2/11/2007 ~ Local Thai Market

On the Rio: Susan Tedeschi ~ Just Won't Burn

Warning: Some of the following pictures might actually gross you out.

I saw so many things I had never seen before at the local market we stopped at on the way to a national park.

First, the fruit section.

Can anyone tell me the English names of these?

The red ones in the corner are not red peppers, which I first thought, but are sort of an apple/pear.

These were also at the floating market, and the guide bought us some to taste.

You eat them by ripping the top off with your fingernail and then eating the white flesh inside, but not the pit. They are delicious! We bought a whole bag for our lunch dessert. This is the inside after I opened it.

Then came the vegetable section.

The peppers and chiles are very hot.

The small round green, purple and white items are mini eggplants - as you can see are even smaller than the Japanese ones in the center. These are often used in the curry dishes.

I didn't take a picture of the pumpkins, since I believe most of you know what they look like, but thought you might be interested in knowing in Thai the word for pumpkin is "fakyu". Our guide had a blast telling us that several times.

Then came eggs. I had never seen a pink egg before. Our guide called them "dung" eggs because they are supposedly black inside. Mmmm...I didn't buy one to have a look. And what kind of "chicken" do you suppose lays these eggs?

This was followed by the flower stalls. Most of the flowers are bought to give as offerings at the buddhist temples.
Then the fun began. I advise anyone with a weak stomach to stop reading now.

Next was the fish market. Most of the fish are extremely fresh and the live ones will often jump out onto the sidewalk.

You can buy various types of fresh shrimp, or even squid.

Frogs (and not just the legs) are quite a delicacy.

If you are not into fresh fish, you can buy various kinds cooked and dried, ready on a stick.

Can you guess what's in the next picture? Sure, bean sprouts in lower left. How about behind it? That's coagulated animal blood. And the items next to them that look like cheese are actually bean curd.Still hungry? How about some beetles.

Or perhaps some rice rats. They must go great with bananas.