12 photography mistakes you don't know you're making

Jenna Kvidt is the creator of the website, Wander The Map, which focuses on travel, adventure and photography. She has a passion for the outdoors, music and art and seeks them out both at home and while traveling. You can find her tweeting from @wanderthemap or on Facebook.

When you come home from a trip, you will soon want to flip through your photos to remember all your great adventures, but unfortunately you aren’t always happy with the results. Sometimes the images don’t truly reflect the amazing experiences you had while exploring the world. Instead, they resemble the same old photographs you see in every other traveller’s Facebook photo album. Here are some common mistakes all beginners make and details on how to fix them, so next time you travel, you will come home with stunning photographs to share!

1. Always shooting from a boring perspective

Don’t just take all your photos from a straightforward perspective—it can get old and repetitive. Try climbing up high or get on the ground for a new, interesting view on your subject.  We love to get images from street level views especially when the streets have special characteristics such as the stone and overgrown grass along the riverside in Ghent, Belgium.

 2.  Not paying attention to scale

It’s hard to tell the size of a waterfall, mountain, etc. if there is nothing in the frame to show its scale.  When shooting a landscape scene, try to include a person or other object to show the size of the landscape. For example, in our photo of Iceland’s Skogafoss waterfall, you wouldn’t be able to tell how tall it stands if there was not a person in the lower right hand corner.

 3. Ignoring composition - Rule of third

Avoid taking photographs where the subject of your image is in the center of the frame.  Apply the rule of thirds, to create photographs that are well balanced and interesting.  The rule of thirds means to break your image into thirds both horizontally and vertically and place the focus at one of the four intersection points. Also, make sure to watch your horizon line—unless it’s intentional, keep the horizon line level in the background.

4. Not being in the right place at the right time

Don’t go out in the middle of the day with the intention of taking photographs with great lighting.  The best time to shoot is during the golden hour (around sunrise and sunset)—your lighting will be softer and warmer, and it won’t create the harsh shadows that can show up during the middle of the day. While in Norway, the lighting around the fjords was creating harsh shadows during the day, so we decided to wake up early the next morning to catch the warm lighting coming over the mountains.

Also, if you want to photograph a place such as a busy market, make sure to go during the busy time of day. For example, you wouldn’t want to show up to empty streets when you are intending on taking photographs of a street festival.  Do your research to make sure you are showing up at right place during the right time.

 5. Not using light to your advantage

Don’t forget to use lighting to your advantage. Instead of blowing out the background and losing all the background detail, try another approach and backlight your subject to create a nice silhouette and mood during sunset.

Another way to take advantage of backlighting is adding sun flares to your image for a warm glow.

 6. Being unprepared with your equipment

Not knowing how to use your gear is a surefire way to miss a photo opp. Make sure you know how to use your specific equipment so you don’t miss an opportunity because you are adjusting settings.  Just think—you are trying to take a photograph of an amazing firework display, but you can’t figure out how to expose properly, so you miss the shot and end up with a blurry dark photo.

Also, bring along extra batteries and memory cards so you aren’t caught unprepared. If using a smart phone, download and play with apps ahead of time. Some of my favorite photo apps are Pro HDR, VSCOcam and Snapseed.

7. Not connecting with your subject

Don’t just snap random photographs of people on the street. If you want to take a photo of someone, ask for their permission to gain a connection with them--sometimes no words are needed and just a smile and nod are enough.  The engagement with your subject can make or break a photo.  Also, don't just take a photo of a person standing in front of a landmark, get your subject to interact with the environment. Sometimes a reaction to an event tells the best story.

 8. Not paying attention to cropping and framing

Don’t forget to pay attention to your framing and how you crop your image. Plan your shot and use your space wisely.  Make sure to have the entire subject in your frame unless you are purposely cropping out a portion—nothing is worse than chopping off the top of a person’s head unintentionally.  Also try leaving negative space in the frame for a strategic impact.

