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vegan's thailand survival guide

Entry 5: Fruit Trolleys- Tutti Fruity, Good Trolleys (?)

8/8/2016

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Since Thailand is home to many tropical fruits, I think it is only appropriate for me to discuss what I know best. One of the places you see selling ready-to-eat fruits is on the sidewalk. (If you don't believe me, you can always ask anyone who's been to Thailand) think of it as an equivalent of a food truck- only smaller and more mediocre. 
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If you think I'm here to convince you to buy fruits from these trolleys- you'd be wrong. This segment is a Survival Guide for Vegans in Thailand, not a propaganda. For you innocent foreigners who are here to reenact scenes from The Hangover Part 2/ The Beach or just for a good time, you need to know this. 

The fruits, 9 times out of 10, are tampered with. They are often deliberately soaked in chemicals that keep them fresh all day. If you're lucky, you'd only get fruits that have been soaked in syrup only to make them sweeter than normal. Does this mean that all fruit trolleys are bad? Of course not, but you ought to be very careful because this is the standard. 
And it gets worse... You see the ice blocks they put underneath the fruits to keep them cool and crunchy? How did you think they manage to put the blocks in there? With gloves on, in a clean ice factory where people wear white coats? Think again...

I am not telling you this to scare you, but I've had friends who had fallen ill because they ate something their stomachs were not prepared for nor familiar with, ended up in the hospital for a week, missed out on adventures they had planned... I'd hate to see anyone go through that kind of agony.

So, there you have it... Another tip for my fellow vegans who love taking selfies with pineapple on a stick. My advice is to go to a fresh market, buy fresh produce, clean and cut them up yourself. If you can't avoid having some, take a good look at the food before putting it in your mouth. That way, you'll have a great time and want to come back, which is great news for everyone
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Entry 4: Sugarcane Juice: sweet idea... or nah

8/6/2016

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I was making my way back to Bangkok yesterday when I spotted this pickup truck, only this time- they're not selling fruits. Instead, the man is selling juice extracted from freshly pressed sugarcanes. 

I don't know if any of you have had sugarcane juice before, but if you did- you'd know that it's rather refreshing. However, unlike fruits or vegetables, sugar canes may not be entirely safe when consumed raw. When added to the way it is produced, had the sellers not paid attention to their equipments and sanitary- the juice may turn deadly. 

One of the deceases that could be transmitted to you through the consumption of raw sugar cane is Leptospirosis, symptoms include headache, muscle pains, and fever. As a Thai, I have an immune system that is as strong as North Korea Military when it comes to street foods. Although I cannot say the same about my fellow citizen of the world. 

I can't give you specific tips because there isn't any. All I can say is, if you want to try sugarcane juice, you should perhaps stand there and observe how it's made before making a purchase. 
Now, before you say "that's a lot to go through for a bottle of sugarcane juice"- there are plenty sold in supermarkets: in tightly sealed bottles. I have had some, and I could tell you that they're slightly different. The aroma had been weakened by the process, but you could still enjoy it, if not more, knowing that it is definitely safe to drink. 

To put it plainly, it may not be entirely safe to drink raw sugarcane juice, but there is an alternative- had you ever have cravings for it. However, I've been drinking raw sugarcane juice all my life, was never affected negatively. Then again, my body is pretty much used to everything here. You can be a rebel and say <insert slang from 2012 originated from Drake's song that is no longer considered relevant>, but you have to prepare yourselves for what is coming next. Your body may or may not be up for it, you never know. But you and I both know that there's only one way to find out!
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Entry 3: Fruit Ninjas

8/2/2016

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It is a well known fact that Thailand has so many different types of fruits to offer all year round. The reason for that is the unappreciated and underrated hot weather and our insane heat. Most of the locals, like myself, have to go to supermarkets and fresh markets to purchase fruits and other fresh produce. But there are other times when we don't really need to because we can just be walking down the street or stepping outside of the house when these pick up trucks loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables appear with a salesperson who will wave you in to check out their products at much cheaper prices (compared to the market in general)

