Our cruise settled on the Phi-Phi Don Island which is amongst the famous islands of Thailand. Arrangement of lunch was done by the tour company on this island and since it was noon, so lunch was waiting to be served, so my mission was to first eat lunch and then to explore island.
We all moved towards a restaurant where arrangement of lunch was done and it could easily accommodate hundred people at a time. The location of restaurant was also good since located on beach.
The arrangement of lunch was done in a buffet system where I could not discover anything to eat as all were non-vegetarian dishes.
For a minute I was stunned, after thinking for a while, I was about to make my mind to forget lunch and to start search for some fruits from the market, if available. But to take chance, I called the crew leader and asked him about vegetarian lunch.
Suddenly, he recalled that I had opted for vegetarian food at the time of booking but he had to ask the restaurant staffs whether they had prepared food for me or not
He called the manager and asked something in Thai language, I started seeing hope in the expression on the face of manager.
He came towards me, offered seat and told me that he had arranged vegetarian food separately, as it was informed to them that an Indian tourist is also travelling on cruise and food preference is vegetarian.
These words made me comfortable & relaxed.
Within ten minutes, I was served with dishes like spring rolls, noodles, vegetable curry, salads, sausages etc. and the content was sufficient to feed four people at least.
Couple of minutes back, fellow travelers were offered me their food and asking me reason as to why am I not having lunch but now they were surprised to see special treatment given to me since I was served on table and others were served through buffet lunch.
I started with spring rolls and also asked manager to explain other dishes.
He explained that for vegetarian travelers, they prepare dishes made of potato, spinach, and other leafs and all contents are pure vegetables.
I enjoyed spring rolls so much that I ate almost three quarters of the available quantity.
While I was enjoying my food, one lady came near my dining table and asked surprisingly that from where I managed to get spring rolls as it was not a part of the buffet lunch.
First, I offered her some pieces of spring rolls and then told her that it was made exclusively for me being a vegetarian. I also asked her to give me company in finishing all these dishes but she refused politely at first instance but took one piece only after being insisted. It was indeed a delight moment for me being treated in a special manner in an unknown country, this kind of hospitality is indeed the best in the world. After a good meal, it was the time to explore island in small span of time allotted to us.
I started walking from one corner of the island and marched towards other end of the island.