Yesterday morning, we started our walking tour of Chinatown by going to the Maxwell Food Center, a building filled with the stalls of food vendors. The place was still quiet – but we were here on a mission to try some sweets from Xing Xing Tapioca Cake.
My verdict is that this is worth a try. The tapioca cake was soft, and only a bit chewy, and sweet. It was perfect with the strong flavor of the fresh shredded coconut!
5 pieces for $2
After just under a month touring Indonesia, it was very hard for me to say goodbye (or more properly in Bahasa, “Selamat Tinggal”).
I confess that I was already predisposed to like Indonesia and was really excited to see the country for the first time, but my visit completely exceeded my high expectations. Not only do I want to go back, I definitely encourage everyone to go!
Indonesia has amazing natural beauty, and it would be easy to spend a whole trip watching the indigenous wildlife you can’t find anywhere else. The soft sand beaches leading to turquoise waters could convince almost anyone to spend a day as a beach bum. If the above isn’t enough, there are also bubbling volcanos and sulfur springs to climb, coral reefs to snorkel, and giant trees that according to local tradition contain the spirits of the ancestors.
For me, the natural beauty is only a piece of why I am happy I went to Indonesia. I have been fascinated by the farmland flowing over the steep volcanic ridges, been enchanted by the food showcasing flavors and ingredients completly new to me, and completely won over by the warmth and kindness of the people I’ve met.
Let’s just say that I’m in love…. and if you can make the trip to Indonesia, send me pictures 🙂
While on our fun roadtrip around Java, we visited the area around Mount Lawu. Much of the steep hillsides were covered in tea plants.
I hadn’t known how bushy the tea plant looks before this trip. After my youth seeing the farms on the American midwestern plains, I definitely didn’t imagine farms on steep steep slopes. (The tea plants like the cooler temperatures from the higher elevations)
So I bring you a photo of a tea plantation in Java…
and if you were wondering, unprocessed mature tea leaves are slightly bitter and have almost no hint of the flavor of the final beverage – I had to try 🙂
On January 28th, we boarded a boat to Rinca Island to search for Komodo dragons in Komodo National Park. The short 2 hour journey took us by some spectacular sights. The water was gorgeous shades of green and blue. The landscapes were incredible to behold. Upon our arrival to the island, we encountered some long-tailed macaques searching for their favorite local snack, the fiddler crab.
Shortly down the path, right under the warning sign, we encountered our first dragon. Rinca Island has over 2200 Komodo Dragons currently living on it.
Soon after we met the ranger who would guide us through the park, we happened upon a large male dragon.
Other smaller dragons were wandering through the forest nearby.
A water buffalo was bathing in a stream. If a dragon bites a big healthy buffalo like this one, it could be a week or two before the buffalo dies. Usually multiple dragons will enjoy the feast.
Per UNESCO’s decision 20 years ago, the dragons are not fed by rangers but hunt their entire diet. Rinca has the dragons natural prey animals, deer, and wild pigs for the adults, and birds and lizards for the juveniles. (PS: did you know they live in trees for their first few years?)
If you visit Flores Island, hop on a boat to Rinca Island or Komodo Island and view these magnificent beasts in their natural habitat for yourself. As the old sailors’ maps say “Here be Dragons.” Only in Indonesia.
We saw this grasshopper while walking around one afternoon. Matt’s hand is in the photo for scale reference. Amazing!
Candi Ceto is a Hindu temple that appears to float high above the clouds. It is located on the western slope of Mount Lawu. Since it was built in the 15th century, it has a more Javanese architecture than the Indian-inspired temples of the 7th century. One of the traits that make it worth a visit is its many statues representing masculinity. Candi Ceto is still used as a place of worship today.
While on our road trip around the island of Java, our guide Heri encouraged me to try Gado-Gado. I was able to try it twice, and I am addicted. If making it at home, you could easily make it for a number of different diets (gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, chicken-lovers, just to name a few).
The dish is served cold, and consists of coarsely diced pre-cooked foods topped with a peanut sauce like a dressing. Between the two versions I tried, there were potatoes, green beans, water spinach, tomatoes, carrots, tempeh, tofu, shredded chicken, mung bean sprouts, boiled eggs, and shredded cabbage. One version was also topped with pieces of crisp rice crackers, which soaked up the sauce really well.
The peanut sauce was simple yet delicious. It is made from roasted peanuts, palm sugar, chilis, and lemon leaf. (Some versions also contain tamarind) Then all the ingredients are ground together (mortar and pestle style) into a thick, paste-like sauce that is a slap of pure joy to the palate.
On January 8th, we had the opportunity to take a cooking class with Ivy Chen. She has been teaching cooking classes in Taipei for over 15 years. We met up with Ivy at Shidong market, where she gave us a fun and informative tour of what the local vendors had to offer. After the market tour, we walked to her home. We chose 3 dishes to cook ahead of time: steamed buns with red bean paste, eggplant with spicy sesame dressing, and vegetarian wontons in red oil sauce. We cooked, chatted, and ate well into the afternoon. The dishes were delicious and not too difficult to make. If you visit Taipei and have a day to spend, please contact Ivy.
http://kitchenivy.com
On January 21st 2015, we woke up at 3 AM, hopped into a Jeep, and off-roaded through the “sea of sand” to watch sunrise at the Mount Bromo overlook. The scenery did not seem real. We were high above the clouds near an actively billowing crater. The gathered crowd consisted of people from all over the globe, each anxiously awaiting the arrival of the sun. After sunrise we headed back down. We traversed the “sea of sand” on foot while most rode on horseback to the stairs leading to the crater’s rim.
The stairs were very steep, the air had a faint aroma of sulfur, and the views were unforgettable.
While we were in the area near Borobudur, we took a tour ofthe village of Candirejo by Andong, a horse drawn carraige. Our tour guide, Mr. Budi, was incredibly kind, and he taught us a lot about life in the village. We had the chance to watch someone making cassava crackers (and try them!), attempt to play gamelan (traditional Javanese music which sounds beautiful unless I am playing it), and enjoy jasmine black tea with palm sugar. Overall, we enjoyed seeing this beautiful village. Next time, I’ll have to do a homestay!
the mint tea drinkers society 