 9. Forgetting the details

Don’t always take photographs from far away. Focus on capturing unique details and get in close to your subject. Zoom in on a beautiful souvenir, animal, food, or flower for a visually interesting photograph.  These types of shots help tell a story and little details can make a big impact.  For example, when we went orange picking in Orlando, we chose to focus on the oranges that had fallen from a tree in addition to wider shots of the entire tree itself.

 10. Ignoring your background

Not using signs or backgrounds to help tell a story can be a mistake. If a sign will add humour or create a context for your subject, make sure to include it.  But, if part of the background or a sign disagrees with your image’s story, leave it out of the frame. We took advantage of adding a little humour to our photo at a restaurant in Northern Ireland.

11. Don’t take pictures, make pictures

Instead of snapping photos randomly everywhere you go, take your time and create photos with intention. Determine the story you want to tell and create a picture to reflect what you want to say. Different lenses help tell your story; for example, a wide angle lens tells more about the space and environment, while a telephoto lens tells more about a specific subject.  The Grand Canyon is a perfect spot for a wide angle lens as you can really capture the entire environment.

12. Following all the rules

Learn all of the rules, and throw them out the window.  Once you know the rules, you know how to break them.  Get creative, get inspired and remember it’s not always the quality of the photo, but the moments you capture.

source: 12-photography-mistakes-you-don-t-know-you-re-making/158154

My Top Travel Photography Tips

by Victoria Brewood 

Ever since I was given a Nikon D70 camera as a present from my Dad, I have been really interested in photography. I’m always lusting after new pieces of kit and I’ve currently got my eye on a nice little upgrade. Being a travel blogger, photos are very important- a blog post without images would be pretty lifeless! Back in school I loved art, and although I’m not exactlySaatchi material, I’m definitely a creative type. I’ve published a few photo essays on the blog, like this one in Norway and this one in Myanmar, and I’m currently selling some of my photos as stock photography for some extra cash.

So today I’m going to share with you some of the travel photography tips I’ve picked up along the way, from choosing a camera, to capturing the best sides of a destination.

Choosing a Camera

The first thing to think about is what camera you’re going to take with you. With so many options on the market, that’s easier said than done. It all depends on how much gear you are prepared to carry around, how professional you want your photos to look and what you’re going to use them for.

Compact Camera

The compact camera is the lightest and most portable option, but with many smart phones offering such great in-built cameras, I find it quite hard to justify the need for a compact camera. In short, you’re better off getting a good smart phone.

DSLR

Whether you’re an an amateur, an enthusiast or a pro, there are a range of DSLR cameras available to suit all budgets. They take impressive photos and you can switch lenses according to what you are shooting. Many of them come with video capabilities and even flip out LCD screens so you can film video footage too. The major downside is they are bulky and heavy, especially if you’re carrying extra lenses.

Mirrorless Camera

Mirrorless Cameras basically bridge the gap between compact cameras and DSLRs. Like DSLRs they have interchangeable lenses, but the mirrorless system means they can be designed in a smaller size. The mirrorless camera is a great option for travel, offering excellent photo and video capabilities, without adding unnecessary bulk.  

Supercharge your iPhone

I carry my iPhone 5 everywhere with me, and for a smartphone, I love the quality of the photos it takes. I use this to take all my photos for social media websites such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and I’ve downloaded a ton of apps to make my pictures ‘pop’. Bing small and light, it’s also my ‘backup’ camera for nights out when I don’t want to carry around a bulky camera.

While it’s no DSLR, there are numerous ways you can supercharge your iPhone so that it takes incredible photos.

• Firstly, buy an external battery because the battery life on smartphones isn’t great. I use the Anker 5600mAh Portable External Battery Charger. I don’t have to worry about my iPhone dying on me- I can simply plug it into this little device using my iPhone cable. I also carry a CHARGEKEY from Nomad Goods on my keychain, which is basically the world’s dinkiest iPhone cable.

• Download some photography apps so you can edit your photos before putting them online. I use Camera +, Big Lens, Snapseed and Pro HDR. These apps come with a range of filters and tuning options to make your photos look stunning for Instagram.

