not too far from home, for a snap or 10. Even one of a bird that's not too common. Bronze-winged Jacana - Metopidius indicus

https://ebird.org/species/brwjac1/TH-77

Frozen fjord

-10 Celsius

Moose burger

Home sweet home, good to be home.

For my little tea kitchen delivered and ready to be installed.

Good to see they managed to build the outside toilet while I was gone. Not exactly as the order, but as close as possible.

This was my view this morning.

And this was my view on Wednesday.

On 2/14/2026 at 11:08 AM, Hummin said:

Frozen fjord

-10 Celsius

Minus 10 is for rookies 😆

8 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Minus 10 is for rookies 😆

We where having picnic outside in minus 32 when I was in army! So got a bit experience up north in Tromsø.

2 minutes ago, Hummin said:

We where having picnic outside in minus 32 when I was in army! So got a bit experience up north in Tromsø.

I know you're Nordic so you understand. I was just playing. Most can't relate.

It's only minus 2 out today so it feels quite nice out there. Time to go plow my driveway We got a little hit of snow last night.

Bits and parts trying to put together my man cave, and we will see where this finely ends after wife come and make her touch on it. Not sure the additional kitchen bench will survive, we will see.

Maybe get lucky soon.

Doo Doo Doo

Lookin' Out My Backdoor.🙃🙃

A little glass after afternoon walk!