Goodbye Party - Part 1

Blogger isn't behaving again and won't let me upload more than 5 pics, so I am going to have to do this in 2 posts.

Way back on January 20th, my friends threw me a going-away/pre-birthday party. It was really great and Gade, Tommie Anne & Cresta really outdid themselves.

One of the events of the party was a Farang Som Tham Competition. "What is that?" you ask. Well, a farang is a foreigner- usually a white foreigner and som tham is spicy papaya salad. So each team had a farang make a dish of som tham to see who could make the best dish (aroi thi sud).

Here I am making my masterpiece and below is a closer look.

(The ingredients are shredded unripe papaya, carrots, tomato, peanuts, fish sauce, sugar, lemon juice, tamarind paste, garlic and chile peppers of course.)

The judge for the competition was Mae Da (above) who is know for her som tham. One was too sour, one was just not right, but one (despite being a bit garlicky) was just right!

I was named the Farang Som Tham Champ- whoohoo!

Thanks to Jiap and O for helping me with directions and preliminary tastes.

Above: Gade and Muay strike a pose. Below: Rose grows some antlers complimentary of Jiap.

Coming up next (if Blogger cooperates): Karaoke and the Photo Scavenger Hunt!