Shokibarai Party

Yesterday, apart from visiting TUAT, I've also came back and attended a "Shokibarai" party held by the nice people at the office. "Shokibarai" literally means chasing away the heat (though I won't say it's as hot now as it was some week ago) and their concept is apparently to "eat spicy food to beat the heat".

We were taken to a Thai restaurant called "Khun Po" around 6 kilometers away from AIST by personal car. "Khun Po" is a Thai word which means "father", however, all the staffs here are female, so I'm not sure where the name came from.

The restaurant

P' Miki and "Khun Mae" (Mother)... not sure why

Initially, we had ordered Som Tum, Mamuang Him Ma Parn, Tom Yum Kung and Yum Woon Sen. Three out of the 4 dishes were spicy. The day before the party, I was asked to phone the shop and told them to make it "Thai spicy" (we ordered 3 dishes of each, with one dish being less spicy for those who can't eat spicy food).

Being in a Thai restaurant, my senior and I had a lot of chance to share about Thai culture, such as how Thai people eat (though we used chopsticks here), the Kings and history of Thailand and also other miscellaneous facts such as the full name of Bangkok ("Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit" if you're interested).

After we've finished eating at the restaurant, we've all headed to Starbuck to talk a bit more (many people are leaving or will be leaving soon, so this is also treated as a farewell party) before heading back to AIST.