Eating in Thailand is more than just having a meal; it’s an experience. It’s all about flavor, freshness, and togetherness. Thai people eat everywhere and at any time. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, in-between – even at the most improbable moments, they seem to conjure up something delicious. And what do they eat? You guessed it: rice!
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Rice: The Heart of Thai Cuisine
Rice is the absolute foundation of every meal in Thailand. In fact, the word for “eating” is kin khao, which literally means “eating rice.” Thais eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and as a snack. You can’t avoid it – and why would you? Rice comes in all forms: from fragrant jasmine rice to sticky rice, often paired with meat, fish, vegetables, and an abundance of herbs.
A typical breakfast? For us, it’s a bowl of rice with vegetables and meat from the market, a bag of fresh fruit, and a cup of bean coffee from 7-Eleven. No croissants or sandwiches here, but to be fair, we don’t miss them.
Thai Cuisine: Versatile and Surprising
Thailand is about the size of France, but the diversity in food is enormous. Flavors range from spicy and salty to sweet, sour, and bitter. The dishes are colorful and often spicy enough to wake up your taste buds. Why all the chilies, you ask? Apparently, they help fight off parasites. Healthy food, though sometimes with a small fire alarm as a side effect.While every region has its own specialties, there are a few classics you’ll find everywhere:
Pad Kra Pao Moo: Stir-fried minced pork with basil and chili, served with rice and a fried egg. Simple, but so tasty.
Pad Thai: The national dish, a delicious mix of rice noodles, shrimp, bean sprouts, and peanuts, all stir-fried in a wok.
Moo Satay: Thai satay, complete with divine peanut sauce.
How Do Thais Stay So Slim?
It’s a mystery how Thais eat so much and still stay slim. The secret? Everything is fresh, minimally processed, and snacks aren’t a regular habit. Industrial junk food is rare, and even street snacks are often made with fresh ingredients. Compared to our Western snack culture, that seems a lot healthier.
Our Eating Habits on the Bike
As cycling tourists, we’ve developed our own routine. Breakfast is usually picked up at the market, lunch at a small roadside eatery, and for dinner, we often opt for a simple meal with rice, meat, or fish. In between, we stock up on fruit: mandarins, pineapple, papaya, and watermelon are our favorites.
One of the perks of all that cycling is being able to order a second (or third) portion without guilt. Just recently, we amazed a cook who couldn’t believe two foreigners managed to polish off four plates of food. What can we say? Cycling makes you hungry.
The Toilet Brush Anecdote
One of the challenges of cycling in Thailand: how do you keep your gear clean? Take my water bottle, for example. The isotonic tablets for cramps turn the inside black over time. In the Netherlands, you’d solve that with a dish brush, but those are impossible to find here. Toothbrushes? Too short.
So, what do you do? Exactly: you buy a toilet brush. And yes, I stood in a Thai department store, proudly and unashamedly choosing the perfect toilet brush for my bottle. After a thorough scrub, my bottle is as good as new. Tip of the day: multitasking is sometimes the key to success.
Thailand: A Flavorful Journey
Thailand has won over our taste buds and our hearts. The food is fresh, healthy, and incredibly delicious. Whether you’re enjoying a simple bowl of rice or an elaborate feast, every meal is a celebration. And who knows what tomorrow will bring? One thing is certain: it will be delicious again.Thailand, thank you for the flavors and the smiles on our faces – even when we need a toilet brush. 😉
Thank You!!
Thank you for following our adventure. Every kilometer we cycle, every euro we raise, truly makes a difference. Keep following us and ride along with us in spirit – for us and for the children of TCDF that we are supporting together.
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