My Little Room: The Bangkok Book 3 / 曼谷之書 3

小吃攤

Food Stands

小吃攤可說是泰式料理的重點，每個巷口少說有幾攤，多的話可以到一整排，帶來色香味各方面的饗宴，雖然我不吃路邊攤，我很愛路邊攤的氛圍。早餐時間看著自在的老外拉了張椅子，入境隨俗地叫碗麵當早餐；下班時間，上班族、甚至外國人兩三人叫滿一桌的菜色，配上冰涼的飲品，這是多麼道地的泰式生活！

Street food plays a very important part in Thai cuisine. Food stands can be found at roadsides or along the alleyways either alone or in a group, satisfying people's appetites of all senses. I don't eat street food, but I just love the atmosphere. In the morning, both the locals and foreigners can be seen to order a bowl of noodles and take their time to eat under the sun. After work, two or three friends would chat over a table of food along with chilling drinks. This is the beauty of the Thai style of life!

有天早晨正在速寫小吃攤時，遇見了一位德國老先生，他說目前居住在曼谷，我問了一句：「你要永遠住在這裡嗎？」他答：「我已經七十六歲了，對我來說什麼是永遠呢？」遇見他之後，我也忍不住想，我的人生也過了一半了，我要趕快好好把握時間做我想做的事！

One morning when I am sketching a food stand, I draw the attention of an old German gentleman. He says that he's currently dwelling in Bangkok. I ask, "Are you going to stay here forever?" He answers, "I am 76 years old. What is 'forever' for me?" After our talk, I can't help thinking, I am turning 40 in half a year, and that means I have only half of my life left, if I am lucky. I should seize the time to do what I feel like doing!

手搖飲料很受歡迎，看老闆倒不同的粉狀物進杯子裡，攪拌完後淋在一整杯冰塊上，我的上海朋友喝了一大口後忍不住說：「好爽！」

Beverages are extremely popular. The vendors pour different kinds of powder into the cups. After stirring, they would pour the liquid into a whole cup of ice cubes. My new friend from Shanghai describes the taste of Thai milk tea as "so cool!"

嘟嘟車也可以變身成小攤子，其實這可能是甜點攤！

The tuk-tuk can be turned into a stall. I am wondering if he's selling desserts.

城市裡有許多傳統麵店，我很喜歡這家位於沙拉當路上前往BTS站的麵店，速寫的同時發現他們家的生意很不錯。

There are many traditional noodle shops in the city. On my way to Sala Daeng BTS station every day, I can't help stopping to take a look at this place. While sketching, I find that they have quite a number of customers.

麵店看起來也許有些老舊，可是內部都是木頭傢俱，很有味道。

It might look kind of old on the outside, but inside it is decorated with wooden tables and chairs, which has a retro feel.

過沒幾天，我終於走進去吃豬肉粿條，老闆和伙計們都非常有人情味，我還把之前的麵店速寫圖給老闆娘看，他們也幫我複習泰文。

A few days later I finally walk inside for a bowl of pork noodles. The owners and staff are extremely friendly. I even show my previous sketch of the shop to the lady owner. They, meanwhile, help me to review Thai.

食

Food

每張桌子上一定都有四種調味料，泰國人加料不手軟！

Four jars of condiments can be found on each table. Thais do not hesitate to add more sugar or chili powder to their food!

我並不是一開始就記錄每餐吃的食物，有一晚突然覺得很寂寞，就拿出畫具來，畫一畫就好了，而且我因此對於食材有了入微的觀察，泰國人挺愛吃鹹蛋，綠咖哩炒飯也要配鹹蛋。

I do not record what I eat right from the beginning. One evening I suddenly feel very lonely when eating all by myself, so I just take out my book and pens. Strangely, my loneliness evaporates right away. I also get to have detailed observations of the ingredients. For one thing, I discover that salted eggs go with fried rice.

Mama牌泡麵很火紅，可搭沙拉吃，也可當炒麵、湯麵吃。邊畫圖邊吃飯的好處包括可以讓我慢慢吃，還有很好的藉口可以久坐在餐廳裡。

Mama instant noodles are fairly popular. They can be eaten as salad. They can also be turned into stir-fried or soup noodles. One of the advantages to draw and eat at the same time is that I eat more slowly. I also have a perfect excuse to sit for a long time in a restaurant.

我的第一碗菜市場粿條，味道很甜，但是坐我對面的顧客又加了一湯匙的糖！這一小碗只要十三銖。

This is my first bowl of noodles in a market. It tastes very sweet, but the customer sitting opposite me seasons it with one more spoon of sugar! It costs only 13 bahts, which is much cheaper than the cheap street food in Bangkok.

好吃的海南雞配炸雞飯，最主要是飯有調味過，很有味道。

Yummy mixed chicken rice. I love the well-seasoned rice.

旅行前幾天傻傻不知道要提醒店家不要辣，導致我得把辣椒末挑出來，後來學乖了，都點安全的選擇如炒飯。

During the first few days of the trip, I am too careless to remind the server that I want no chili in my food, so my tongue is literally on fire. Later, I mostly go for stir-fried rice, which is a very safe choice.

炒蛋蓋飯也很紅！

The omelette rice is another conservative option.

便利商店牌

Fami Mart

會淪落到吃便利商店的食物還真是悲傷，有時是為了衝回旅館看泰劇！但是大間的全家還有現煮熱食區喔！

I find it pathetic to have to eat food from a convenience store. Sometimes it's because I want to watch Thai lakorns in my hotel room on time. Interestingly, bigger Fami marts have a small restaurant in them offering hot food.