http://temporarilylost.com I'd rather regret something that I'd done than something I was too afraid to do. Fri, 24 May 2013 11:13:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://1.gravatar.com/blavatar/14fe038c2bd32dacae4649f3d8fead4f?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.png http://temporarilylost.com http://temporarilylost.com/2013/04/11/a-final-few-days-in-bombay-and-a-special-note-on-the-road-ahead/ http://temporarilylost.com/2013/04/11/a-final-few-days-in-bombay-and-a-special-note-on-the-road-ahead/#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:37:39 +0000 andrewamiet http://temporarilylost.com/?p=6561 ]]> http://temporarilylost.com/2013/04/11/a-final-few-days-in-bombay-and-a-special-note-on-the-road-ahead/feed/ 33 Mumbai 2 - Architecture on Muhammed Ali Rd andrewamiet Mumbai 2 - Architecture on Muhammed Ali Rd The crowded streets of the Colaba district of town The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (known as the CST) is one of the most distinct structures in Mumbai, combining Gothic, Victorian, Hindu, and Islamic architectural styles into one imposing building (which, incidentally, is now the busiest train station in Asia) Cricket matches being held in the Oval Maiden, a massive park in the center of the city that is flanked by a variety of stunning Victorian buildings The Gateway of India, at the India, which overlooks the Mumbai Harbor near the very southern peak of the city's peninsula The famous façade of the Taj Mahal Palace (now a fancy-pants hotel) Fans of Gregory David Robert's sprawling novel Shantaram will quickly recognize Leopold's Café, a common setting throughout the novel The Rajabai Clocktower rising in the background Oval Maiden 6 - Cricket Game The Haji Ali Mosque as seen from the shore The path out to the Mosque is lined with a variety of food vendors, souvenir shops, and beggars (to which many donate as a normal part of their visit to the Mosque) The entrance to the Haji Ali Mosque Haji Ali Mosque 9 Haji Ali Mosque 3 Marine Drive 11 - Palm Trees Marine Drive 3 A dock jutting out from Chowpatty Beach Marine Drive 13 - Hanging on the Beach Marine Drive 8 - Palm Trees Chowpatty Beach 3 Marine Drive 15 - Waves Marine Drive 21 - Sunset http://temporarilylost.com/2013/03/28/masalas-naan-thalis-and-lassi-eating-in-and-around-northern-india/ http://temporarilylost.com/2013/03/28/masalas-naan-thalis-and-lassi-eating-in-and-around-northern-india/#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:08:19 +0000 andrewamiet http://temporarilylost.com/?p=6504 ]]> http://temporarilylost.com/2013/03/28/masalas-naan-thalis-and-lassi-eating-in-and-around-northern-india/feed/ 2 Delhi Food Tour 43 - Spicy Dishes being served at Hydrabad Canteen andrewamiet A quartet of spicy dishes being served tableside, canteen-style, at a Hydrabad restaurant My first meal upon arriving in India A vegetarian version of the Thali meal A Thali featuring Malai Kofta and Shahi Paneer Delhi Food Tour 46 - Thali at Hydrabad Canteen A basket of Naan bread, a leavened flat bread cooked in an oven and often served in a tear-drop shape. Diners then tear off small pieces of the bread and use them to pick up (or scoop up) the various curries or masalas Palak Paneer, cubes of a fresh cheese cooked in pureed spinach, and dal, a thick stew-like dish of cooked lentils (sometimes known as pulses) Badam Pasanda from Delhi's famous food stop, Karim's. It is essentially a spicy mutton masala cooked with yoghurt and almonds Mutton Rogan Josh, a lamb dish of Persiian origin that migrated into India with the Mughal empire Being the spicy food fan that I am, I asked around for what the spiciest dish in the area was. The most common response was that of Lal Maas, a fiery goat dish native to the state of Rajasthan. Although it didn't quite top the tongue searing qualities of my visit to the Sichuan Province in China, it still delivered the fiery intensity that all spice addicts crave Dosa, a thin, pancake/crepe-like creation made from a batter of rice flower and lentils that can be stuffed with a variety