Best Unexpected Food List

These are the foods you don’t expect to find in SE Asia, but you found them, and they were delicious.

     1.     Best Waffle: Dots Café in Kuching, Malaysia

                The heavy Chinese influence in Kuching has made the food here excellent. Waffle shops are a craze, and this tasty peach special from Dots Cafe is right on par. 

2.     Best Guacamole: Yar Pyi Vegetarian Restaurant in   Bagan, Myanmar

I            I expected to find exceptional vegetarian food in Myanmar, but not guacamole! This   was fantastic, with a uniquely tart flavor and special seasoning. 

3.     Best muesli: German Bread & More in Hua Hin, Thailand

             This muesli can be found at the B&B run by a lovely German couple in Hua Hin. Usually muesli is served dry with mil or yogurt, but here it was a delicious creamy porridge with bananas and other fresh fruit. 

4.     Best airplane food: fish curry at Bangkok Air Yangon to Bangkok

            I know it doesn't look like much, but this was the best airplane food I've ever had. The curry was restaurant quality, the glass noodles were tangy and spicy. The coconut cake was moist and sweet. It really doesn't get better than this. 

5.     Best instant coffee: Luwak coffee in Bali, Indonesia

            This Kopi Luwak came from a package and was served to me at the morning market in Ubud. I love this coffee, complete with cream and sugar. Luwak coffee is $50/cup in the U.S. but in the Ubud market it's mere pennies. 

6.     Best instant tea: Sunday 3 in 1 in Myanmar

            While Bali wins the award for the best instant coffee, Myanmar does it right with instant tea. Here's a little secret: my favorite restaurant in Bagan serves amazing Myanmar sweet tea, and when I asked for their recipe, then told me they use Sunday's instant tea. Well, I found some at the market and sure enough, it was the very same. I have not seen it sold anywhere outside Myanmar, but if you have the chance, take a few packets home. 

7.     Best coffee: Marble Arch coffee, Chiang Mai, Thailand

             While Chiang Mai boasts many special coffee places, the Marble Arch Coffee at Marble Arch Cafe is surely my favorite. No need for creamy or sugar, this rich, sweet, smooth drink is perfect as it is. 

8.     Best Ice Cream: Celano Caramel Vanilla, Vietnam

                I did not know ice cream could be so good until I had a Celano bar. Vanilla ice cream covered in a chocolate-caramely sauce with almonds is just too good to pass, even though it is more expensive than a Bahn Mi! 

A Room with a View: my hotel windows in SE Asia

Throughout my trip in SE Asia, in almost every place I stayed I took a photo of the view from my apartment or hotel window. Alone, these images may not be worth showcasing. Indeed they are just rooftops in unrecognizable parts of a city, but together in this collection, they seem to each capture a certain essence, like the nose or eye of a person's face. By putting them all together in this one post, it is easy to spot the differences in each city, and in to get a sense of the identity and lifestyle of that place. 

Bangkok, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hue, Vietnam

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuching Malaysia

Mandalay, Myanmar

Nha Trang, Vietnam

Ubud, Bali

Yangon, Myanmar

Hua Hin, Thailand

Yangon International Airport

Landing in Yangon was one of the  most memorable first impressions I have of any country. This golden structure came into view almost immediately and my eyes were fixated on it the entire time our plane taxied to the gate. Although small and simple, the international terminal of the airport was completed in 2007, and there are plans to expand it further. It has some interesting sights, such as an elaborate wall mural and a tall glass ceilings in the atrium. It was definitely a lot nicer than what I was expecting. 

However, this being Myanmar, the electricity did go out while we were in the process of having our visas stamped. When we left out of this airport to fly back to Bangkok, I realized there was only one restaurant in the entire airport, and it was expensive. $4 for a small glass of orange juice. That’s young capitalism for you.

Cultural Differences in Myanmar

Myanmar is definitely among the most exotic places I have been. It is a feast for every sense, from the crumbling colonial architecture, to the unique dress of the men and women,  there is always something to behold in this great country.

I could list endless differences between Myanmar and say, America, but I have chosen to focus on the things I found most unusual and surprising, things I do not see replicated in other countries in SE Asia.

Clothing

Nearly everyone in Myanmar – men and women – wear Longyi, which was are basically sarongs. 

