Doi Pha Tang - A Paradise from Chaotic Life
This essay is a 3rd prize winning entry submitted by Orachorn Saechang (Yee), a Humanities student from Chiang Mai University. The story describes for us some of the beauty that can be found in far northern Thailand at Doi Pha Tang, near the Laos border.
Doi Pha Tang - A Paradise from Chaotic Life
Have you ever felt like finding a tranquil place to hide yourself away from an otherwise chaotic life? If so, Doi Pha Tung could be one of the natural places you are looking for when you are in Thailand. Tucked away in the Northern part of the country, it is an area that remains tranquil and beautiful and offers some of the most stunning views of any place in Thailand.
Doi Pha Tang is situated in Chiang Rai province, the northern most region of Thailand. It is about 160 kilometers from Chiang Rai city and only 25 kilometers north from Phu Che Fah, another stunning viewpoint where you can see forever in the country of Laos. Doi Pha Tang is the home of the Hmong, Chinese (Yunan), and Yao hill tribe peoples, who have largely maintained their own unique cultures and way of lives.
On the road up to Doi Pha Tang, you will be attracted by beautiful natural scenery. Slowly driving up the mountains, you are most likely to be accompanied by gentle cool breeze, green cauliflowers fields, and small villages of tribes’ people. The area is so different and has a unique beauty for Thailand. The road up the mountain can be a little exciting and adventurous because of its three old iron bridges, which I think are a bit scary. The road is high, steep, and curvy and the experience will be an exhilarating memory of Thailand.
Once in Doi Pha Tang, a traveler will feel like they have reached a peaceful world. Slowly breathing the fresh air will release any exhaustion from the driving. Welcome smiles are waiting in greeting, on local people’s faces. Doi Pha Tang is one of the few places anywhere where you can find camping under the blossoms of Sakura trees. A person is able to quietly meditate and listen to nature’s sound. Stresses can fall away and be replaced by a sense of happiness, calm, and peace of mind.
When you have finishing preparation of your camp area it will be a good time for exploring. A short walk should take you to the Yunan Chinese restaurants and the roadside stands selling preserved winter fruits such as apricots, peaches, red cherries, and Chinese pears. The taste of the fruits here is delicious and seems different from in the city. This region has the cool climate needed to produce many of these fruits that cannot be found elsewhere in Thailand.
As the day draws to a close and before the sun says goodbye, it is a good idea to walk up to a higher place to enjoy the moment. The viewpoints on the mountain are a main attraction to this place and after about 500 meters of walking you can take the opportunity to relax in a place where a beautiful little sala (Chinese style resting place) awaits. Here, the wind may be cool and warmer clothing needed in the winter months but it is worthwhile braving the cool for such a magnificent view of the mountain scenery.
Beyond Doi Pha Tang you can gaze far into Laos and take in views of rocky cliffs, lush green mountains, and the Mekong River cutting it’s border path. Heading to the top of the mountain the wind may pick up speed and you will hear the sounds of trees and vegetation making music when played by the wind.
The summit of Doi Pha Tang is the climax. You are now standing on the border with Laos in front and Thailand in the rear. You will be surrounded by beautiful horizons - blue, grey, orange, red – in an artist’s portrait of a magnificent sky against the mountains. This is an incredible picture of beauty that can not be seen from any other place.
When the sun is about to set you can sit and quietly relax; it is a time to appreciate nature to recharge your strength. This serene moment allows you to be one with yourself and lends an energy that is difficult to describe. The moment the sun is set, everything is still and the world is stops moving - no one is talking or moving because we are all fascinated by the beauty.
At night, it’s a time to visit and have some fun in the outdoors. Campers will enjoy the campfire light and the food and music. Thai and foreigner get together and mix and visit and it is so much like a family atmosphere. Everyone is happy to enjoy this time, there is no ‘you’ and ‘me’, it’s just US. It’s a very happy and unforgettable time. This walk up the mountain was an adventure that we all shared and I will tell those people reading my story that sometimes we know nothing, until we can explore it ourselves!
