On this particular day my morning began at an early 7am, breakfast was had and my usual two hour walk along Patong beach and surrounding areas was enjoyed.
It was some-where between 7am and 9am when I realised it was going to be what we Aussie's refer to as a 'scorcha' and the unusually high number of vacationers hitting the beach before 9am told me that it was going to be a disturbingly busy day in Patong.
In my bid to escape the madness and secure my very own piece of sand and water I negotiated over a fare with tuk tuk drivers and for 300 baht I was on my way to Karon Beach.
The drive to Karon Beach was beautiful, as we drove up the mountain and along the windy roads the elevated views of Patong and the ocean appeared, as the warm wind blew through my hair I looked down at Patong and could hardly believe that the beautiful, serene and seemingly quiet place I was looking down at was the same Patong I had set out to escape.
As I hit the beach in Karon there were three things that I immediately noticed; the women wore g-string bikinis, the men wore speedos and everyone wore coconut tanning oil - this was where the Europeans lived out their hot Thailand vacations (I had actually wondered about the scarce number of Europeans in Patong - pick a boo - found you). Welcome to Thai-Euro friends!
Prior to arriving in Patong I had thoroughly researched the area online and in my online travels through cyber space I had come across an Aussie man's blog whom actually lived close to Patong, the blog covered everything from his opinion on resorts, restaurants and neighbouring areas. I had recalled reading about "The Best Pad Thai Shop" on his blog and was sure that it was some-where in Karon and close-by to the Baan Karon Resort. Readers had actually commented on his blog confirming that they had visited "The Best Pad Thai Shop" on his recommendation and claimed it really was the best ever.
So, it was back in a tuk tuk for me as I was headed for the Baan Karon Resort, as a pad thai lover myself I absolutely had to check out this place and sample what could possibly be the best..or worst..pad thai ever.
So, in the sweltering heat I walked up and down and all around the dingy area surrounding the Baan Karon Resort, I passed many local bars and eateries filled with Thai locals but was hesitant to enter any of them - where were the vacationers?
I decided that one of the eateries could possibly be the place I was looking for as it looked similar to the eatery described on the Aussie man's blog, I must admit I was hesitant to enter as I was unsure whether I would be welcomed by the locals but on the other hand could not bare the thought of possibly missing out on the best pad thai of my life..so in I went.
The first thing I noticed upon entering was that everyone was eating pad thai, I then spotted a small sign on the wall that read "The Best Pad Thai Shop". This took me by surprise as I did not realise that was the actual name of the eatery, I thought it was a mere description the Aussie man used in his blog!
I had found it, hooray!
I ordered my chicken pad thai - hold the shrimps - it was served with crushed nuts and a side of bean sprouts and banana leaves..and yes.."The Best Pad Thai Shop" served the best pad thai...ever.
So I spent the day on Karon Beach, walked up and down a dingy and unsafe road in what looked like a rural area in search of pad thai (I felt like I was a backpacker in Africa), ate at a local haunt where I was welcomed by Thai locals and subsequently decided that Australia has no real concept of pad thai - hold the shrimps.
Until Saturday,
TTFN.
No comments:
Post a Comment