Erin in Asia

by Erin Neel

One of the huts I have stayed in.

Chilis they use in yummy Thai cooking.

Traditional Thai food served at eco-tour village:

Front: Thai people usually eat with a fork and a spoon. They use the fork to scoop the food onto the spoon and then bring the spoon to their mouths. It works really well, and I have become quite fond of this system. I highly recommend it.
Front left: Fresh mango in coconut milk ... decadent!
Far left: This white fruit with black spots is called Dragon Fruit. It tastes a little bit like kiwi, and the outside is pink with big spikes. Until recently it was grown only in Vietnam.
Top: One of the many types of bananas in Thailand. This kind is really sweet.
Middle: These little green packages are sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves. Sticky rice is a specialty of the region; when it’s wrapped like this, it is mixed with sweet flavors like banana or bean paste. When it’s not wrapped, you scoop it out of a bowl with your fingers and dip it in meat or vegetable dishes.
Far right: These little guys aren’t Chicken McNuggets, they’re called Chinese Doughnuts. They are slightly less sweet than a glazed doughnut in the United States, and are made by the ethnic Chinese in Thailand.

Villagers, volunteers, volunteer coordinator, and me (in red bandana).