i heart thailand

you guys! i knew there was a good reason i've wanted to visit thailand for so long! because it ROCKS!

we got back last night from our long weekend in bangkok and huahin, and i have to say, i think it's officially my second favorite country (taiwan being my #1, of course. your home country doesn't count on your list of favorite countries).

here are just a few reasons why...

reason #1: the FRUIT. it was mango mania for me. for dinner one night, i had two mangoes, a mango pancake and a mango smoothie, all from the night market and all for less than $3.50! i'm guessing the smoothie alone would have been a ridiculous $5 or something in the US!the mangoes were a delectable combination of sweet and sour, and already perfectly in season (which they're not yet in taiwan). i'm guessing that's because it's like already 98 degrees there, which i loved since it's still blah and rainy in taipei. and it's too bad that i'm allergic to bananas because thai people can do some awesome things with them. check out the bottom right photo on the grid above.

reason #2: THAI DISHES. we ate well. very well.

coconut chicken, green curry, sour and spicy thai soup, shrimp cakes, pad thai. all delicious and all cheap! thai food = the best food on the planet. my friend even had pineapple fried rice served in an actual pineapple! ahh, here's to all things tropical.

eason #3: the SIGHTS. the grand palace in bangkok is one of the coolest places i've ever been. it was so shiny and beautiful and extensive. definitely an anna and the king/the king and i moment.reason #4: FUN TRANSPORTATION. tuk-tuks, colorful taxis, jeepneys 

reason #5: SHOPPING & THE VARIETY OF COOL PRODUCTS. there are soooooo many western things in thailand that i've never ever seen in taiwan. it's so weird how these poorer, seemingly "less western" countries have a much better variety of outside products than the ROC. has anyone else ever noticed this? it's the same in vietnam, cambodia and the philippines. must be because of all the tourism, which taiwan isn't big on. anyhow, i enjoyed just looking in the grocery store and 7-11, checking everything out. here's a shot of some of the drinks (sorry, the picture won't rotate).

of course the night markets were great too -- and cheap! and they actually had shoes in my size (which are extremely hard to come by in taiwan). so i went a little crazy and got 4 pairs of flip flops! (all 4 for less than $12US!)