The Return of the Worm!

Everyone's favorite dining adventure from my last trip here was the bamboo worms. They are a specialty of northern Thailand. A friend jokingly calls them "Thai French fries." Crispy little beggars that are deep fried and available at any market in Chiang Rai.



Worms with naam prik, a sort of salsa like substance that comes in hot, nuclear and 'dude, where did your lips go?' This is the mild version. The Li Hpu people serve a dark red version that is insanely hot, and I loved it!



Ate a handful of the little beggars this time. Just like chewing on shoestring potatoes, with a bit less salt. And shoestring potatoes don't look at you as you eat them.

One of my very favorite dishes in Thailand is khao soy noodles. It is not easy to find in Bangkok because it is a northern Thai dish. I was told that if I went north, I HAD to eat khao soy in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, so we at them both places. It is noodles with a bit of vegetables, chunks of chicken (usually full chicken wings), bean sprouts, and a soup with a coconut milk base. It is fairly spicy, but then you dump in crushed red pepper and chunks of red onion and...oh my, this stuff is wonderful!