of fillings. To eat these behemoths (and this isn't even the biggest one available), simply crack off a few shards of the crispy exterior and use them to scoop up the stuffing Tandoori Ghobi - hunks of cauliflower with a dry spice rub that are then cooked in a specialized vertical oven called a Tandor Puri Sabji Pak - hollow balls of puffed dough then you then crack open and fill with a variety of fillings Lentil Doughnuts known as Vada served with a spicy sambar soup and a coconut chutney Now this dish falls square into my comfort zone: Chili-Fried Goatk spicy, earthy goodness A paratha vendor cooking away. Paratha is another common bread served in India that is similar to the above-mentioned Naan, but unlike Naan, it isn't leavened, lending it a thicker, denser texture Every country has its own late-night drunk food, and India is no exception. In this case, the nosh of choice is a Khadi (or Kati) Roll, where a variety of meats are served rolled in a greasy paratha with a side of the ever-present green coriander sauce Lamb and Goat kebabs being prepped and grilled Seekh Kebabs with, again, the ever-present coriander sauce and raw onions More kebabs awaiting their turn on the grill Barbequed and Spiced Lamb Kebabs Okay, I snuck a vegetarian option in here, too, but these barbequed paneer cubes were to die for Vada Pau (sometime written Vada Pao) -- joking known as an "Indian Burger," this staple of Bombay street food features a small potato pattie sandwiched in a slider bun. In this iteration, it is also served with a few fried treats and a generous splash of chile sauce A Mirchi Vada (deep-fried, stuffed green chilies) on the left, and the ever-present Samosa (fried pouch of veggies and spices in a triangular shape) on the right Even breakfast is well-represented on the streets. In this case, I went with the ubiquitous omelette sandwich Chole Bhature (I think) -- a small dish of cracked Bhature (a deep-fried, leavened bread) that is then coated in Chhole (spicy chick peas) and served with a wooden spoon Gol Gappas, sometimes known as pani puri, which consists of small hollow shells of deep-fried dough into which you then stuff a variety of fillings and top off with a sweet-sour liquid before downing the whole thing in one bite Me giving the Gol Gappas a try The Indians enjoy mixing together the savory and the sweet, the hot and the cold, to enjoy the contrasts which this implies. In this case, it was aloo tikki chaat, or savory potatoes covered in sweet yogurt with a dash of the spice from a mint and coriander sauce The king of beverages on the streets of India is clearly that of Chai Tea, a brew made from crushed black tea leaves that is then often flavored with ginger and cardamom and always heavily doctored with piles of sugar and lakes of cream My Chai vendor in New Delhi. It became a morning ritual for me to stop in for a glass or two -- and at the cost of only 8 rupees, or roughly 15 cents, a pop, it was easy on the wallet, too Another famous concotion is that of the Lassi, or a creamy and refreshing yogurt drink that is often flavored with fruit or spices (this one happens to be a mango lassi) For added authenticity, lassis are often served out of disposable clay jars known as kulhars, that the customer can then toss away as his or her leisure Of course, I had to try a lassi out of a kulhar, too Although Chai gets the majority of the attention, India also produces a variety of other teas at various points within its borders A tea vendor ready to sell his wares It isn't all tea, either, as I found out when I sampled this South Indian filter coffee It is first poured back and forth between two vessels (with a bit of a theatrical flare, too, as you can see above) to both cool the tea and create a frothy texture. It is essentially the same procedure used for tea tarik in Malaysia (if you remember my posts from back then) I opted for the pomegranite juice myself A colorful juice vendor showing off his produce Although, if you find yourself further South in India, you'll be delighted to discover vendors selling sugar