I would call us "adventurous foodies". We have eaten some strange things in our lives.....jellyfish, balut (google that one!), kangaroo, squirrel, and the list goes on. When we travel anywhere, including North America, we always try to eat where the locals eat. If it's a chain restaurant, it's likely you won't find us there. Rick is more adventurous than me, but most times I will try it at least once. Food is art for us, and it doesn't have to be the most expensive dining there is. Some of our favourite spots have been places most people wouldn't look twice at.
When we stay at a resort to get away from the Canadian winter, we eat off the resort as much as possible. Whether it be sitting in a park, licking our lips after having the best "pit-chicken" in a Mexican village or washing down the heat of a fresh fish taco with the local beer, the best food is always the local small time vendor.
That brings us to what has motivated me to write this blog.......food and travel.
What better place to experience first hand one of our favourite cuisines than to eat our way around Southeast Asia. The thought of being surrounded with the aromas of the freshest ingredients like limes, chilies, ginger, curry, lemongrass, seafood, cilantro, rice noodles, and yes.....fish sauce. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Come away with me for a moment. Envision being in a open food market. Everywhere you look there is a vendor selling brightly coloured spices, soups, and yes....weird looking stuff too. Your nose twitches with delight as you breathe in the smells....okay, some of the smells might be new and a little overpowering. Keep your eyes closed. Listen to the sounds of the different hill tribe dialects, vendors yelling about how wonderful their wares are. Now pick something up...like a fresh ripe mango. The skin is smooth and yellow. You can't help but put it up near your nose to smell the sweetness of it. The vendor next to the fruit stand is ladling up hot bowls of delicious Pho, the aroma of the broth is what makes you stand in line. If you have never tasted the national dish of Vietnam....go now and find some! Stand there a moment and just take it all in. Your five senses are tingling so much that every cell in your body is vibrating. This is what living is all about!! Now slowly open your eyes but feel free to return anytime.
It is these images that are making our love for Southeast Asian food a reality. Our tickets are booked and we will be backpacking around the markets and sites of Southeast Asia for three months this winter. Other than our first three nights upon arrival in Bangkok, we are just going to wing it! Visiting Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam will be an adventure and learning curve for both of us. With no concrete itinerary and traveling with just ourselves, we can decide to stay longer in a spot or move onto the next destination.
Planning such a trip takes a lot of time and thought....sometimes overwhelmingly so. Follow us as we prepare to leave our home for three months....so many things to do before getting on the plane.
We hope our stories will encourage others, no matter what your age, to just leave it behind for awhile and know that you too can plan an adventure of a lifetime....one that goes beyond the confines and comforts of a five star resort, one that pushes you to believe in yourself, and one that reminds you to take a risk. We will be sharing the highs and the lows, knowing that we will be faced with some tough realities that will have us miles out of our comfort zone. Since we are traveling light with just a backpack each, we will also be sharing reviews on items we are taking with us. Loads of tips, info, and pictures along the way will hopefully inspire you to plan a similar trip.
So please join us, as we throw on our flip flops and experience Southeast Asia (SEA).....I guarantee it will be 2184 hours of epicness! (yes, that's a word...the urban dictionary says so!)
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