One luxury of being on a long trip like this is the freedom to be flexible with time. So when my good friend Michelle invited me to stay with her near Brisbane, I said 'yes' even though I hadn't planned to travel up the east coast.
I've visited Michelle a couple of times before but she has a new house now. A new house in the country that is. A new house in the country with five acres of land. A new house with two cows on her acres of land (they keep the grass short apparently). It's a far cry from her flat in Harlesden I can tell you!
I had a rather lovely relaxing week. It was around 35 degrees and 75% humidity when I got there. I haven't been that hot and sweaty since Cambodia. But then the rain came.
Unfortunately the rain came just as we took a girly trip to the coast - Byron Bay. Just my British luck! While the locals celebrated the first rain they'd had in months, I felt reminiscent of wet childhood holidays in Devon. Instead of surfing, we shopped. Instead of lying on the beach, we ate and drank. Instead of going on a hike, I had a massage... Ok, it wasn't all bad. It was actually rather lovely.
It's about seizing the moment and being flexible enough to do what works at the time. It's just part of the learning experience.
Wednesday 17 February 2010
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Foodie discoveries
One of the big pleasures of this trip for me has been learning more about local food and drink. I've opened my mind about many things along the way which is a wonderful thing.
In Cambodia and Vietnam, I think I managed to avoid eating dog although I couldn't avoid the sight of butchered dog in the markets. I did eat a tarantula though. The legs were like twiglets, so I told myself.
I really enjoyed the fresh, fragrant flavours in SE Asian food. I still crave a decent Vietnamese pho or banana leaf salad now. I felt so clean and healthy after eating the delicious Vietnamese food. I lost a few pounds on it too.
That's why I loved the cookery courses that I did in Cambodia and Vietnam. I've looked into cookery courses in Australia too. The choice seems to be Thai, Italian, Greek, Japanese or tapas. What about Aussie cooking? What exactly is Australian cuisine other than pies and barbeques? They also lay claim to the pavlova but I'm dubious about that!
I have eaten kangaroo. Actually, I ate barbequed kangaroo on Kangaroo Island while kangaroos were watching. I felt slightly awkward about that. It is tasty - kind of like lean beef. Apparently it's only the tourists that eat it though. My tour guide has only ever cooked it for her tourists or her dog.
So instead of learning about Aussie cooking, I've immersed myself into learning more about Australian wine (it's hard work you know!). I've studied hard, taking wine tours in various regions - Margaret River, Hunter Valley and Barossa Valley. I've done plenty of extra curricular research too. Wine isn't something to be sniffed at!
I've had to open my mind here too as I would normally avoid Australian wine back in the UK.
I have been pleasantly surprised. My preconceptions of rich, oaky Chardonnay (usually the colour of stale wee) have been shattered. I actually like Australian Chardonnay. Who'd have thought it? The recent varieties are buttery and delicious. My memories of Bridget Jones style Chardonnay drinking are oh so different. But as in fashion, I predict a resurgence of the 1990s trend of Chardonnay but this time it actually tastes pretty darn good.
Cheers!
In Cambodia and Vietnam, I think I managed to avoid eating dog although I couldn't avoid the sight of butchered dog in the markets. I did eat a tarantula though. The legs were like twiglets, so I told myself.
I really enjoyed the fresh, fragrant flavours in SE Asian food. I still crave a decent Vietnamese pho or banana leaf salad now. I felt so clean and healthy after eating the delicious Vietnamese food. I lost a few pounds on it too.
That's why I loved the cookery courses that I did in Cambodia and Vietnam. I've looked into cookery courses in Australia too. The choice seems to be Thai, Italian, Greek, Japanese or tapas. What about Aussie cooking? What exactly is Australian cuisine other than pies and barbeques? They also lay claim to the pavlova but I'm dubious about that!
I have eaten kangaroo. Actually, I ate barbequed kangaroo on Kangaroo Island while kangaroos were watching. I felt slightly awkward about that. It is tasty - kind of like lean beef. Apparently it's only the tourists that eat it though. My tour guide has only ever cooked it for her tourists or her dog.
So instead of learning about Aussie cooking, I've immersed myself into learning more about Australian wine (it's hard work you know!). I've studied hard, taking wine tours in various regions - Margaret River, Hunter Valley and Barossa Valley. I've done plenty of extra curricular research too. Wine isn't something to be sniffed at!
I've had to open my mind here too as I would normally avoid Australian wine back in the UK.
I have been pleasantly surprised. My preconceptions of rich, oaky Chardonnay (usually the colour of stale wee) have been shattered. I actually like Australian Chardonnay. Who'd have thought it? The recent varieties are buttery and delicious. My memories of Bridget Jones style Chardonnay drinking are oh so different. But as in fashion, I predict a resurgence of the 1990s trend of Chardonnay but this time it actually tastes pretty darn good.
Cheers!
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