Asia - 2009

A luxurious splurge in Shanghai Mansion in Chinatown, Bangkok.

At least they put a plastic sheet down before cleaning fish in the gutters outside the restaurant. Chinatown, Bangkok.

“I'm looking for a ... for a 1981 Nissan Sunny?” “Yes, I'm sure I have one in here somewhere!”

On the streets of Hanoi, Mark and Monica on their typical Vietnamese family vehicle. Monica looks so well, really healthy. It was special to drop in on them so close to such an exciting occasion.

In Vietnam, street food is only authentic street food if you have to sit on tiny plastic stools with your knees up around your ears. We know this street food was cooked fresh, as we had to cook it ourselves. A large platter of beef and vegetables, a little stove and hot plate, and a few blocks of paraffin. Vietnamese barbecue.

Actually, it is quite unladen compared to some, but I like the shot. We assume that is the man's wife, and note there is ample space for some children on there with them.

I love getting a shave with a cut-throat razor. It must be quite the task for them to do me, too, as they have this soft facial hair that takes months to grow, while us Western men have our stiff whiskers that grow almost as quickly as we remove them.

We started the afternoon with a trip to the market to buy fresh vegetables and spices. Now, ingredients washed, cleavers in hand, we are ready to be let loose on some Thai dishes.

Dish number two – Thai Cashew Chicken. The highlight of this dish was the fabulous aromatic dried chillies.