If you love Thai food, familiarize yourself with the famous rich Thai noodle soup that’s been sold from boats on Bangkok canals for the better part of a century. It’s a little-known fact that Bangkok was once called the Venice of the East. During the nineteenth century, the city was home to a system of expansive canals (called klongs) that connected houses, temples, and public spaces. Boating was the most common form of transportation for both people and commerce. At one point, there were more floating markets than land-based ones! Bangkok’s transport system shifted to roads at the turn of the twentieth century, but some of the foods that originated within the canal lifestyle have survived. Perhaps the most famous of these is boat noodles, a small but rich pho-like dish served with fresh bean sprouts, Thai basil, crispy pork skin, and a row of condiments. Now there is a "Instant" version which you can taste at the comfort of your own home.