Walking through the night markets of Taipei, we craving something cool and sweet. We were not in the mood for a meal, but rather dessert. I was not in the mood for any dairy so ice cream and boba tea were out of the question. We knew what we had to get: Shaved Ice.
We happened upon a local shop selling the confection we desired. The shaved ice itself contained brown sugar and the toppings we chose were taro, sweet potato, red bean, and jellies. The perfect cool treat for a hot night.
In our travels throughout Japan, we acquired some Shizuoka Cha Green tea bags. I was not able to sample the flavor until after our return. The color/flavor is light, even after a full 5 minutes of steeping. It is a nice tea to sip in the afternoon when you need a mild boost.
While we were in Solo (you might find it as Surakarta on the map), we went to an old market. We tried rice that was cooked in banana leaves until solid and sticky. To eat it, the “log” is then cut into slices and topped with shredded fresh coconut meat. Delicious!
We also got a free snakefruit from the vendor. It gets the name from the peel. It is not super sweet, but I like the mild flavor – it tastes somewhat similar to lychee and rambutan to me.
After spending time in places where the tap water is not potable, it feels like such a privilege to be able to casually rinse off my toothbrush under the faucet here at home.
While at Bal Samand Palace, I opted for the mint tea to go with my meal. I was surprised when the waiter brought out the teapot and poured me a cup of almost perfectly clear liquid – with a couple small pieces of green leaf floating in it. Expecting a sip of boring, flavorless hot water, I tried the tea with serious reservations. It was fantastic!
Spearmint tea brewed looseleaf style is cooling and soothing, and slightly sweet. It is not nearly as strong a flavor as the super pepperminty tea. Now I want to get some at home. Does anyone know a brand they like? I may just get taster/sampler packs from a few different brands… updates after taste tests 🙂
To get to the other side!
On this trip, we’ve seen plenty of chickens crossing the road, and much bigger animals as well. Matt got this great shot of a cow walking on the streets inside the Golden Fort, Jaisalmer.
There was a whole herd of cattle being driven down the street in a town we drove through near the Tamil Nadu/Kerala border. (The street was also decorated for a festival!)
And of course, while in the Thar Desert, we saw camels crossing the road (also shaggy goats and donkeys)
If you do some traveling in North India, you are bound to see jali on historic buildings. Jali (also spelled jaali), is latticed stonework. Some of my favorite examples were at the Amber Fort near Jaipur, where the jali was used to provide ventilation and privacy for the ladies of the palace.
Walking through the interior hallways, I was impressed by how much the breeze came through and how well we were protected from being baked by the sun.
Many of the places we visited had a vast array of jali designs.
Jali works like blinds as well – it is much easier to see out than to see in!
It was dusk when we first spotted it. It quickly ran across our path into the hedges. We searched for any trace to no avail. The following evening, I heard a rustling. It was there! It appears to be a common Indian Gray Mongoose. Look at his little nose!
Here’s wishing everyone a happy Holi!
We are eating gujiya, a sweet filled with khoya. It tastes like cardamom, rasins, coconut, and goodness 🙂
At the Bal Samand Garden Retreat, you can see a man-made lake from the 12th century- and if you are out at dusk, watch the bats swoop for insects! This photo was taken near the palace.
The baby gray langur was fun to watch!
The palace has a peacock fountain, modeled after the huge tail feathers of a peacock, and there are many pea fowl roaming the grounds.
the mint tea drinkers society 