In November, Jamnong, a retired automechanic teacher at the local Vocational School had picked up Jim when hitchhiking back from Chiang Mai with his bike one hot day. He invited Jim back to his home to meet his family - wife, daughter and son-in-law and two grandchildren. Then they invited Jim and me over for lunch once I had arrived in Thailand.
They are a lovely family. Kwan is a devoted wife and mother who studied Economics and commutes twice a day to take their two daughters to a dual-language school in ChiangMai.
Tor studied in London and has a government position with the Anti-Corruption Agency. They are building a beautiful home nextdoor which will have a coffee shop on the bottom floor with a one menu item, an English Fry-Up, which he learned to love in England.Kwan brewed some delicious Thai coffee for us, using a hand-grinder and a special scale for determining weight of coffee, water and brew time. Her serving us reminded us of a Japanese tea ceremony. Tor cooked us a great lunch, starting with dtôm kha gai (Thai chicken and mushroom coconut soup with lime), mixed purple rice, Thai omelet with basil, and gaeng kĭeow wăan (green curry.)
Jim, fascinated as always with Thai cooking, took several food shots.
When we left, they gave us a vacuum-packed package or black rice, some longan (skin like kiwi, big pit, sweet like grape inside), and some pandan leaves the grandfather picked for me in the yard to try boiling and adding to drinking water for a delicious flavor.
Can't wait to see their completed new home and opening of unique coffee shop. We wish them luck!
