Meet My Favorite Thai Food: Ga Paw Mu Khai Dhao

I love Thai food so much but what I really hate is the super spicy in most of their menus.




One of my favorite Thai recipes is this. It is called Ga Paw Mu Khai Dhao (stir fry ground pork, garlic and string beans with rice and fried egg). This was my lunch today. In the picture you will see that there are squid chunks included. Originally, there is no squid in the Ga Paw Mu Khai Dhao, it is called differently but the ending is still the same "Khai Dhao".

There are many variations of this recipe. You can choose either ground pork, beef or chicken. And some of them, are adding young corn and green bell peppers. It is really spicy, but if you tell them to cook it less spicy, you will say “phet nit noi” (means less spicy), nit noi means little or less and the Thai term phet is spicy. Or if you don’t like spicy food, then say it “mei phet”.

In other cozy restaurants, of course, they have a very beautiful food presentation. Since, I just ordered this across the road where we live and the nearest decent "carenderia" in our place, the presentation is just so-so. But I still love the taste. I know how they cook it, so I am 110% sure it is clean and healthy. It costs 40.00 Thai baht only. I like the way they cook my food because when I say a little spicy, they will listen to you (and your needs) unlike, other food stores at the Jatujak market, they won't listen, they still would put so much spicy peppers. Maybe because for them, it is delicious.

I often order this food like 2-3 times a week (if I feel lazy to make my own food) because it is really delicious. One day, I watched the cook the way she prepare this dish. And now I know how to cook this food so maybe tomorrow or next week I’ll try to post the recipe. But please check it out on my other blog… the Food Tripping and Recipes (http://elektra-foodtripping.blogspot.com). I love eating and cooking so much so I’ve decided to make a separate blog for it. Chow! ;)

Exploring Thailand: Koh Chang's White Sand Beach Resort

It was my sweetheart's holiday so we decided to go out of town. That was a month after his birthday. He would like to make up with me because he went out of the country to Singapore for his birthday celebration with his friends.




Koh Chang is a beautiful destination with long sandy beaches and a jungle interior. It is part of the Koh Chang national park in Trat province close to Cambodia and can be reached within 4 hours with bus or minivan from Bangkok. Bangkok Airways flies from Bangkok to Trat with daily flights.





When we got there on October, 2009, the weather was not good. But we still enjoyed swimming at the beach. We stayed there for 3 days and 2 nights. I suggests if you wanna visit this place, try Buffalo Bill Steak House and Hotel because they have cheaper food and accommodation. The food was really yummylicious. Some of the food in the menu are good for two persons already. The room is clean, air conditioned, peaceful, and big enough for two. The service was really good. We've spent only 700 baht per day because it was not a peak season.


The Hotel and Restaurant Buffalo Bill Steak House is located in the heart of White Sand Beach close to shopping and restaurants, on the west coast of Chang Island (Koh Chang).


This was our room facing the road


...and our toilet with hot and cold shower

You will find this place at the left side going there, along the way. We just took a songkyeow (jeepney version in the Philippines). In front of this restaurant cum hotel (across), you will find other hotels and the beach resort. You won't need to check-in to other expensive hotels there just to get the room in front of the beach when you can just go to the public access passage/way. It is really economical.


But of course, we won't be eating steak all day and all night. We tried to go out and search for other menus. We found Thai restaurants there that served seafoods delight. The following day, we went to other restaurants there and ordered pizza. Oh by the way, you can also try fast food restaurants there if you wish because there are a few like Chester's grill (similar to KFC and Mc Donald's). There are also coffee shops and pastries. Actually, you will enjoy the trip because you won't feel that you're in an island. Banks with ATM machines are plenty, too.





If you want some relaxation by the white sand beach, there are Thai masseurs that offers different styles of massage. I had my oil massage for only 250 baht for an hour so cheap.

Exploring Thailand: Kanchanaburi Province

These photo shots were taken last July, 2009 when my sweetheart took me to Kanchanburi province here in Thailand as his birthday present for me. It is about 6 hours travel time from where we live. I really had fun and this was the happiest birthday traveling experience for me. I usually stay home and celebrate my natal day with my family in the Philippines and it’s always been an indoor fun, simple celebration. We were there for 4 days and 3 nights. This was my first trip exploring the beauty of nature here in Thailand.



