Just got back from Bangkok and the inevitable depression setting in...how do you cope until the next visit?

ngl the post-bangkok crash is real, especially hitting toronto winter after that. my trick is to find a thai grocery store near you, i'm sure there's one in scarborough or something. get some fresh holy basil and make your own pad kra pao at home, it's not the same but the smell alone tricks your brain a bit.

also i keep a running list on my phone of random spots i missed or want to try next time, like that soi 11 spot everyone argues about or a random boat noodle place in nonthaburi. planning the itinerary is half the fun, just don't book anything 11 months out or you'll drive yourself crazy checking flight prices daily

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I lived in Bangkok for three years and still get the crash whenever I leave. What works for me is finding a Thai temple in your area, there's one in Scarborough on Lawrence. Most have a restaurant attached or at least a weekly food sale, and the community is usually welcoming. The food is legit because they're cooking for themselves.

Also, learn to make a proper Thai iced tea at home. It sounds silly but that specific orange colour and the condensed milk sweetness is a trigger. You can get the Cha Tra Mue mix at T&T or any Asian grocery. Pair it with something fried from a food court and it's close enough to fool your brain for an afternoon.

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honestly the thing that helped me most was switching my morning coffee to a thai style. find cha tra mue powder at any asian grocery, make it with condensed milk over ice, and suddenly 8am in toronto feels a little less soul-crushing. pair it with a microwaved frozen roti from the freezer aisle and you're like 60% there.

also start a youtube playlist of random bangkok street food videos, the ones with just ambient sizzling sounds and motorbike noise in the background. put that on while you cook and it's basically cheap therapy. avoid the bts sky train vlogs though, those just hurt.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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