* A package of dried shrimp can be found at an Asian grocery store. I highly recommend using it as it adds some fantastic flavor, but if you cannot find it, you may omit it.
* If you can't find Thai chilies (aka birds eye chilies), you can use 1 serrano pepper.
* Sometimes you can find pre-shredded papaya; in that case you want about 2 cups. If you cannot find it shredded, simply peel and shred using the large holes of a box grater. Papaya contains hard, round seeds - just shred the fleshly part of the papaya and when you get close to the seeds, move to another part of the papaya.