Why should I eat pizza in Thailand?!

Just a few days ago I came back from my trip to Thailand and I have to confess one thing: I’m totally in love with the thai cuisine. Even before, I was found of it, but now I’m addicted, especially to the green curry. I was choosing a different restaurant each day, to try different dishes and styles of that aromatic cuisine. But there was something irritating me. Once I entered a bar, encouraged but the stuff standing outside and promising good prices and great dishes. Nevertheless, when I opened the menu, I was disappointed. It was full of steaks and other things I know, but there was not much to choose from the thai dishes, so without much hesitation I left the restaurant. At the exit, one of the waiters asked me for the reason of my leaving, so I answered that they had to little thai food to choose from. His answer was hilarious for me: “Be we have pizza and pasta!” Why should I eat pizza and pasta in Thailand?! It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? They have an amazing cuisine and they encourage me to eat Italian food in Thailand? Firstly, I eat original pizza and pasta for a few months a year. Secondly, from my experience I know that the Italian dishes made outside of Italy, usually have not much to do with the originals.

Thinking about the situation mentioned above, I came to a few conclusions. I’ve notice that many western tourists choose so called “save” food. Wherever they go, they eat pizza, fries, spaghetti, burgers etc. They are scared of I don’t know what. Of course, not only the western culture seems quite closed for the new tastes: when Chinese visit Europe, they dine only in Chinese restaurants. Such behaviors are so surprising to me! Cuisine is a very important part of every culture. Eating pizza wherever you go is like traveling around the world and never leaving the hotel nor seeing a native. I know people are scared of some bacteria our bodies are not used to. But come on! In China, in the old town of Nanjing I ate the best noodles in my life, even though it was better not to look at all the dirt around. And I was perfectly fine! In the same place, from the street food seller, I bought some very good shashlik, although the meet was unknown to me, so I prefer not to think what I ate. But it was very good, anyway. Even though in Shanghai, in a restaurant full of Chinese, I could hardly choose something out of a wide menu, as it’s beyond my capabilities to try a turtle or the eyes of something, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve tried the Chinese cuisine. I always look for the new tastes. Not trying the local cuisine is like visiting Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. So I strongly encourage you not to be closed minded and open yourself for the new cultures and their tastes. I know that some things might not seem appetizing (e.g. fried tarantula in Cambodia or the smell of durian – an Asian fruit), but you can discover unbelievable new tastes which existing you’ve never even expected, like the sweet and delicate one of the mangostin (another Asian fruit). So you still think you know it all? I can assure you, you ain’s seen nothing yet.