Our Day with Daeng

Feb 13, 2009
Jim wrotes about our day with Daeng and included three photo albums.


Part 1. The Feast

Daeng calls us Uncle and Auntie. She and her mother invited us to their home recently. Daeng's mother prepared a delicious Thai meal. We had rice, stir-fried vegetables, and tom ka gai soup, which is tom yum (but not as HOT!) with coconut milk added to the broth. She included prawns in the soup. Great idea. Tom yum is characterized by its distinct hot and sour flavors, with fragrant herbs generously used. The basic broth is made of stock and fresh ingredients such as lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, shallots, lime juice, fish sauce, tamarind, and crushed chili peppers. It was an incredible feast!


Part 2. Darapirom Palace Museum

After lunch, Daeng invited us to go with her to visit the palace of Chiang Mai Royal Princess Dararasmee in Mae Rim in the next town. She took us in her car and served as tour guide. It was well worth seeing. Unfortunately, we could only take photos outside. "This Lanna-style mansion was the last home of Jao Dararasamee, daughter of a late-19th-century ruler of Chiang Mai and the favorite wife of King Chulalongkorn. The low-eaved and galleried building has been restored and furnished with many of the princess's antiques, including clothes she designed herself. It's a living museum of 19th-century Lanna culture and design, well worth the 8 mi journey from Chiang Mai."

Part 3. Royal Wat, Mae Rim

After touring the palace, Daeng showed us the royal wat nearby. These are always much more elaborate than a "regular" wat, probably because they are financed at least in part by the Royal Family. The temple had features and statues I had not seen.