Fish carpets, soppy sambols, squash sushi and market meyhem...pictures finally!!

Seasons Greetings!!

I am taking the night train to Laos PDR in an hour.  I decided to spend my Christmas food adventure in my favorite country.  It has been over 4 years since I left.  Laos has probably changed quite a lot since then.  I don't care.  I am so excited to hop off the little long boat that jaunts from the shore of BAn Nagasan to the shallow rocks off the Island of Don Det (Four Thousand Islands).  I am hoping that I will be able to balance my budget on the $5 a day Laos master plan- Sticky rice, lots of fish and ....well, we will see?

But before then I wanted to share some pictures from the last month.  It has been ages since I have been able to post anything.  Sorry if they are a bit all over the place.  But then you should be used to that in my writing style!

Dried fish make excellent carpets!!

This poor guy from the U.S could not resist the fish laid out to dry for the birds. 

I saw this in Goa all the time!

The fishermen would haul in the net full of an entire school of fish.  It was quite the awesome sight- hundreds of little 'kingfish' squiggling around. 

Alas, most of these fish became the dreaded fish carpet.   Only the large choice ones would make it to the restaurants or local kitchens.

Here is a young girl grating coconut for her mother's pomfrit curry.  She spent almost an hour on this painstaking task.  It was worth it though.. mmmm!!!

Sushi...what, are we not looking at pictures from India Hopey?  Yes, I did manage to have some delicious veggie (squash and caramilized onions) sushi in Arambol, Goa.  The two ladies from Buddha Belly outdid themselves!  It was all gone in about 5 minutes.

I have so many market photos and not enough time to show them all now.  I love the colours in this shot.  India is so vibrant!

It was about 5pm.  The air was a bit muggy.  The light was getting dimmer over the fruit and vegetables and their was a faint smell of fish wafting over everything.  I was in heaven.

Spices anyone? I actually got up on a stool in the middle of the market to take this one. 

Tee hee- I have sent over 20 kilos of spices to Canada ALREADY!!!!

What a tandoori oven!  I talked my way into one of the most incredible seafood restaurants in Bombay- MAHESH!  The kitchen was immaculate..the service impeccable and the food.  Well you can see for yourself!

Now Tthis is the kind of wok that I would like to cook on. 

This massive cooking surface is for making PAU BHAJI- a potato and veggie curry eaten with bread.  Mumbai-ites love it!

Are you going to eat all of that with your fingers? 

I was amazed that this young lad could eat such a plate!  I too am trying to hone such a skill!

But first I have to stretch my stomach with a whole papaya in the morning!!!

I will be back soon......have a great holiday wherever you are.

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Comments

[CookingDiva]

Hola Hope! these photos are fantastic!!! Thanks for sharing them with Us...I can just imagine being there enjoying every second, my senses working to the maximum :) Enjoy your trip! M

[Robert Paterson]

Happy Christmas dearest Hopey. James will be here in a few hours.
Your devoted Da

[the sundance kid]

Joyous season to you Hope! Can almost smell that papaya from the pic. Long live all papaya lovers!

[David Majer]

nice pictures.
Feel free to share more. Shame I don't have a digital camera, you should see what foodexperiences I had!
I read your Arak artical and I am glad to inform you that Boris is now drinking only 4 small bottles of wiskey every TWO TREE days. It's a miracle.
Lots of luck

David

[robert]

Hopey,
We are all thinking of you.
The Pendy kin.
Robert.

[Robert Paterson]

Hopey - please get in touch. It is now 6 days since you left and maybe I am just a silly parent but in the context of what is going on, I would feel a lot better if you let us know that you are OK

[Jason Kun]

Hope,

We send love and strength to you and yours.

Jason

[astrid]

Hopey,

Email your parents to let them know you are okay. We are all concerned about you.

We love you and pray that you are safe and well.

Much love,
zizi and DIDI xoxoxox

[astrid]

hopey

so glad that you are okay

love
astridxoxx

[robert paterson]

Hopey
We must have had over 50 people call about you in the last 2 days. It maybe is no surprise as to how many people care about you - but it ia also so heartwarming.

To all of Hope's friends who have called, emailed, or posted - our thanks
Rob & Robin

[Janet Lavack]

Hopey,
From the above postings, it sounds as though you are safe and happy in Laos!!?! Thank God...
Thinking of you muchly
xoxo Jani