• Consider an Olloclip- a quick-connect lens solution for iPhone that includes macro, telephoto, wide angle and fish eye lenses.

• It might look super touristy, but I like to take pictures of food. Where possible I try to take photographs at lunchtime in daylight, but sometimes I’ll be in a dark restaurant and need some extra light. I used to get someone else to shine their phone’s flashlight on my food, but now I carry around a Manfrotto Pocket-12 LED Light. 

• Finally, if you want to push the boat out and turn your iPhone into a mini DSLR, you can buy the Sony Cyber-shot QX10 wireless camera lens for iPhone.

Obviously there’s only so much your iPhone can do, so here are some of my top travel photography tips for shooting with a DSLR.

Travel Photography Tips

• Take spare batteries and chargers, plus a worldwide travel adapter. You don’t want to lose battery at the top of a mountain just as you’re about to capture that epic travel photo!
• It’s all in the details. Instead of taking hundreds of shots of famous landmarks and panoramas, try to notice the details of a place and what makes it unique. It might be textures, colours or patterns; it might be people or activities. Pay attention to sights, sounds and smells, then try to capture those senses in your photographs.
• Be selective with what you photograph. It’s tempting to take lots of pictures of the same thing, but aim for one or two really good shots, instead of hundreds that look the same. I used to take scattergun pictures of everything I saw, but now I save my camera for the best shots
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• Shoot people. Portraits are stunning and the eyes tell much more of a story about a place than a landscape ever could. A lot of travellers think it’s necessary to stand around waiting for people to get out of your shot, but sometimes, having a person in the photo can really bring that generic shot to life.
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• Visit hotels and restaurants with great views. I usually try to do some research and visit the rooftop bar of a hotel, or a restaurant with a terrace to capture the best views.
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• Shoot in RAW I have my camera set to take photos in both JPG and RAW. It’s important to have the RAW file, which is basically the master copy of your photo with all the data. When it comes round to editing, you can literally go back and process it in a different way.
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• Carry your camera in your carry on bag, not your checked baggage. If your checked bag goes missing, so does your camera. Keep it with you at all times.
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• Travel with insurance- You should always be vigilant when travelling with expensive camera equipment. When shooting videos or taking photos, I twist the camera strap round my arm so that it’s much more difficult for someone to steal. Be careful of pickpockets when your’e out and store your camera in a safe at your hotel/hostel/apartment. Purchase travel insurance and perhaps even gadget insurance for very expensive electronics. Think it won’t happen to you? I had my Nikon D80 stolen in MONACO of all places! It was covered on my home contents insurance, so luckily I was able to get a replacement.
• source: travel-photography-tips
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• More articles : the-photography-tips-that-96-photographers-wish-they-wouldve-learned-sooner/?awt_m=1buoZUnd.Qc&awt_email=gigli-chico2@hotmail.com
• More 9-photography-mistakes/

