A garden plant common in every Thai household Kaprao, or Holy Basil, is a versatile herb appreciated both for its nutritional and medicinal properties. However, Holy Basil is variably know depending upon the region where it is found.

There are three varieties: red Holy Basil, white Holy Basil and an in-between, red-white hybrid.

As a small bush the plant shares several similarities with sweet basil. What differentiate one from the other are fragrance and the branches since Holy Basil is covered with more plant hair than sweet basil.

White Holy Basil leaves are a light green color, while red Holy Basil leaves are green but with a velvety texture; the plant's pendulous inflorescence containing tiny flowerets of velvety whitish-pink. Red Holy Basil flowerests are darker compared to those of white Holy Basil.

Holy Basil is rich on carbohydrate, fiber, phosphorus, calcium, protein, iron, beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and aromatic oil. Such versatility stems from fresh and dehydrated leaves, roots and seeds.

A deciduous plant of the ginger family, “krachai” (Kaempferia, or lesser galangal) is known in every Thai kitchen, as its rhizome is commonly used as an ingredient in fish curries.

Locally it is known under different names. In the north, it is called “ka-anne”, “ra-anne” or “hua la anne”; in the northeast, particularly in Maha Sarakham province, it is known as “khing daeng” or “khing sai”, while Bangkokians simply call it “wan-phra-athit”.

There are three types of krachai: yellow krachai, black krachai, and red krachai. However, yellow krachai, which looks like a bunch of long, thin yellowish-brown fingers, proves to be more popular in Thai cooking. It is an indispensable ingredient in making “namya”, the fish curry eaten with fresh rice noodle in the popular Thai dish called “kanom jeen-namya”.

Keeping a journal only take a few minutes each day, and it can be very rewarding and don't forget to write...

you may have kept a diary as a child or teenager, but have you ever considered starting one up again to express your emotions, document important milestones and serve as a reminder in years to come?

Well, the good news is it's never too late to begin keeping a journal. Start by buying yourself a new notebook and have it either sitting by your bed so you're reminded to use it, or somewhere more secretive. You must be a diligent journal keeper, so set a time for writing in your notebook and stick to it.