Singapore - a fine country indeed

Over the last few years, Singapore had been popping up into conversations more frequently.  Its location served many times as a layover for those in transit to/from Australia and as a gateway into Asia.

When I left Australia en route to Thailand, I found myself there with less than 24 hours.  Luckily, my time was quickly filled as my Couchsurfing host, Hang Seng, was a local and had some time to show me around.  One of the things I really enjoy about traveling is getting to know the people who live there, especially if they've grown up there.  You learn so much about the country, the culture, and their people.  Here are a few snaps that were captured:

I jump, that's what I do.  That's me jumping in front of the Marina Bay Sands.

Enjoying some street noodles

Mini mangoes!

Sweet tooth cravings: a fruit smoothie prepared by moi and some ice cream

In the last picture, if you're curious as to what flavors I chose, I had to go with the local flavors that I would only find in this area.  The light purple scoop is of pulut hitam, a sweet dessert made of black glutinous rice porridge with coconut milk and palm sugar.  Sitting below that is a scoop of chendol, another sweet dessert consisting of coconut milk, rice flour jelly noodles that are dyed green, and palm sugar.  If it sounds familiar, it's because I had it when I was also in Malaysia, but in its original, non-ice cream form. 

After that, it was back on the road and catching quick glimpses of sites like the 165 meter-high Singapore Flyer before getting to Changi airport and flying out.  To no surprise, it is a very, very clean country worth stopping over for to gawk at the high-rises, enjoy some street food, buy some electronics, and get you to where you need to go.

Moments in Melbourne

A very HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you out there! I wish everyone well and the best that the year has to offer.

The past few months have zoomed by quickly and served as a much-needed decompression as I settle back into the States.  It's been wonderfully welcoming and as 2013 wrapped up, we found ourselves reflecting on the past year and all that has happened.  There was a lot of traveling going on, which had me skipping along 3 continents with a huge grin on my face and a heart full of gratitude.  A special thank you to those who have been a part of the journey, you guys know who you are!

In the next few posts, I'll share some moments and take you through a visual journey of my trips.  First off is the capital of Victoria, otherwise known as Melbourne, Australia.  With its many alleyways and laneways, Melbourne has cultivated itself to be a city rich of culture, art, and food.  It's incredibly easy to fall in love with this city and that's exactly what I do each time.

Getting my brekkie on - best way to start the day, Manchester Press

Postage stamp souvenirs at a local market

Foodie paradise is checking out the markets to see what's in stock

Walk down the laneways and you'll find surprises like cauldrons of soup

The pop-up Urban Coffee Farm at the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival 

The place for good, authentic Vietnamese food is in Richmond

Enjoying the outdoors at the People's Market in Collingwood 

Raw carrot cake from the Vegie Bar makes for a happy camper 

Another raw treat (pictured right) is the strawberry basil cake (Vegie Bar)

Grab a seat for your feast - Lentil as Anything (left) and Vegie Bar (right) 

No trip is complete without dinner at Chin Chin 

More goodness from Chin Chin 

Maps and banana street art (because who doesn't)

Trip memories: Peru Part II

A few days in Peru was not enough.  The country has so much to offer and I dream of going back there again soon, spending a few weeks or months to really get to know the place (read: to eat and taste and cook and experiment with ingredients).  Its cuisine is definitely one of the most underrated in my experiences so far but luckily, chefs like Gaston Acurio are out there spreading the word of all the magnificent delights they have to offer.

One year, I'll decide to skip the winter in the Northern Hemisphere (who am I kidding, I live in Southern California so it's really just an excuse to travel) and head for the summer on the opposite side of the world in the Southern Hemisphere.  Or who knows, maybe I'll end up there for their big food festival Mistura in September one year.

I created a list to remind me of what places are like.  Just going through it again has me salivating for a fresh and citrusy ceviche along with a side of chicha morada.

