Easter weekend, David's and my good friends Josh and Danielle Shelley invited us to go away with them to a small city about 2 1/2 hours from where we live. This city is known for their hot springs, and a successful cigarette company that is located there (randomly!) built this five star resort in the middle of nowhere. Because it is in the middle of nowhere, rooms are very affordable (about $40 a night!).
Not only does this place provide extremely comfortable rooms (see below), and hot springs to soak and relax in, this small city is far enough away from the big city to have peace and quiet and unpolluted air--things you learn not to take for granted in this part of the world!
We had an extremely relaxing weekend, then returned Sat. night, so we could be here in town to celebrate Easter together with friends.
This last photo is from this past weekend, when David and I decided to try a new Thai restaurant here in town on our date night. David found an item on the menu called "Lemon Shrimp" and really wanted to try it. I am always weary of seafood in Asia, but I told him we could try it if he really wanted to. It was a little expensive, so he asked the waitress how many shrimps came with the dish and she said 9. We thought nine wasn't too bad, so we ordered the dish. The waitress looked confused. She said, "There are NINE shrimp in this dish, and there are only two of you! I think you won't be able to eat it all!" (This kind of unsolicited advice is not uncommon here). David and I chuckled to ourselves, thinking, "We are Americans, hon, we eat dozens of shrimp in one sitting. Nine shrimp will not be a problem, just you wait." So, all our other dishes came out very quickly, and we were extremely pleased with all--delicious spring rolls with sweet and sour sauce, the best chicken satay I have ever had with a curry sauce, delicious stir fried mixed vegetables, and a bowl of red curry pork. Finally, about 15 minutes after all our other dishes arrive, they bring the shrimp. They still had the heads on them (something I dislike but I am trying to get over) but at least other than the heads and tails they were already peeled. Each sat in its own small bowl of lemon and chili sauce. David and I both reached and picked up a shrimp to try. Immediately I am overwhelmed--the sauce was WAY too strong--WAY too lemony and sour, and at the same time WAY to spicy with the chillies!! The kind of taste that makes you grimace and pucker. You couldn't taste the shrimp AT ALL! I immediately drained the rest of my coke and then went for my water glass. David said he didn't think it was that bad, and went for his 2nd shrimp. After the 2nd shrimp, he said he had to quit. We both wanted to keep going to prove that waitress wrong and just because it seemed so wasteful to leave 7 expensive shrimp on the table. But, we admitted defeat. The waitress was proved right in the end, although the problem was not AT ALL the amount of (pretty small) shrimp, but the inedible sauce they were drenched in!!
Easter weekend, David's and my good friends Josh and Danielle Shelley invited us to go away with them to a small city about 2 1/2 hours from where we live. This city is known for their hot springs, and a successful cigarette company that is located there (randomly!) built this five star resort in the middle of nowhere. Because it is in the middle of nowhere, rooms are very affordable (about $40 a night!). 
Not only does this place provide extremely comfortable rooms (see below), and hot springs to soak and relax in, this small city is far enough away from the big city to have peace and quiet and unpolluted air--things you learn not to take for granted in this part of the world!
We had an extremely relaxing weekend, then returned Sat. night, so we could be here in town to celebrate Easter together with friends.
This last photo is from this past weekend, when David and I decided to try a new Thai restaurant here in town on our date night. David found an item on the menu called "Lemon Shrimp" and really wanted to try it. I am always weary of seafood in Asia, but I told him we could try it if he really wanted to. It was a little expensive, so he asked the waitress how many shrimps came with the dish and she said 9. We thought nine wasn't too bad, so we ordered the dish. The waitress looked confused. She said, "There are NINE shrimp in this dish, and there are only two of you! I think you won't be able to eat it all!" (This kind of unsolicited advice is not uncommon here). David and I chuckled to ourselves, thinking, "We are Americans, hon, we eat dozens of shrimp in one sitting. Nine shrimp will not be a problem, just you wait." So, all our other dishes came out very quickly, and we were extremely pleased with all--delicious spring rolls with sweet and sour sauce, the best chicken satay I have ever had with a curry sauce, delicious stir fried mixed vegetables, and a bowl of red curry pork. Finally, about 15 minutes after all our other dishes arrive, they bring the shrimp. They still had the heads on them (something I dislike but I am trying to get over) but at least other than the heads and tails they were already peeled. Each sat in its own small bowl of lemon and chili sauce. David and I both reached and picked up a shrimp to try. Immediately I am overwhelmed--the sauce was WAY too strong--WAY too lemony and sour, and at the same time WAY to spicy with the chillies!! The kind of taste that makes you grimace and pucker. You couldn't taste the shrimp AT ALL! I immediately drained the rest of my coke and then went for my water glass. David said he didn't think it was that bad, and went for his 2nd shrimp. After the 2nd shrimp, he said he had to quit. We both wanted to keep going to prove that waitress wrong and just because it seemed so wasteful to leave 7 expensive shrimp on the table. But, we admitted defeat. The waitress was proved right in the end, although the problem was not AT ALL the amount of (pretty small) shrimp, but the inedible sauce they were drenched in!!
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