July 14,

Today, we both awoke feeling good. Yesterday just felt good to us and that feeling continues. We got around with our morning coffee/hot chocolate. I had my new coffee – so yummy. It's a Brazilian coffee with profiles of roasted peanuts, dark chocolate and a ever-so-slight sweet finish. Writing this is making me want more. 😂🤣 Also reminds me our trash bags are coffee scented! I'm not kidding, it says it on the label and they do smell like, well, coffee. Jeff even appreciated the smell. Jeff found some real hot chocolate, not the malted-Ovaltine stuff. So he is enjoying his morning jolt as well. Another point, we saw Hershey's Special Dark chocolate syrup here! This is what Jeff used every morning with his milk, but he did not want to restart “going down that rabbit hole”. 

Anyway, we got about and caught Moniiq's shuttle service to the BTS. We are going to a place for breakfast that was recommended by two You tubers in a joint venture video (Paddy Doyle and Gary Butler, The Roaming Cook). the place is fairly close so we only had to take the BTS like six stops. As we existed the BTS, our destination place, Grand Shanghai, was right there. We ordered what Paddy and Gary did: Som Tum (Thai Green Papaya Salad)- with Sweet Corn; Khao Man Gai (Thai Chicken Rice)- boiled chicken over rice with sides of clear chicken broth and a ginger sauce; Rice Noodles for Minced Pork with Chinese Olives. At least that was what we thought we had ordered. We got the Som Tum, the Chicken rice, and the rice noodles. They were great! The Som Tum appeared to have dried shrimp, which I noticed after having had two bites, so no more for me😢–too bad because it was great! The Chicken rice dish was deceptively simple looking- the sides made this dish. The broth was was clean tasting and the ginger sauce side- fantastic! We could see how this is comfort food for the Thai people. Then a last dish came but it was an egg omelet, which we had not ordered and this confused us and the server. We watched as the dish was passed to another server and she went to other tables to see if any of these people had ordered it. No, no, and no. Then I saw the dish go to a “holding area” near the register where we ordered. Now, the lady who had taken our order came over. She had misunderstood our order and the egg dish was what she had put in for us. The minced pork dish is not available. So we took the omelet. It was good and surprisingly still hot. It was made with kale and maybe okra. We also had two waters. Each item you had delivered a little card with the price of the item was laid on your table. When you've finished you take the cards up and pay. All of our stuff… cost us only 220 Baht ($6.08)!! So good. This place was semi busy with mostly locals. 

Finished and happy, we went to a recommended dessert place, Mae Varee Mango Sticky Rice. But as we were going there we found a little grocery store. We bought a few items, and then went onto our dessert. Found the place- it was busy! This place is famous because of a Thai Pop Star, and they actually sell more than the mango sticky rice, there is a lot of mangoes though. I waited outside while Jeff bought our desserts. It cost 300 Baht ($8.29)!! Yikes! That was more than our breakfast meals! We decided to take the desserts back to our place- might as well make it our lunch. Taking the BTS back, we arrived and our security guards greeted us. The guards do this when you leave and when you return. I find this very nice and respectful. Anyway, we checked the lobby entrance/package delivery area and there was one package for us. We are expecting quite a few more, possibly today. Now, up to our room, we unloaded and cooled off. I started this blog and Jeff read. 

Then we had one of the orders of the mango sticky rice. It has three flavors of rice: plain, pandan, and maybe, banana blossom. You also have toppings of roasted, chopped peanuts and sweet coconut milk. And of course the mango slices. I found the mango underwhelming, but the different rice flavors were unique. Overall though we were not to impressed – taste and price – just not as pleased😕. We could not understand the hype. After that digested a bit we went for a swim and did a few laps.

Back in our place we showered and relaxed. Had a nice French light supper: started with a 7-eleven salad mix w/ sesame dressing; some great blue-cheese; salami slices; and some very thin, good a veggie crackers. We paired this with another good Chilean wine. 

I was able to talk with mom and her husband. They are doing well. Then connected with our church family also. Pretty good foodie day. So many blessings!