The Local

 "Trat by the Sea"

Trat was where I was born and bred!  Trat sits by the sea, and is abundantly loaded up with fresh seafood.

Here are some photos taken from my recent visit to my mother's.  May I present our morning fresh market?

These are few savoring ingredients from our sea, and a little more.  They have accommodated us great and wonderful dishes at home.

My mother gave us tips to look for fresh fish.  'Look into the eye,' she said.  Bright clear eyes give it away!

Now, if you go back and look at the eyes of the fish in these photos, you will find all guarantee freshness.

  

Stingrays

Please note that fresh stringrays are on the tray.  We love either grilled or fried with pepper & garlic.  The local serve each dish with 'nam-pick-geu,' which is our special hot & spicy dip made from chili, garlic, fish sauce and lime juice.

And, how much does it cost?

It is 20 baht and 25 baht a kilo.

It is half a Euro a kilo!

It is around 30 US cents a pound!!!!

Tofu ....

For vegetarians, fresh tofu awaits you.  The yellow and the white ones are hard tofu, the other ones are soft tofu.  They are made daily.

'Ku-Teiw'

Ku-Teiw is simply a soup noodle which is found at all times everywhere in Thailand.  Yet, in Trat, 'ku-teiw' features more than ordinary ones.  It is spicy and is served with crispy wanton, shrimp, fish ball, and roasted pork.

'Ka-Nom-Mud-Tai'

'Ka-Nom-Mud-Tai' is a simple snack known to most Thais.  Chinese Thais often have them prepared for special celebrations.

But, to us the local of Trat, we take it as simple as a snack!

The main ingredients are sticky rice, munk-beans, pork (from pig belly), garlic, salt and pepper.  Wrapped in banana-leaf, tied with bamboo strips and steamed!

A local snack .... locally called 'ka-nom-jang'

Basic ingredient is rice, specially prepare, wrapped in palm leaves, tied with 'bamboo strips,' and steamed. 

The content is brownish, but clear. The texture is 'gummy bear like.' To enjoy it: unwrap and dip in brown sugar.

'Leh'

Last but not least, Let me introduce our local hat, 'Leh.'  It is made of leaf from a special palm that grows along the canal which has brackish water.

My son & my mother by the sea in my hometown,Trat! 

And, this is my hometown where life is abundantly blessed with the sea and the sand and the rain and the green and all the warmth of family ties.