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Major souvenirs of Krabi are
turtle-dove cages, toei panan mats
made of pandanus leaves, shrimp
paste, dried fish, dried shrimp
and other processed seafood. These
can be bought in shops and markets
in Krabi town, especially on Uttarakit
Road. There are also two popular
night markets one on Maharaj Soi
8 and the second one on the riverfront
at Khongkha Road. Ao Nang offers
many of the shopping and eating
facilities similar to those of Krabi
though it is perhaps, a little bit
more familiar to tourists. Krabi
town has a wide range of shops,
many right behind the beach and
perfect for those beach essentials
that you always seem to have forgotton
or just run out of. Wake up early
morning and visit the colourful
local market between Phruksauthit
Road and Maharaj Road, where stalls
are pilled high with all the fresh
produce from the sea and areas around
Krabi can produce. It is a real
pleasure to wander among the stalls,
sampling the different and often
unusual tastes and smells but go
early to see all the wares piled
at their highest and to feel the
manic energy of this place.
 For
more serious shopping, there is
"The Beach Plaza" situated about
a kilometre out of town, on the
way to Haad Nopparattara a modern
shopping centre perfect for buying
electronics and brand name clothing
and toiletries. In fact, every imaginable
shopping needs is catered for here
under one roof, plus a large choice
of eating options from Thai rice
and noodles to Western fast food.
These are the best places to sample
many sweet and strange new fruits
including the famous Durian or tasty
and cheap Thai dishes, deserts and
drinks.
Hoi
Chak Teen (Feet-pulling Shells)
Hoi chak teen or wing shell is
in the Strombus Canxarium family.
It looks like a conch but is smaller
and brown in color. Its special
characteristic is its dark brown
walking legs which are referred
to as "feet" or "teen" (in informal
Thai). To prepare the dish, the
wing shell is soaked in salty water
for about half an hour. A few crushed
chilies are added to the water to
make it spicy. The wing shell then
begins to move, pushing its feet
out and expelling the mud from inside.
It is rinsed several times and then
put in to a pot of cold water. The
pot is then put on the stove and
when the water gets warm, the wing
shell pushes its feet out. As soon
as it is cooked, it is ready to
be served. To eat the wing shell,
you pull the feet and the mollusk
will come out. It is eaten with
a dip made of garlic, chilies, sugar,
lime juice and fish sauce. Hoi chak
teen is a popular savory snack dish.
The shells are also made into decorative
items for the home or sold as souvenirs.
ouio
 Som
Shogun (Shogun Orange)
The orange is popular because
of its sweet taste. It has a thin
rind and little pulp and is best
eaten fresh. The orange tree flowers
from March to June depending on
the climate in the area and takes
about one month for the fruit to
set. The fruit can be picked 8 to
9 months later. The most popular
propagation method is by rooting
branches. Orange growers usually
wait until the tree is three years
old before they start picking the
fruit.
Source:
Courtesy of Tourism authority
of Thailand.
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