Food Myths debunked

Finally: the ultimate guide on what to eat This was the fortnight when everything we thought we knew about eating and drinking healthily was turned on its head. First, a damning new study in the British Medical Journal showed that — after all we have been told to the contrary — saturated fat is good for you. Far from being the great risk to our health and hearts, it turns out that most people who eat butter, milk, cream and full- fat yoghurts generally have better heart health, less risk of Type 2 diabetes, and are even slimmer than those who eat fat- free... Now experts are saying instead that carbohydrates are the real killer… So what can we safely eat these days? And what had we better avoid? Here, the experts give their " definitive" verdict... Butter What the line has been: Avoid butter at all costs and replace with low- fat polyunsaturated spreads. What we now know: Butter can be good for you in small amounts. " We used to think that if you ate saturated fat, it raised your cholesterol levels," says Dr Michael Mosley, the science journalist. " It turns out that dairy fats don't work like that in your bloodstream." Recommended amount: A moderate amount, which may even do you good. Eggs What the line has been: Eggs are full of cholesterol. What we now know: Eggs are good for you and have no link to health problems. " Dietary cholesterol does not increase cholesterol levels in the blood," says Mel Wakeman, a senior lecturer in nutrition at Birmingham City University in the UK. " Eggs are full of nutrients and vitamins... They contain protein, so will also keep you fuller for longer." Recommended amount: You can eat eggs three or four times a week. Milk  What the line has been: Better to drink semi- skimmed or skimmed. What we now know: Full- fat milk contains a lot of healthy fats and is just as good for you — if not better than reduced- fat versions. " Just because a food is fatty doesn't mean it's bad for you, as there are different types of fat," says Wakeman. Recommended amount: Up to half a pint of full- fat milk a day. Olive oil  What the line has been: Olive oil is key to better health. What we now know: Olive oil is fine on salads but is carcinogenic when heated and should not be used for frying. " For frying, I recommend rapeseed oil, which has similar nutritional benefits, but has a high smoke point," says Dr Glenys Jones, a nutritionist. Recommended amount: A tablespoon a day. Carbohydrates  What the line has been: Carbohydrates should make up 50 per cent of your food intake. What the line is now: Brown carbohydrates are good, but white are deadly. " I'm a big supporter of carbohydrates," says Wakeman, " but they must be wholegrain. White spaghetti, bread and rice are not our friends…" Recommended amount: Wholegrain carbohydrates should make up 50 per cent of your food. Wine  What the line has been: A small amount of alcohol, particularly red wine, is good for the heart. What we now know: The benefits of drinking have been over- stated. " It's certainly good for post- menopausal women because red wine makes the blood less sticky and so lowers the risk of heart disease," says Wakeman. " In younger women, however, the research shows that there is an indisputable connection between levels of alcohol intake and breast cancer." Recommended amount: A small glass of red a day is probably fine, with a couple of days off a week. Yogurt  What the line has been: Stick to the low- fat variety. What the line is now: Full- fat may be better. " There is now strong evidence that eating full- fat yogurt is likely to cut your risk of heart disease and diabetes, and is associated with effective weight loss in a way that eating low- fat yogurt isn't," says Dr Mosley. Recommended amount: Switch to fullfat and you may eat regularly if you like. Superfood  What the line has been: There is no such thing as a superfood. What the line is now: … Certain foods — mostly fruits and vegetables — are extraordinarily nutrient- dense. " Watercress, beetroot and spinach, for example, all seem to deliver a record number of vitamins and micro- nutrients," says Dr Mosley. Recommended amount: As much as you like. Fruit juice What the line has been: Fruit juice is good for you. What we now know: Many commercial fruit juices contain unhealthy amounts of sugar, the equivalent of 10 teaspoons per glassful. " Many fruit juices have a similar sugar content to Coca- Cola," says Dr Mosley. Recommended amount: Making your own is better but it's a treat, not a health drink. Red meat  What the line has been: Red meat is bad for you. What the line is now: Red meat from grass- fed animals can be good for you. " If you look at American studies, there does seem to be evidence of a small increase of risk to your heart from eating red meat, but when you look at similar studies from Europe there is no link," says Dr Mosley. " This is probably because American meat is reared on concrete lots, fed corn and given a lot of antibiotics and growth hormones, whereas beef in Europe is often fed on grass and hasn't been pumped full of all the bad stuff." Recommended amount: 100g three or four times a week is fine. Bread What the line has been: Bread is good for you. What the line is now: Only wholegrain breads are good for you. " Always make sure you are eating bread made from wholemeal flour," says Wakeman. " Lots of healthy- looking artisan breads are made with white flour, so always read the label." Recommended amount: Two to four slices a day is fine. Dark chocolate What the line has been: Chocolate is bad for you. What we now know: Dark chocolate is good for the heart. " Research now conclusively shows a link to eating small amounts of dark chocolate and lowered blood pressure," says Wakeman. " But milk chocolate is… just fat and sugar with very little cocoa in it." Recommended amount: Two squares of 70 per cent cocoa dark chocolate a day. © THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH Finally: the ultimate guide on B utter can be good for you but don't fry with olive oil. Anna van Praagh considers the latest findings that flip our food wisdom on its head what to eat source: http://epaper Dietary advice tastes so much better with a pinch of salt  Food guidelines that we take as gospel are turning out to be guff. Now it transpires the evidence against salt is decidedly shaky, writes OLIVER THRING Butter is back. Last