I travelled Thailand from Kho Lipe to Chiang Rai always on the find for a good morning noodle.
There is nothing better, nothing more original, than a hot bowl of noodles served in rich broth, with a lot of herbs topped, with some seafood or meat. The truth is I gave up searching, coz' I found my noodle destiny on the corner of Poolsuk and Chomsin Rd. 77110 Hua Hin, Thailand.
And when I look deep inside myself I have to admit, that one of the top reasons why I fly half around the globe is to walk up to this silly noodle shop to have my bowl of noodles, read my newspaper and head off for another boring day on the beach.
The secret is the broth, no it's the noodles ( I always order "sen yai" which are a thick cut of rice noodle, opposit to "sen lek" which are capellini like ).
What you usually do before you start to eat, is to add fish sauce ( nam pla), dried chillies (pric), and some hot-sour sauce (nam som pric) to alter the broth. I stopped that. First I cut the noodles with my spoon to make it easier to balance them in my mouth, than I take a spoonfull of the rich clear-brown broth and taste. It's toooo good. According on my privat hangover rating I will add chillies fish sauce and fried pork skin, which is generously available for 5 Baht. It's not so easy to balance the thick noodles with your chop sticks in your mouth, that's why most people (even Thai) prefer the "lek " version, but the "sen yai" are fresher, more "lasagne" like.
Befor I forget, they serve the soup with the coldest and clearest mug of water I ever tasted .
When you come aerly enough ( before 11 am local time, or 4h zulu) you have the chance to run into the morning regulars, a group of retired fishermen, who dominate the scene with their gossip. Very entertaining.
All this life saving fun goes for 20 bees.( thats half a buck, and now you sucker know why the western world has to move it's ass to compete with Asia)
