BootsnAll Travel Community

Elo there!

Can anyone give any advice

Me and my partner are leaving for Asia in 4-weeks time & are off for 9 months. As much as I love curries and Asian food, I can't handle things too spicy I am certainly not a Vindaloo kind of girlie!!!

Is it easy to get mild dishes over there, or do they think you are crazy for asking? Maybe I will just become acclimatized to the taste. Gulp!

There is plenty of bland food suitable for Bristolean tastebuds. You will have no problem avoiding chiles.

Even I, svelte and sophisticated bon vivant gourmand that I am, occasionally tuck into some dull Western cuisine when I am in Asia.

There are places where you'll definitely look crazy asking for non-spicy food. But this is Asia - you'll look crazy for doing all sorts of things you think are normal. That's one of the cool things about travelling.

On the tourist track, they've heard it all before and in some places automatically turn down the heat for westerners. That really disappointed me in Thailand, actually, since I'm big on fire. And they'll have Western dishes anywhere lots of Western people go.

Off the tourist track, just learn how to say "no chile" or "not spicy" and you'll be fine. These types of phrases should be in your guidebook or phrasebook. But look them up before you leave just in case.

For places that bathe in chiles, like Sichuan, I'd advise researching the local cuisine before you go and learning which dishes aren't so spicy.

Glad to hear that it's not all going to be mouthfuls of fire then

I am really looking forward to trying lots of new things though, can't wait to try out the new flavoured spices and fruits. I hear fruits in Asia are just out of this world, so scrumptious and juicy

As long as I have pinapple to eat I'll get through anything. It's amazing how a bit of pinapple can get you to munch through several courses without feeling as though you are going to explode.

quote:

Even I, svelte and sophisticated

Wait...one of these doesn't apply to the Joe Ehrlich I know. No...wait a second...neither apply...

My best advice for anyone travelling in Asia is to go straight to the local chemist and stock up on packets of NORIT, a black charcoal tablet. Take a couple of these a day and if you get a tummy bug start shoving them down by the handful. I have lived in Indo on and off for 12 years and (touch wood) never had a problem! My last trip in July was with 16 Aussie friends going hard on the beer and food! I was the only one to survive without a rumble! Word of warning : Don't be alarmed at the black poo's!

Well then ,,THIS is NOT for you!!!!