A Taste of Southeast Asia

I had three days all by me onzies this week. A bit lonely, after, as I have grown used to a household of 3. And the sky over the city was grey and drizzly...
But of course there is always a bright side to everything. Being alone, I could cook whatever crazy 'exotic' foods I wanted. Also, in the city there is an Asian grocery store.
So I took a culinary trip to South East Asia!
Red Hot Chilies:

Juicy limes:

Fragrant Jasmine Rice (rised and draining):

At first I was only intending to make the Tom Kh Gai from Hot Thai Kitchen.

It turned out really well! You can't tell from the white blob in the photo, but it was warm and rich with suble layers of spice and herbs.
The next day I had leftover rice, so I made my own version of Nasi Goring.

The most important ingredient was the succulent shimp!

The next day I had a whole bundle of Lemongrass leftover. What to do with all that lemongrass?

Well, tea was the obvious answer.

But that's a lot of tea! 

Having extra coconut milk leftover as well, I decided to attempt Nasi Kuning.

I've never made this before, so I had to look it up. I read that Indonesians shape it into a giant cone and set dishes around it's base. It's served as ceremonies, to give thanks. I remember my Oma cooked it for me once, and it wasn't in a cone shape.  Also,I recall she served it with some spicy chicken. I don't know how to cook chicken so  I cheated and bought a spicy chicken leg from the Traiteur.

I also didn't have a cone funnel, but I tried to make a tower of storts.

My Make-shift Tumpeng:

 The salad, in case you were wondering, is shredded carrots, cabbages and leeks. I don't completly made this up, included the dressing which was comprised of the following:

I don't know if it is authentic, but it tasted pretty good.

Also, at the little old Thai lady at the market was selling her homemade goodies, and I couldn't pass up on these Ka Nom Tom- sweet coconut balls filled with palm sugar.

 I couldn't finish all the Ka Nom Tom by myself. For some reason, none of my classmates would help.

 And so, the moral of the story is, sometimes it's good to indulge. By the end of the third day, I was really looked forward to some 'normal' food like goat cheese on spelt bread!



My First Ski-Tour

Today I did something I've been wanting to do since last year- a ski tour!


A ski tour is when, instead of riding a ski lift up the mountain, you strap some snow boots on and hike up the mountain. Then you can ski- or in my case, snowboard back down.
It was extremely fun, and extremely intense!
The first problem was  getting the gear together. We strapped our boards to backpacks. That was heavy. I haven't been backpacking in a long time (sadly) and was not so fit. Also, I was also over 7,000 feet above sea level.  The snow shoes were not terribly difficult to get on, but I felt a little awkward at first, and was taking really high steps at first. Then I had two walking sticks, which I didn't know how to use. I didn't even know there was a technique to it- I mean, sticks are just sticks, right? Nope- these were contoured to the right and left hand, and had a fancy strap,in which your wrist needed to properly rest, or else they became more of a hindrance than a help.
Once that was all settled, and I was on the way, it was great- bright blue skies, sun. I was really hot, even without most of my snow gear.
Then things got a little tougher.
By the end, I felt like my legs were lead. I was breathing heavily. (less oxygen at such heights!) I couldn't strap my shoes onto my backpack because my fingers were frozen.
I was miserable- and I loved it! Just when you think you can't go any further, take another step- you do! You think you're going to lay down in the snow and die, but somehow, you don't. You keep going, because that's the only thing to do. I'm sure there is a life lesson somehwere in there. laughed, cried, sweated, and might.”  have even bled just a little bit, where my knuckle was dry and cracked.
Then as I was quickly easily- compared to the accent anyhow, snowboarding down, I thought of two quotes.

I stand in awe of my body. - Thoreau

The larger quantum field—the universe—is your extended body. - Deepak Chopra

I whole-heartedly recommend this excursion to anyone who loves a challenge, fresh air, sunshine and strenuous activity.
Lerice was my guide, showing me how it's done.

Yep, there she goes, way ahead of me.

 But I go at my own tempo and arrive eventually.

 And I was totally smiling like this the entire time! (saracasm)

Thoughts on 2012

 

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.

-T.S. Elliot

I have gone so far in 2012. Okay, so it began and ended in the same place- this little alpine village in Switzerland. But in 2012, I found out how far I can go. I pushed to the very edges of my limits. How much can I take on?  How little do I really need?

2012 forced me to take on some impossible challenges, and give up nearly all my old comforts. I had to let go of everything I thought defined me.

2012 was my first full year experiencing the turning of the seasons in one place. It isn’t always pleasant, sometimes I thought I would freeze to death, but I didn’t. Now I know, I can be so cold, and not die, or even get frost bite. And how glorious is the sun after so much cold and dark!
I have been on top of the world, and I have been at my lowest low. In 2012, I really, truly, deeply lived.

2012 carved a space in my heart so deep, I know it can hold whatever 2013 brings my way. I’m excited because 2012 nearly killed me, and if I’ve learned anything from this world of seasons, after winter, follows spring.

Through the Mountain

If we can't go over the mountain, let us pass under it. Let us go through the exhibition at San Gottardo!

I often think of my life in terms of Lord of the Rings.
Don't laugh!
Okay, it's a bit silly, but true. At at times, very helpful.
I started in the Shire (aka West Dean, West Sussex, England).
I picked up a companion who rather reminds me of an elf, certianly a mountain, woodland creature.*
Now I am in the Misty Mountains (aka the Alps).
Last week, I went through the Mines of Moria.

Last week the weather wasn't so great for hiking, so Lerice and I visited the newly opened Sasso exhibit, which is located in the caverns and tunnels of the mountain, which served as military bases during WWII.  It has is a really cool blend of new technology, art, history, and science. It was also very, very cold! And very dank and dark. For better or worse, no trolls, balrogs nor dwarves were to be found. 

