We were collected after breakfast, about 9.00am to go to the Thai Kitchen Cookery Centre – 1st Cookery School in Chiang Mai (Established 1995). We arrived at the traditional teak wood house owned by Tuk Tub Tim and his family who share their family recipe secrets (www.thaikitchencentre.com) in a totally hands on course.

They offer one, two, three and half day tours…either in a group or privately….we were booked into the full day course. This allowed us to selected 6 different dishes (from 26 choices over 6 categories – Curry Paste, Curry, Stir Fried, Soup, Appetiser, Dessert). Vince chose the following:  Namprik Gaengkieow Wan (Green Curry Paste), Kieow Wan (Green Curry with Chicken), Pad Thai (Fried Noodles Thai Style), Tom Yum Goong (Prawn & Coconut  Milk Soup), Po Piet (Original Spring Roll) and Kao Neow Mamuang (Sticky Rice with Mango). It was a bargain at 1000 THB for Vince as the participant and 200THB for me as the observer (due to my current chicken-wing status!).

We were given some welcome tea and dried banana whilst we looked through the choices and gave our selections to the staff Kaew, JJ and Art. We were then given an embroidered apron and basket to go to the local market. We were back into the silver truck to go to the Sompet Market and Kaew went over a range of herbs, spices and vegetables we would be using and let us sample them….it was extremely interesting and informative. We even learned that fresh turmeric can be used on mozzie bites for relief – we got some for Vince who has been savaged by them lately and his legs are covered in bites! We were also shown how they get coconut cream, coconut milk and coconut sugar….quite fascinating and delicious! We were then given around 10 min to explore the markets on our own and the various stalls held all sorts of interesting things for sale. When we returned to the first stall our baskets were already filled with ingredients for us.

Back at the Teak House we started with the curry paste in a mortar and pestle…. that would be used in the Kieow Wan later. Next was moving to the individual cooking station and making Tom Yum Goong ….surprisingly simple and exquisitely delicious! The Kieow Wan was next, closely followed by the Pad Thai. The Kieow Wan was out of this world…..Vince has always made a wicked Thai Green Chicken Curry at home….but this was mind blowing and totally from scratch (we buy the paste etc back home). We all ate in the air-conditioned Chiang Mai style room, sitting on cushions at low tables. Over the course of the  morning we met some interesting people, including Maria (paediatrician) and her husband, whose name I am unsure of (Engineer) from Poland, Lisa (Yoga/Thai Massage Therapist) from America, Kaitlin (Physio) and Kayleigh (Nurse) from Canada, Mojo from Turkey….along with two older ladies from Switzerland and Canada, a young couple from Germany and another couple from Turkey. Some of the group (the maroon aprons) left after lunch….and there were just 4 of us blue aprons left, Lisa, Mojo, Vince and myself. We proceeded to make our appetisers and desserts……I was impressed at how easy spring rolls are to make and Sticky Rice is a little complicated with pre soaking required overnight, but otherwise a delicious and filling concoction. We were so stuffed we took some doggie bags back to our hotel for the boys (Aad (Art) and Mike) and Lisa wanted to come and meet Mike at Aad (Art) as she was pretty impressed with what we shared with her about their adventures and Mike’s World Record.

Dinner back at our hotel was pizza…..not that we were hungry…… it has been a day of culinary delights!

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After 4 days (26,27,28 and 29th Nov) in hospital I finally got discharged on Mon 30th….I saw my Specialist at 10.30am and it was after 2.30 pm when I finally left, via taxi, for the Panda House Hotel….where we had stayed previously. The main hold up was sorting out payment….as we had to pay a 50% deposit when we first arrived ($6000) and now World Nomads were to pay the $12,000 bill, we were to be refunded less the $100 excess required by our insurance policy. It was all a bit confusing for the cashier!

World Nomads were just fantastic throughout….Vince contacted them when I was in emergency and they were very reassuring and efficient in recommending the hospital we were already at, processing our claim and assuring us all costs would be covered, and even calling us several times to check on my welfare and treatment throughout my stay…..very thorough and professional.

Tuesday 1st Dec I rested at the hotel whilst Vince, Aad (Art) and Mike went on the motorbikes to Customs to try to get our import papers ( for the ANIMAL) extended to match our Visa’s and allow us to stay to meet my follow up appointment on 10th Dec. The Specialist will see me for removal of stitches, more X Ray’s and a full fibreglass cast will be put on….I currently have a split cast to accommodate the swelling caused by the trauma and subsequent surgery. The hospital had provided a medical certificate and report to support our request, including for our two travelling companions who have chosen to wait for us…..so it was granted without any problems….great!

Wed 2nd Dec we all took a trip to Centre Festival, a local shopping complex where the boys shopped ‘it’ll they dropped for 3 hours, whilst I had my hair coloured to get rid of the “silver streak” that someone mysteriously periodically paints in my hair every 6 weeks! The first go at Cut and Curl left me hair with blonde striping in the new growth to which the hairdresser asked “is that ok?” …duh ….”No…we need to fix it” was my response (especially at the 7000 THB price tag ). I was moved out of sight into a back room….I’m sure it’s bad for business when things go wrong!  The second attempt was a slightly darker shade of brown…. but still the same problem remained….it was quite comical as we all looked at each other in the mirror….the female hairdresser closely examining strands of my hair with her face telling a pitiful story, no words required…….the male underling hairdresser, face all forlorne, simply said “that’s not ok.” ….I nodded in agreement. The third attempt was finally successful in at least obtaining one colour ….although a lot darker than I wanted….and he was so exited he was clapping his hands, running around shouting “I did that…it was me that fixed it.” In between all this excitement Vince periodically called in to check on progress and then went and relayed developments back to the boys….they told me later each report was getting more and more serious….but it did provide them with entertainment as they visualised my dilemma. I now have to put up with each of them intermittently asking ” have you done something different with your hair?” Very funny guys!

Thursday 3rd we all took a trip to the local Tesco Lotis Mall to get a medical kit for Aad (Art) and some dressing supplies for me…..Vince likes playing nurse to me! We plan to take my riding gear to the tailors to see what can be done (maybe a zip) to accommodate my right arm and my cast as currently it won’t fit. Vince and I will also get some mending done on our riding pants which have taken a battering against the local washing styles with some stitching coming undone. We might try and get a massage at the local markets (DIDN’T HAPPEN) before getting some dinner out (we have not done so since I came out of hospital)…well that’s the plan anyway we shall see what happens…..Aad (Art) keeps telling me how tired and crap I look…..being in constant pain for a week now will do that to you!

We notices lots of preparation for festivities and found out later from John (tailor) that it was the King’s Birthday!

Tomorrow Vince and I are booked into a traditional Thai Cooking class….or rather he will cook and I will observe, seeing as how I am one handed these days….and it’s my right arm that’s broken so I’m pretty much useless with just my left hand! Stay tuned for that one!

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