For men, they are almost always plaid, wrapped around the waist and tied in a not below the stomach. For women, they are cut and sewn into skirts which are fastened with ties at the waist. Patterns very considerably, but the goal is to match the longyi with the top.

Thanaka, the beige paint on the cheeks of men, women, and children,  is also uniqe to Myanmar and ubiquitous. This is said to help keep the face cool, as well as be healthy for the skin.

Beetlenut

It seems like almost every man over the age of 20 is chews bettlenut, a disgusting red substance which is chewed and spit out into the streets. It dyes the mouth and teeth red, giving the appearance of bloody gums. The pavements, covered with bettlenut spit – look like crime scenes with dried blood. Beetlenut has addictive properties that gives people a buzz, and is especially popular with taxi drivers.

Megaphone

Nearly every street in Mynamar, from city to village, has a megaphone which emits sound nonstop. Sometimes these are announcements, sometimes news,  sometimes singing, sometimes chanting or prayers. Either way, it’s on 24 hours a day in most parts.

Overstaffing

Capitalism is new in Myanmar and there is a steep learning curve. Practically every restaurant and hotel I saw had a serious overstaffing problem. At most, our small hotel had 22 people in the lobby and behind the reception desk. Two would open the door, another two would greet you, three leaned against the wall with brooms, waiting to clean something. At least ten were behind the reception desk chatting with each other, and another five or so were in the hallway, also chatting. It is not uncommon to see a wait staff of 10 or so in a restaurant with only 5 or 6 tables. It was excessive to the point of being absurd. You may wonder, what are these people doing? Not looking busy, is the answer. Mostly chatting with each other and looking bored.

Are you ok?

I got this question a lot in Myanmar, especially from wait staff after delivering my food. I’ll be sitting at the table eating and a staff member will approach me asking, “Excuse me, are you ok?” At first I thought that I must look sickly, or perhaps I unintentionally gave a look that made it seem like I was displeased with the food. But then I realized that their English ability was limited, and what they meant to ask was, “How is the food?” or “Is everything alright (with the meal)?” When I realized this it was all very funny. “Are you ok?” is not something we ask of anyone who isn’t crying or hurt.

What Did I Eat in Myanmar?

I had some spectacular meals in Myanmar, but unfortunately, street food was not among them. The sanitation standard and pollution of the street makes street meals undesirable. However, in a city like Yangon there is is no shortage of impressive restaurants and unique cuisines. 

1. Food I wished I had but didn't:  Oatmeal at Bar Boon. I ordered it but it never came.
2. Food I had but wished I didn't: Western food (pasta and quesadillas). Not only was it sub-standard, but I could have been eating great Burmese food. 
3. What should have been on the list: Shan noodles, because I didn't know they existed. 
4. Biggest surprise: Western food (hamburger and guacamole) were amazing.
5. Most delicious meal: Myanmar tea. It's not a meal, but I could have it three times a day. 

Fruit Juices

Fruit juices were amazing and fresh in Myanmar. Orange, Pear, Watermelon, and Tamarind were among my favorites.

Myanmar tea

I like mine strong and sweet. Made with condensed milk and evaporated milk, this is really the best milk tea in the world.

Shan Noodles

You don’t need to travel to the lawless Shan province to try these amazing noodles. Now they are available at 999 Shan Noodles in Yangon, a friendly if not quirky family restaurant. They offer at least four options for noodles sauces, oil being my favorite, though they are all fantastically flavorful.

Traditional Burmese curry and dumplings

I sampled many traditional Burmese foods at a variety of restaurants. It really tastes like a cross between Indian and Thai. The curries are fantastic while lacking the hot spice of Indian food and the sugary sweetness of Thai food. It really is in a class of its own. Some of the dumpling remind me of dim sum, but the flavors are not like anything I’ve had in East Asia.

Traditional Burmese desserts

I tried many local desserts  at the Shwe Pu Zun bakery in Yangon. My favorite was the Faluda, which is a tapioca-like drink. The breads were interesting, but that stuff that looks like coconut or  white chocolate shavings is actually shredded cheese! Werid!

Western Food

I ate some of the best western food in Myanmar. The cheese burger  and chocolate cake at Weatherspoon’s in Bagan was excellent. The guacamole I had at a vegetarian restaurant in Bagan was also fantastic. I was even able to have quesadilla at Coffee Circles in Yangon.