Reader Submission: Lunch with Khaw

Unexpectedly, our Thai friend Khaw took us to our hotel on the Chao Phraya River. I said to him, then we can have a delicious lunch on a terrace by the river. It was not yet twelve o'clock and officially we could not check in at the hotel until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

So what makes more sense, at least in our eyes, than to have lunch at a terrace on the river. But no, they drove straight to the hotel and the car was parked. Fortunately, early check-in was not a problem. In my optimism and imagination, we would now go for a walk along the river to find that lovely terrace. But I hadn't counted on the innkeeper, in this case Khaw.

In Khaw's eyes, the quality of food was more important than the location. In front of the hotel we were almost literally pulled into a taxi to leave for a Chinese restaurant in Phra Nakhon (district in Bangkok) known for Khaw. Once there we could take a seat in a waiting room of an almost canteen-like restaurant. It was now lunchtime and therefore all tables were probably occupied by many regular, loyal visitors. According to Khaw, this was a sign of good and cheap food.

When paying the bill, I could only confirm this: about 30 euros for an extensive lunch for 4 people, would probably have cost three times as much in the Netherlands. You had to fantasize about the view of the river.

Incomprehensible to me, despite my Burgundian attitude, Khaw and his wife bought and consumed the necessary snacks while walking on the way back to our hotel. Arriving at the hotel, Khaw found his mission apparently fulfilled and the Thai couple slid into the car to start the return journey. I had to look up that terrace myself for the next few days!

Submitted by Dick Groot