In which we become trained chefs…

… with the apron, the hat, and the certificate to prove it.

… but I have a tragic accident…

We met two young folk in the lobby at the appointed 8am, and they whisked us off (by tuk tuk, thankfully) to a local market. (Extra) That was so interesting, because the young chap could explain what we were looking at. What an absolutely amazing array of food, some being cooked on the spot, and also fresh fruit, and a seafood department under cover.

Nipped back to the hotel in the tuk tuk - one of the two/three seaters, where your legs have stick out in front - awkward for me to get in and out of, due to the high step in (and low canopy). But I have mastered the art of sitting on the edge and sliding out , er, gracefully. Not this time. My absolutely favourite TingaTinga trousers, ones I got years ago in Tanzania, and have worn most days, caught on a sharp bit of metal and… RRRIIPPP!

So, after our lesson (yes, I became a qualified chef with my bum hanging out of my trousers) we went along the road which is full of tailors, massage parlours and restaurants. I can collect them tomorrow.

The cooking lesson: well - we mainly just watched the chef doing it all (my kind of cooking). It looked easy. There was a massive amount of preparation had gone on. Dozens of little bowls of this and that, and he added them all into the wok, tasting all the time. It was fun. Everything tasted absolutely lovely. And not too spicey! The two young folk who had taken us to the market, fussed around tidying up, doing things for the chef and taking photos on my phone.

We ‘made’
* A pomelo salad with prawns, roasted coconut and crispy shallots.
* Coconut milk soup with chicken and galangal served in a coconut shell.
* Southern- style yellow curry with blue swimmer crab and betel leaves.
* Warm glutinous rice balls with young coconut meat.

And then we sat and ate the lot most of it.

I contemplated a Thai foot massage (£8 for half an hour) but decided that a flop by, and in, the pool in the afternoon would be just as beneficial, less painful and free. JR decided to pop over for another look round the fantastic food hall.

We’ll just relax tonight - we’re both quite tired. Home tomorrow, an afternoon flight, so no mad rush. It has been the most wonderful holiday, with Bangkok as the best possible end!!