Written by Jonathan Look – From July 6, 2014 –

I love my street food and that goes doubly so for sausage, and Chiang Mai, Thailand is famous for many things, one of them being Sai ua, or simply in English – Chiang Mai Sausage.

Sai ua is grilled pork sausage and it is a typical food of the Northern provinces and northeastern Burma (where it is known as Sai long phik). It comes from an old Lanna tradition where they used the method to preserve pork meat for an additional day or two. Chiang Mai Sausage contains minced pork, red curry paste, coriander, kaffir lime leaves and various other herb and spices, most notably lemongrass.

Typically you can get a big plate of Sai ua with various herbs and vegetables on the side, like the one shown here, for around a dollar. Initially the flavor is quite mild but there is a fiery finish. It took me on a bit of a street food adventure to find my favorite Chiang Mai Sausage but to me, the best is served at Khao Soi Ban Faham about three kilometers north of the moat next to Wat Faham.

Best Hamburger in Chiang Mai, Thailand

From June 3, 2014 – Even though my diet usually consists of the local cuisine wherever I am living or visiting, sometimes I just want a good cheeseburger. Since I am living here, and being the nice guy that I am, I went on a quest to find the best cheeseburger in Chiang Mai, Thailand. After trying about a dozen different places I have come up with a winner: Archer’s Bar & Restaurant

I consider myself a bit of a burger connoisseur and Archer’s hit all the right buttons. A handmade beef patty from New Zealand with just the right fat content to make it juicy but not sloppy. A right-sized soft bun with sesame seeds that provides that perfect meat to bun ratio. A generous piece of cheddar cheese (a rarity in Asia) and fresh condiments. Add crisp on the outside, soft in the middle French fries on the side and it is a winner!

Archer’s is a comfortable English pub style place, inside the moat, with a friendly staff and clientele. The food is hearty and reasonably priced. They also make a great Sunday Roast lunch. Highly recommended!

In 2011, at the age of 50, Jonathan Look decided to change his life and pursue adventures instead of comfort and possessions. His goal is to travel the world; one country at a time. To accomplish this he got rid of most of his possessions, packed up what little he saw as necessities and headed out. His goal is to spend ten years discovering new places, meeting new people and taking the time to learn about them, their values and their place on this tiny planet. He embraces the philosophy that says a person is the sum of their experiences and rejects the fraud of modern consumerism that makes people slaves of their consumption. He doesn’t intend to be modern day ascetic, just more mindful of his place in the world and to make decisions according to that new standard.