A meal with local people is a very interesting experience

Previously, I used to represent Withlocals in Vietnam, and I also signed up as a cooking host for tourists, thereby making friends with lots of interesting people.

Last time in Thailand, we also tried to book a tour led by the natives and order meals at the locals’ houses. Although they were not professional “hospitality” people, our experience with them was wonderful. Like Som’s family in this photo, who treated us warmly like a long-time relative. Som’s “nanny” (Som’s nanny), who was in her 60s, cooked skillfully. I learned from her many delicious dishes.

We shared about the family, the differences between the two cultures, great places that tourists didn’t usually know, and finally the promise of seeing each other again. Everything happened like that. The time Som visited Saigon, she took the initiative to text me to say hello. I took Som and her friends around Saigon. The story between us may never stop.

After returning from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, we had a dinner appointment with Tatiya (standing at the left most of the picture) at her house. We met at Mochit station, and on the way home from work, she drove by to pick us up.

Tatiya, over 30, recently divorced, had lived in the United States for a long time and was then a happy single woman in Bangkok, going to work in the morning, returning home in the evening to cook dinner for her guests. Her guests are travelers like us, sometimes friends, or her housemate (the lady on the right of the picture).

Tatiya lived in a high-rise apartment. Her house was neat, decent, designed in a modern style. Because she had two bedrooms, she often leased it to #airbnb guests, mainly to have someone in and out to chat. Because she was a Thai with a Western lifestyle, she was open and generous. She offered us innovative Thai dishes, such as steamed Japanese eggs served with tom yum soup. This beautiful combination made me like her like crazy.

She was not too beautiful, not too talented, cooking not too well. But she had a totally independent life which was admirable. If you pay close attention to this photo, you will see that on her fridge, there are full of souvenirs. They came from all over the world. The moment we met her, she had traveled to nearly 40 countries. On my hand was a postcard taken in Italy, which she gave me as a gift. In her room, there was also a world’s map in black and white. She colored every land she had put her feet on.

I suddenly realized we like to go, not really because of the beautiful scenery, or want to record so much of our marks in so many places. It is because we go to meet interesting people who may not use the same language system but still have the same voice.

You can find information about Som, Tatiya and other hosts on www.withlocals.com, or find out some other websites that have similar experience travel models with local people.

Our experience is not much. When viewing the host’s profile, you only need to pay a little attention: the smile, the eyes, how they write descriptive information, the messages from many people who have experienced the tours or meals with that host, like when we put your mind to get to know a new friend, you’ll find someone who “suits” you.