Not really a dish you would expect in an Asian country. Since Luang Praban has been named UNESCO World Heritage in the ‘90s it has been bombarded with hordes of tourists, who enjoy the Buddhist temples and colonial architecture. Many locals are happy with the new found business, but many others are not. The unique ambiance a place can bring about can become irreversibly replaced by a new tourist mood that could be found in touristic places all over the world. The frustration locals have with the large-scale flow of tourists is apparent on signs that decorate the city, informing tourists that they are not to participate in Buddhist rituals if they are not really Buddhist and that they should not treat the monks like “monkeys in a zoo.” Nevertheless, the clash between Western tourists and locals also has an upside: the best dishes and ingredients of both worlds are combined. Italian/American Ceasar salad meets mango. Enjoy!