At Elephant's World. I did not feed the elephants with bananas because I was super afraid of them. I love this photo. We are One BIG HAPPY family ;)


Kanchanaburi is one of the most beautiful provinces for nature lovers. It is close to Bangkok and borders to Myanmar (Burma). It has much more to show as just the Bridge on the River Kwai - many worth seeing attractions like the Erawan Waterfalls, the Tiger Temple or a ride at the Death Railway etc.




Erawan Water falls


We did not book our tour there because he knew how to get there through mere online researching. That’s what I like about him, he is so resourceful, innovative and wise spender. It is cheaper to just go there and explore around than book a package tour because if they knew that you are both foreigners, chances are, they will give you the high cost and won’t give any discounts. It is rampant here that when they knew that you are a foreigner and you can’t understand and speak their language they will take advantage of you (the price goes up, believe me). So.. we are very much aware of that.



a lovely pose at the Death Railway by the River Kwai. This was after we took a ride at the Death Railway.



Buddha's Temple inside the Tham Than Lot Noi Cave


At the lobby of our hotel, the lady cashier was asking me in Thai. Of course, I replied that I can’t speak any of their language (although I know quite a few basic expressions) in English. She was surprised because I look pretty much of a Thai citizen, but not when I speak. She laughed at me and gave me an advice not to speak at all when I am in public, especially if my sweetheart is paying so as we could guarantee that we will be able to get a fair and same cost of what they (Thai national) are paying. She suggested a reasonable price for a package tour going to Erawan Water Falls and Park, Elephant World, Bridge of the River Kwai, Death Railway Museum and War Cemetery and we agreed to book a tour. Inside the vehicle service, I noticed that I was the only asian passenger(except for the Thai driver and the tour guide, of course).



Baby tiger



The Death Railway Museum



Kanchanaburi War Cemetery



Don-Rak War Cemetery


The following day, which was my birthday, he surprised me and took me to the beauty spa to have my face scrub and body scrub with Thai’s famous aromatic hot oil massage. I thought we had a scheduled trip that day but he canceled and decided to surprise me. He succeeded ;)



This was taken before my scrub and spa service. Whatta smile :)



We decided to go around the place at night without even knowing where to go at first. I took a pose here, I was tempted to drink that soda behind me. But he told me I will be put in jail if I did... :)



We found this street sign. America Road??? hahaha we both laughed. We successfully arrived back at out hotel safely with tired knees and feet.

My New Year 2010

How did we celebrate the New Year here in Bangkok? Simple. We didn’t need to cook as we are only two people in the house, like we did last Christmas no extravagant celebration. During the countdown, we were asleep and snoring hehehe and that was how we welcome the New Year!

Last Christmas, we went dine out and watched the movie “Sherlock Holmes”. But we decided not to go out and stayed home all day on January 1st. He woke up at 7:30 am and was busy watching the football early in the morning. I was sleeping soundly and woke up at 10:00 am already. I was really tired because I had my Cambodia trip a day before January 1st. So the following day, I felt like tired and sleepy.

Last year, I reminisced the New Year’s count down when I was at work (as a call center representative) in Makati. That was when I was looking at the fire works display then, my mobile rang... I received a call from my sweetheart. He remembered and greeted me that time and that was soooo wonderful. I felt like flying because he gave a call just to greet me. I felt so important and that day I was wearing a big happy smile on my face. I won’t forget that day. It was the day that he won my heart. I have never expected anyone will call me because I was at work and everybody in my family and friends knew that. Probably, I’ve never expected anyone because that would be a busy time to do the fire works or the Filipino tradition when the clock strikes 12:00 am in celebration of New Year.

On December 31st before we slept, I reminded him about last year’s countdown. He looked and smiled back at me… and he said “Yes, I remember and you gave me more happiness in return...” That was the loveliest words (music to my ears)I have ever heard from him, better than hearing him say “Ï love you”. It was a new year’s gift for me from him because I am so much glad that he appreciates what I have done or will do for him.

I feel so emotionally secure and peaceful because we are together. I feel the love that I need because he is so loving, caring and romantic. I know he will become a good father to our baby Sofia. This New Year is really joyful for us to be complete as family. I have no New Year’s resolution, though. I just would like to do whatever is necessary and pleasing for my family to be happy and so am I.

