Nam Prik Goong Seab

Nam Prik Goong Seab is a must for me when I stay at Cape Panwa Hotel or when I  visit Phuket Old Town – it is what we recognize in Thailand as a Southern speciality.

This dish is a very spicy dip. It is actually a small bowl of spicy, sweet and sour chilli paste mixed with dried shrimp - a dish that is not for those without a high tolerance level of chilli.

The lethal mixture is served with a collection of fresh and boiled vegetables – broccoli, cauliflower, string beans, bean sprouts, cabbage and deep-fried eggplant. These vegetables are meant to balance out the strength of the chilli paste. People like to eat these dipped vegetables with some rice.

Good luck if you want to have a go – I was amused when Tim joined me but was unable to eat more than a spoonful – all the more for me :)

              

Pla-ta-pian

A foreign friend of mine  assumed that I was taking him out for dinner when I mentioned that I would take him into Phuket Town to see where they made ‘Pla-ta-pian’. 

Pla-ta-pian are in fact a local freshwater fish known in English as the java barb and similar in shape to the carp; while “pla-ta-pian sarn” refers to the popular, locally crafted wind mobiles in the shape of these fish because they are believed to be a symbol of prosperity. 

The mobiles are woven (“sarn”) out of palm fronds (bai larn) that were chosen because the frond is tough but not brittle and it is also believed that the palm fronds were used as manuscripts for Buddhist scriptures.

If you visit Phuket Old Town you will able to find Thai handicraft shops where these colourful mobiles can be bought.

              

Useful Apps for your holiday to Thailand

Ever since friends persuaded me to buy an iPad, my family has had enough of me going on about apps that I discover, which means that I am left with only you, my Otter's Tales’ followers, to share my findings.

I have already tried out all the apps that Tim recommended here previously (post one and post two), and though I am not quite ready for iCloud I have found some wonderful apps of my own.

One of the questions that I hear repeatedly around Cape Panwa Hotel lobby is:

“What time is the Sunset?”

‘Sunset Countdown’ tells you the exact timing of this beautiful natural occurrence wherever in the world you may be – when in Phuket consult the app and then head to Cape Phromthep to experience a glorious sunset.

A question I hear all the time from touts at the Grand Palace in Bangkok when I stay at Cape House is:

“Would you like a guided tour at a special price?”

‘Grand Palace’ is an audio guide that surpasses all others – the detail of the description is superb – walk around the Grand Palace plugged into this one for an educational and entertaining tour.

My last recommendation is for the many of you who have fallen in love with Thailand. 

There are a number of apps to help you to learn to speak and read Thai but I found this – ‘Learn To Write Thai’ is for those of you who are serious about learning Thai – for whatever reason it may be!?! 

(Ed – does Tim know how to read and write Thai yet?) 

              

Panwa Promenade

It was a beautiful afternoon and I chose to eat my gelato from Café Kantary on the promenade opposite.

It was also quiet so there were only a handful of vendors waiting to sell their food to the local passerby.

One car was parked by the side of the road – the driver asleep and oblivious to any one walking by.

Screams, splashes and shouts shattered my tranquility.  The local children had decided to have an afternoon dip. Memories of my personal childhood swinging in a tyre over a river came flooding back.

Beautiful, I only hope that I can give my son some of the joys of childhood that I remember having, and that he does not get completely lost in technology as the present generation is seeming too.

              

Social Media or Conversation

Yesterday morning, whilst I was waiting for my guide to the Phuket Old Town, a guest asked me, “Do you think all this internet is stopping people from talking to each other?”  

I smiled politely and said that nothing would take away the pleasure of a simple conversation as my Android vibrated in my pocket, indicating that I had received a message on Facebook.

I retreated quietly to the Café Kantary, ordered a Café Latte and some White Chocolate flavoured gelato and pondered a bit. My phone vibrated a couple of times more but I did not answer – technology does not control me! 

As I watched the sun go down, the tables got busier and I watched their occupants behaviour – 71% of the guests were using an electronic communication device with social media and 45% of them, sitting as couples, were both using a device. I was surprised. 

Shouldn’t  there be places that ban these devices making it necessary

 for people to talk to one another?

              

Energy in Phuket

Throughout some parts of the world there are claims that there are assaults on the environment which can be reduced if people change their behaviour only a little bit.

The common things learnt in some places in the West were related to conserving energy as a way to protect the environment AND save money. I also believe that in the United Kingdom (Ed: because Tim told me) that instruction in conserving energy was a recognised part of the National Curriculum.

In Phuket, some are beginning to recognise how saving energy can be beneficial to both the individual AND for the greater good of the environment.

Some look forward to the use of Solar Energy in Phuket: meanwhile I would like to see coaches that are parked by the side of the road, with their air conditioning on and only one person inside, turned off!  

              

Dinner Coupons

I have blogged regularly about the wide choice of restaurants and food available at Cape Panwa Hotel – from the special Filet Mignon at Top of the Reef to the simple beauty of the Seafood Basket at Laem Panwa.

But it was not until last week when I visited Cape Panwa Hotel with my family that I found out about their “coupon system” from one of the cashiers named Pranee.  She told me that I could save money by purchasing a set of Dinner Coupons from the Front Cashier, especially if I was a fan of the hotel’s various buffet nights and set meals offered at the different restaurants.

The coupon, priced at 800 Baht net, is valid for any of the buffets or any of the set dinners at any restaurant!! It is NOT subject to the additional service charge and VAT that you would normally incur if you paid for your meal in cash!!

Also, if I bought 5 coupons I would get 1 free and if I bought 10 coupons I’d get 3 free – wow – more savings – which is great when you are travelling with family, like me.

A great deal and great meals – thanks!