November Adventures... (I)

Mostly re-adjusting to my surroundings. For a week or so, i had my clothes literally all across the floor - then all my notes from last semester and papers (and yes, i got my grades, and passed everything)... managed to throw out a bagful - always nice when you whittle down the Load...hoping i didn't pitch anything that indispensible...I've got less classes, though i imagine the work will pile up - but at least there's a bit more flexibility...

i've promised myself that this semester, i WILL get more exercise. I played badminton yesterday with a few classmates at a school gym. It was so hot, didn't take much to work up a sweat! but i actually like the game very much, and it's nice to find something to do communally...

A "Larb" Lesson

Followed by food and  beer, of course. Lots of "larb" (pronounced "Lahp") dishes - one of my absolute favorite thai dishes - i could live off the stuff. usually made with ground or sliced chicken, pork, or beef - contains roasted rice powder along with fresh lime, shallots, basil, mint, and chili - served with sticky rice.

(Recipe, for those interested, this one seems about right: http://www.recipezaar.com/Larb-Gai-Spicy-Thai-Chicken-Salad-88611 )

Incidentally, though - i tried a new version of the dish - apparently, in the Issan province, it's actually made with raw beef and blood. If you're cringing about now, you're right. it's absolutely horrid! it's one thing to have thin, clean slices of raw beef (Japanese style) - but in chunks, soaked in a deep red "sauc"e - uh-uh,  not even the larb spices could make that work for me...

 A Sidenote on Sticky Rice

In thailand, sticky rice is generally served  in a dense little clump about the size of a fist, from which you pull off bits as you eat the other dishes. This more glutenous rice is actually very functional in that not only can you eat it with your hands, but generally keeps very well - for up to 2 days - without extra heat or refrigeration, whereas regular rice would start to spoil after a day. Plain (fluffy) rice only became more common with increasing rice trade (from the West, ie, to accompany Indian dishes). The sticky rice is a bit more caloric, so i try to stick to the plain one - although it's absolutely un-exchangeable when it comes to mangoes and sticky rice (where the rice is actually generously "drizzled" sweet coconut milk)...