Reader Submission: Especially for those staying at home – Thailand Grand Festival and Restaurant Si Soek

As a loyal reader of Thailand blog, I like to read the stories of Frans Amsterdam about his girl from Naklua or what Gringo is experiencing in Pattaya. The fun stories make me look forward to my next holiday in Thailand more and more. When I read them at work during lunch, I get the feeling, if only for a moment, of being in Thailand. When the bread is gone and the work starts again, reality hits you again. Because as a (early) thirties with your own company that is growing and the responsibility for 8 employees, it is no longer so easy to go to Thailand for 2 weeks. Then I am jealous of those who live there or can stay there for a longer period of time. And what do you do if you still want to get the 'Thailand feeling'? You look for Thai restaurants, massages, parties, events, etc. Especially for those who stay at home and those who have a warm heart for Thailand.

Let me introduce myself first. My name is Alex, but in Thailand I sometimes hear Pompoei Farang. Must have something to do with handsome and muscular, but that aside. I like to go to Thailand with my girlfriend Kirsten. We have been there a total of 2011 times since 7. We almost always go to Phuket, but have also visited Koh Samet, Koh Chang, Pattaya, Koh Phi Phi, Rayong and of course Bangkok. At the end of this year we want to go again if this is financially feasible and the occupation of my store allows it.

Thailand Grand Festival

Last Sunday was the Thailand Grand Festival at the Spuiplein in The Hague. The weather was reasonable, a bit stormy at times, but otherwise good enough to make it a nice day. Parked the car at a very affordable rate (I thought something like € 7,50 for almost a whole day) and when I walked out of the parking garage I could already smell the delicious food. The square was already full of Thai people, good food everywhere, music, it felt like Thailand again. Although when paying for food, which was not expensive by Dutch standards, you were again briefly confronted with not being in Thailand. But the pork satay tasted like Cha Chu Chak in Bangkok and the chicken had an exceptionally nice Thai seasoning. The nice Thai lady who sold the chicken told me about a restaurant in Alphen a/d Rijn, Saow Thai, and I decided to eat here soon. Of course I will then write a short report on this.

Of course there was also a stall with massages, this time from Chanjee Chetawan Massage in Eemdijk. This salon specializes in Toksen massage, among other things. Never heard of it, but to be honest, it's quite nice when they treat your back with that wooden hammer and wedge. It definitely doesn't hurt. The price was €10,00 for 10 minutes, although the Thai masseuse insisted we go for 20 minutes for €20,00. My friend, who had woken up with a pulled muscle in his neck, was assured that the pain would then be gone. But we first wanted to see if it was something, so 10 minutes agreed.

The massage was excellent and after at least 15 minutes we were done. I'm going to give the woman $30,00, a tip for the extra time, and wanted to walk away. We were immediately directed back, because for some extras you need some extras, something I have experienced more often in Thailand. The mallet and wedge came out and we were 'worked'. To the beat of the music, provided by a band on the stage next to it, 1 masseuse was beaten, later assisted by the 2nd and according to my girlfriend who watched with a smile, a 3rd masseuse eventually even came to give this pompoei farang a good beating to give. At one point there was a whole audience watching and after answering the question at least 10 times whether it hurt, it was over. I just didn't tip again because I don't know what would have happened to me. After us there were enough interested people for a massage, so the extra investment of the ladies was not for nothing. I also decided to go for a massage, more about that later.

Link to Chanjee Chetawan's website: http://www.chanjee-massage.com/index.html

Restaurant Si Soek in Voorschoten

For last night (Friday July 17th) we had bought tickets for the movie Terminator Genisys. This was running in Pathé The Hague at 19.45 pm. I was able to leave work an hour earlier, so we were finally in the car at 17.30 pm on our way to Voorschoten, which is more or less between Leiden and The Hague. Thai Restaurant Si Soek is located here, one of the better Thai restaurants in the area. Nice restaurants, friendly owner and more importantly: the best Spareribs in the Netherlands. Not really a typical Thai dish, but rice isn't really my thing either. My girlfriend is more of the typical Thai dishes, I am more of the meat. And even then you are at the right place at the Thai restaurants, which I am a big fan of Saté Kai (Chicken satay) and Saté Moo (Pork satay). Especially when they are nicely seasoned.

Si Soek's spare ribs are deliciously marinated. I've been trying to copy them for weeks, bought everything you can find on the internet, Hoisin, honey, Sambal Badjak, Sambal Oelek, Ketjap Manis, but nothing tastes like Si Soek's marinade. It will be the secret of the chef Somkhuan Bunma, although she has indicated that it is brown Thai sambal. Unfortunately I can't find it anywhere yet, so I will continue to depend on Si Soek for the best spare ribs. After a portion of spare ribs and a portion of Satay Kai decided that there is still room for an extra portion of spare ribs. They were also delicious, my stomach was filled and a nice conversation with the owner, also chef, paid and drove on to The Hague. It was again very successful at Si Soek, Arroy mak mak shall we say…

I took the photos myself, if anyone has tips for a Thai marinade, I'd love to hear it.

Link to the website of Restaurant Si Soek: http://www.sisoek.nl/

Events planned:

• August 30 – Thailand in the polder.
• .. November – Loi Krathong 2015 (Any tips where to celebrate?)

Of course you can inform me if there are events, restaurants or other Thailand related events that I absolutely should not miss!

Submitted by Alex Brandt