fortnight a major study found that the longstanding official advice in the UK, which said animal fats were bad for us, was wrong. You will have noticed that we have not been getting slimmer. Rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes have soared among the past generation. The authors of the recent study said it was " incomprehensible" that these guidelines had been handed to the public, " given the contrary results from a small number of unhealthy men". Several other specific government food targets — however well intentioned — contain a modicum of guesswork. " Five- a- day, 14- 21 alcohol units a week, 20- 30g of saturated fat, 18g of fibre: none of these targets has any precise evidence for them," Zoe Harcombe, who co- authored the study, has written. One of the most staunchly held truisms of modern nutrition is that salt is bad for you. " Salt: the facts", begins a taxpayer- funded website. " Many of us in the UK eat too much salt," it affirms. " Too much salt can raise your blood pressure, which puts you at increased risk of health problems such as heart disease and stroke. Cutting down on salt lowers blood pressure." It adds that we should eat " no more than 6g of salt per day". " Why six?" asks Harcombe. " I have no idea and nor does the NHS. Why not seven? Why not five? Why have a target at all?" The evidence that salt causes high blood pressure is decidedly shaky and has been repeatedly called into doubt. It rests for the most part on a couple of not especially recent or thorough trials. In the 1970s a Long Island scientist induced high blood pressure in rats by feeding them sodium that equated to a human eating 2,500g of salt a day. ( Most of us eat around 8.5g of salt a day, or about 1.5 teaspoons.) In 1997 another study was held, ostensibly looking into whether a lowsalt diet could control high blood pressure. Its participants followed a diet that not only featured minimal salt but also contained fresh vegetables and fruits, lean protein and whole grains; it was low in saturated fat and, perhaps most crucially, contained little sugar. Unsurprisingly, rates of high blood pressure in the group were lower than in the general population. But a lack of salt could not be isolated as the reason behind this. More than that, the lowsalt group had higher rates of bad cholesterol, leading some researchers to call the results " one- sided". In contrast, the evidence that salt has a negligible effect on blood pressure — at least in most people — is now considerable. In January an international study, which followed more than 1,50,000 people across five continents, found that consuming less than 3g of sodium a day — or about 7.5g of salt — was associated with a 27 per cent increase in cardiovascular disease and death. Eating between 3g and 6g of sodium, which is roughly the amount we normally eat, was associated with a lower rate of heart disease, while consuming more than 7g ( about 18g of salt, or almost three times the UK average) was associated with a higher risk of heart disease and death. This study has been buttressed by at least 10 others during the past 30 years, collectively following hundreds of thousands of people. These studies have repeatedly found that low- sodium diets — the same that you are exhorted to follow when you read websites such as " Salt: the facts" — could be more likely to kill you than simply eating the amount of salt that tastes right. We seek out foods that contain salt because without it we die. " Restricting sodium in the diet to prevent hypertension and cardiovascular disease is the greatest con in preventative nutrition and medicine," says James DiNicolantonio, a cardiovascular research scientist and an associate editor of the British Medical Journal 's online publication Open Heart . He adds: " Low sodium stresses the heart. This increases the risk of atherosclerosis, heart failure and hypertension… Restricting sodium is also associated with increased mortality, worsened cognition and gait, increased risk of falling and subsequent fractures, and worsened thyroid function — just to name a few." Despite decades of instructions exhorting people to cut down on the amount of salt they eat, the actual rates of salt consumption in developed countries are thought to have been relatively stable since the Industrial Revolution. Put simply: people are ignoring the advice not to eat more salt. Sonia Pombo is a campaign co- ordinator and a graduate in nutrition who works at the Consensus Action on Salt and Health pressure group. She says those studies that fail to show a link between blood pressure and sodium are " limited and methodologically flawed". She adds: " It is evident that salt, in the amounts we eat, is a direct toxin that puts up our blood pressure, which is the biggest cause of strokes, heart attacks and heart failure and is the commonest cause of death and disability in the UK." " A ' direct toxin'?" says DiNicolantonio. " Salt is an essential micronutrient that our body can retain or excrete to maintain the perfect amount. The less sodium we eat, the harder our kidneys have to work to reabsorb it." I ask Harcombe whether, after butter and possibly salt, any other foods might be ready for rehabilitation. " Eggs, certainly," she says. " The evidence shows that eating cholesterol has no effect on the cholesterol in our own bodies — the American guidelines were just updated to reflect that." Harcombe also believes that milk, lard and red meat are due to come back into favour. " The media often lump red meat with processed meat as equally likely to cause bowel cancer. The former is one of the most nutritious things on the planet; the latter is probably toxic," she says. The message to take from this dispiriting tale will be familiar. It is to eat fresh and wholesome food: vegetables, fruit, whole grains and nuts. Enjoy meat, fish and animal fats as accompaniments rather than as the basis of a dish. Don't overdo sugar, but remember that food is as much about pleasure and the communion of the species as it is about fuel. Above all else, take the fluctuating diktats of nutritionists and killjoys with the best seasoning of all — a good pinch of salt. © THE SUNDAY TIMES, LONDON Restricting sodium in the diet to prevent hypertension and cardiovascular disease is the greatest con in preventative nutrition and medicine source: http://epaper.telegraphindia.com