cane juice dotting every sidewalk. It is a crisp and tart flavor that cools and refreshes better than anything else that I've come across Finally, Hot MIlk served in a clay jar and fancied-up with the addition of saffron, pistachios, and dried dates Jalebis -- ultra-sweet bits of fried dough that are best hot out of the oil. Just look for the big bubbling vats near any street corner Kulfi - Indian Ice Cream, which is often served in both a melted and frozen form, as seen here Most frequenters of Indian restaurants in the United States will recognize these small, milky, honey-soaked balls of joy known as gulab jamun It would be tough to name each one of these sweets in this small of space, so just consider it a dessert sampler and go from there Gajar Helwa, or the Indian version of carrot cake Pista Kulft -- Ice Cream again, this time it is pistachio flavor and is served in cone form near the beach. Food 17 - Empty Chai Glass Delhi Food Tour 56 - Remains of Chili Fried Goat And of course, don't forget to grab a mouthful of fennel seed and sugar crystals before you go as a breath freshener! http://temporarilylost.com/2013/03/10/camel-safaris-and-sand-dunes-in-jaisalmer/ http://temporarilylost.com/2013/03/10/camel-safaris-and-sand-dunes-in-jaisalmer/#comments Sun, 10 Mar 2013 17:05:20 +0000 andrewamiet http://temporarilylost.com/?p=6451 ]]> http://temporarilylost.com/2013/03/10/camel-safaris-and-sand-dunes-in-jaisalmer/feed/ 3 Camel Safari 12 - Hello andrewamiet Camel Safari 12 - Hello The town of Jaisalmer, the embarkation point for most of the camel tours in the area Getting geared up and ready to move out Camel Safari 21 Camel Safari 46 The path that lies ahead A small village where we stopped to buy some food for the camels Camel Safari 41 Considering the only things to eat were what we carried with us, meals were pretty simple. In this case, it was a potato and vegatable curry with ramen noodle and chepati bread There I am, looking all kinds of awkward atop my camel Our first look at the big dunes Camel Safari 100 - My Feet in Sand Camel Safari 103 - Camel Troup Camel Safari 111 - Designs in Sand Dunes Having some fun with photography Camel Safari 115 - Me Setting up camp and getting ready to make dinner Of course, even out in the dessert, we can't go without chai Handmade Chapatis being grilled over the open fire Just before dinner, a few of us were enjoying the peacfulness of the area and someone remarked, "Wow, this may be the only place in India where someone isn't trying to sell you something." Of course, almost immediately, a small boy with a bag slung over his shoulder materialized and started calling out, "Beer for sale, cold drinks, soda!" Finding a place to sleep is easy, simply throw a few blankets down on the sand and use your backpack as a pillow One aspect of the "Sleeping on the Sand Dunes" experience that they don't advertise, however, is the presence of thousands of dung beetles, all looking for a sliver of shelter. They don't bite, so there isn't much worry in that regard, but don't be surprised when you wake up in the middle of the night with a few new friends under your blanket Telling tales and swapping stories over a campfire The glow of the moon through the clouds above Breakfast for the camels Camel Safari 180 Camel Safari 186 - My Shadow Camel Safari 182 - Riding Hostel 3 - Camel Decorations http://temporarilylost.com/2013/02/28/overlooking-the-cities-of-pink-and-blue-jaipur-and-jodhpur/ http://temporarilylost.com/2013/02/28/overlooking-the-cities-of-pink-and-blue-jaipur-and-jodhpur/#comments Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:40:59 +0000 andrewamiet http://temporarilylost.com/?p=6360 ]]> http://temporarilylost.com/2013/02/28/overlooking-the-cities-of-pink-and-blue-jaipur-and-jodhpur/feed/ 11 Jaigarh Fort (Tiger Fort) 20 - Awesome View andrewamiet Jaigarh Fort (Tiger Fort) 20 - Awesome View Jaipur 17 - Old City Streets Virtually every facade within the walled Old City of Jaipur is painted this dusty pink hue Jaipur 9 - Old City Streets The Hawa Mahal, or "Palace of Winds" Jaipur 