​The reason they can set the price much lower is mainly because the fresh produce usually comes from their own farms or gardens. You could ask them anything regarding their products and they'd be able to tell you when the seeds were planted and when they were harvested, including little tips on how to keep their fruits and vegetables fresh much longer, which sometimes don't necessarily need to be refrigerated.
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These watermelons, for instance, are priced at 20 THB (40p/ 50c) each, which is 3 times cheaper than a regular price. When asked, the salesperson explained that she was able to sell them so cheaply because these literally came from her back garden. She was so confident about her watermelons that you can pick any watermelon you want and she would cut it in half just to show you that the inside was naturally red and very much juicy- just like the ones on display. If you ever run into any of these pick up trucks, you are in luck. Not only you are in for a real treat, you are in for a great bargain!
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Entry 2: Vegan Jelly- To Drink or Not to Drink?

8/1/2016

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This week#MyMeatlessMeals will be on wheels. We're heading North, and already there's something awesome. 

From the picture above, you probably wonder what exactly is going on here. Well, when we were at this junction about an hour and a half from Bangkok, I spotted this.
The plastic cups containing a Chinese-inspired Thai dessert: Chao Guay (เฉาก๊วย), known in China as "Cincau", is plant-based black jelly in brown sugar syrup, topped with crushed ice. When the ice melted about half way through- it becomes a drink.
The jelly itself is made from stalks and leaves of aged Chinese Mesona which would be boiled for several hours with a bit of starch. When cooled off, the mixture becomes jelly. (Sometimes used in bubble tea).
Chao Guay can also be found in many places all over Thailand: supermarkets, restaurants, street vendors, kiosks, you name it (definitely not only by the side of the road!) And this jelly is 100% vegan. The only thing you should worry about is the ice. This is where the fun begins... It will be like you're playing Russian roulette. But then again, all of you that come to visit Thailand are Dare Devils, I don't think you'll worry too much about the ice when there are way scarier things roaming about. Remember, if you see this served in a cup, it is alright to enjoy it without any guilt. It might not look much, but it is delicious! Besides, always nice to eat and drink iced dessert under the merciless Thai Sun.
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Entry 1: Vegan Fast Food?

7/29/2016

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Welcome to my new segment called "Vegan's Thailand Survival Guide" where I'll let you, my fellow vegans, in on little secrets of how to survive (food wise) here in Bangkok, Thailand!
Entry 1: when in doubt- don't freak out!

Now, if you've already travelled to Bangkok, you could probably imagine what a hassle it is for you to find food that is 100% vegan. So, to save yourself a little time (and trouble) what you need to do is...
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1. Locate the nearest 7-11 (UK's Tesco Express) which shouldn't be too difficult. (It's like finding a coffee shop in Seattle) Now, if you're not in Bangkok- this method might not work as 7-11 outside of Bangkok sometimes doesn't have this item. 
2. Go to their freezer where they store a bunch of frozen microwave meals. 
3. Find the "Gin Je" option (Chinese version of Veganism). The easiest thing is to look for the tiny yellow flag with Chinese looking red letters on it. The reason for that is because Gin Je and vegan dietary are almost identical: no meat based products- no animal exploitations. To learn more about Gin Je, check out My Story in the menu bar.

4. The most common selection is vegan Pad Kra Prao: spicy vegetable protein stir fry, served with rice. Strangely, the taste tends to lean towards the sweet side; however, it could be fixed with a bit of soy sauce. It's not the best thing I've ever tasted (no kidding) but it was quite tasty. Plus, it is definitely vegan, which is all we care about really. It's better than being tricked into eating meat. 
So, there you have it! The first entry of Vegan's Thailand Survival Guide!
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    This is a PSA, not a propaganda. 

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@MyMeatlessMeals
  • Home
  • My Story
  • Recipes
    • Pad Thai
    • Tom Yum Mushroom
    • Tom Kha Tofu
    • One-Pot Tofu Satay
    • Sweet& Sour Tofu
    • Spicy Naked Eggplant Stir Fry
    • Coriander Dip
    • Orange Tofu
    • Vegan Khao Mao
    • General Tso's Cauliflower
  • MunchiesMonday
    • Veganerie
    • S.P.A. Foods
  • Bangkok's Vegan Food Diary
  • Vegan's Thailand Survival Guide