There really IS a God! I've been looking for a cooking school to attend... there are at least half a dozen here in Chiang Mai set up for the tourists, all offering one-day classes, and most run the same curricula. Start with a half hour at the local market learning about Thai ingredients, then back to the school to learn to make your choice of Thai curry paste, followed by instruction on making a Thai soup, appetizer, two or three main dishes, followed by a big feast eating what's been made.
Here is a sample of the offerings, and you can choose one from each category.
But I have no desire to learn to make the curry pastes from scratch. I can buy freshly made curry pastes at the ta-laht. And I have no desire to make Thai desserts. I prefer fresh fruit. I want to spend more than just 30 minutes at the market. I have so many questions about things I've seen there that I really need an hour and a half to do it right... So these cooking classes don't really work for me... unless....
... unless it turns out that tomorrow people have signed up for the evening class with the school I chose, and as of this afternoon I'm the ONLY one signed up for the day class! If it stays that way, the teacher said we can customize the class to meet my needs. And... (it gets even better...) she will take me around THE SAME MARKET that I usually shop, so I can get an in depth understanding of my home turf! She'll pick me up at 08:30 and the adventure begins!
Stitchawl