11 - Doorway A puppet show near the City Palace Jaipur 15 - Produce Vendor One of many astronomical instruments within the intellectual grounds of the Jantar Mantar A colorful doorway within the City Palace Looking up at the Iswari Minar Swarga Sal The view back over the city Isarlat 9 - View Isarlat 4 - View Looking over a small pavilion towards the Amber Fort Amber Fort 5 - Garden Elephants carrying tourists and travelers along the zig-zagging pathways up to the fort The view from the walls of the fort The shiny, mirrored suface of the walls and ceiling of the Jai Mandir (Hall of Victory) Amber Fort 35 Looking out through the ramparts of the Jaigarh Fort Jaigarh Fort (Tiger Fort) 10 - View The interior of the Nahargarh Fort Nahargarh Fort (Monkey Fort) 9 - Light through Window The Interior of my sleeper compartment Jodhpur 6 - Composition Hostel 4 - View from Rooftop Clocktower 3 Jodhpur 10 - Streets Negotiating traffic in my Tuk-Tuk Jodhpur 4 - Streets The Mehrangarh Fort perched atop the rocky cliff in the background Mehrangarh 44 - Fort over Flowers Mehrangarh 3 - Window Mehrangarh 7 - Cool Light Mehrangarh 39 - Hands Mehrangarh 37 - View over town Mehrangarh 23 - View over town Mehrangarh 27 - View over town Jaswant Thada 21 - View over Lake Jaswant Thada 11 Jaswant Thada 10 - Weathered Door Jaswant Thada 14 Jaswant Thada 12 - Design inlaid into floor Jaswant Thada 15 - Cool Tree The biew back towards the Mehrangarh Fort in the distance http://temporarilylost.com/2013/02/19/a-day-well-spent-in-agra/ http://temporarilylost.com/2013/02/19/a-day-well-spent-in-agra/#comments Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:31:36 +0000 andrewamiet http://temporarilylost.com/?p=6314 ]]> http://temporarilylost.com/2013/02/19/a-day-well-spent-in-agra/feed/ 24 Taj Mahal 14 andrewamiet Taj Mahal 14 Upon arriving and after going through security checks (what do you mean you can't bring bags inside?), you'll next be greeted by this massive sandstone gateway leading you forward Then the goosebumps come when you finally catch a glimspe of the Taj Mahal itself through the gateway's arch Taj Mahal 63 A closer inspection of the inlay work decoration the exterior of most of the structure Taj Mahal 39 - From Corner Taj Mahal 58 - Sitting in Archway Symmetrically placed to the East and West of the Taj Mahal are two more identical buildings, a red sandstone mosque and this jawab Taj Mahal 55 - Detail of Corner Looking back over the fountains towards the main gate The North side of the Taj Mahal is bordered by the Yamuna River, that same river that flows through New Delhi and later meets up with the Ganges Further decorating the facades are a seriers of verses from teh Qua'an written in a delicate calligraphy and inlaid in Jasper. As another fun fact, the text column actually gets wider as it nears the top of the building, tricking the eye into making it look uniform all the way up. Taj Mahal 21 One of the 40-meter high minarets, whose only purpose is for the aesthetic value A closer look at the semi-translucent marble used in the construction Taj Mahal 69 The entrance to the Agra Fort Agra Fort 11 - Gate Agra Fort 13 - Perspective Agra Fort 15 - Diwan-i-Am Agra Fort 42 - Arch Shadows Detail of the engravings along many of the archways Agra Fort 33 - Walls through Archway Agra Fort 26 Looking out over the Yamuna River towards the Taj Mahal in the distance Agra Fort 23 - View of Taj Mahal On the drive to Agra, watching the traffic can be half the fun It is an on-going project for me, but I am improving my portrait-taking ability It isn't permitted to enter the Taj Mahal wearing your normal footware, so you have the option of either removing your shoves outright or opting for the very stylish footies Agra is another one of those "Head-on-a-Swivel" places, where traffic seems to come at you from every angle A few new friends made while touring around Agra http://temporarilylost.com/2013/02/16/a-fort-a-mosque-a-pillar-and-a-tomb-in-new-delhi/ http://temporarilylost.com/2013/02/16/a-fort-a-mosque-a-pillar-and-a-tomb-in-new-delhi/#comments