| "> | | | | your eyes over the food - you'll usually have a |
| My one piece of advice for travelers who are | | | | strong feeling if it's spicy or not. Your eyes will |
| vacationing in Thailand and want to savior the Thai | | | | water and your stomach will tell you! |
| foods is simple - ask if the food is hot (as in | | | | Although some foreigners can 'fire eat' the spicy |
| 'spicy' hot) before you put it in your mouth! | | | | food without a worry in the world, others get an |
| Of course you also need to realize that what | | | | uncomfortable fire in the belly from super hot |
| food is hot (and probably normal) for a Thai may | | | | food. If this happens to you (it's common to |
| be super hot, eye watering and physically | | | | suddenly find spices or spicy peppers included in a |
| punishing for a foreigner. Just because the food | | | | Thai dish), eat the sliced cucumbers that will come |
| attendant says "it's not hot" doesn't mean it won't | | | | served with every meal as they'll have a cooling |
| be hot for YOU. So keep that in mind, unless you | | | | effect and take away some of the fire. (Or make |
| want to be crying all the way home! | | | | sure the restaurant has them available!) |
| The thing is, down in the south of Thailand at | | | | In a nutshell, when you come to Thailand, it's |
| least, eating rice with the addition of spicy 'prik' or | | | | inevitable that sooner or later you'll get served |
| spicy peppers is an everyday occurrence. You | | | | spicy Thai food and other Thai delicacies. |
| can often choose if you want your food hot or | | | | (Especially if you travel down to the southern |
| not, but sometimes it's best to say "not hot | | | | regions). Definitely give it a try - just make sure |
| please" just in case. Another thing to do is cast | | | | to have those sliced cucumbers handy! |