I really wanted to visit it but wasn’t sure I was going to have time to go under my own steam so, the idea that I would a) go and b) actually discover what some of the unusual things I was seeing were was Cooking With Poo’s first lure over the competition. I really, really enjoyed it. Poo is a natural entertainer – she’s really funny, tells brilliant stories and makes the process of cooking fun (something I never thought I’d ever say). We’ve been to Bangkok eight times (or nine, I’ve lost count now) and so there’s quite a few posts about it on the blog. But, you’re probably going to want to start with our fun and unusual Bangkok guide.

9780977507078 - Cooking with Poo by Diwong, Saiyuud - AbeBooks

When we got to Klong Toey market the main aim was to buy the ingredients we needed, but we still got to see some of the quirkier things on sale like frogs, insects and ant eggs. When the idea of writing this book was first suggested we could only hope that this could be a possibility one day in the future. Shortly after this it became really clear that Poo (Saiyuud Diwong) was not just a great cook and a fun loving personality, but also a gifted mentor and trainer. (She has helped 3 other small businesses start, and mentored those neighbours in an empowering way to help them maximize their businesses.) We started to dream about the possibility of using the very successful cooking school as a way of training and developing more men and women from the Klong Toey slum community. Thanks to the amazing support and hard work of many people this dream has become a reality. The hope is that Poo will earn her income from the successful sales of this book, and therefore be not as reliant on income from her cooking school, the result being the opportunity to train others and help them develop meaningful employment. By purchasing this book you are part of this exciting adventure – changing the world one life at a time. Khlong Toei is one of the most authentic markets in Bangkok, selling very cheap raw meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit. Chances are, that wherever you eat in Bangkok, the produce will have been bought here. Visiting a wet market might be fascinating, but not necessarily enjoyable! The class costs 1800 baht (at the time of writing) which includes transport, the Klong Toey market tour, your cooking lesson and whatever you cooked to eat. The Khlong Toey Tour…I found Poo’s story incredibly inspiring. Poo is an excellent example of what can be achieved when you have a dream and are willing to work hard for it. Poo can now take time off and have a holiday, something that is unheard of within the slum community. In fact, only 30% of the people living in Khlong Toei are able to take time off. The majority work 7 days a week for the entirety of their lives without ever considering retirement. Poo also volunteers regularly with a number of other projects within the community, including acting as a mentor for other young people wanting to start their own business. Where does the cooking class take place? Khun Saiyuud Diwong, affectionately known as Poo (short for "Chompoo" or rose apple), is a long-time resident of Klong Toey, the largest slum in Bangkok. In late 2007, as the price of rice in Thailand doubled, she found that she could no longer make a living selling food from her house.

Cooking with Poo - Diwong, Saiyuud right? 9780977507078 - Cooking with Poo - Diwong, Saiyuud right?

Just in case anyone wasn’t aware of this, Poo warned us that wet markets are not like the supermarkets most of us are used to.If you’re fed up with seeing the same 5 things listed time after time in a destination you’re in the right place. For more than 5 years now Khun Poo's cooking school has been running in Klong Toey for tourists as well as local residents. She represents a remarkable model of success and positivity in an often stark and complex landscape of poverty and hardship and has trained up a stellar team of fellow residents. The second reason was the owner. Cooking with Poo is named after its founder Khun Poo who grew up in the Klong Toey slum in Bangkok.