Indochina and Beyond; Eating My Way Through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

It's been awhile since I posted here, but I've been traveling; to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.  I will write about my exploits elsewhere.  This blog is all about the food I chose to eat, and whether these choices will bring down my evil cholesterol numbers.  

Indochina is no more or less a health-food booby trap than any other region in the world, though thankfully, there's not much high-fat dairy (in sauces, cheeses) on most menus.  

My first meal in Bangkok - at a hole in the wall "street" vendor with a few tables - was pretty indicative of what I'd be eating throughout a two week venture. Stir fried chicken with veggies.  

Stir fried chicken with onions at "street" vendor in Bangkok, Thailand

In the photo below, the Coca-Cola was not mine, but I did order the Watermelon Juice/slushee to accompany my stir-fry and rice. I found watermelon juice on almost every menu there-after and, despite its high natural sugar content, ordered it every day.  I'm not sure that was a prudent choice, but it was refreshing, gave me pep and, is a source of anti-oxidants, vitamin C and many other health benefits.  I never got sick halfway across the world.  Perhaps my daily watermelon juice was the reason?

Meal in Bangkok, Thailand

 I discovered that hotels and boutique inns offered the best breakfast selection. I could load up on salads and fruit while avoiding the Western-style omlets and breads.  Note the stacked white bread in the photo - for some reason, Asians love our un-artisanal Wonder-breads.  We saw this presentation everywhere.  Of course, I steered clear of meats, shellfish and fried items.  But I was somewhat drawn to high-sodium wide noodles (yes, for breakfast).  I allowed myself a small helping most mornings.

Breakfast at Furama Silom, Bangkok

Breakfast at Banthai Village, Chiang Mai, Thailand

My husband is Gluten-Free Vegan, and restaurants all over Indochina were equipped to handle his requests.  Fish Sauce was replaced by Soy Sauce and stir-fries featured vegetables only. Most noodles were made from rice, not wheat- a great benefit. I went easy on the rice, but often ate my husband's food - without meat.

Vegetarian Meal; at Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai, Thailand

 One of the highlights of our trip was a hands-on Thai cuisine cooking class in Chiang Mai - at Thai Orchid Cooking school.  Outfitted in a private home and run by the home-owners/chefs, we learned the art of making curries from scratch, assembling a quick Pad Thai and adjusting "heat" levels to our own palates.  I plan to cook more this way now.

Thai Orchid Cooking School
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Yellow Curried chicken and potatoes, chicken and cashews
Thai Orchid Cooking School
Chiang Mai, Thailand

 Moving on to Cambodia (Siem Reap),  one regional delicacy repulsed me; bugs.  Crickets and spiders were big sellers here, but I just couldn't.....do.....it.

Yes to the chips. Yes to the peanuts.  No to the crickets.
Siem Reap, Cambodia

I have to admit, though, that crickets might have been better for cholesterol-reduction than these mighty good Spring Rolls.  Deep fried, unfortunately.  I fell off the wagon for these and had two.

Incredible Deep Fried Spring Rolls at New Hope Program's Teaching Restaurant
Siem Reap, Cambodia

 On the road from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, we stopped at a roadside stand famous for its fried spiders (tarantulas, actually), crickets and other insects. Suffice it to say I did not purchase a bag full.

Roadside stand selling fried spiders, crickets and insects on the road
from Siem Reap to Phnom Pehn, Cambodia

While in Vietnam, we enjoyed an excursion to villages in the Mekong Delta.  Orienting myself here took some getting used to, as I remembered the Delta as a place from which our young American soldiers returned to the US in body bags in the 1960's.  Obviously, the "American War of Aggression" is seen quite differently where it actually happened, though younger Vietnamese relegate the War to the history books and welcome American tourists warmly.

Our Mekong Delta excursion included an afternoon's glide on the "Mekong Queen" - a "deluxe" wooden boat, initially set up with a still-life of colorful local fruit (which was later cut and prepared by our personal "chef").  The height of opulence.....

A variety of fruit on the private "deluxe"  Mekong Queen riverboat
Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Enjoying just-cut fruit on the
 private "deluxe"  Mekong Queen riverboat
Mekong Delta, Vietnam

 We had lunch in a Mekong village - in the garden of a private antique home. This fish was one of the most delectable dishes of the whole trip. Fried to a crisp, but moist and succulent within. Gorgeous and delicious.

Lunch at a private antique home in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

I tried to be an adventurous eater on my Indochina trip, and aside from insects I did pretty well.  Oh, except for this stuff; cobras steeped in alcohol.  Science may one day find this to be the one potion to bring down cholesterol overnight, but I still won't try it.  I'll stick with my Cheerio's, thanks.

Snake Saki sold in Mekong Delta, Vietnam