Happy New Year to all! Let’s start the year right and be merry! Cheers!

My Christmas Day 2009

We woke up almost 8:00 in the morning already. He greeted me first and kissed me on my forehead. We got up to give each others' presents. He gave me this beauty spa pack in basket rack and a Selphy CP 760 camera printer.



That was so thoughtful and sweet of him. I gave him my gift and I was so shy because it's just a simple present coming from my heart (nax!hahaha) and I bought that gift for him with my own money. It's ironic if I'll spend his money to buy him a gift for Christmas, isn't it? So I decided to think about something to do for an instant cash while I'm home. I participated in an online site game in siampinoy.net (Filipinos living in Thailand site). And I won an instant cash prize for the month of November just by joining/signing in and participate in the forums everyday.



He also gave me a Macadamia chocolate, which is one of the best chocolates for me. I really just loved the taste. And... I want more :D



After we had our very light breakfast, we went to the Fashion Island Mall for our lunch at Sizzler's Steak Restaurant. I ordered the spicy fish fillet with french fries. I enjoyed the salad bar buffet. They have variety of salads there, including soups and pasta. First, I got the pasta noodles with ham and mushroom sauce, topped with grated cheese and bacon crisps while waiting for my order to be cooked and placed on my table. I love the taste of garlic bread, soooo tasty. After, the main course, I chose to eat the vegetables (like spinach, broccoli, lettuce, etc.)and fruits (dragon fruit, pineapple, watermelon, yellow and green melons). Sizzler's is just one of my favorite restaurants here in Bangkok because the taste of food is really superb at a reasonable price.



I was really full as in full charged and I wanna go home because I was sleepy. But, I asked him to walk a little while before we go home so that we could digest some food we ate. I felt so heavy. The love of my sweetheart for me is still the best gift I've received this Christmas.

Journey to Haven: Introduction to my blog :D

This is my first attempt to write a blog here at Blogger.com, but I have had experiences writing blogs in other sites (multiply, friendster & wordpress) and I am also fond of writing diaries or self journal to reflect or record my thoughts/ ideas, feelings and experiences dealing with life's many challenges during my childhood and teenage years. I even wrote poems about my life and experiences. They said I'm a very emotional, fearless, outspoken/tactless and generous person. I created this blog "Journey to Haven" to express myself about the journey in my life to haven... Haven for me is a shelter... a safe place or my sanctuary where I can gather all my thoughts and feelings whenever I am bored, feeling emotional (happy, sad, depressed, frustrated, etc). A holy place or space where I can write or say anything I want about an "interesting subject" (well... FOR ME). I am inspired by writing blogs because this is one way of retreat for me. Not only that I am inspired to write blogs, but I also would like to inspire people by reading them.

I feel so happy and blessed that I have so many things in life that I really love: a loving family, my love life, faithful and generous friends and above all God is my light. I'll take you to the journey of my life by writing blogs here to see the fun and adventure of my trip. I can say.. that Life indeed is like a journey where you can experience many ups and downs as you travel along the rocky road, happy and safe trip when you reach the smooth road and sometimes we will lost along the way that we don't know where to go or nowhere else to go so we got stranded and afraid to move on in our lives. But we must remember, "no pain, no gain". That is what life is all about... to face challenges.. without it we are meaningless. We are the captain of our own ship or a driver of our own vehicle. We should remember that for us not get LOST or LOST AGAIN, we need our "road map" which means or GOAL or PURPOSE in life without it we are always get lost and we will never reach our destination. There are road signs along the way, but a lot of times they are just guide and at times those road signs may trick you to go the wrong way where there's no alternate route... the dead end. If we get lost, just always think that "we are not perfect". Then, we must learn from our own mistakes so as to prevent from happening again. Life's challenges teach us to be strong, have faith, believe in ourselves, and many things we couldn't imagine... though most of the times, we need to learn from these challenges.. the hardest and painful way.

Here's three of my favorite inspirational quotes about challenges:

Challenges: we all have them. The difference is how we handle our challenges. To have less stress in your life - deal with your challenges!" Catherine Pulsifer

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." Dale Carnegie

“The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he stands at times of controversy and challenges.” Martin Luther King Jr.