BLOG#9 THE MOST POPULAR THAI FOOD

THAI GREEN CURRY WITH PORK
      Green Curry tends to be one of the milder curries of Thai cuisine. The name Gaeng Kiaw Wan literally means 'sweet green curry' but if you prefer a spicy curry, simply increase the amount of fresh green Thai chili peppers in the curry paste recipe. This recipe features beef but it could also be prepared with chicken, pork or fishballs. Serve over jasmine rice, accompanied by crispy fried fish , a cooling clear soup and Thai chili paste with fresh steamed or raw seasonal vegetables.

  
Ingredients

• Slide pork
• 1 tbsp cooking oil (corn, safflower or peanut oil, not olive oil)
• 3 tbsp green curry paste
• 2 1/2 cups coconut milk
• 5-10 small fresh Thai eggplants
• 2-3 fresh red spur chilies*, sliced diagonally
• 1/4 cup sweet brasil leave (optional)
• 1 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp sugar

**Sweet brasil leave and red chili slices for grains 

  
Preparation

• Slice the pork into thin pieces, about about 1/3" (3 cm) thick. 
• Saute the green curry paste in oil over medium heat in a wok or saute pan until fragrant, reduce the heat, gradually add 1 1/2 cups of the coconut milk a little at a time, stir until a film of green oil surfaces. 
• Add the pork, continue cooking for 3 minutes until fragrant and the pork is cooked through. Transfer to a large pot, place over medium heat and cook until boiling. Add the remaining coconut milk, season with palm sugar and fish sauce. When the mixture returns to a boil add the eggplants. Cook until the eggplants are done, sprinkle sweet basil leaves and red chilies over, then turn off the heat. 
• Arrange on a serving dish and garnish with sweet basil leaves and red chilies before serving.

Note: *Miniature red bell peppers or other mild red pepper may be used in place of the spur chillies.

Let's start cooking!!

BLOG#10 THAI CULTURE AND TRADITIONS

THAI CULTURE AND TRADITIONS

      Thai culture has many intricacies, most of which the average visitor will never come across, however if you are looking to live in Thailand long term, it is important to be aware of cultural differences and to know which faux pas to avoid.

Festival
      
      Festivals in Thailand mainly celebrate the seasons and Buddhism. They are celebrated all year round, but two of the most famous include Songkran (Thai New Year) and Loi Kratong.
It is a festival of lights, with people sailing beautiful handmade kratongs (small boats made from banana leaf and decorated with a candle and coloured paper) down the river to carry away their bad luck. Lanterns are let off into the night sky carrying with them people’s dreams.

People

      Thailand is a melting pot of different ethnicities who live together despite religious differences.  With a territory and population about the same size as France, Thailand's people are mostly ethnic Thai, with other ethnic groups mixed in: Burmese, Chinese, Lao, Khmer and hilltribes. The vast majority of people are Buddhists, with less than 10 % being of other faiths including Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Brahmanism. 

Thai people are extremely friendly, hospitable and warm-hearted and welcoming of foreigners. The expression "Land of Smiles" is very accurate in describing the Thai view of life, as people deem a minute without a smile to be a lost minute. Thais are very proud of their country, very loyal to their King and for the most part, strong believers in the Buddhist value system; meaning that all humans are equal and propagating people to be friendly, to avoid conflict and live a good, honest and useful life, caring for others.

Thai food

      Thai food is growing in popularity throughout the world, however you will not taste better food than you will in Thailand.  Traditional Thai cuisine is essentially a marriage of centuries-old Eastern and Western influences harmoniously combined into something uniquely Thai. Originally, Thai cooking reflected the characteristics of a waterborne lifestyle. Aquatic animals, plants and herbs were major ingredients and large chunks of meat were avoided. Subsequent influences introduced the use of sizeable chunks to Thai cooking.

A typical Thai meal should consist of a soup, a curry dish with condiments, a dip with accompanying fish and vegetables. A spicy salad may replace the curry dish. The soup can also be spicy, but the curry should be replaced by non spiced items. There must be a harmony of tastes and textures within individual dishes and the entire meal with the following five tastes being catered to: pungent, sweet, sour, bitter and salty.

Thai food is eaten with a fork and spoon. Even single dish meals such as fried rice with pork, or steamed rice topped with roasted duck, are served in bite-sized slices or chunks, eliminating the need for a knife. Thai culture ensures that meals are a social affair, as this way more dishes can be ordered.

BLOG#8 PRANAKORN SRI AYUTTHAYA

PRANAKORN SRI AYUTTHAYA

      The Historic City of Ayutthaya, founded in 1350, was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom.  It flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries, during which time it grew to be one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and a center of global diplomacy and commerce. Ayutthaya was strategically located on an island surrounded by three rivers connecting the city to the sea. This site was chosen because it was located above the tidal bore of the Gulf of Siam as it existed at that time, thus preventing attack of the city by the sea-going warships of other nations. The location also helped to protect the city from seasonal flooding.

      The ancient city of Ayutthaya, or Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, The Thai capital for 417 years, is one of Thailand's major tourist attractions. Many ancient ruins and art works can be seen in a city that was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong when the Thais were forced southwards by northern neighbours. During the period of Ayutthaya being the Thai capital, 33 Kings of different dynasties ruled the kingdom until it was sacked by the Burmese in 1767.

      Ayutthaya is 76 kilometers north of Bangkok and boasts numerous magnificent ruins. Such ruins indicate that Ayutthaya was one of Indo - China's most prosperous cities. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya a Historical Park, a vast stretch of historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been included in UNESCO's list of world heritage since 13 December, 1991.

Ayutthaya covers 2,556 square kilometers, and is administratively divided into 16 districts (Amphoes). It is conveniently accessible due to good roads and a short distance from Bangkok.

      You can see and do an activity in Pranakorn Sri Ayutthaya:

Wat Phra Sri Sanphet  The royal palace was located here from the establishment of Ayutthaya in the reign of King Ramathibodi I (1350 A.D.) to the rign of King Sam Phraya (1448 A.D.). Later King Borommatrailokanat ordered a wat to be build on this site in 1448 A.D. to be used as a monastic area.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram Wat Chaiwatthanaram, one of the most imposing ancient Buddhist monasteries, was established by the command of King Prasatthong in 1630 A.D.. It is believed that the wat is located on the site of his former home. The reason for his building this monastery was to make merit for his mother. Prince Damrong Rachanuphap noted that its architecture was similar to that of Angkor Wat and infered that the wat might have been built to commemorate the king's victory over Cambodia.

Wat Mahathat  The construction of Wat Mahathat was begun during the reign of King Borommarachathirat I in 1374 A.D. but was completed during the reign of King Ramesuan (1388-1395 A.D.). When King Songtham (1610-1628 A.D.) was in power the main prang collapsed. The restoration work on the prang was probably completed in the reign of King Prasatthong (1630-1655 A.D.) Duing the restoration the height of the prang was considerably increased.

Phra Mongkhonbophit  In the early Ayutthaya period there was no place specially used for cremations. When a King died an area would be chosen for that royal ritual. After the ceremonies had been performed the location where the cremation took place became the site of a monastery; for example. Wat Phra Ram is located where King U Thong was cremated. Only as of the reign of King Songtham is there evidence of a specific area having been reserved for this purpose.