J-emine's reflexionando

I have a penchant for familiarity and with frequent work visits, there is a strong inclination to stay in hotels that provides the accessibility, familiarity (home away from home), and routine that caters to professional and personal needs (i.e the coffee place around the corner, the breakfast crew that knows how I like my eggs or the massage place that opens to late etc).

A good twist of fate the preferred company hotel in Bangkok was not available during one of my first few work trips, and I ended up staying at a boutique hotel on Wireless Road. For the past year, I must have frequent the hotel a good 15 or more times, and formed a gentle sentiment over the place and crew.

On every trip back, the crew in the main restaurant/bar will chirp loudly “Khun Jasmine, you’re back! More meetings?”. And, proceed to usher me to the corner table, because they know I like to tap away on my laptop or I’m meeting people. Whenever my guests leave, they’ll come over quietly and ask “Khun Jasmine, are you not hungry – do you want your black coffee?”. The snippets of chatters they share with me always brightens up my day – which roster they’re on, the humidity, their hometown (or village) and how rude some guests are heh.

The meticulous awareness of my preference for the balcony room facing the main road, and thus, every time the stars will align and grant me my favorite room. Never fails to bring a huge smile to my face, upping the notch of comfort when I need to be away from home.

On this trip, I got hook on a simple southern dish, Kua Kling Moo – either pork, chicken, beef or fish can be used in this dish (I chose pork). The meat and paste is stir -fry till either the meat is dried out or the mixture is toasted out on the pan, little to no water is used. Turmeric and other spices are added into the mixture.

Now now, I know Southern dishes can be spicy and asked in advance for the the kitchen to go easy on me, but WOW – lets just say I was basically scramming for cold water but refuse to give up wiping the bowl clean. I had the dish with a small portion of organic red rice and truly, the best part of my afternoon break was to sit there savoring my heart out on this simple goodness.

No guessing, I had it for three consecutive days (during lunch) and yes, the spiciness was generously adjusted for my palate heh.