Sat, 16 Feb 2013 15:06:08 +0000 andrewamiet http://temporarilylost.com/?p=6233 ]]> http://temporarilylost.com/2013/02/16/a-fort-a-mosque-a-pillar-and-a-tomb-in-new-delhi/feed/ 24 India Gate 8 andrewamiet The imposign "India Gate," a monument dedicated to the 90,000 soldier's that died in three different wars around the early 1900's The streets of the Old Delhi section of town Paharganj Area 4 - Indian Mission near RK Ashram Marg Metro The colors and aromas of the Spice Bazaar are particularly tantalizing Drive to Delhi 4 - Streets Paharganj Area 3 - Colorful Doorway Paharganj Area 3 - Side Alley The Paharganj Area (the backpacker district) as seen from above Colorful tea tins for sale in one of the many bazaars Old Delhi 10 - Colorful Facades The massive walls of the Lahore Gate, the main entrance to the Red Fort The early morning sun framed by the archway of the Naubat Khana The interior grounds of the Red Fort Red Fort 6 - Arched on Naubat Khana Floral motif designs carved into the sandstone walls Red Fort 12 - Diwan-i-Am Jama Masjid 3 Jama Masjid 10 - Prayer Jama Masjid 6 - Looking up at Arch Jama Masjid 18 As mentioned above, one of the two minarets, each standing 40 meters high, is open for the public to climb. The views back over the Old City of Delhi were certainly worth the exertion Jama Masjid 26 - View through Screen Jama Masjid 31 - View over Dome from Tower The view of the courtyard below, with the walls of the Red Fort visible closer to the horizon The view of the crowded streets of Old Delhi Jama Masjid 41 - Inside of the Tower The Qutub Minar, stading high in the background More carvings and etchings engraved into the sandstone Qutub Minar 29 - Looking up at Pillar A few of the other ruins remaining after nearly 1,000 years Qutub Minar 10 - School Children Portrait Qutub Minar 21 - School Children Portrait Qutub Minar 22 - School Children Portrait Qutub Minar 26 - School Children Portrait The first sight of Humayun's Tomb upon entering the complex Humayun's Tomb 44 Humayun's Tomb 15 - Looking towards Entrance Humayun's Tomb 31 Humayun's Tomb 45 Going for a ride in one of the many orange-and green Tuk-tuks, or auto-rickshaws A spice vendor setting up shop right on the sidewalk The Rashtrapatis Bhaven, or President's House Even the freight trucks here in India are decked out in a hyperactive array of color An artisan carved an intricate pattern into marble One of the two Secretariat Buildings I always held the assertion that the subway systems of the likes of Tokyo and Beijing were the most crowded in the world -- that is, until I attempted the Delhi metro system And finally, yours truly looking down upon the courtyard of the Jama Masjid http://temporarilylost.com/2013/02/13/life-on-the-road-part-3-reflections-on-east-asia/ http://temporarilylost.com/2013/02/13/life-on-the-road-part-3-reflections-on-east-asia/#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:49:51 +0000 andrewamiet http://temporarilylost.com/?p=6142 ]]> http://temporarilylost.com/2013/02/13/life-on-the-road-part-3-reflections-on-east-asia/feed/ 15 Enoshima 29 - Fishing andrewamiet Enoshima 29 - Fishing Matsu-no-ochaya 2 - View over garden Osaka 6 - View from restaurant in MIO Plaza Osaka Castle 36 - Mossy Moat Serengeti 13 - Elephants Summer Palace 27 - Buddhist Incense Pavilion Suwon Hwasong 13 - Painting on Walls Minami Area 3 - Reflections off building Gwanghwamun 7 - Plants in Metal Wall Tea Shop 6 - Decorations I seem to have arrived a bit too early when catching this bullet train out of Tokyo Although flying doesn’t give you the same sense of a changing landscape that a bus or train does, it takes significantly less time (i.e. – less time sitting crunched up with my knees going numb) Riding the city bus in Kyoto, Japan Overnight sleepers – still my arch nemesis (luckily, this was a train, which is marginally better than a night but) The term “airport” is used a little more liberally in other parts of the world Ah yes, the always-fun task of figuring out which platform and which platform I need when the entire board is written in