PERU is....
...colorful
...non-stop Salsa music
...unorganized
...long lines
...asking folks on the street
...onions and potatoes and limes
...ponchos plasticos
...walking sticks

Head that way, to the left and to the right

Near Ollantaytambo

Peruvian ground cherries (aguaymanto) and limes, a staple to Peruvian cuisine

Having lunch with our lovely hosts and friend Ale's parents, Juana y Luis

Dried herbs and spices at the markets

More herbs and spices and figurines

Take the train from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes and you'll get the best moonroof train ride

I made it to Machu Picchu! 

Trip memories: Peru Part I

There's nothing more exciting than taking off on a plane to somewhere new.  The thrill of going into the unknown and immersing myself into a culture to find out more is quite addictive and a breath of fresh air to revive my free-spirit soul. While it's tempting to revisit the places I've been to before (and I will), there is also an urge to venture into new territory.

One of the main reason why I love traveling is to learn about different cultures.  A big part of culture lies in the food they eat.  It absolutely fascinates me to think about all the little details and how a certain dish has been formed, from the land where the ingredients are grown and where they are sourced from, to how it is prepared, where the recipe develops from, the changes it goes through, the variations of the dishes, and much more.  My mind is simply blown when I start digging deeper.

After being more exposed to the Peruvian culture in Sydney, thanks to the large immigration of South Americans (predominately Peruvians, Colombians, Brazilians, Chileans, Argentinians, and Uruguayans), I found myself drawn with my eyes wide open.  Thanks to a special deal on an airline, I booked a ticket and flew off finding myself exploring both Lima and Cuzco (plus the surrounding areas like).

Below are some recollections (the horizontal collection) of my trip there:

Sweet and savory empanadas prepared in a clay oven near Ollantaytambo

Lomo saltado and ceviche in Lima

Ready for the breakfast crowd

Did you know there are thousands of types of potatoes in Peru?

A display of maiz morado (purple corn) while stopping for lunch

A South American setting

Flowers bloom brightly, colorfully, and vividly

When in Peru, stock up on breakfast!

Picarones, aka Peruvian donuts, made of pumpkin and sweet potato

Wafting smells of a Sydney bakery and a reflection on the past

It’s been almost 2 months since I've left Sydney and it’s amazing how quickly time has flown by and how much has happened, both in the months and collectively over the years.

A reflection on the past

Back in 2010, I decided to leave home.  The decision didn't come easy as the familiarity and steady paycheck from a previous job provided comfort, but there was an inkling that had been kicking me for awhile.  It’s called, the TRAVEL BUG.

So I took action: researching options of where I would go, how I was going to go about it, and I took a leap of faith.  Not everything was planned, in fact, not much was planned like the rest of my life (finish college/university, intern, travel, work for a few years, save, etc.) so the idea of having so much flexibility was novel and quite nice.  I ended up in Sydney, Australia and the next thing you know, 2.5 years passed and today, I sit here writing upon these reflections.

It wasn't always an easy, breezy journey – in fact, they were some of the most trialing times but it’s these experiences that add to your character and who you are in the present day.  With me are memories that I’ll never forget, the times that I've shared with friends and much more.

Before leaving Sydney, I thought to myself, “What will I miss about the city?  Is it the breathtaking view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House? Is it the beaches with the cliff-side walks?  Is it being able to take public transport: the trains, the buses, the trams and the ferries?”  While I do miss all these, I found myself busy with a “MUST EAT BEFORE LEAVING” list.  One of those places was a local bakery in the Surry Hills neighborhood called BOURKE STREET BAKERY and it was certainly going to be a place I missed.

Ever since trying it for the first time, I knew I was going to be trouble.  And so began my regular trips down Bourke Street….

A friend of mine had gifted the Bourke Street Bakery book to me (more like a bible) and I was in awe, mouth agape and everything.  The pictures were all so beautifully taken, the layout, the stories, the recipes, I couldn't help but give the book a big hug (yes, I give attention to inanimate objects).  Anyhow, before leaving Australia, an idea popped into my head: I was going to get the guys at BSB to sign my book.

