Vegan Victuals: The Blog |
Elephant Nature Park
I knew Elephant Nature Park would be an amazing experience when I booked a full-day tour… back in August of 2007. The 50-acres of jungle, mountains and river about an hour North of Chiang Mai is a sanctuary for 31 elephants, ages 4 to 76, rescued from illegal logging companies, abusive tourist/trekking outfits and/or panhandling [...]
Chiang Mai is a Food Court
With travelers passing through Chiang Mai from all over the world, the city caters to their bellies with care. Vegetarians also get special treatment, as every restaurant and food stall offer us options, often very easily veganized. Here is a sampling of some of the goodies I’ve tried here in Chiang Mai. As you may [...]
Remember What the Doorknob Said…
After a layover in Bangkok, I headed up to Chiang Mai, the tourist epicenter of the North and gateway to hill tribe villages and treks, the Golden Triangle (more on this next week) and a variety of National Parks, including one boasting the highest peak in Thailand. Although the variety of attractions Chiang Mai has [...]
Up The Lazy Mekong River
From Udon Thani, I headed to the border town of Nong Khai. Situated on the Mekong River right smack dab across from Laos (The two countries are connected by the Friendship Bridge, built in 1994 with American and Australian funding), Nong Khai draws many travelers, as was indicative by my bus ride with 6 additional [...]
On Your Feet, Soldier
I am getting used to sordid guest house conditions. My room at the King Hotel in Udon Thani is a step above the spider/roach/dog-infested New Nakornhuang Hotel of Ubon Ratchathani, as I share it with no vermin and it is pretty clean, but they both have dismal light, obscenely stained bathroom tiles and the shine [...]
Uthayam Booniyom
I would be fibbing if I told that my visit to Ubon Rathcthani was not somewhat influenced by Uthayam Booniyom, a vegetarian restaurant run by some pretty amazing women affiliated with the nearby Buddhist temple. The huge open-air space is part fruit/vegetable market and part delectable, totally vegan buffet. The buffet options are plentiful and [...]
Lonely Beach, Ko Chang
This morning had me up early and ready to finally hit a proper beach. After waiting for the songthauw to fill up (and snapping silly self-portraits in the mirrored ceiling), I headed to Trat’s pier to continue my journey by slow-boat. Staying true to its name, the rusted ferry delivered me and a mass of [...]
Trat Is All That
After all day on buses and a hectic night prior under the heavy burden of my backpack, I was looking forward to laying low in Trat for the day, getting a good night’s sleep and an adequate vegetarian meal. All were accomplished here in Trat, a stop-over for many travelers heading to the set of [...]
Thailand Foodie!
Urai went out of her way to make sure I was properly nourished. She took great care in learning my taste preferences and dietary restrictions. Below is a partial list of some of the delicious food I’ve tasted in Bangsai: My first lunch: Fresh spring rolls (tarot root, glass noodle and soy tofu wrapped in [...]
Ayutthaya, Part Deux
My language and cultural lessons continued this morning with Sukanya. Feeling a bit quesy in the stomach this morning, I found it hard to focus. I had to make a conscious effort to slow my breathing and calm myself down. Fittingly, we spoke of the holistic perspective of Eastern medicine versus Western/the body and mind [...]
I Heart Ayutthaya and Sukanya
Considering the dinner of white rice the previous evening, I woke up with a hungry vengeance, thinking satiety or bust. I fed myself an enormous breakfast that included 3 slices of toasted white bread with the reduced sugar rasberry jam that’s been all the rage here at the homestay (Note: This white bread is much [...]
Bangkok: Wat T. F.
Fighting the rush hour traffic into Bangkok reminded me of home. My tour guide, Kai, and who I will refer to as the quiet one and I arrived at the Grand Place about 9 a.m. The compound of 20+ temples and worshipping sights for both Buddha and the King was a mob scene of international [...]
