Thai name: Ma-la-ko
Season: all year
Originally a native of Mexico, the papaya has been grown in Southeast Asia since the 16th century and the long yellow or orange fruit, rich in Vitamins A and C, is a well-established component of Thai cuisine. In perhaps its most popular use, green papayas are sliced into thin strips and ground together with dried shrimp, garlic, and hot chilies to produce a fiery salad called som tam. The ripe fruit is often eaten with a few drops of freshly squeezed lime juice.
On Phuket there are also conventional bus services and motorbike taxis. The latter are found in large numbers in the main town and at Patong Beach.