Today I'm linking up with Raj from Pink Chai Living, Nisha from LoveLaughMirch, and Salma from The Write Balance, for "3 Things Thursday" - a great way for us fellow bloggers to share tidbits of our lives and talk about things that are currently on our minds. Here are the 3 things on my mind this Thursday...

1. Baby, you melt my heart! Soon after baby K was born, the hubby unexpectedly got assigned a short-term project in Singapore for work. Within a matter of days, we had to pack up our stuff, get a passport made for the little one, and then fly out. Despite how we left NYC in a mad rush, I was really excited about the turn of events. With Singapore being so close to Thailand, coming home to Bangkok was a no-brainer. And so, since last November, I’ve been enjoying the love of family, the comforts of home, and the familiarity of the city in which I grew up. Plus, both sets of grandparents are here in Bangkok which means the following things: I receive a MAJOR helping hand in raising the baby, baby K gets doted on like crazy, and the grandparents are over the moon that they get quality time with their darling grandson. It’s a win-win situation for all parties! Recently, baby K turned 6 months old and I can't help but feel blessed that I’ve been able to be there through his milestones and achievements, big and small - his first bite on a piece of mango, when he first learned to sit up and roll over, his sleepy yet fresh smile when he wakes in the morning, his mundan (hair shaving ceremony), his squeals of delight when I take him swimming... I know it's a sappy thing to say but I've truly enjoyed this special time with my baby! 

2. Foodie heaven. Bangkok has a big street food culture and I'm a big street food fan. It's a match made in heaven. If you've been following my Instagram account these past few months, you'll have seen my posts of local Thai street food that I've been gorging on. ongan juice, pad thai, fried plantains, fresh coconut water, and various other delectable delights! 

3. Lust bag. I'm not one to go after the latest "It" purse but lately, I feel like my Instagram account is flooded with fashion bloggers sporting the YSL, oops I mean Saint Laurent, clutch. And now, I'm lusting after it! Something about that single "Y" on the Saint Laurent Y Ligne Clutch makes such a quiet statement. So elegant, so chic. I really want it...badly. Buy me one? 

Source

Pad thai

 A wise person once said, “There is no sincerer love than the love of food”. I couldn’t agree more. Being back in New York now after my whirlwind trip to Thailand, I’m suffering from all sorts of withdrawal symptoms. Food is one of them. 

When I visit home, I make sure to check my diet at the door and embrace all the culinary delights that my mother’s kitchen and Bangkok has to offer. At home, my mother spoils me with all my favorite home-made Indian dishes and desserts. And while out and about in the city, I’m a veritable “food butterfly”, hopping from one Thai food stall to the next! Undoubtedly, among the things I miss while living here in the States is the authentic Thai food made with the freshest of herbs and ingredients. What’s more, the boring apple and banana is soon forgotten for the more exciting varieties of tropical fruits bursting with flavor, such as pommelo, mangosteen, dragonfruit, lychees, longans, jackfruit, durian, rose apple, coconut, mangoes, and papaya. Even though my gastronomical experience in Bangkok often results in overindulgence, I always return from my trips feeling healthier and more refreshed. Somehow, it’s easy to let go of the all-too-common habit of reaching for soda, processed foods, carbs, and sweets that I typically have while living in the US. 

As I sit here missing all the foods I enjoyed just last week on the other side of the world, allow me to share my Bangkok food diaries with you. Try not to drool too much!

Fresh fruit juices of all kinds

Intricate fruit carvings from papaya, watermelon, and cantaloupe

Have you ever tried dragonfruit?

These are not actual fruits but Thai sweets made to appear like miniature fruits and vegetables

Who can resist cupcakes?

Pad khee mao (drunken noodles) and yam thua phu (tangy green bean salad)

Thai crepe-like snacks

 Tell us, what is your favorite Thai dish? And what type of food do you miss most when you're away from home? We wanna know! 

