Thailand

Souvenirs from Thailand

Souvenirs from Thailand are an impressive reflection of thousands of years of history, religion, and politics, and are just as stunning, in terms of craftsmanship and material. Perhaps the most popular piece of memorabilia is a Buddha statue, available in male and female variations and a variety of sizes. The most valuable are created from precious metals and gemstones, but you can also find some carved from rock or resin. The elephant is a common theme in Thai souvenirs and art, found on postcards, fun plastic necklaces, key chains, magnets and T-shirts and worked into the fine arts, such as sculptures, statues and ceramics. Silk products are a famous export from the Kingdom of Thailand, and you will find a wide assortment of brightly colored bedspreads, pillows, scarves and costumes to pack in your suitcase. Leather items, made from the skins of stingrays, are a fantastic addition to your wardrobe and an easy way to remember your vacation.

Thai Cuisine and History

Thai cuisine is famous for spicy tastes, blended with fresh ingredients that are minimally prepared. Each meal is balanced to the four major taste senses of salty, sweet, sour and bitter, ensuring that the diner enjoys each flavor. Regional variations are based on borders shared with neighboring countries, resulting in 4 major divisions of the cuisine. Northern foods take inspiration from Myanmar (Burma), China and Laos, the Northeast shares tastes and flavors from Vietnam and Cambodia, Southern lands use Malaysian spices and produce, and the cooking of the Central region is descended from the Thai Royal Cuisine, dating back to the 14th century. These regional variations on similar dishes create wildly different tastes. For example, a Southern Thai curry will use turmeric and coconut milk for flavor, while a Northeastern one will use lime juice instead. The Chinese gave Thai cuisine the wok, fried rice noodles, stir-fry, soybeans and oyster sauce.