Somtam - SE Asian Salad

Somtam (Mmm, one of my fave Thai food) is a spicy salad of shredded papaya or mango that is popular in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. Its main ingredients other than the aforementioned above are hot chili, sour lime, garlic, tomatoes, and palm sugar for an added sweetness.

Different provinces in Thailand have their own variation of somtam. In Isan (northeast), they like their somtam to be more sour, salty, and without dried shrimp and peanuts. Central Thailand on the other hand, love peanuts and sweeter somtam.

Here's the complete list of its ingredients and the steps on how to make somtam

About 2 cups shredded green papaya

2 tablespoon fish sauce
1 ½ tablespoon palm sugar, if not available can substitute it with regular sugar
3 tablespoon lime juice
½ cups tomato, wedged
1/3 cup dried shrimp
¼ cup peanuts
10 green chilli
5 cloves garlic

How to make:

1. Peel the papaya and rinse with running water to remove the acid. Remove the seeds and shred the papaya with a grater. Set aside.

2. Place the garlic cloves and the chilies in a mortar and mash with a pestle until crushed into chunks. Place the papaya and the remaining ingredients in the mortar and gently combine all ingredients by mixing with the pestle and a spoon. Serve cold.

Note: The steps on how to make somtam were taken from: "Thailand the Beautiful Cookbook" by Panurat Poladitmontr

Loi Krathong Festival - Thailand

On November 21, 2010 the Kingdom of Thailand and certain parts of Laos celebrated the Loi Krathong Festival. Loi Krathong takes place on the 12th month of Thai lunar calendar, which usually falls in November in western calendar. People gather near the river, ponds, lakes, or simply where there is water to float their krathong.

Photo taken by Art Lunaria

Excerpt from wiki

"Loi" means "to float" and a "krathong" is traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk. Modern krathongs are more often made of bread or styrofoam. A bread krathong will disintegrate in a few a days and be eaten by fish and other animals. The traditional banana stalk krathongs are also biodegradable, but styrofoam krathongs are frowned on, since they are polluting and may take years to disappear. Regardless of the composition, a krathong will be decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles and incense sticks. A low value coin is sometimes included as an offering to the river spirits.

During the night of the full moon, Thais will float their krathong on a river, canal or a pond lake. The festival is believed to originate in an ancient practice of paying respect to the spirit of the waters. Today it is simply a time to have fun.

Interesting, isn't? I went to Nan River here in Phitsanulok and saw thousands of people having fun floating their krathong. Others were partying on the street while eating, drinking, and taking pictures here and there. Some where just contented watching other peoples' activities. It was fun. Really fun. I look forward for another Loi Krathong Festival.

See you next year!

Junta freed Daw Su

The junta freed Myanmar's democratic and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday after her latest term detention expired. Thousands of her supporters meet and greet her. She was wearing a traditional jacket with a flower in her hair at her residence.

 

WORLD TRAVEL- SOUTHEAST ASIA

Kudos to the maker of this video! Beautiful pictures and nice background music.

Have fun watching.