In the early morning, you can walk the same path up the mountain and enjoy a vast sea of valley and mist, while watching the sun arise from over Laos. The beauty to be found at Doi Pha Tang is beyond words to describe. From darkness to lightness, your new day has begun!
Article provided by Thailand Travel Online.
Lose Weight Living Like A Thai
Lose Weight Living Like A Thai – A Western Perspective On A Low Fat Eastern Lifestyle
It’s off to Thailand. I was a recent college grad seeking to experience a new culture and improve my martial arts skills. After some careful planning I selected the land of smiles for my first international adventure.
I obviously got a dose of culture shock jumping into a culture radically different from my hometown in Littleton, Colorado. The city of Bangkok was humming with traffic non-stop. The tropical climate offered a hot and humid atmosphere. And I discovered the cheapest place is the world to get a foot massage.
Although I enjoyed experience a new culture I quickly felt the withdrawals from some my western amenities, namely easy access to a weight training facility. After some asking around and creative thinking (like using elastic bands or dumbbells for resistance) I eventually found a few workout facilities that got the job done.
I then was a little surprised to see that most Thais don’t engage in structured exercise (especially weight lifting). However the vast majority are extremely thin especially compared to my home country’s standard waist line. To further perplex the situation I noticed that they really didn’t express a big concern about dieting. Every time I ordered an iced coffee (temperatures are usually hot in Thailand) it always came loaded with sugar. Most of their food dishes where loaded with fried items. Fried rice, friend chicken, fried noodles, fried anything Thais would eat it. Their alcohol consumption was comparable to the U.S. (maybe slightly less).
So how does the country of Siam stay so skinny? It could be partly due to genetics but I really believe that this phenomenon comes down to four factors: food portion control, frequency meals, low stress and plenty of activity (not just structured exercise).
In Thailand cooked meals are readily available almost everywhere you go. The locals get up early in morning to fire up their small portable grills. They would offer food of multiple varieties: fried chicken, fried sausage rolls (at least it looked like sausage), fried bananas, fresh fruit. There were also several small walk-in restaurants wherever you went. Most of them offered dishes that included combinations of rice, seafood, vegetables or poultry. Whenever I went to order a meal from one of these restaurants they would give me a small (but tasty) portion of food. I was tempted order more at first but learned to eat slowly and to stay satisfied with just one serving. Their restaurants were also consistently busy. It didn’t seem like there were set eating times in Thailand. Everybody would drop into eat whenever they felt hungry. This would usually be several times a day (5-6 small meals).
As for transportation getting around most Thai cities (especially Bangkok) could be a very frustrating endeavor that was further compounded by the language barrier. They seemed to have non stop traffic jams with cars, mopeds and motorcycles everywhere. Despite the chaos I saw people smile and wave whenever a potentially road rage conflict presented itself. Someone would cut off my Taxi cab and the driver would just laugh. The same was true for off the road. Wherever I went people just smiled. They seemed happy to be living out their lives. Any feelings of discontentment were seldom noticeable. This contrasted greatly from where I was brought up.
I know that excess stress can negatively influence our hormone levels (especially cortisol). How many times have you become extremely angry and frustrated because you got stuck in a traffic jam? How many times have you felt impatient while waiting in a line at convenience store, grocery store, coffee shop, etc? How many times have you lost sleep over things that you KNOW are relatively unimportant? I’m not sure what causes this problem, but it’s certainly not tipping the scales in our favor.
As for activity I didn’t see very many Thai’s engaging in structured rigorous exercise. The weight gym facility I worked out at had a Ping Pong table which was much more frequented then the bench press. However I did notice some Thais did engage in one excellent fitness activity; Muay Thai Kickboxing. Just to give you a little about Muay Thai it is an ancient martial art that has grown into an ultra competition international sport today. Training in Muay Thai requires that you have both endurance and explosiveness. Inadvertently Thais are using both slow twitch and fast twitch muscles when training in their sports. This aerobic/anaerobic combination burns a great amount of calories. A vigorous sessions of hitting punching/kicking thai pads can burn anywhere from 300 to 600+ calories an hour.