another language The crowded subways of places like Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, and Taipei is the stuff of legend, and with good reason, too! More fun with rickshaws HK Airport 1 - Plane Mosquito nets draping the beds in this hotel in Arusha, Tanzania It seems a bit odd at first to Westerners, but the Tatami Mat style rooms of Japan really grew on me Of course, the common room of any hostel is the focal point, where you can meet like-minded travelers coming from all parts of the globe. Pictured here is a colorful example from Pingyao, China Notes and letters taped to the walls from other travelers who have previously passed through A great way to wind down the day -- sitting over a cup of coffee with a small journal Jumping with Maasai Raohe Night Market 7 - Agatha and I Kuri 6 - Sake Tastings Hua Shan 4 Food 13 - Yang's Fried Dumplings Samplilng a Hot Pot with friends in China A very enthusiastic Tako Yaki vendor in Osaka, Japan Enjoying a cup of tea in the People's Park in Chengdu, China Silly games in Kanazawa Maokong 10 - Stamps on Foreheads It may be tough to read your hand that way! Showing off his moves in Tokyo New Friends 3 Smiling vendors at a street market in Beijing Enjoying Makgoelli in Seoul A tea sweet made to resemble three fireflies on a summer evening The condiment selection at a Tonkatsu restaurant in Kyoto A variety of sea critters brought up by hand on Jeju-do in South Korea A hearty breakfast in Taiwan One of my favorite perspectives: pulled up to a sushi bar awaiting my tiny morsels of magnificence The spicy Ma Po Doufo (or Tofu) of Sichuan Province fame Large, steaming vats of something delicious being cooked up in the Muslim Quarter of Xi'an A squid vendor hawking her wares The shrimp version of xiaolongbao at the famous Taiwanese restaurant Din Tau Fung And another glass of sake just to wash things down Food 1 - Chinese Snickers Food 16 - Vitamin Water Insa-dong 3 - Korean Starbucks Hmmm, McDonald's looks a little different where I come from... Every "foodie" has their own gulity pleasure that they don't willingly admit to others. In my case, my secret passion is Taco Bell -- something that I have greatly missed during my travels. That is, until I found this one in Korea and did a Happy Dance to celebrate Mmmmm, Green Tea and Cherry Blossom flavored Kit Kats in Japan Yep, you're seeing that correctly. Fast food chains actually deliver in some parts of the world Enoshima 45 - Me http://temporarilylost.com/2012/12/21/rainy-days-dim-sum-and-casinos-in-hong-kong-and-macau/ http://temporarilylost.com/2012/12/21/rainy-days-dim-sum-and-casinos-in-hong-kong-and-macau/#comments Sat, 22 Dec 2012 00:22:00 +0000 andrewamiet http://temporarilylost.com/?p=6032 ]]> http://temporarilylost.com/2012/12/21/rainy-days-dim-sum-and-casinos-in-hong-kong-and-macau/feed/ 18 Hong Kong 13 - Streets andrewamiet View of Hong Kong as een from Victoria Peak (and unfortunately through the rain) The busy streets of Hong Kong The heart of the city is hemmed in between a rising mountain range to the South (seen here) and the harbor to the North Various vendors and stalls selling their wares at a local street market as the ever-present skyscrapers loom ominousliy in the background Once the sun has set, the energy in the atmosphere is almost palpable Hong Kong 1 - Streets at Night Hong Kong 6 - At Night The aromatic smoke from the many incense coils hangs heavy in the air Man Mo Temple 4 Man Mo Temple 2 - Lanterns Man Mo Temple 13 Enjoying the evening view back towards Hong Kong The streets of Kowloon are just as crowded and clausterphobic as those of Hong Kong itself Kowloon 19 - Triangles The Kowloon Promenade, overlooking the Harbor Posters displaying the various exhibits that have passed through the Museum of Art in Kowloon The Kowloon-Canton Railway Clocktower at night Kowloon 15 - Cool Looking Boat View from the deck of the Star Ferry One of the most quintessential experience in Hong Kong is sitting down to a Dim Sum feast. Though the crowded and cavernous restaurants can be intimidating at first, once