Northern Thailand - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 954

nonroyal occasions), as well as Western theatre; li ́ lí·gair is a partly improvised, often
bawdy folk play featuring dancing, comedy, melodrama and music; and la ́ ·kon lék is pup-
pet theatre.
CLASSIC THAI MOVIES
» 6ixtynin9 (1997)
» Yam Yasothon (2005)
» Ruang Rak Noi Nid Mahasan ( Last Life in the Universe; 2003)
» Fah Talai Jone ( Tears of the Black Tiger; 2000)
» Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010)
TOP OF CHAPTER
Food & Drink
Welcome to a country where it is cheaper and tastier to eat out than to cook at home. Mar-
kets, pushcart vendors, makeshift stalls, open-air restaurants - prices stay low and cooks
become famous in all walks of life for a particular dish.
Take a walk through the day markets to see mounds of clay-coloured pastes moulded
into pyramids like art supplies. These are the backbone for Thai gaang (curries) and are
made of finely ground herbs and seasonings. The paste is taken to home kitchens and
thinned with coconut milk and decorated with vegetables and meat to make a meal. Al-
though it is the consistency of soup, gaang is ladled onto a plate of rice instead of eaten
directly out of the bowl.
For breakfast and for snacks, Thais nosh on go ̆ o·ay đe ̆ e·o, rice noodle soup with chick-
en or pork and vegetables. There are two primary types of noodles to choose from: sên lék
(thin) and sên yài (wide and flat). Before you dig in, add to taste a few teaspoons of the
provided spices: dried red chilli, sugar, fish sauce and vinegar. Now you have the true
taste of Thailand in front of you.
Not sure what to order at some of the popular dinner restaurants? Reliable favourites
are yam Ъlah mèuk (spicy squid salad with mint leaves, coriander and Chinese celery),
đôm yam gûng (a tart, herbal soup with prawns, often translated as 'hot and sour soup') or
its sister đôm kàh gài (coconut soup with chicken and galangal).