Travels to Bangkok, Luang Prabang & Siem Reap

Strangler figs envelop the ruins at Ta Phrom, my favorite temple in Siem Reap

I’ve been away for a few weeks for work, and had a chance to visit Bangkok again, as well as Luang Prabang, Laos and Siem Reap, Cambodia for the first time. It was a great opportunity, as it has been a lifelong dream to visit the ruins of Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples. I just returned last night, and thus, missed the February update of Savory Japan. During the turning of the clock to the new month, I was embroiled in a fascinating conversation with an Ayurvedic doctor. So, my apologies! My head is not quite in Japan right now, and I’m having trouble settling down. So instead, I’ll turn my attention towards March, and the coming Cherry blossom season, which also marks the one year anniversary of the site.

Edible herbs and flowers from my host's organic garden in Bangkok

How was the trip? Well, while the sites were spectacular and the hotels and food, great, it was the people I met along the way who made the biggest impression on me. And everyone I talked to told me how much they love Japanese food! Since my time in each city was so short, I didn’t want to waste it in pursuit of facsimiles of my home cuisine, but admittedly, I did miss it. Although I love rich curries and spicy salads, I found myself reaching for lighter dishes in Bangkok, such as pad woonsen (glass noodle salad), and enjoyed bowls of congee (rice porridge) for breakfast almost every day.

My cooking teacher in Bangkok agrees that Japanese food is one of the healthiest around, and told me she regularly eats it at home and while dining out.

Today, for breakfast, I made ojiya of steel cut-oats, dashi, negi and egg, grilled salmon and miso soup with shimeji mushrooms. And with this humble meal, I felt I finally made my way home.