One place where you know you have entered a new country is at the evening market. Trang's is extremely colourful: aahhh, our first smell and taste of authentic Thailand.
Amongst the usual trashie music, sunglass, thong (flip-flop) and cheap t-shirt stands was an amazing array of food stalls. There was wildly aromatic curries, salads, fried goods, fresh fruits, noodles, desserts and loads of smiles to boot.
One unusual dessert that we stumbled upon, consisted of a wet rice batter ladled onto a cloth steamer. When virtually "set", a filling of caramelized shallot, peanut, palm sugar and fish sauce was placed on one half and then folded over (similar to a tortellini). The tasty morsel was then brushed with a toasted garlic oil and served with cabbage and scud chillies. At the time of eating we all commented on the silkiness of the dumpling which was well balanced by the richness of the filling and the crunchiness of the garlic. Unaware it was a dessert, until a local let us in on the secret, demonstrates how the Thai's complete their meals with something slightly savoury rather than sickly sweet, to keep total balance.
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