Hua Hin

While I was in Singapore a few weeks ago, I also made a short trip to Thailand, landing in Bangkok and then driving to Hua Hin with some family friends. Hua Hin is a little beachside town about two hours from Bangkok, not much to see or do, but the weather was lovely and hot, and I managed to snap some shots while we shopped for lunch at the local market.



Assorted Variety of Eggplants (and bumpy little bitter gourds at the top left-hand corner)



Ocher Pyramids of Dried Shrimp (apologies for tilty angle)


Just a handful of these little guys lends an intense flavor to any number of dishes, such as stir-fries.



This is a steamer, on top of which has been ladled a thin mixture of rice flour and water. The amber lumps of candied peanuts will soon be enfolded in the delicate, slightly chewy crepe.



At this little stall on wheels, a woman is preparing a dessert of grilled green bananas that are then smushed between two metal plates and dunked in a creamy concoction of coconut milk and gula melaka (dark brown palm sugar), before a final grilling.


I was really excited to try this because I adore cooked bananas, and don't those bananas look plump and lovely?


Unfortunately, I wasn't crazy about the type of banana used. Some green bananas turn succulent and sweet when cooked, but these did not. The cooked banana had a dry, leathery texture, necessitating regular sips of water to help wash things down. Ah well, the anticipation had been fun.