How to Identify Thai Street Food Carts ( 5 Types)

There is a wonderful blog written by  mark Wien.  I am sharing one nice article from that blog.

http://www.eatingthaifood.com/thai-recipes/ 

One of the most challenging things about eating in Thailand is identifying what dishes a restaurant or street food stall serves.

But the great news is, Thai street food carts and restaurants are very good at publicly displaying and showcasing the ingredients and dishes they serve.

Even if you don't know Thai, if you can remember a few food clues, you'll have a much better time finding and ordering Thai food.

While I won't be able to cover every type of street food in this message, I wanted to share 5 of the most common types of street food carts you'll find throughout Thailand.

If you remember these main food carts, and the dishes they serve, you'll have a serious advantage to ordering and eating the best Thai food.

 1. The Isaan Food Cart (อาหารอีสาน)

Isaan is the northeastern region of Thailand, and it's famous for food. It is near Laos border.

To locate an Isaan food cart, be on the look out for a cart that's stashed with green papayas, cucumbers, tomatoes, and a big wooden or clay mortar and pestle (pictured above). Isaan food carts often also have some meat grilling on the side, like chicken or pork.

Possible dishes to order: 

• Som tam (ส้มตำ) - green papaya salad
• Gai yang (ไก่ย่าง) - grilled chicken
• Kaw moo yang (คอหมูย่าง) - grilled pork neck
• Laab moo (ลาบหมู) - minced pork salad
• Nam dok moo (น้ำตกหมู) - grilled pork salad

Isaan food carts are extremely common in Bangkok and throughout Thailand.

Example in Bangkok: Larb Bpet Yasothon 

2. The Ahaan Dam Sang Cart (อาหารตามสั่ง)

Ahaan dam sang, or food made to order, typically refers to stir fried food in Thailand.

Whenever you spot a street food cart where someone is cooking over a wok (a rounded metal skillet), you can be pretty certain you've found an ahaan dam sang restaurant.

Along with a wok, you'll also see a glass cabinet filled with all sorts of different vegetables, eggs, and meat, and maybe a pot or two of soup broth boiling on the side.

Possible dishes to order:

• Pad kra pao (ผัดกระเพรา) - choice of meat with holy basil
• Pad prik gaeng (ผัดพริกแกง) - choice of meat with red curry paste
• Pad pak ruam (ผัดผักรวม) - mixed vegetables
• Moo tod gratiem (หมูทอดกระเทียม) - fried pork with garlic
• Tom yum goong (ต้มยำกุ้ง) - awesome soup

You can either order rad khao (ราดข้าว), meaning on top of a single plate of rice, or gap khao (กับข้าว), where you'll get the dish and rice on separate plates.