Happy Loy Kratong everyone! Loy Kratong is the Thai festival of giving thanks (a Thai “Thanksgiving”, you could say!) and of making wishes for the year ahead. The most beloved part of the festival is the floating of “kratongs”, which are small lotus-shaped receptacles made of banana leaves and flowers, into a pond or river.  Per tradition, people pray to the water goddess as they light the candles and incense on the kratong, asking to have their troubles float away and to be blessed with good luck. As the night goes on, rivers and ponds across Thailand are illuminated with small candle-lit floats, making this easily one of the most beautiful Thai festivals!

While growing up in Bangkok, I participated in this festival every year by crafting kratongs in art class and releasing them into a nearby pond with family and friends. Since moving to the US, I haven’t been able to partake in these traditions…until today! After an 8-year gap, my annual trip to Thailand has coincided with this festival and has given me the chance to celebrate it once again! While a lot has changed in the last 8 years, one thing that remains the same is my excitement over festivals and traditions. I always turn into a kid when I get a chance to relive my childhood memories like this! Here’s to hoping that all our readers are blessed with good luck for the year ahead!

Update: I recently tried the Tuk Tuk Boy's Thai street food in midtown, and I have to say that it was GOOD! Their pad thai was very authentic. I was also quite excited about their Thai iced tea because it tasted the way it should (I feel that most places here don't make it right). Definitely one of the better food trucks I've had in the city, and very much like the street food I would have in Bangkok. I'm looking forward to going back and trying their papaya salad (som tam), fried rice (khao pad), and masaman curry!

I followed up my Thai lunch with some crepes for dessert. The Crepes Truck was right next to the Tuk Tuk Boy's cart so I shuffled on over to get myself crepes with nutella, strawberries, and walnuts. Yum! Overall, the perfect Friday lunch!

  

You meet all sorts of snobs in big cities like NYC and DC – there are wine snobs, culinary snobs, cupcake snobs, etc... According to my friends, I am what you call a “massage snob”. Why, you ask? Well, there is nothing quite like the pampered feeling from a massage and having all the worries and stresses of the day pushed out of your body.  But over time, I find that I have developed a discerning taste when it comes to massages. Early on, I used to typically go for a Swedish massage, the classic massage treatment offered at spas and that most people are probably familiar with. For those receiving a massage for the first time, the Swedish is an excellent place to start as it reduces stress without pressing too deeply into your muscles.

While I can appreciate the candles, nature music, and serene environment during a Swedish massage, it often feels too "frou frou" for me (the snob comes out, ha!)….and sometimes a girl’s just gotta get a massage with some elbow grease put into it! Coming from Asia, I’m partial to the acupressure treatments and Thai massages. Acupressure, also known as Tui Na massage, is a traditional Chinese technique derived from acupuncture. Instead of needles, the masseuse applies some mean pressure to different parts of your body (the energy-carrying meridian points) to improve blood circulation and reduce stress. I didn’t really know what to expect in my first Tui Na massage, and let me tell you, it certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted! My masseuse really kneaded deep into muscles I didn’t even know existed! I eventually got used to the pressure and found it immensely relaxing! Tui Na definitely feels like a deep tissue massage, and there is a science behind it which makes me blissfully feel like I’m doing something beneficial for my body.

Similarly, my experiences in Bangkok have made me a believer in the healing powers of the traditional Thai massage technique. Thai massages apply firm pressure alongside yoga-like stretches to relieve muscle pressure and improve flexibility. To me, Thai massages feel like a personal yoga training session, where the masseuse pulls your body in different directions and angles you didn’t know you could turn! Don’t be surprised if you hear yourself gasp or try to catch your breath as the masseuse yanks your torso crazily from left to right. While I’ve probably sufficiently scared you away from trying a Thai massage, I would highly recommend trying one! New York City has a couple places with Thai massage treatments that come pretty close to the ones you’ll get in Bangkok (e.g. Dusnee Thai Spa).

While it may be fun to get a massage, they can easily start pinching your budget. I’m always on the lookout for good spa and massage deals. I’ve found Lifebooker to be helpful in NYC, and LivingSocial and Groupon to be occasionally helpful in DC. There is also a National Spa Week, where local spas offer MAJOR discounts for spa therapies. Check out http://www.spaweek.com to receive alerts and discounts!

What are your favorite massages?