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Plagued by wanderlust since I can remember, I would ride my bicycle all over my rural town to feel like I was going somewhere. I would pretend I was in far- away places. My wonderful stay-at-home Mom took me on treks to local spots but my desire to go to places farther and more exotic was unfulfilled. As I child I studied the Encyclopedia and National Geographic magazines and I daydreamed of someday traveling to other countries. In my teens and early 20's my friends resembled the United Nations representatives. My desire to learn all things foreign continued: foods, dress, language, music, etc. At 17 I jumped at the chance to be a student missionary in the Dominican Republic. Once I started a career I would spend my salary on travel. My first self-paid overseas trip was to Bermuda. But the ultimate, I though, would be to live and/or study abroad. Living in Spain x2 allowed me to conquer two other goals, traveling Europe by train and learning a second language. My bucket list is still long, but I never give up hope or attempts of slowly chipping away at it during my life-time.

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Saturday, July 2, 2016

Adventures in Indonesian Gastronomy

While I am visiting Indonesia,  I will taste, and sample as as possible, within reason.  You can't say that you don't like what you haven't tried. Although I consider myself a vegetarian (others prefer to label me Ovo-lacto or Pesca), I am eager to try Indonesian food and specialties. As a vegetarian I am enjoying the array of fruits and vegetables available. Read below to learn about the foods I have tried and then labeled as an "Adventure in Indonesian Gastronomy".

1. Salak (Snake Fruit). Still trying to describe it in my mind. Somewhat sweet, very crunchy, not juicy, a bit of a tang...made me think of an unripened pear.


2.  Es Alpukat (Avocado Smoothie sweetened with palm sugar. Like a smoothie, very filling.


3. Cendol (the C is pronounced like a "CH") 
Rice flour with pandan leaves, in coconut milk with palm sugar. Very sweet.


4. Peyem (Fermented casava). Mushy, sickly sweet and yes fermented. I'm pretty certain I felt an instant stomach cramp. I just don't see the point


5. Fried tofu and rice. This will one was so easy, however it was an adventure because we bought it, freshly fried, at 4 a.m. by the side of the road and the rice (lontong) was wrapped to go in a banana leaf!!


6.  Pakis (Sautéed Fern with onions). Delicious! Then I say, why don't we eat this in the U.S.? He says it's a special type of Fern plant. I was ready to go back home and buy a Fern plant and start eating it! LOL!! 🤓


7. Rujak. Indonesian fruits with chili and palm sugar. Sweet, spicy and fresh. Love, love, love. Trying to get the sauce bottled to bring home.


8. Sawo. Taste like a juicy sweet potato with a ripe Bartlett pear fibrous texture. Has two smooth flat oval black seeds. Very hard to compare to any fruit I've ever eaten.



9. Sekodeng (Hot ginger drink). Contained: nuts, bread, flour balls and gel. As someone who drinks ginger tea at home, I found this drink yummy, yummy, yummy for my tummy, tummy, tummy.


10. Es Campur. Sawo, coconut, gelatin, palm fruits, jack fruit, syrup and ice. Nice, sweet, refreshing desert. 

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