Traveler’s Sickness and the Street Food Lure of Death.

I’m only going to be in Thailand for a limited amount of time and naturally, I want to make the most out of every single day.  As much as I wanted the previous statement to remain a reality, it should be clear from my grammar that is was not the case (I understand this sentence may be awkward to some – where you at grammar police?).  I got very sick yesterday.  Not the kind of sick you think you have on a 6:00AM Tuesday right before an 8 hour day shift.  I’m talking about unpredictable, what the hell, how did I get this kind of sickness.  I’m talking about stuff like FOOD POISONING.  I’m getting a bit too exited even for my own taste.  But to keep things simple, yesterday was the sickest I had been in the last couple months and the funny thing was – it only lasted for 1 day.

 

One of the first thing’s you will notice about Thailand is that food is your most accessible commodity.  I’m not referring to grocery store access or your local farmer’s market – I’m referring to the thousands of street vendors who park up on every street corner in Bangkok.  It’s not uncommon to see vendors either backed up against each other or spaced out by the range of 10 to 40 feet.  This raises a serious problem if you are 1) A person who enjoys walking about freely, 2) A serious foody. 

 

The variety of foods that these street vendors distribute are wide in variety and the price point is a fraction of what you would pay in North America.  A standard “order” from a vendor will cost you between 30-50 BHT ($1 – $2). Two dollars for the more hefty orders and you can certainly count on the lower prices to provide more than enough food for your belly.  As a foreigner who is unable to speak the language, my options are limited to the picture menu usually shown on the top of the vendor cart.  These typically include Grilled chicken, fried chicken (my favourite), wonton noodles, chicken and noodles, papaya salad, chicken and rice, melon soup and of course Pad Thai. 

 

This is where my problem begins.  You see, I did a lot of walking yesterday around central Bangkok.  My business was centered on running errands and purchasing some household items for my condo.  Walking in 30 degree Celsius heat doesn’t help much either.  Oh wait?  That means I’m burning calories right!  Lots and lots and lots of calories!  Easy solution for that mind you.  In fact, there’s a solution for that every 20 feet for the next 1000 feet ahead!  I spent approximately 300 BHT ($10), for about 8 full meals for the day and it appeared that everything was ok right before going to bed.  In fact, I was happily editing one of my videos unknowing to the fact that something horribly epic was brewing in my stomach.

 

 

I woke up the next morning with the most searing of searing of pain in my stomach.  I initially thought that I had contracted the flu but ruled out that possibility as the flu would have given me much greater head pain.  I attempted to get out of my bed but my body would not have any of it.  The washroom seemed like the natural place to go to.  Chronic diaharea became a reoccurring nuisance throughout the day and it came to a point where my body kindly asked me to expel of the unwanted material through my mouth. I obliged and instantly felt the positive after effects.

 

My undesired experience definitely rooted itself to something I had eaten the day before.  Or perhaps it happened due to eating an excessive quantity of the same type of cuisine.  And so I am here to offer some advice when it comes to street food.  Consider these tips before your gorge yourself in the street food delights of Thailand.

 

1)      Always ask the vendor to reheat food that has been precooked.

Most of the time, the vendor operates from a high throughput perspective and as a result,

Prepares a large quantity of food to be distributed during rush hour.  It has become common

sense now to reheat his food – who knows what has happened since it came off the grill            

 

2)      I don’t mean to discriminate, but try and eat at street vendor locations that have many customers either waiting or are already seated.

You have to remember that street food is not glorified cuisine. It’s fast food at its core. It can sometimes be viewed as “grimy”.  But all in all, it is delicious.  If you notice a street vendor has a popular customer base, you can count on the fact that people value eating there and that perhaps may be better than surrounding street food locations.

 

3)      Try to maintain healthy eating habits – despite the lure of cheap, delicious street food at every corner.

Stick to mom’s rule of thumb – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with a snack in between meals.  Don’ follow in my foot steps and have 3 full meals between lunch and dinner.  I definitely put my stomach into overdrive and it punished me by giving me the inspiration to write this blog. Till next time folks!

 

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