I wrote a love letter of appreciation telling them how much I thoroughly enjoyed the fluffy and delightful carrot cake that forever changed my life and the amazing-ness of their pork and fennel sausage rolls (among the other savory pastries) and how it was a joy to experience it flaking off so easily.  Just talking about this makes my mouth just water (yes, I am a nerd).

My e-mail bounced back.

I tried again and it bounced back again so I let it go.  Then, I refused to let it go and tried again (this time, I changed the subject line) and VOILÁ!

Pressed under time, I began to think that I wasn't going to get it in time and would need to get it shipped out, but everyone there was so accommodating and made it work so that I got it before I left.  Can we say WHEW?! FTW (For The Win)!!!

So a HUGE THANKS to Bourke Street Bakery for making it possible that I went back home with a signed copy of the book and for all the delicious treats and memories that will remain intact.

Mushroom Picking

Once upon a time, my friend Ksenia had told me that she was going mushroom picking to which I enthusiastically responded, "mushroom picking?!? Tell me more!"  It sounded like a fun adventure and so when one of my friends here in Sydney told me she was going, I had to get in on the action.

Perhaps it's more of a Eastern European/Soviet Union activity as it seemed quite common to them, one being from Russia and the other from Ukraine, but the thought of going out for my own wild mushrooms hadn't really crossed my mind.

This past weekend, we went off to the Belanglo State Forest for a quick weekend getaway.  It was only on the way there that I had learned about the dangers and reputation it received but luckily, there was comfort in traveling in a large and well-traveled group of folks who knew what they were doing.

Fun team building games were organized to welcome us onto the campground and to get to know each other a bit more.  There was a bit of mushroom sighting but we saved it for the day after so as to pick and take them home at their freshest.

Frolicking through the forest in between trees and searching for mushrooms was exhilarating and each time we found the smaller ones (that are less common to come across), it was like finding treasure! 86 mushrooms later, I decided to call it a day for picking these Saffron Milk Cap mushrooms:

I even counted up to 86 in Russian!

Peek-a-boo! Mushroom eyes look like donuts...just sayin'

These beautiful Saffron Milk Cap wild mushrooms have such a beautiful and vibrant orange color.

An important note about mushroom picking: definitely do your research and go somewhere known for mushroom picking as there will be signs and pictures on the edible types of mushrooms.  "If in doubt, go without!" Also, don't forget to bring your knife and a bag or box to place your mushrooms in.

Byron Bay - Part II

Where does the time go? Months pass by so quickly and lots has happened. Turns out that I had written a Byron Bay Part I post, which meant I still had more to share.  Perhaps I adopted some of this:

Just maybe, they'll be there

In any case, I went through and dug through my photos to see what else was remaining that was worthwhile:

Crystal Castle rainbow umbrellas, refreshing ice teas, fish n chips from Fish heads, sampling crackers with  Saghtar  spreads at the Bangalow Markets, and enjoying lunch outdoors

Nestled in between some wood fired pizzas

Freshly squeezed juice makes me jump!

Vibrant oranges fill the carts and boxes

Food signage

This man awaits you for some brekkie at Bayleaf Cafe

Let your sense of adventure take you to places you've never gone before

Byron Bay - Part I

It's good to get away for the weekend and escape for a bit.  Especially if it includes warm weather and good food:

Follow me down to the most eastern part of Australia

Up in the hills is a magical place and it even has a labyrinth. 

Poinciana  Cafe in Mullumbimby, NSW

Colourful signage at the Bangalow Markets.
We were lucky to have caught it (last Sundays of each month)

I found Red Dacca bananas, which I'd never heard of.
It was a tasty and delicious snack.

Chai Tea Latte from In the Pink (Homemade Ice Cream, Gelati, and Sorbet)