So what does this boil all down to? Well for the average person looking to stay in shape and have a relatively low body fat I would recommend the following:
1. Food portion control: Eat small meals of 400 to 600 Kcal depending on your body size. Overeating can cause insulin level spikes, an expanded stomach and puts a lot of unnecessary stress on your digestive system.
2. Meal Frequency: 5-6 six small meals a day, preferably spaced out every 2-3 hours. If you don’t have time to eat take a protein supplement in between meals.
3. Calm down: yes America is certainly stressful country. However life is by no means easier in Thailand and they manage to stay collected. Take a lot of deep breaths, get plenty of sleep and find healthy ways to channel stress. Remember that your work, your life and your choices are YOURS. The Thais I met don’t lose hair over trying to earn a six digit income (in US dollars of course) and you shouldn’t either.
4. Activity. I realize that not everybody has the time exercise, but almost anybody does have the means to be more active. Take a walk on your lunch break. Better yet use that hour to workout at a local gym. The ideal workout routine would involve a combination of weights/cardio. If you are strapped for time try to find an activity that combines both aerobic/anaerobic exercise. A few recommendations would be structured aerobics classes that combine both weight training/cardio (most American gyms offer some variety of this) or a martial arts program, I would personally recommend a kickboxing class for almost anybody.
The only negative thing I noticed in Thailand it is that weight loss supplements cost a fortune. Protein supplements are about 2-3 more expensive. Costs for weight loss products are outrageous. If you reside in the U.S. I would highly recommend www.discountanabolics.com for protein supplements. Also if you are looking to take a few shortcuts (promise me you won’t down a bottle of ephedrine) to lose weight I would suggest the fat loss supplement Phire!
By: Klingensmith Chad
From:www.how2thailand.com
Chad Klingensmith is an American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer and a Mixed Martial Arts Competitor. He has helped several clients meet their goals in personal training, including weight loss and body building. Do you have questions for Chad? Email him at fitnesschad@gmail.com.
It’s off to Thailand. I was a recent college grad seeking to experience a new culture and improve my martial arts skills. After some careful planning I selected the land of smiles for my first international adventure.
I obviously got a dose of culture shock jumping into a culture radically different from my hometown in Littleton, Colorado. The city of Bangkok was humming with traffic non-stop. The tropical climate offered a hot and humid atmosphere. And I discovered the cheapest place is the world to get a foot massage.
Although I enjoyed experience a new culture I quickly felt the withdrawals from some my western amenities, namely easy access to a weight training facility. After some asking around and creative thinking (like using elastic bands or dumbbells for resistance) I eventually found a few workout facilities that got the job done.
I then was a little surprised to see that most Thais don’t engage in structured exercise (especially weight lifting). However the vast majority are extremely thin especially compared to my home country’s standard waist line. To further perplex the situation I noticed that they really didn’t express a big concern about dieting. Every time I ordered an iced coffee (temperatures are usually hot in Thailand) it always came loaded with sugar. Most of their food dishes where loaded with fried items. Fried rice, friend chicken, fried noodles, fried anything Thais would eat it. Their alcohol consumption was comparable to the U.S. (maybe slightly less).
So how does the country of Siam stay so skinny? It could be partly due to genetics but I really believe that this phenomenon comes down to four factors: food portion control, frequency meals, low stress and plenty of activity (not just structured exercise).
In Thailand cooked meals are readily available almost everywhere you go. The locals get up early in morning to fire up their small portable grills. They would offer food of multiple varieties: fried chicken, fried sausage rolls (at least it looked like sausage), fried bananas, fresh fruit. There were also several small walk-in restaurants wherever you went. Most of them offered dishes that included combinations of rice, seafood, vegetables or poultry. Whenever I went to order a meal from one of these restaurants they would give me a small (but tasty) portion of food. I was tempted order more at first but learned to eat slowly and to stay satisfied with just one serving. Their restaurants were also consistently busy. It didn’t seem like there were set eating times in Thailand. Everybody would drop into eat whenever they felt hungry. This would usually be several times a day (5-6 small meals).
