Chiang Mai Day 2 Part 2 - Cooking Class

We arrived back at the hotel at about 1ish and retreated to the rooms for a much needed rest. The kids self entertained until it was time for the cooking lesson. Ah yee highly encouraged us to go for the lesson. She said that she would have tried if she had the time when she visited Chiang Mai in February. She highly thinks that Popo would enjoy it.

After some google for half day after class, we decided on Asia Scenic (AS), who promptly reeplied to me email query. Score points lah. The transport was on time to pick us up at 4.30pm for the 5pm class.

 The school was about 15 mins ride away and there was some waiting for the rest of participants to arrive. We booked 5 slots at THB 800 for each adult and the kids were the assistants (actually termed visitors) at additional THB 200 each. In our group, there were 5 other Canadians. There were also another 3 groups in the center. It was a huge center. We also realised that we were the only Asians; the rest were Caucasians.

As we had such a warm reception with CMB in the morning, I was disappointed with the 1st impression with the center. There was a lot of waiting and during the introduction, they made it sounded like the kids cannot partake in the cooking. I argued that we were told otherwise in the email correspondences and were ready to leave if they insisted. We agreed that we would manage the kids and take full responsibility for any mishaps.

After a long wait, the class started and our group was brought to the garden in the backyard and introduced the various plants and herbs. Actually we were familiar with most. Chey. More for the ang mos definitely.

Next was a 5 min walk to the local market. The little boy's fever was back and asked to be carried. I was developing good muscle from the trip.

For full day program, the participants probably get to help purchase the ingredients. In our case, we were shown and introduced to the various noodles and some ingredients. Yawn.. I think we enjoyed the 10 mins of free and easy best, going around the market buying snacks.

The action took place back at the center. Te kids busied themselves wrapping different ingredients into fresh lettuce and sent them to Daddy Lim's mouth. It was supposed to be appetiser but it didnt look vwry appetising to me. Lol.

After a good hour since we arrived, we were finally doing the real cooking. We were to cook a stir fried a noodles dish, a dessert dish, a curry dish and also spring roll.

The kids participated both in the preparation work and cooking. We are talking about real chopper and fire here. I was pretty anxious when the little ones had to handle the chopper and the fire. They shown a lot of enthusiasm in the beginning.

Tadah! Our very 1st creation. Lil Isaac helped to stir fried our Pad Thai! Yes, Lil Isaac's dreadful fever came back. 

Next, made spring roll. Kids helped to wrap.

And fried and definitely ate them. Yummy.

Unfortunately, as the night progressed, the kids grew tired and bored. We had a long day and the kids' excitement and attraction to cooking died down after the spring roll dish. It became less enjoyable as the night dragged on.

Lil Shauna also got upset over the insects that invaded the school and don't know what bit her. Yes, we are city mice. I think the sick boy took a lot of my attention and had been very clingy. Lil Shauna complained several times that didi took mummy.

The van finally came to send us back at almost 9pm. The cooking class would have been fantastic if it had been a private class. The kids probably enjoyed a little bit. Popo looked disinterested most of the time; she said that she had done so much cooking in her life. I think ah yee was so enthusiatic about the cooking lesson bcos she is half ang mo now. Haha.

Our family went back to the hotel room while the rest walked the night market. We power low. Good night.

Mummy Lim