Our destination was the food court at the Or Tor Kor Market. Then, since it was just across the street, to visit the touristy Chatuchak Weekend Market for some early trip souvenir shopping (or, at least, inspiration for it). And finally to meander back to the hotel, soaking in whatever Bangkok could offer.
The chicken tasted like chicken; a flavor that was reminiscent of my childhood, when relatives and neighbors would butcher live hens for meat because store-bought poultry was too expensive. The dipping sauce for the satays also brought back memories, of working in the garden with my parents, uprooting peanut plants, anxious to break into their dirty shells.
In hindsight, Or Tor Kor Market was the perfect baby step into the world-renowned Thai street food scene. The Market though not air-conditioned was covered and provided a welcome respite from the midday sun (it also had seating!). Rows upon rows of food stalls provided fresh ingredients or already prepared dishes, some familiar, many not. It was simply a matter of pointing at what looked appetizing (or, in our case, interesting).
My only regret that day was being too intimated to order freshly-made som tam (green papaya salad), my absolute favorite.
FUN FACT. The Thai people eat with a spoon in the right hand and a fork in the left; the latter being used to push food (usually bite-sized) onto the former.
