We are in Food Court Heaven!

You know those food courts in the mall? Bad pizza, not the freshest sushi, maybe some okay sandwiches, but nothing that makes you feel healthy or excited about eating? Now imagine all of the food stalls being varied selections of Thai and other Southeast Asian delicacies:

• green papaya salad with peanuts, carrots, fish sauce, limes and chile
  spicy and sour tom yum soups


• thai-style barbecue: vegetables and fish or meet or tofu on skewer, in spicy red asian-spiced barbecue sauce


• curry sauces with and without coconut milk over vegetables, and meat or seafood


• vegetables of all kinds, steamed, sauteed, grilled in garlic, chili, oil or fish sauce (our new favorite is stir fried morning glory! oh my god! the best vegetable in the world!)


• the most incredibly fresh and varied fruit juices and shakes (with yogurt or milk): strawberry, watermelon, pineapple, banana, passion fruit or a mixture of all fruits


• quick fried vegetables and shrimp with various dipping sauces


• stir-fried noodles with bean sprouts, peanuts, eggs, tamarind sauce and chili


• noodle soups with fish or meat and vegetables and spices


• sushi


• spring rolls, either deep fried, or entirely "fresh" (my favorite- no oil! just veggies and noodles wrapped in rice paper)

We have arrived back in Thailand and are indulging ourselves in food court experiences. Aside from the incredible variety of amazing food, the other best feature of Thai food courts is that it is very, very cheap to eat at them. Maybe just $5-8 dollars for 3-5 small dishes and drinks. Oh yeah, and because Thailand is "the future" (Thailand is the most futuristic and modern bit of Asia we have seen. And when I say modern, I have never seen streets, public transportation, malls, plazas as modern as parts of Bangkok. Not in the U.S. or Europe or Canada), these food courts are incredibly clean and comfortable. Hundreds of chairs, set around tables on tiles in an outdoor or indoor market. Fancy lighting, plants, nice public bathrooms, and music (some of it live, on the stage at the end of the food court, and oh so entertaining! the other night there was a woman lip synching on stage in a gorgeous dress!). We've had two nights back in Thailand and have visited two glorious food courts, and I have mapped out visits to at least 3-4 more, as we make our way south to Bangkok and the southern Thai islands, where we will spend Christmas with Joe's mom. I hope she's excited about food courts as we are!