Yes, I just posted yesterday, and no, I still don't have the most recent photos up, bc well, although this might be the most cosmopolitan city in Laos, that's not saying that much. Anyway, I'm waiting for Matt to Skype with me and there's so much I want to tell, so diarrhea of the mouth, here we go. A little food for thought, if you will.
For my food lovin' friends and family (emphasis on the latter) I wanted to giive a food update. I've been so focused on telling the stories and adventures that I haven't been able to give the small details. I often sit at meals by myself composing blog posts in my head. Don't worry people, sometimes I have other people to eat with, but a lot of times I am alone. Works since I don't like people that much =) just kidding.
Anyway, the food. Being in Louang Phrobang has been an incredible food experience so far! I feel like I came out of the jungle-which actually I did. Yes, I was only up there about 5 days, but that's a lot of bad meals. And, although it might hurt Laos' feelings, Thailand has incredible food. So, it has been a bit of an adjustment, but here's what I've liked:
-In the north, I had Eggplant Jaow with sticky rice. Basically a sauce-y type thing of ground up eggplant and yummy spices that you eat on super duper stick rice that you ball up in your hand.
-In Loung Phrobang, yummy crusty baggettes (nice work France); good, dark, Lao coffee; fruit shakes--delicious, you pick your fruit that is already cut up in the cup, they add milk (local, soI can drink it) and ice and blend it up; noodle soup being made in large vats all over the place.
-all over so far, meat on a skewer being grilled right there
-In Thailand, oh there's so much, but the highlights were the Pat Thai, mango sticky rice and curries.
-the different types chillies in the jars that you add to your food.
-beers, they are okay, they seem to be the same around the world.
What I'm not so into:
-odd cuts of meat, sometimes it is hard to determine what animal is used to be
-street food here in L.P. is these large tins of noodles and rice sitting in grease
-rats, racoons, etc that people by the side of the road up north try to sell
-little insects of some sort or another on trays
-Lao food that lacks spice-yes, you read that right, I now put hot sauce in my food bc there's no taste here.
-the napkins, okay, I know that's not food, but it goes together right? Thin little things that don't do anything. Iend up with like 10 balled up at the end of a meal. Seems to be the same around the world- Brazil, Honduras, etc.
I'll leave you with a little story about me and coffee, so it also connects. I'm at the bus stop in Oudamxai, there's atable where you can get coffee and stuff. Isit down, look at my phrase section of the rough guide, figure out how to say black coffee, kaffe dam. I go up, I order, I'm feeling really smug, I just ordered in Lao, I'm amazing. I sit down. It comes, it has condensed milk on the bottom. I just have to laugh at myself.
Oh, one more. I get in Louang Phrobang, I'm famished. It is Tues. afternoon. I kind of haven't had a real meal since Monday morning at 7 am. I've been sitting in busses or bus stops or nasty hotel rooms for days. I get a guest house, and race out to find some food. The first place I happen upon is Joma, this bougie coffee shop. I order a sandwhich and a water. It is so expensive. I pay with a 1000 thai baht bc that's what I have. It is this whole scene of them giving me around 250,000 kip. I'm like flagging myself for spending so much on food, what am I doing? I look down at my receipt. It has it translated into dollars: $3.14. Ha, I have to laugh. A little perspective, eh?
Okay, I know it almost sacriledge to put up a blog post about food without photos, but I swear I'll try to add some soon.
Cheers,
Dina
For my food lovin' friends and family (emphasis on the latter) I wanted to giive a food update. I've been so focused on telling the stories and adventures that I haven't been able to give the small details. I often sit at meals by myself composing blog posts in my head. Don't worry people, sometimes I have other people to eat with, but a lot of times I am alone. Works since I don't like people that much =) just kidding.
Anyway, the food. Being in Louang Phrobang has been an incredible food experience so far! I feel like I came out of the jungle-which actually I did. Yes, I was only up there about 5 days, but that's a lot of bad meals. And, although it might hurt Laos' feelings, Thailand has incredible food. So, it has been a bit of an adjustment, but here's what I've liked:
-In the north, I had Eggplant Jaow with sticky rice. Basically a sauce-y type thing of ground up eggplant and yummy spices that you eat on super duper stick rice that you ball up in your hand.
-In Loung Phrobang, yummy crusty baggettes (nice work France); good, dark, Lao coffee; fruit shakes--delicious, you pick your fruit that is already cut up in the cup, they add milk (local, soI can drink it) and ice and blend it up; noodle soup being made in large vats all over the place.
-all over so far, meat on a skewer being grilled right there
-In Thailand, oh there's so much, but the highlights were the Pat Thai, mango sticky rice and curries.
-the different types chillies in the jars that you add to your food.
-beers, they are okay, they seem to be the same around the world.
What I'm not so into:
-odd cuts of meat, sometimes it is hard to determine what animal is used to be
-street food here in L.P. is these large tins of noodles and rice sitting in grease
-rats, racoons, etc that people by the side of the road up north try to sell
-little insects of some sort or another on trays
-Lao food that lacks spice-yes, you read that right, I now put hot sauce in my food bc there's no taste here.
-the napkins, okay, I know that's not food, but it goes together right? Thin little things that don't do anything. Iend up with like 10 balled up at the end of a meal. Seems to be the same around the world- Brazil, Honduras, etc.
I'll leave you with a little story about me and coffee, so it also connects. I'm at the bus stop in Oudamxai, there's atable where you can get coffee and stuff. Isit down, look at my phrase section of the rough guide, figure out how to say black coffee, kaffe dam. I go up, I order, I'm feeling really smug, I just ordered in Lao, I'm amazing. I sit down. It comes, it has condensed milk on the bottom. I just have to laugh at myself.
Oh, one more. I get in Louang Phrobang, I'm famished. It is Tues. afternoon. I kind of haven't had a real meal since Monday morning at 7 am. I've been sitting in busses or bus stops or nasty hotel rooms for days. I get a guest house, and race out to find some food. The first place I happen upon is Joma, this bougie coffee shop. I order a sandwhich and a water. It is so expensive. I pay with a 1000 thai baht bc that's what I have. It is this whole scene of them giving me around 250,000 kip. I'm like flagging myself for spending so much on food, what am I doing? I look down at my receipt. It has it translated into dollars: $3.14. Ha, I have to laugh. A little perspective, eh?
Okay, I know it almost sacriledge to put up a blog post about food without photos, but I swear I'll try to add some soon.
Cheers,
Dina
I am loving the updates. As someone who has never traveled - I've never been out of California = ( - I enjoy reading about other's travel experiences.
ReplyDeleteStay safe!
Crystal
Thanks Crystal, I love that you are following. Hope the school year is starting out with a bang.
ReplyDelete