4 AM Visit to Chok Dee Dim Sum, Ekkamai
Posted by Stuart at 02:07 PM on January 02, 2006Further proof that my body is not ready for Bangkok time, I woke up (and stayed up) at 4 AM this morning. Not only did I wake up, but I woke up starving.
The only 24 hour restaurant that I know of is Chok Dee Dim Sum on Ekkamai. At 4:30 AM, there were several tables of young Thai people who were celebrating the 4-day weekend by enjoying delicious steamed goodies.
After eating, I took advantage of the cool air and no traffic to drive around on my motorcycle a bit. I wish Bangkok was always cool and car-free like this.
By 5:30 I was sitting at my computer and doing work for the next 6 hours. I was amazingly productive. Now, I am a list-maker, but on the plane ride home I outdid myself with a list of 50 things to do. I am happy to report that by lunch time I had already crossed off several of those 50 things.
I knew that my bout of energy couldn't last, though, and sure enough, here it is 2 PM... and all of a sudden.... I am feeling... very... sleeeeepy...
Hey Stuart!
Does Dim Sum actually mean anything? I ask because there is an Asian restaurant here in Orlando called Dim Sum Feast. Just wondered...
Thanks for the welcome back, Kitjar. It's nice to be back, but I am looking forward to getting over this cold.
And Wade, I'll forgive you for not knowing what Dim Sum is, since I didn't have any idea either until I moved to the West Coast and had Chinese friends. Dim Sum is... hmm... how to describe it? It's like little meat dumplings and other small steamed finger food. Usually if you go to a Dim Sum restaurant, they bring the dishes to you and if you want that particular appetizer then you get 3 or 4 pieces of it in a little wicker basket-looking thing.
So the other morning I had 5 little baskets with 3-4 pieces in each. Most of it was shrimp or pork, either with corn or a small piece of broccoli or a mushroom, or wrapped up like a pot-sticker/wonton.
I guess it's like Chinese tapas. (Have you ever had tapas?)
(All you Dim Sum experts out there... did I explain that correctly?)
Stuart...your description of jet (moving from one side of the globe to another)lag sounds just like I felt when I returned to work here in Kentucky after two weeks in Thailand last July. Everyone offered their remedy for relief. The only thing that worked for me was time.
Stuart,
I am just wondering the Dim Sum shops in Krungthep, they are Cantonese, right? I remember being in Krungthep's Yaowarach, and they only spoke Teochiu, which my mum understands, but not me.... urrrghhhhhh.....
Kitjar, that's a good question... I have no idea what the most common Chinese dialect in Bangkok is. I do think that a lot of the Chinese in Bangkok speak the Teochiu dialect, but I am really not sure. I don't speak any Chinese dialects, so I'm feeling pretty ignorant on this point :)
I also think that many Chinese here came from the south of China. Is that where Teochiu is spoken? Most of the Chinese people I know in Bangkok are 3rd generation, and so none of them actually speak Chinese, so they aren't much help either.
Anyone else have any idea?
WELCOME back to Krungthep!