July 26th 2018: Authentic Thai Food at Crying Thaiger, Malden

After a morning at the Malden Public Library,

we decided to go check out the newest Thai restaurant in Malden, Crying Thaiger. Really nice decor depicting the streets of Thailand.

We got the Color Changing Purple Drink (butterfly pea flower drink served with honey and lime), which was blue initially,

then changed to purple as we added lime juice to it due to lowering of the pH.

Tastes pretty good too.

For food, we got the Crying Tiger (signature marinated grilled beef brisket sprinkled with ground toasted rice bits, served with Jaew sauce (dry chili, toasted rice, lime juice,num pla, tamarind juice, shallot, cilantro) and seasonal vegetables),

the Kua Gai Noodle (fresh wide rice noodles wok fried until toasty with chicken, iceberg lettuce, turnip, sesame oil served with sriracha)

and the Kanom Tuay (Thai coconut custard, 2 layers of sweet and creamy coconut custard. Base layer made with chewy rice flour, top layer made with coconut cream, palm sugar, pandan leaf)  for dessert.

The meat by itself was delicious already, although the spicy tangy sauce accompanying it did make it better. The noodles were excellent and flavorful too, as was the dessert, the 2 layers being pretty interesting, and we even got to take home the ceramic plates holding them as souvenirs.

I have to say, one of the best Thai meals I have had to date. Definitely coming back again some day.

July 25th 2018: More Vietnamese in Boston

We went Vietnamese in Boston for the second day in a row after a trip to the South Boston Library, choosing to check out the newest restaurant in town, Saigon Chicken House, which has taken the place of Pho So 1 Boston, which I visited once a long time ago.

We decided to get one chicken dish and one duck dish, namely the Com Ga Qui Phi (Brown Chicken Leg and Thigh)

and the Mien Mang Goi Vit Bap Cai and Chuoi (Duck dried Bamboo Glass Noodle Soup with Banana Flower and Cabbage Salad)

The sauce that came with the chicken was really good, and although I found it weird to eat salad with soup, it actually was a pretty tasty experience. The menu did not seem to have the Beef Napoleon we were looking for though. Maybe we will come back again for it next time.

For dessert, we headed to Bambu nearby, the Boston branch of the Vietnamese dessert place in Randolph which I visited a while back.

This time, we just got the Coffee Milk Tea,

which was too bitter for my liking. I think Coco Leaf one street over is still better.

July 24th 2018: Vietnamese in Boston, Popcorn in Braintree

After a morning at the South Boston Library,

We decided to have lunch at Pho Le in the Dorchester area of Boston, 

Getting the Bun Dau Mam Tom Ha Noi  (Ha Noi  Style Fried Tofu and Noodle Specialty, fresh lettuce and herbs, crispy tofu, steamed sliced pork, rice vermicelli, and cha com (pork patties mixed with rice flakes), served with mam tom (shrimp paste dipping sauce) on the side).

Pretty tasty when put together in a roll.

For dessert, we went to Coco Leaf nearby, getting the Che Khuc Bach.

Delicious new creation that did not come in a cup.

Later on, while at the South Shore Plaza, I decided to get some popcorn from Doc Popcorn, getting the Sweet Butter flavor.

Pretty good way to spend my time while waiting for my other half to shop around.

July 23rd 2018: Hiking in New Hampshire after Work

I started out this morning in Natick,

Primrose School

with a Blueberry Muffin from the Muffin House Cafe.

Pretty good, no wonder they have other locations in Massachusetts.

After work, I headed to Hudson NH to hike at the Musquash Conservation Area. I have visited this area recently going to Musquash Pond, but did not know there was hiking to do here as well. This time around, the path I took here from 76 Musquash Road and from the end of Woodland Drive is shown below in pink.

The Musquash Pond side did not yield much in terms of views,

even at the power lines,

But thankfully the Woodland Drive side did,

although I was almost stuck near the beginning at the Third Swamp as I did not spot the path across the water, thinking or had been flooded out.

The best views were at the power lines though.

Definitely worth coming back for those views.

With that, I called it a day, the hike having taken much longer than I expected.

July 21st 2018: Eating at Assembly Row, Somerville

While shopping at Assembly Row in Somerville today, we decide to get some food, namely a Plain Flan from Paul

and slices of BBQ Chicken Pizza (white pizza, BBQ sauce, chicken topped with mozzarella) from Ernesto's Pizzeria next door, the Somerville branch of the North End one which I had a cheese pizza from a while back.

The flan was a little too hard for our expectations, while the pizza was not bad. Wish I knew they only served slices that were a quarter of a pie. Way too much for me.

July 20th 2018: Another Museum in Lawrence

I started out this morning in Hudson at the Vintage Cafe, a new cafe in town. I was originally looking for Ariba Coffee, which it has replaced, and it opens later, but thankfully the owner was nice enough to open early after seeing me outside. Interesting decor inside.

I got the Raspberry Strudel, which was nothing special.

After work, passing through Northborough

War Memorial, Gale Road and West Main Street

and Nashua NH,

Radisson Hotel Nashua

Ledge Street School

I visited the other Hudson in New Hampshire

Sanders House

Ottarnic Pond

First Baptist Church of Hudson

before heading to Lawrence MA to visit the Essex Art Center before it closed.

With that, I ended my day by getting a Strawberry Smoothie (made with frozen yogurt) from Cloud 9, an ice cream place in Melrose.

A tad too sweet for my liking, made with syrup as well.