rough+drafts

Lydia Neill page 3 The food in Thailand is very unique from other countries’ foods, but other countries influenced lots of the current eating and sitting habits. Sitting in chairs and at tables and setting the various dishes on the table was very unusual until Thais learned it from other parts of the world. Thais used to sit on the floor on mats and eat just on dishes or a low platform, different from tables. Thai food is a combination of Chinese and Indian, with native recipes and spicy, hot seasoned stews. There are not any special meal times like breakfast, lunch and dinner like there are in the United States; Thais simply eat when they are in the mood. Their motto is “Eat when you are hungry.” Thais have no fear of trying any meat, either wild or domestic, or seafood. On a menu there are usually the choices of frog, snake, lizard, deer and more. (//Thailand: Cultures of the World// by Goodman, Jim) There are many different types of food that are eaten in Thailand, like: soups, curry dishes, different types of dips, spiced salads, seafood, and desserts. (www.sawadee.com) There are many different soups; one example is Tom Yum Kung (or Tom Yum Goong). It is the most famous of all the Thai soups. This soup contains all four major tastes-salty, sour, spicy and sweet. The soup is also known as a remedy for a cold or flu. (thaifood.about.com) Curry dishes are very common and are in almost every meal. A Thai meal usually consists of either a curry dish or a spiced salad; there is not usually both in one meal. A curry dish consists of different spices. The complex curry dish consists of the spices: garlic, galangal, coriander roots, lemon grass, kaffir lime peel, and peppercorns. A simple curry dish only consists of the spices: dried chilies, shallots, and shrimp paste. Dips are often used with fish and vegetables. The complex dips are made Lydia Neill page 4 from chilies, garlic, dried shrimps, limejuice, fish sauce, sugar, and shrimp sauce. The dips are one of the most major dishes in Thai food. Spiced salads are very herbal and have harmonious tastes. (www.sawadee.com) The salads are not complete without the proper flavors and tastes. “Thai food can never be bland.” (//Thailand: Cultures of the World// by Goodman, Jim) The major tastes of a spiced salad are sour, sweet and salty. Seafood is a national food but is a part of Thai cuisine and culture. The main seafood meals include fish, crab, lobsters and shrimp. Dessert is the uniformly sweet portion of the meal. “No meal is complete without it.” ([|www.sawadee.com]) There are many different types of markets and restaurants in Thailand. There are restaurants in shopping centers, in the open-air garden, riverside dinners, and the most common restaurant is a meal with musical entertainment and graceful dances. (www.marimari.com/content/Thailand) There are floating river markets and street side markets. The floating markets are reached by long, narrow, canoe shaped, wooden boats propelled by oars or outboard motors. Street side markets are usually reached by motorcycles that are parked along the side of where the products are displayed. The markets sell different varieties of fruit, vegetables and flowers. As food is an important part of the Thailand culture, religion is even more important. About 94% of the Thai population are Buddhist, 3.9% are Muslim, 1.7% are Confucianist, and only 0.6% are Christian. (www.marimari.com/content/Thailand) Buddhism is the main religion for Thailand. Even the king is required to be Buddhist. The king is considered the protector of all religions and has given religious freedom since the 17th century. Ayutthaya Kings were the first to allow Christians to build churches in Lydia Neill page 5 Thailand. (//Thailand: Enchantment of the World// by McNair, Sylvia) Buddhists worship in wats, like Christians in churches and Muslims in mosques. ‘Bhikkus’ means Buddhist monks. Most males spend time as a monk, even if only for a couple of weeks. In earlier years, females would only have interest in males who had spent any time as a monk because if they had not spent time as one, then they believed they were not fully an adult. Monks wear orange robes and shave their heads and eyebrows. Most monks leave wats at dawn and collect alms from faithful people. (me-kong-travel.con/thai_relig.htm) Monks have over 100 rules to obey, some examples are: no stealing, lying, killing of any sort (including insects), are only allowed to posses robes, alms bowls, and few personal items, such as a toothbrush, only allowed to eat 2 meals a day-both before 11 a.m. (//Thailand: Cultures of the World// by Goodman, Jim) There are many manners that Buddhists follow, such as not pointing toes at anyone, most importantly the main Buddha image, because feet are regarded as unclean. They never touch anyone on the head because it was unsanitary. (me-kong-travel.con/thai_relig.htm) Almost everything in Buddhism depends on one’s karma. Karma has to do with laws and cause and effect, it teaches that nothing in this lifetime is permanent and so people shouldn’t try to achieve happiness by possessions. (//Thailand: Enchantment of the World// by McNair, Sylvia) There are four laws of karma: 1.Results are similar to the cause 2.No results without a cause 3. Once an action is done, the result is never done 4. Karma expands ([|www.viewonbuddhism.org/karma.html]) Lydia Neill page 6 Buddhists study and follow the teachings of the Lord Buddha, the main Buddha image. (me-kong-travel.con/thai_relig.htm) There are two branches of Buddhism but one branch is more common than the other. Theravada is the most common branch and is also referred to as Hinayana. The rules in Theravada are not as strict as other branches of Buddhism. Theravada means “the elders” which makes sense because it is the oldest branch. Theravada teaches gentleness, tolerance and love, emphasizes meditation for more self-control and unselfishness, and knowledge. Also, that a person lives several lives and the type of life depends on their previous life. Buddhism’s official title is ‘The Upholder of All Religions’. (//Thailand: Enchantment of the World// by McNair, Sylvia) An Indian Prince, Siddhartha Gautama, founded Buddhism during the 3rd century around 500 BC at Nakhon Pathom. Which is where the tallest Buddhist monument stands after the Buddhist Emperor Asoka. ([|www.sawadee.com]) (//Thailand: Enchantment of the World// by McNair, Sylvia) Buddhism became the state religion during the kingdom of Sukhothai. During that time, Thai settlers followed the religion of Mons and Khmers. Through those religions came the Hindu view of Kingship (caste system of the Brahmins) and the worship of the elephant god, Erawan. (//Thailand: Cultures of the World// by Goodman, Jim) Buddhism and parts of other religions are displayed in many festivals in Thailand.