A Date With A Dragon

Before I visited Thailand I’d heard of this exotic fruit, but had never dared try it. It was a mystery to me and then suddenly I fell head over heels in love with it. 

I might be bias, but the fact its pink is a definite attraction...

My first taste was at a hotel breakfast - I was pursuing the yoghurt, muesli and fruit bar and was completelely compelled when I spied a plate of carefully chopped dragon fruit. It’s distinive pink skin, and black and white spotty inner was a glorious site!

 

Needless to say, my bowl was full and my taste buds tingling with excitement.

What followed next was a mind blowing trip to a Thai food market in Chiang Mai, which sold a mass of tropical fruits, veg and spices to stock a whole larder full. Again, I was instantly drawn towards the pinkness.

This smoothie cost me 35 baht, the equivelent of 64p - which is completely unbelievable really. By far the most quenching smoothie I have ever tasted, plus I got to see it made fresh in front of me.

Here, I had my very first Dragon Fruit smoothie – which was so quenching. I do love trying a variety of super foods, smoothies and healthy fruits, but my this hit the spot like no other before.

As we left Chiang Mai and headed to Phuket, our breakfast was that of kings. A delicious selection of Thai, continental, pastries and fruit...glorious fruit.

The first morning, I must have consumed an entire dragon fruit to myself, and day by day I kept going back for more...

The best tropical breakfast I have ever found - at the Radisson Blu Plaza Panwa Beach, Phuket

You are probably wondering what a dragon fruit actually tastes of? The taste itself is nothing powerful or distinctive. It’s very quenching and works itself well with other fruits, as well as yoghurt and honey.

Yes, I have a feeling the Dragon is a foodie dream, and most certainly having its moment right now.

When it’s this cute and ridiculously good for your insides, how can you not fall for the infamous dragon?

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The Beach. Phi Phi Islands & Beyond

There's no question of doubt that I am an Island girl. 

I love the idea of Island life - as remote, wonderful and simple it is. (I grew up watching Channel 4s Shipwrecked through my teens, enough said).

When planning our trip to Thailand, I was drawn towards Phi Phi Islands - the infamous home of the most glorious Islands between Phuket and mainland Thailand, aka The Beach film set, where Tilda and Leo made it all look so wildly effortless in the year 2000. 

We took a day, jumped on a boat trip and headed towards the tropics.

I wore my favourite multi-colour clothing all at once and embraced being able to enter the clear waters - fully dressed. 

One day I will be a mermaid (that is for sure)...

My one and only disappointment was the pure volume of crowds. This place was popular, hella popular. The beaches were crowded and it all was a little overbearing at times.

I definitely in every instance felt compelled to visit Phi Phi, but my heart pines for the remote, quieter, secret, less populated...

There is no denying that these Islands provide a beautiful back drop, a walk on a very memorable film set and a small token of Island life. 

It certainly is worth a visit for that alone.  

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Calamari & Chips - The Best Ever.

Have you ever tasted paradise?

 I never thought it would be possible to pinpoint the best dish of my life. But, without a second of hesitation in my heart, mind and most significantly my taste - this is the one.

As I have grown older, (and a wine tasting tour later), I have learned that food is far more than just something we consume for flavour, texture and taste. It’s much deeper than that. It’s the atmosphere, heat, climate and the company that you surround yourself with that makes it so memorable. 

I can remember this meal like almost yesterday…

Calamari and Chips @ Neptunes, Fiji. 

Yes – it was on our honeymoon, in Fiji.
We visited Neptunes early afternoon, in beach attire and decided there and then to try the salt and peppered calamari and chips. What arrived was far more spectacular than ever imagined. Presented in a wicker basket, this dish was lip smacking good.

Calamari is by far one of my favourite foods. It’s funny because, anyone who knows me – knows I don’t eat chips regularly, or like literally at all. So, to say this dish contains chips is a bit of an oxymoron in itself! But, that being said when on honeymoon – why not eat something completely non-conventional for you.

Photo Credit

Neptunes is located within the Radisson Blu Hotel Fiji (where we stayed for our incredible honeymoon), it was so casual, sombre, relaxed and chilled. The bar served Fiji Gold for my husband, whilst I distinctively remember being amazed by a new discovery – papaw!

 I just know, one day we will be back.
Food has a way of bringing around some incredible memories.
Don't you think? 

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