As for transportation getting around most Thai cities (especially Bangkok) could be a very frustrating endeavor that was further compounded by the language barrier. They seemed to have non stop traffic jams with cars, mopeds and motorcycles everywhere. Despite the chaos I saw people smile and wave whenever a potentially road rage conflict presented itself. Someone would cut off my Taxi cab and the driver would just laugh. The same was true for off the road. Wherever I went people just smiled. They seemed happy to be living out their lives. Any feelings of discontentment were seldom noticeable. This contrasted greatly from where I was brought up.
I know that excess stress can negatively influence our hormone levels (especially cortisol). How many times have you become extremely angry and frustrated because you got stuck in a traffic jam? How many times have you felt impatient while waiting in a line at convenience store, grocery store, coffee shop, etc? How many times have you lost sleep over things that you KNOW are relatively unimportant? I’m not sure what causes this problem, but it’s certainly not tipping the scales in our favor.
As for activity I didn’t see very many Thai’s engaging in structured rigorous exercise. The weight gym facility I worked out at had a Ping Pong table which was much more frequented then the bench press. However I did notice some Thais did engage in one excellent fitness activity; Muay Thai Kickboxing. Just to give you a little about Muay Thai it is an ancient martial art that has grown into an ultra competition international sport today. Training in Muay Thai requires that you have both endurance and explosiveness. Inadvertently Thais are using both slow twitch and fast twitch muscles when training in their sports. This aerobic/anaerobic combination burns a great amount of calories. A vigorous sessions of hitting punching/kicking thai pads can burn anywhere from 300 to 600+ calories an hour.
So what does this boil all down to? Well for the average person looking to stay in shape and have a relatively low body fat I would recommend the following:
1. Food portion control: Eat small meals of 400 to 600 Kcal depending on your body size. Overeating can cause insulin level spikes, an expanded stomach and puts a lot of unnecessary stress on your digestive system.
2. Meal Frequency: 5-6 six small meals a day, preferably spaced out every 2-3 hours. If you don’t have time to eat take a protein supplement in between meals.
3. Calm down: yes America is certainly stressful country. However life is by no means easier in Thailand and they manage to stay collected. Take a lot of deep breaths, get plenty of sleep and find healthy ways to channel stress. Remember that your work, your life and your choices are YOURS. The Thais I met don’t lose hair over trying to earn a six digit income (in US dollars of course) and you shouldn’t either.
4. Activity. I realize that not everybody has the time exercise, but almost anybody does have the means to be more active. Take a walk on your lunch break. Better yet use that hour to workout at a local gym. The ideal workout routine would involve a combination of weights/cardio. If you are strapped for time try to find an activity that combines both aerobic/anaerobic exercise. A few recommendations would be structured aerobics classes that combine both weight training/cardio (most American gyms offer some variety of this) or a martial arts program, I would personally recommend a kickboxing class for almost anybody.
The only negative thing I noticed in Thailand it is that weight loss supplements cost a fortune. Protein supplements are about 2-3 more expensive. Costs for weight loss products are outrageous. If you reside in the U.S. I would highly recommend www.discountanabolics.com for protein supplements. Also if you are looking to take a few shortcuts (promise me you won’t down a bottle of ephedrine) to lose weight I would suggest the fat loss supplement Phire!
By: Klingensmith Chad
From:www.how2thailand.com
Chad Klingensmith is an American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer and a Mixed Martial Arts Competitor. He has helped several clients meet their goals in personal training, including weight loss and body building. Do you have questions for Chad? Email him at fitnesschad@gmail.com.