you've found your seat a one of the communal table, the rest flows smoothly and easily: simply keep an eye out for the passing carts emerging from the kitchens, point at whatever catches your eye as they pass by, and then enjoy. The waiters will simply count your plates once your finished as a way of tallying up the bill. An example of a neighborhood restaurant, complete with various bits of pig hanging in the windows A plateful of the sweet barbecued pork that is a halmark of Cantonese cuisine Hong Kong Style French Toast, where a double dose of bread is stuffed with jam or butter, liberally coated in batter, fried in butter, and then topped with even more butter Diners enjoying the festive atmosphere and tasty treats near a street market in Kowloon And of course, if good beer exists within a city's borders, I'm going to find it The Largo do Senado, or the Senado Square, which is the Urban center of town The Shoreline of the Macau peninsula, with the Macau Tower just visible in the distance Mount Fortress 5 One of the biggest events of the year here is the Macau Grand Prix road race, and although I missed it by a matter of days, the streets were still sectioned off and protective fences were still left standing along the course The crowded streets near the city's center The Portuguese-style facades of many of Macau's buildings add a unique feel to this Asian city The Ruins of St. Paul's, where the facade of the former Church of the Mater Dei, which was destroyed by fire in 1835, still stands The city's skyline as seen from the top of the Mount Fortress The mega hotel/casino complexes draw the most attention, however. But luckily, they are mostly tasteful in design, eschewing the style of the gaudy monstrocities seen in Las Vegas Reflections of the front entrace to the Wynn Resort and Casino In the foyer of the afor-mentioned Wynn Casino lies the elaborate Zodiac-themed ceiling with retracts to reveal a light show several times a day The Grand Lisbon Hotel, the tallest structure on the island, acts as a beacon for any lost souls trying to find their bearings, as it is visible from almost ever corner of the city http://temporarilylost.com/2012/12/03/stinky-tofu-bubble-tea-and-the-legendary-night-markets-of-taiwan/ http://temporarilylost.com/2012/12/03/stinky-tofu-bubble-tea-and-the-legendary-night-markets-of-taiwan/#comments Tue, 04 Dec 2012 02:11:22 +0000 andrewamiet http://temporarilylost.com/?p=5958 ]]> http://temporarilylost.com/2012/12/03/stinky-tofu-bubble-tea-and-the-legendary-night-markets-of-taiwan/feed/ 14 Food 5 - Spoonful of Congelaed Duck's Blood andrewamiet Food 5 - Spoonful of Congelaed Duck's Blood A scene from the energetic Raohe Night Market (my personal favorite) Stalls along the outer edge of Shilin Night Market A seafood vendor showing off his edible wares The new food court located at the basement level of the Shilin Night Market My first meal after arriving in Taiwan -- stinky tofu with congealed duck's blood and pig's intestines Stinky Tofu, the fried version Beef Noodle - one of the most ubiquitous dishes that Taiwan has to offer (a noodle soup made with beef broth) Coffin Bread - a thick slice of bread that hasbeen hollowed out and subsequently stuffed with the ingredients of your choice (this happens to be congee and chicken) My daily breakfast of lotus cake topped with a fried egg and chili sauce Cold noodles with sesame paste and chili oil Pork Ribs stewed in Medicinal Broth - another example of Taiwan taking inspiration from an international dish (Chinese Bak Kut The, in this case) and making it their own Ba Won - a softball-sized dumpling made with rice flour and cornstarch that is subsequently stuffed with meats and veggies then cooked until semi-translucent Spicy Wontons - not necessarily Taiwanese, but still excellent It wasn't at one of the Night Markets, but here's a peek into the kitchen of the famous Taiwanese chain of dumpling restaurants known as Din Tai Fung, which has spread to many of the neighboring countries An of course, I had to try a few of their dumpling-based offerings. This