Morning Greeting

Among other generosities of Mod, my lodging host, is the breakfast she provides me. I know I’ve mentioned it, but it’s worth noting. I used to think it was kind of silly when people sent photos of their lunch. But when you travel, the temptation does arise. If food could talk, it would speak a thousand words of culture and differences, of land and soul and farmers about color and taste.

So Mod calls it “breakfast.” It fills the shelf in the​ refrigerator - 3 bowls that are essentially 3 meals. 

I may purchase more when I’m out and about. After the dip in the hot springs or partaking in a cuppa at Tribe Rongwua, the local roaster/cafe that I was frequenting, before I had wheels. (More on that later.) 

The bowl of veggie Pho I had in the downtown set me back $1.47.  And, oh, the wonder of the night market last night! Who could resist the coconut crepes, shitake spring rolls, the shrimp and tuna sushi, so pretty at 10 baht each. The lychee sugar balls, to die for.

But, truthfully, I could just stay put at Three Little Birds. I write, read, yawn and stretch like a feline, reflect on outer life, the news and woes of the world; meditate on my inner life, the wonders of it all. 

I’ll soon move on to infamous Pai. My brother says in his travels 30 years ago you wouldn’t go to Pai; it was the infamous Golden Triangle, supplier of heroin to the world. I vaguely remember this. Today, Pai is purportedly expat-hip heaven, and over-developed as most places of beauty seem to be these days.

But Pai for me, beyond the intrigue, is en route to the monastery where I hope to take retreat for a stretch of time before heading to Laos down the Mekong river.

Mod’s Breakfast Fruit Bowl

The green fruit is guava. Like the papaya, the Thais much prefer them green rather than ripe. The green papaya salad with mung sprouts and peanuts is my go-to lunch treat, always available. The mangoes they eat ripe. Mangoes rule! Mango groves, mango smoothies, mango & sticky rice dessert everywhere you go.

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