Free Meal
If you’re hungry, in Bangkok, and don’t happen to have any money, I’d suggest stopping by Government House. At the moment there’s a crazy party going on there with heaps of free nosh:
Protesters eating and protesting in front of Government House, Bangkok
It’s been said somewhere that you always end up paying for free things, and I reckon the cost here would be having to eat your free pork and sticky rice while being forced to listen to somebody screaming about the current Prime Minister must ‘die’. I lost my appetite, which was really too bad, as the selection of food was pretty impressive: curries, stir-fries, an abundance of omelets, candy and buns. If you wait long enough, an expensive German car will inevitably pull up and and unload even more food:
A food delivery for the protesters in front of Government House, Bangkok
And when you’re full, there are lots of pleasant places to relax:
Taking a break from eating and protesting front of Government House, Bangkok
It’s the hottest party in town. And it’s all free. Details here. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7584005.stm
Blog provided by http://www.austinbushphotography.com/category/foodblog/
Protesters eating and protesting in front of Government House, Bangkok
It’s been said somewhere that you always end up paying for free things, and I reckon the cost here would be having to eat your free pork and sticky rice while being forced to listen to somebody screaming about the current Prime Minister must ‘die’. I lost my appetite, which was really too bad, as the selection of food was pretty impressive: curries, stir-fries, an abundance of omelets, candy and buns. If you wait long enough, an expensive German car will inevitably pull up and and unload even more food:
A food delivery for the protesters in front of Government House, Bangkok
And when you’re full, there are lots of pleasant places to relax:
Taking a break from eating and protesting front of Government House, Bangkok
It’s the hottest party in town. And it’s all free. Details here. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7584005.stm
Blog provided by http://www.austinbushphotography.com/category/foodblog/
16 th Annual Thai Cultural Day
The 16th Annual Thai Culture Day is coming up! A great opportunity for LocalThaiFood members to learn about Thai culture. Food, Music, Dance, and Friends, what else can you ask for. Come down to Thai town and join us for a full day of activities.
History of Thai Cultural Day
The Thai Cultural Day originated in 1993 by the Thai Community Arts and Cultural Center. It is held every year in September, with the first Thai Cultural Day held at Wat Thai of Los Angeles in North Hollywood. Barnsdall Art Park was later selected as the site for the Thai Cultural Day due to its location close to the Thai community in Hollywood and its historical and artistic significance. The purpose of the event is to preserve and promote Thai arts and culture through educational and entertainment activities as well as to enhance a multicultural understanding among different ethnic groups.
Our Thai cultural activities typically comprise of the classical and folk dances, the classical music, the children's folk games, the cooking demonstration, etc.
Due to the success of our Thai Cultural Day, we were the first Thai festival to be able to close down Hollywood Blvd., expanding to include the Thai Cultural Parade in 1997 (Fifth Annual Thai Cultural Day). Since our First Annual Thai Cultural Day in 1993, the attendance has reached up to an estimate of 3,000. The festival is supported and attended by people from various ethnic groups throughout Los Angeles.
For more information you can visit The Community Arts & Culture Center Website.http://www.thaiculturalcenter.org/events.html
This festival is made possible in part by Cultural Grant from Dept. of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.
Admission & Parking
-Free
Cultural Activities
-Thai Food
-Thai Fruit and Vegetable Carving
-Thai Massage
-Thai Antiques, Thai Art & Craft, Thai Silk
-International Dance
-Thai Kickboxing
-Thai Living History
-Children's Folk Games
-Thai Painting Demonstration
Other Booths and Activities
-Bali & Beyond (Handicrafts and workshops for adults and families)
-Thai Town Rotary Club
-UCLA Thai Smakom
-Washington Mutual
Food Pricing
Food and beverage vendors do not accept cash. You must first purchase food tickets on the festival grounds. Food Ticket $2.00 each
Sponsored Parking at Washington Mutual (8 am - 6 pm)
1600 N. Vermont Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90027
[Parking is currently not available at Kaiser Hospital.]
Public Transportation
The Metro Red line is very convenient if you don't want to deal with the parking.
