Day 14, Gerard and Karen In Thailand – Nan

Today started with a cooking class. We made Khao Soi and Sticky Rice with Mangoes! Khao Soi is very similar to a laksa but you serve it with condiments. It was all very delicious.

Three different colours of sticky rice. Purple, coloured with butterfly pea flowers. Green, coloured with pandan leaves. And white!

The condiments for Khao Soi – shallots, lime, fried chillis, coriander and spring onion, and pickled mustard greens. The pickled mustard greens are very traditional with Khao Soi and helps cut through the richness of the coconut milk based soup.

This was a fern tip salad.

Fried crispy noodles are another essential condiment with Khao Soi,

After the cooking class and our magnificent lunch we went to Duang’s family home. It is over 100 years old and is a traditional teak building. It is also covered by the equivalent of our National Trust heritage overlays. In front of this building is a concrete building that used to be a shopfront.

Duang’s family photos are also included under the heritage overlay and must not be removed.

The concrete decoration at the entrance – how did they do that over 100 years ago?

Duang’s beautiful open air kitchen.

Rabbit shaped coconut graters.

The kitchen sink!

Off to a temple! This is Nan’s most famous “wat”. It was constructed in 1596.This is the Temple that houses the original iconic Nan wall painting ‘Whisper of Love’ (ภาพกระซิบรักบันลือโลก) well known as Pu Man Ya Man (ปู่ม่านย่าม่าน), in Thai translation is Grandpa Man and Grandma Man. It is a depiction of a man whispering to the ear of a woman. According to local tradition, a man must have tattoos from his belly down to his knees. On his chest, there are red tattoos of a human figure used to show his prestige and social power. Because, the more human figures he has, it means the more servants and slaves he owns. This iconic painting is a resounding symbol of Nan City. And, The artist of the wall painting is Nanbuaphan (หนานบัวผัน).

The whispering lovers.

Because we have to have a photo of a fire truck!

Some candles burning outside a temple. In the open on a very hot day!!

Walking around town.

Then off to a market.

Pork Crackle – Yum!

Grubs -Yuk

Dinner was at a historic home that is now a museum. The Noble House is the home of Chao Fong Kham, whose lineage of Chao Ananta Worarithidet, the 62nd ruler of Nan. The Noble House is over 200 years old. It made from teak wood and high basement like ancient Lanna style .The upper floor is a residence and local museums .Showing the way of life in the past and Valuable ancient items such as silverware and woven fabrics, etc. In addition, it is a living local museum which is part of the conservation of the cultural heritage of the Nan people such as local weaving.