is the Taiwanese iteration of xialongbao, or the soup dumplings I sampled back in Shanghai. This time around, however, there was no spilling on my shirt! Oyster Vermicelli with a side of Oil Rice (liberally coated in hot sauce, no less) Tempura Fish, taking advantage of the bountiful seafood available Oyster Omelette with a sweet, fruity sauce ladled atop Cuttlefish (or squid) Stew Fishball Soup, another common dish not only found in Taiwan, but all across Southeast Asia Flaky Scallion Pancake, made to order with whatever fillings you like Pig's Blood Rice Pudding (or Pig's Blood Cake) -- a mixture of sticky rice and pig's blood that is coated in peanut powder, cilantro, and served up on a stick Pepper Cakes - A gourmet version of a hot pocket that is stuffed with a mixture of pork and black pepper and then cooked in clay ovens The sweet and sassy taste of a Taiwanese sausage A bite-sized hunk of fried pork (beware, they don't remove the bones before frying) A street vendor preparing my Steamed Spring Roll (Run Bing) The final product Fried Bao, or small dumplings that are stuffed with pork or veggies and fried up in huge pans until they are ready to burst I'm not sure when "fried chicken" morphed into serving nearly a whole chicken flattened, battered, and fried, but I'm certainly not going to complain The reigning king of Taiwanese desserts: massive mounds of shaved ice topped with various frozen fruits, sugars, and syrups. These may similar to creations from other countries, but nothing compares to the glutinous delights of an authentic Taiwanese Shaved Ice Mound Sweet egg tarts (again, similar to the Portugueuse Egg Tarts I found in Shanghai). This version was made with Black Tea, however, adding yet another subtle layer of flavor Pineapple Cake - a sweet snack so ubiquitous that is has almost become a national symbol Sometime nothing satisfies at the end of a night like a big hunk of starch. Shown here is a sweet Pineapple bun with a heaping hunk of butter melting away inside Trays of Fen Yuan, small glutinious balls of steamed sticky rice powder stuffed with fillings such as red bean paste or green tea and then either eaten out of hand or used to top any other various desserts I've sampled Bubble Tea all over the world, but I finally made it to the source A large tray of the jello-like aiyu jelly, which is served over ice in a lemonade-like drink Sweet Almond Milk made from Soy This doesn't look like much other than a cup of tea, but in reality, it is Taiwanese Bitter Tea, boasting an IBU count comparable to that of West Coast American IPA's Finally, even though the Taiwanese people consume very little alcohol (they usually opt for tea or milk based drinks), I did manage to find one local beer to satisfy my beer geek instincts http://temporarilylost.com/2012/11/28/the-perfect-blend-of-asian-characteristics-in-taipei/ http://temporarilylost.com/2012/11/28/the-perfect-blend-of-asian-characteristics-in-taipei/#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:00:07 +0000 andrewamiet http://temporarilylost.com/?p=5882 ]]> http://temporarilylost.com/2012/11/28/the-perfect-blend-of-asian-characteristics-in-taipei/feed/ 13 Taipei 101 2 - From Below andrewamiet 228 Peace Park 4 - Pavilion Taipei 10 - Streets Random Temple 1 - Lanterns Presidential Office 1 Museum of Contemporary Art 1 - Exhibit Taipei 3 - Streets at Night Bopiliao District 9 - Street Art Taipei 1 - Streets Da'an Park 1 Chiang Kai-shek Memorial 23 - CKS Statue and Guard 228 Peace Park 11 - Fountains Taipei 5 - Plants Taipei 11 - Streets Longshan Temple 36 Lungshan Tample 14 - Praying Lungshan Tample 7 - Octaganol Window Lungshan Tample 10 - Candles Lungshan Tample 2 - Waterfall Baoan Temple 5 Baoan Temple 7 Baoan Temple 16 - Lights Baoan Temple 14 Confucius Temple 13 Taipei 101 2 - From Below Taipei 101 5 - View Taipei 101 9 - View Taipei 101 11 - View Taipei 101 15 - Open Air View Taipei 101 2 - At Night Maokong 2 - Gondola Ride Maokong 3 - View towards Taipei Maokong 12 - Streets Maokong 16 - Teahouse Maokong 29 - Tea Service Maokong 31 - Tea Service