You can get off the Vermont/Sunset station and walk 1 block to Barnsdell Park
History of Thai Cultural Day
The Thai Cultural Day originated in 1993 by the Thai Community Arts and Cultural Center. It is held every year in September, with the first Thai Cultural Day held at Wat Thai of Los Angeles in North Hollywood. Barnsdall Art Park was later selected as the site for the Thai Cultural Day due to its location close to the Thai community in Hollywood and its historical and artistic significance. The purpose of the event is to preserve and promote Thai arts and culture through educational and entertainment activities as well as to enhance a multicultural understanding among different ethnic groups.
Our Thai cultural activities typically comprise of the classical and folk dances, the classical music, the children's folk games, the cooking demonstration, etc.
Due to the success of our Thai Cultural Day, we were the first Thai festival to be able to close down Hollywood Blvd., expanding to include the Thai Cultural Parade in 1997 (Fifth Annual Thai Cultural Day). Since our First Annual Thai Cultural Day in 1993, the attendance has reached up to an estimate of 3,000. The festival is supported and attended by people from various ethnic groups throughout Los Angeles.
For more information you can visit The Community Arts & Culture Center Website.http://www.thaiculturalcenter.org/events.html
This festival is made possible in part by Cultural Grant from Dept. of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.
Admission & Parking
-Free
Cultural Activities
-Thai Food
-Thai Fruit and Vegetable Carving
-Thai Massage
-Thai Antiques, Thai Art & Craft, Thai Silk
-International Dance
-Thai Kickboxing
-Thai Living History
-Children's Folk Games
-Thai Painting Demonstration
Other Booths and Activities
-Bali & Beyond (Handicrafts and workshops for adults and families)
-Thai Town Rotary Club
-UCLA Thai Smakom
-Washington Mutual
Food Pricing
Food and beverage vendors do not accept cash. You must first purchase food tickets on the festival grounds. Food Ticket $2.00 each
Sponsored Parking at Washington Mutual (8 am - 6 pm)
1600 N. Vermont Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90027
[Parking is currently not available at Kaiser Hospital.]
Public Transportation
The Metro Red line is very convenient if you don't want to deal with the parking.
You can get off the Vermont/Sunset station and walk 1 block to Barnsdell Park
Thai Town
As a preview to the contents of LocalThaifood.com, we will begin by taking you on a journey to a little piece of Thailand located in the heart of Southern California: Hollywood's very own Royal "Thai Town."
Located East of Hollywood Boulevard and just minutes off the 101 Freeway, Thai Town is the quintessential Thailand. Its authentically Thai elements - sights, sounds and smells - are felt almost immediately upon entering the city, the entrance of which is signified by the magnificent statue of a Gold Kinaree (an ancient half-woman half-swan Thai mythical creature) and of course by the sign reading "Thai Town" positioned on Western Avenue.
Of the more than 20 different restaurants found within Thai Town, at least one eatery in particular seems to stand out among the rest, Ord Noodle - located off Hollywood Blvd and Western Ave, just across the street from the Metro station.
Due to the traditional spicy tastes and textures of their food, Ord Noodle primarily attracts customers of Thai origin. However, that is slowly changing: the restaurant's non-Thai patron base is ever-growing as more and more people discover the wonders of Thai cuisine, drawn to Ord Noodle for its diverse, distinct and exotic dishes. But Ord Noodle isn't the only popular joint of Eastern wonders.
Among the younger generations invading Thai Town today, there is one spot that virtually every Thai college kid knows about - Krung Ted.
Small and quiet eatery by day, lavish party center by night, this restaurant leads a double life by providing its day patrons with a calm, peaceful dining experience while tending to evening guests with live music, entertainment and an atmosphere characteristic to that of the Hollywood Night Life. So even though you may get a completely new experience whenever you visit Krung Ted, you will always find great appeal in their dishes as they consistently offer all the same exquisite tastes, day or night.
