Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad)

Green Papaya Salad, or Som Tum (sometimes written Som Tam), is a very common dish eaten throughout Thailand. It originates in Laos/Issan, but now the whole country enjoys it. This version does not add fermented crab or fermented fish paste (plaa-raa) which is common in Issan. Feel free to add that if you want! This dish is easily made vegetarian by omitting the dried shrimp, and substituting salt for the fish sauce.




How to Make Green Papaya Salad:-

• Som Tum is traditionally made using a mortar and pestle. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, mince the Thai chili and garlic and combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Ingredients:-

1 pound green papaya

2 Thai chilies (add more chilies if you want it hotter!)

1 small clove garlic

2 strings long bean (cut into 1 inch lengths)

1 tablespoon chopped roasted peanuts

5 cherry tomatoes (cut in half)

1 tablespoon palm sugar (or brown sugar)

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce (nam pla)

Directions:-

1.Cut papaya in half (lengthwise) and remove seeds. Peel the skin of the papaya and shred the flesh using a shredder or knife (the shreds should be thin and long). In a mortar and pestle, pound the chilies and garlic until they’re broken up. Add the long beans and roasted peanuts, pounding only enough to break them up a little bit.

2. Add the shredded papaya, tomato, sugar, lime juice, fish sauce, pounding until everything is thoroughly mixed together. This dish should taste sweet, sour, and a little bit salty, so you may need to add more sugar, lime juice, or fish sauce to get the taste you like. Som Tum is commonly served with roasted or grilled meats, fried fish, sticky rice, and fresh cabbage or lettuce.

Bangkok , Capital city

Not many cities in the world can match Bangkok for sheer vibrancy. Bangkok is a magnet for a broad range of visitors because of its eclectic attractions, and this buzzing metropolis offers surprises at every turn. Gleaming skyscrapers, glittering temples, colourful street markets, sophisticated shopping malls, a bustling nightlife scene, and an energy that reflects the city's incredible economic growth over the past few years.

Despite this growth, the capital of Thailand remains true to its cultural, historical and spiritual roots – as the city's many 'wats' or Buddhist temples are testament to. Bangkok is a melting pot of races, creeds and cults, as well as food and culture. Indeed, 'Khrungthep', as the Thais call their capital, makes for one heady brew.

Bangkok is a huge and modern city humming with nightlife and fervour. Administratively, it is split up into 50 khet (districts), but these are more often used in official business and for addresses. Visitors will find the conceptual division below of the main areas more useful for getting around.

Districts of Bangkok

Sukhumvit The long Sukhumvit Road, which changes its name to Ploenchit Road and Rama I Road going west, is Bangkok's modern commercial core, full of glitzy malls and hotels. The Skytrain intersection at Siam Square is the closest thing Bangkok has to a centre.

Silom To the south of Sukhumvit, the area around Silom Road and Sathorn Road is Thailand's sober financial center by day, but Bangkok's primary party district by night when quarters like the infamous Patpong come alive.

Rattanakosin Between the river and Sukhumvit lies the densely packed "Old Bangkok", home to Bangkok's best-known sights, such as the Grand Palace and Wat Pho.

Khao San Road On the northern part of Rattanakosin, Bangkok's backpacker mecca Khao San Road and the surrounding district of Banglamphu have everything the budget traveler wants and more.

Yaowarat and Pahurat Along Yaowarat Road you will find Bangkok's Chinatown, while Pahurat Road is the home of the sizable Indian community. This multicultural district is filled with markets selling food, gold, fabrics and Bollywood VCDs.

Thonburi The quieter west bank of the Chao Phraya River, with Wat Arun, many small canals and some offbeat attractions.

Phahonyothin The area around Phahonyothin Road and Viphavadi Rangsit Road is best known for the Chatuchak Weekend Market and Don Muang Airport.

Ratchadaphisek The district north of Sukhumvit centered around Ratchadaphisek Road (part of which is called Asoke) and reaching from Phetchaburi Road to Lat Phrao. This area has really opened up recently as the new metro line follows Ratchadaphisek Road.

Around Bangkok are the provinces of Pathum Thani to the north, Nonthaburi to the northwest, Chachoengsao to the east, Samut Sakhon to the southwest, and Samut Prakan to the southeast.

Know Thailand

The kingdom of Thailand is commonly referred to as the Land of Smiles, however, literally translated it means Land of the Free. The Prime Minister Phibun changed the name from Siam to Thailand on 24 June 1939 for two reasons. Firstly, to break any association with the history of the old country, and secondly, because Thai is what they have been called themselves for centuries rather than Siamese, a name inherited from their neighbours. Thailand was actually officially founded in 1238 and is the only country in Southeast Asia that has never been colonised by European powers although it was forced to cede large tracts of territory to both France and England.


It is bordered to the north by Laos and Myanmar, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Myanmar. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast and Indonesia and India in the Andaman Sea to the southwest. The capital city of Thailand is Bangkok. It is also the country's center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities.

Thailand is the world's 50th largest country in terms of total area (slightly smaller than Yemen and slightly larger than Spain), with a surface area of approximately 513,000 km2 (198,000 sq mi), and the 21st most-populous country, with approximately 64 million people. About 75% of the population is ethnically Thai, 14% is of Chinese origin, and 3% is ethnically Malay; the rest belong to minority groups including Mons, Khmers and various hill tribes. There are approximately 2.2 million legal and illegal migrants in Thailand. Thailand has also attracted a small number of expatriates from developed countries. The country's official language is Thai.

Thailand is one of the most devoutly Buddhist countries in the world. The national religion is Theravada Buddhism which is practiced by more than 94.7% of all Thais. Muslims make up 4.6% of the population and 0.7% belong to other religions. Culture and traditions in Thailand are significantly influenced by India, as are Burma, Laos and Cambodia.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, as the ruling monarch. The king has reigned for more than sixty-three years, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch and the longest reigning current monarch in the world. The king is officially titled as the Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, an Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and the Defender of all faiths.

Thailand experienced rapid economic growth between 1985 and 1995 and today is a newly industrialized country with an emphasis on exports and a flourishing tourism industry, thanks to various world-famous tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Bangkok, and Phuket.