You might be wondering, what exactly is this magical substance? So I'll tell you. Chaa yen is very sugary Thai Ceylon tea, distinguishable by its red colour, poured over a glass full of ice, topped up with condensed milk. The finished product looks something like this:
It is one of the most delicious concoctions on this planet.
So this morning I woke up with my usual hungover insomnia at about 8am, having spent last night at miguel's, warm-up, discovery and some club I don't even know the name of drinking another thai classic: sangsom and coke. Eventually, by 11am I could stand it no longer and desperately needed some chaa yen and possibly a 7-11 pizza bread. I went to a bakery (passing a crowing rooster, a flood and many hyperactive builders asking me where I was going) and got some kind of suspicious looking processed meat and sugary bread combination and then strolled back down thanon suan dok, ready for a trip to Mr. Willeam, my favourite iced tea stand.
However, when I get there Mr. Willeam himself was there, but not the tea stand. He offers me food, and I politely decline, asking instead for a chaa yen. He shows me a map and tries to explain something in Thai, at which point I look completely befuddled. So instead, he pulls out a motorbike and instructs me to go with him.
Now I know that in England only a crazy person would jump on a motorbike, without a helmet, with a virtual stranger, going to an unknown destination. But this is Thailand, so that's exactly what I do. Anyway, he drives me down the road, to his office/ shop, where his wife is waiting with the tea stand. She makes me my chaa yen, and then Mr. Willeam gives me a lift to my door (well, gate, I live on a compound now cos I'm posh like that). If that isn't good customer service, I don't know what is. I'm only halfway through the chaa yen now, but already the hangover is receding. Epic win all round.
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