Surin

June 25, 2007 |

We woke up the next morning and decided to stay in bed for a while. So we did not get up until around noon. We checked out of the hotel, and headed for Surin. Since my GPS did the navigation it chose the shortest route. So we actually drove trough Phutthaisong and passed only a kilometer from the village to get there.

I liked the landscape around there, but the heat was set to scorching. We ended up at the Thong Tharin Hotel, and went looking for food. After more than a week, I was set on some farang fare, and I knew from what I had read elsewhere about the Farang Connection, run by a British Expat and his wife. So we found our way there. It was only a short walk from the hotel.

Unfortunately it was closed. Well it was a Sunday. But I was somewhat disappointed. But as I stood there watching my surroundings I looked across the plaza, and spotted a Norwegian flag. This had to be investigated. So with Nan in tow, we went across to fins the Oasis Bar.

The Oasis is run by Norwegian expat Eivind and his lovely wife Yao. And they have everything you a Norwegian abroad will crave on the menu.

Lapskaus (Norwegian stew)

Flesk i duppe (slices of pork with potatoes and a milk sauce)

Salted mutton and peas

Sausage and mashed potatoes

Etc etc.

I went for the Lapskaus. And the portion I got was enormous. And as Eivind put it: “No guest leaves hungry from this place”. All too true, I could not finish any of the meals I had in there, and it all tasted just like it should. His Yao is an excellent cook! Nan also liked the Thai food prepared by Yao. And I have a sneaking feeling that there will be a few runs in that direction once I get settled in the village. It’s only a short 1,5 hour trip from Phutthaisong.

We enjoyed a good evening talking with some of the Scandinavian and British expats in town. Eivind is the president of the “Nordic Riders MC”, and they do regular trips in the area on their motorcycles. There is quite a number of Scandinavian expats in the area, and the Oasis Bar is their regular place to catch up with each other.

But we took an early night. As Nan looked a little lost with everyone speaking Norwegian.

The next morning we woke up early, and since the Oasis was not open yet, we had breakfast at the Farang Connection. Excellent food too,Â and the manager, is a jolly figure. We then set out on foot to explore little bit. I needed some T-Shirts, and we found some in a sports shop. I also spotted a rack of half decent fishing rods. And picked out one of those and reel. I love fishing, but my medium rod has a broken tip, so I needed a new one.

It was a scorching day, so we headed back to the Oasis for some refreshments. And ended up sitting there and chatting with Eivinds wife Yao for a while. And when we felt hungry ordered some more food, that I again, sorry to say, could not finish because of the enormous portions. But it was so good that I ate until my stomach was about to burst. Nan on the other hand was craving for som tam, so she was waiting patently for me to finish my meal and dragged me off to the nearest street food cart.

We then headed back to the hotel, where she consumed it, all happy smiles. If you have never seen a Thai lady demolish a bag of Som Tam, now is your chance (she is going to kill me, but I just have to share this)

After all that food, it was time for a nap. We woke up around midnight. So we flipped on the TV, and watched a Thai soap, until we slept again. Yup, we are a boring couple, aren’t we