Example in Bangkok: Fikeaw Yaowarat Restaurant

 3. The Khao Gaeng Cart (ข้าวแกง)

Khao gaeng in Thai means rice and curry, and this is a type of restaurant or cart you'll see all over Thailand, from the north to the south. If you're interested in eating Thai curries, this is the best type of restaurant to find.

Dishes are pre-cooked, then usually served in big metal trays or basins, and displayed on a cart, or at the front of a restaurant.

To order, you normally get a plate of rice, and can then point and choose 2 - 3 different dishes of your choice, which will be scooped over the top of your rice.

Possible dishes to order (this depends on which area of Thailand you're in, you'll find different dishes in the south or the north of Thailand):

• Gaeng keow wan (แกงเขียวหวาน) - green curry
• Panang moo (แพนงหมู) - panang pork curry
• Massaman (มัสมั่น) - massaman curry
• Kai dao (ไข่ดาว) - fried egg, common at khao gaeng stalls
• Choose anything that looks good!

If you don't know the names of the dishes, the best way to order khao gaeng is to just point to two or three dishes that look good.

Example in Bangkok: Nang Loeng Market

​4. The Nam Prik Cart (น้ำพริก)

Nam prik, refers to any variation of Thai chili dipping sauce, typically served along with fish, rice, and vegetables.

You'll normally find nam prik food carts at local markets, showcasing a variety of different chili dipping sauces in metal bowls, alongside trays full of boiled vegetables, and often some fried or grilled fish.

To order you can point to a type of nam prik chili sauce, which will then be filled into a little baggie, and you then proceed to choose the side veggies and fish to accompany your nam prik. Nam prik from street food carts is usually sold for takeaway.

Possible dishes to order:

• Nam prik kapi (น้ำพริกกะปิ) - fermented shrimp paste chili dip
• Nam prik noom (น้ำพริกหนุ่ม) - roasted pepper chili dip
• Nam prik pla ra (น้ำพริกปลาร้า) - fermented fish sauce chili dip
• Any selection of vegetables and grilled fish 

Example in Bangkok: Food stall on Sukhumvit 101 (this is one of the few places that has tables too)

5. The One-Dish Cart (อาหารจานเดียว)

One-dish carts make up a significant part of Thai street food carts. 

You can probably tell from the name, but these types of food carts serve just one, or maybe a couple variations, of a dish.

The best way to identify what one-dish carts are selling is to see what they have on display - could be egg noodles, or chicken, or duck. For instance, a food stall that has a couple of boiled chicken hanging in the glass cabinet is probably selling khao man gai (ข้าวมันไก่), or chicken and rice.

Also, make sure you look at what customers are eating - do they all seem to be eating the same dish?

If it looks good, just sit down, and if you don't speak Thai, you can usually just hold up a finger with the amount of plates you want.

Possible one-dish food carts (there are many):

• Pad Thai (ผัดไทย)
• Khao man gai (ข้าวมันไก่) - chicken and rice
• Khao moo daeng (ข้าวหมูแดง) - rice with red bbq pork
• Jok (โจ๊ก) - rice congee porridge (pictured above)
• Kuay teow gai (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวไก่) - noodle soup with chicken
• Kuay teow reua (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือ) - boat noodles
• Kuay jab (ก๋วยจั๊บ) - noodle rolls in soup
• Moo satay (หมูสะเต๊ะ) - Thai satay

Example in Bangkok: Doy Kuay Teow Reua

Conclusion

To best order Thai food in Thailand, you have to know which stalls serve which dishes.

If you can remember some of these food clues, you'll be able to quickly identify the dishes served at many Thai restaurants and street food stalls, and you'll have the upper hand at ordering (and eating) delicious Thai food.

That's all for today, but if you have any questions, please let me know.

Happy eating,

Mark Wiens (มาร์ค วีนส์)