Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand Oct / Nov 2017: The Travel Issue | Page 69

BOY AND GIRL DOLLS BY THAI VILLAGE INC. ORIGINAL YA DOM BY HONG THAI Walking around Thailand’s busy sois, you might have noticed many locals sniffing a mystery substance from a small pot. Ya Dom — literally meaning “sniffing medi- cine” — are in fact inhalers that have developed from an- cient aromatic remedies to help soothe nerves, reduce anxiety, clear stuffed noses, and reduce dizziness and other mild ailments. It comes in many forms, including a balm, liquid, gel or a dried mixed herb form. The Hong Thai brand is a particular favorite, crafted from a secret recipe of herbs fiercely protected from the public. Hong Thai’s most coveted product is the origi- nal, recognizable by its resilient lime green plastic pot and weighing not much more than a feather. It is also ex- tremely affordable at around 30 THB a pop. You can order them at www.hongthaipanich.com, at Otop locations at www.thaitambon.com/en/otopcenter or even at your lo- cal Thai pharmacy. THAI TRIANGLE PILLOWS BY PENGUIN’S SMILE These quirky, colorful, patterned resting pillows are a ubiquitous sight in Thailand. From family homes to roy- al palaces, the triangle-shaped pillow, or “mohn kid,” as they’re called in Thai, have been prevalent in local abodes since historic Siamese times. Penguin’s Smile are one of the brands keeping the triangular tradition alive, using high-quality craftwork of Thai housewives from urban and rural communities. A company founded by old college friends, Penguin’s Smile makes their mohn kid unique by using batik fab- ric — a traditional natural cloth inspired by Indonesia — and add a charm with bright pops of color. These light- weight, handmade pillows (390 THB each) are available at The Thai Craft Fair every third Saturday of the month at Jasmine City building (L floor) or at the “3 Street” store on the third floor of Terminal 21. Find out more information at www.penguinsmile.com/home. Gift shopping for kids? It’s always a nice idea to present the little ones with a handmade keepsake from your trav- els — one which isn’t made from plastic, doesn’t require switching on, and can be easily squished into your bag- gage without damage. I love these adorable and social- ly-responsible dolls from the non-profit organization Thai Village Inc. The organizers work with local artisans from the north of Thailand to encourage self-sufficiency by provid- ing vocational training and higher education, made possible through not-for- profits craft sales. The dolls come in either a boy or girl design, with both wearing traditional royal costumes and costing 315 THB each. The gorgeous girl doll outfit is made from a woven material and the boy from a printed fabric and they are available from the Heritage Craft & Cafe in the Phra Nakorn area. You can find their full list of locations and product range at www.facebook.com/heritagecraftandcafe or at www.heri- tagecraft.org. SRIWANNA ASSORTED FRUIT TOFFEE Exotic fruits such as durian, coconut, mangosteen and mango have become synonymous with Thailand. But transporting fresh fruit to Western countries can be a pain and sometimes an impossibility. In fact, durian has even banned at most airports due to its pungent odor. The good news is you can conveniently take all these fruits home as delicious toffees. Sriwanna offers an assortment of Thai fruit candies made with extract of real fruit, with- out any additional coloring or chemicals. The chewy treats are wrapped in bright crepe paper in- side a clear bag and boast a sweet taste and truly authen- tic smell of the real thing. They are available to purchase in a range of fruity flavors, including durian, coconut, mango and mangosteen, or as a mixed bag with all four. Priced at around 150 THB for 350 grams, you can easily find them at larger Big C and Tesco Lotus supermarkets, or on the fourth floor of MBK. For more information contact [email protected] SEE WHAT SAMANTHA HAS TO SAY Would you like to ask Samantha a question about life in Thailand? Send an email to [email protected] and you might see your question answered in the next issue of Wanderlust! WWW.WANDERLUSTMAG.COMWANDERLUST 69