Another famed Thai Town eatery is the Bahn Knom Thai - a place that offers sweet sensational Thai snacks that are freshly prepared, and also carries a wide variety of imported snacks for those longing for other small, harder-to-find delectables.
Each year, every year the Thai Town Committee holds the Thai New Years event known as "Songkarn". For three magical days (April 13-15), the hustle and bustle of Hollywood Blvd is closed for 5 consecutive blocks and hosts a wide and varied array of sights, sounds and attractions such as Thai Boxing, the Thai Town beauty pageant, and of course their most popular attraction: Thai Food, with the sweet and distinct aromas of Thailand reaching spectators long before they arrive at the event itself.
Overall, Thai Town is a small, yet memorable piece of Hollywood with a distinct look, feel and experience that is for many, beyond compare. Home to countless newly arrived Thai immigrants, the city booms with a myriad of mom-and-pop eateries all offering only the freshest, most authentic Thai-based food found in Southern California, a far cry from the mediocre tastes of modern Thai-food restaurant chains. The unique dishes served here are garnered primarily from personal recipes and traditions utilized by the owners of each family-run eatery.
With restaurant patrons of all ages now steadily on the rise, the quaint, special little place known as Thai Town is well on its way to becoming one of the most popular attractions for fine dining in Southern California.
Located East of Hollywood Boulevard and just minutes off the 101 Freeway, Thai Town is the quintessential Thailand. Its authentically Thai elements - sights, sounds and smells - are felt almost immediately upon entering the city, the entrance of which is signified by the magnificent statue of a Gold Kinaree (an ancient half-woman half-swan Thai mythical creature) and of course by the sign reading "Thai Town" positioned on Western Avenue.
Of the more than 20 different restaurants found within Thai Town, at least one eatery in particular seems to stand out among the rest, Ord Noodle - located off Hollywood Blvd and Western Ave, just across the street from the Metro station.Due to the traditional spicy tastes and textures of their food, Ord Noodle primarily attracts customers of Thai origin. However, that is slowly changing: the restaurant's non-Thai patron base is ever-growing as more and more people discover the wonders of Thai cuisine, drawn to Ord Noodle for its diverse, distinct and exotic dishes. But Ord Noodle isn't the only popular joint of Eastern wonders.
Among the younger generations invading Thai Town today, there is one spot that virtually every Thai college kid knows about - Krung Ted.
Small and quiet eatery by day, lavish party center by night, this restaurant leads a double life by providing its day patrons with a calm, peaceful dining experience while tending to evening guests with live music, entertainment and an atmosphere characteristic to that of the Hollywood Night Life. So even though you may get a completely new experience whenever you visit Krung Ted, you will always find great appeal in their dishes as they consistently offer all the same exquisite tastes, day or night.
Another famed Thai Town eatery is the Bahn Knom Thai - a place that offers sweet sensational Thai snacks that are freshly prepared, and also carries a wide variety of imported snacks for those longing for other small, harder-to-find delectables.
Each year, every year the Thai Town Committee holds the Thai New Years event known as "Songkarn". For three magical days (April 13-15), the hustle and bustle of Hollywood Blvd is closed for 5 consecutive blocks and hosts a wide and varied array of sights, sounds and attractions such as Thai Boxing, the Thai Town beauty pageant, and of course their most popular attraction: Thai Food, with the sweet and distinct aromas of Thailand reaching spectators long before they arrive at the event itself.
Overall, Thai Town is a small, yet memorable piece of Hollywood with a distinct look, feel and experience that is for many, beyond compare. Home to countless newly arrived Thai immigrants, the city booms with a myriad of mom-and-pop eateries all offering only the freshest, most authentic Thai-based food found in Southern California, a far cry from the mediocre tastes of modern Thai-food restaurant chains. The unique dishes served here are garnered primarily from personal recipes and traditions utilized by the owners of each family-run eatery.
With restaurant patrons of all ages now steadily on the rise, the quaint, special little place known as Thai Town is well on its way to becoming one of the most popular attractions for fine dining in Southern California.