3-NATION CHARITY RIDE TO SURATHANI: OCT 24-26, 2008

Hi!
I've just returned from a bike ride to Surathani, Thailand (Oct 24 - 26) - the annually organised 3-Nation Charity Ride (3NCR). This year the event was organised by a Singapore motor-cycle club but held in Surathani, about 310 km north of Hatyai. According to its website, the 3NCR first started in 1994 when some bikers from the 3 countries were riding together in Thailand. This generated a lot of interest so they decided to take advantage of it for a worthy cause - to help the less-privileged, the aged and the sick. Participants pay a certain sum and they are given T-shirts and meals. During dinner, money is raised from auction sales and then donated away. 3NCR's have attracted a huge following. In 2002 the event recorded a total of 1489 participants with superbikes (above 500cc) and it was endorsed by the Malaysia Guiness Book of Records.
Below are some snapshots of this year's event:

The ride...

Filling up our machines - cost of petrol for bike in Thailand only abt 240bt/litre

Satisfying the human needs...

Relaxing at the R&R...

A section of Thailand's freeway (no toll).

Finally arriving at the Surathani hotel...

No.... not buying the lady but paying for the T-shirt

Some of the eye-catching Thai machines...

Dinner & Entertainment....

Getting ready for the Charity Ride the next day...

Mayor of Surathani about to flag off the start of the Charity Ride

HOME COOKING

Hi gals/guys, wanted to ask you - have you used the chilli paste we bought from Krabi? I have used the seafood chilli packet twice - each time using less and less for our mixture with other ingredients for my favourite curry crab preparation. But still each result is very spicy. Yesterday morning, Mei and I were at the Tg Bungah market and we saw crabs. Of course, I couldn't resist so I bought 2 reasonably sized ones for RM12.50 at RM25 per kg ("bah chim"). I also bought RM1 of a mixture of ground onions and garlic and also RM1 of santan. No other ingredients, except curry leaves which, on the way home, at a neighbour's backyard, Mei climbed on to my bike to pluck off a branch growing on a huge tree - my Ling is no angel, eh?

So yesterday at abt 5.30 pm when I knew we couldn't play tennis 'cos of the rain, I started "cheffing". Mei had cooked the first time and also she can't afford the luxury of eating crabs. So now I have to do all such preparations on my own. The result... have a look below:

... yum... mee... yum...

The above portion is the remainder after I've eaten. The crabs tasted good but still very spicy, inspite of me using only about one eighth portion of the original packet. Next time I shall use much less chilli and more of onions and garlic. Mei tells me also to add ginger, lengkuas, serai and assam. I'm sure next time my curry will taste fantastic. Any one wants to joint venture? I still have seafood chilli paste and 2 other packets of a different type which we brought back from Krabi. And another thing... I had just eaten the remainder from yesterday. The curry tastes even better. Thai products, when kept overnight, seem to be better, eh? Ha Ha...

Any one interested in my tapai recipe? I may put it up next. Another craze of mine is the "assam belanda" fish selling at Perak Road.

Do offer your ideas in the comments below. Cheers to good food!

REMEMBER VIETNAM?

Hi, The Magnificent 7! Wanna go back??

.... am deb laaaam ... Never seen him so happy b4