Here is what Sasso says about itself:

The Gotthard is a place of myths and legends, of fables and national identity, where

bridges are built by devils and nature displays its primordial power. It is a place that

links north and south and crosses frontiers; a symbol of modernity, technical progress

and engineering brilliance. Yet here too we see the limits of progress: huge traffic jams

and the changes wrought by human beings on the Alpine environment. The mountain

range that is the Gotthard massif is a place of ambivalence, where nature and

technology, ecology and economics, openness and the fortress mentality, past and

future meet.

Facts

Total area: 7550m2

Exhibition area: 3440m2

Historic fortifications area: 3140m2

Total length of tunnels: 1789m

Altitude at entrance: 2096m above sea level

Highest point: 2217m above sea level

And some pictures!

Pictures were difficult to take in such dark places.  But I did get a few.

500 Meters (547 Yards) of this. Lerice asked me what I would do if the lights went out. "Scream," I said. You?

My favourite room- healing crystals found in the nearby mountain.

I was very happy to see light at the end of the tunnel!

Wanderer over a Sea of Mist.

Blueberries for Erica

I've been craving the mountains lately. I even dressed in camping clothes last week and rode around the city wishing/pretending I was in the woods.
My wish was granted sooner than I thought. I spent two glorious days in back in Andermatt. I took Charly on a little hike, through the woods, up the neighboring mountain. When we got to the top, we found a sea of blueberry bushes bearing berries! I thought we had missed blueberry season- we had tried a month ago and were too early. Then a week or so ago, some early snow came. Apparetly, blueberries only grow at great heights.
I started to pick them with my bare fingers. It was a slow process, and I was afraid that the herd of Yaks might come by.
I should explain that in Switzerland, cows are everywhere. They're always moving around from place to place; from the field next to the big shopping center to the most remote mountain peaks. It is not unsual for a hiking trail to cut through a field where cows are grazing. They are usually quiet and gentle, unless provoked, so this is not a problem. However some idiot guy from Andermatt decided that he was too cool for cows and got himself a herd of Yaks. Yaks are cool and all, but you just can't go strolling through a field of yacks in the same way you would through a field of docile Swiss milk cows, especially if you have a dog. One hiking was already injured. Also, the yaks don't wear cow bells, or yak bells, or a bells of any kind.
So that addd a bit of excietment to the rather idylic act of picking blueberries on top the mountian. I could not see, hear, or smell them. There were no cow-pies around. Still I kept turning over my shoulder to see if they were coming.
As you can tell, we both made it back safe and sounds. Sorry I can't share the berries with you over the internets. They are a bit tart, but berry delicious!



Blueberries sitting on top of the world.



Charly in the blueberrry patch, wondering why I've suddenly stopped hiking. On a side note, last time I was up here, I was snowboarding. Right over these bushes.  

I am in love with the colour palate of the bush and berries. Very autumnal- as if the alps were singed just a wee bit.

Picker beware: there are look-alike blueberries growing at such hights too. The way to check and see if it's a real blueberry is to squish it. Fake blueberries ooze white gue. Real blueberries have dark pink ink.  

It is also rasberry season, but as these seems to grow at lower altitudes, so I let them be.

Pretty though, aren't they?

The Yak herd! You can't tell from this photo, but it was taken from the other side of the electric wire enclosue and the other side of the river.

So we made it home with our lovely blueberries, safe and sound.

Why My Life is A Fairy Tale and How Yours Can Be Too

Into the Woods....

People often remark "You're living in a fairy tale!" or "Your life is a fairy tale!" and plenty of people have told me they like to live vicariously through me. Well, of course my life is a fairy talke! You know why?  I tell myself that it is!  I am the heroine of my own fairy tale! Yup, even at the age of 26 I still play 'make believe'. It comes naturally to me, but I thought I would break them down into steps case any one else feels called to live a fairy tale life.

1) Know what you want. For example, I know that I'd rather be the witch in the cottage at the end of the pond (good witch, of course) than the princess in the castle. Every one's fairy tale is going to be different.  Also know why you want what you want. Think of chocolate cravings. I've been told that when women crave chocolate their body actually needs vitamins and minerals like calcium and magnesium. It's not the chocolate exactly but what the chocolate gives them.

2) Imagine it! This is so natural to me, and I guess not a lot of people do this past childhood, but I daydream all the time. Perhaps this is not so Zen of me, not living the moment, but I imagine myself in the future, doing what I want, down to details, especially the sounds and scents around me. Allow yourself to dream and imagine. Then write it out, make a collage, or draw it.

3) Be Open to Gifts the Universe Brings. When you're living a fairy tale life, you have to be open to what life brings your way. You won't get exactly what you imagined. However, in my experience, it is always BETTER.  Don't say no to things because they aren't exactly how you thought they should be. If you kow why would want what you want, this part is easier. So the universe doesn't have any chocolate for you at the moment, but perhaps is offering a bowl of rasin bran cereal and cold whole milk, which actually is more satisfying and has what you need!

4) Be open to hard work and suffering. Now, I absolutely love my life, but let me assure you there's a lot of rough patches, hard work and moments of dark despair. But what would a fairy tale be without a villains, trials or conflict? When I hit those bumps, when I find my self lonely, frustrated, depressed, on my feet for 9 hours without a break, scrubbing poo off other people's toilets, I just tell myself that this is part of my test, my trial. I play scullery maid! In every fairy tale, the heroine must face her deamons, no? At some point, we all must get lost in the woods.

5) Cultivate and Attitude of Gratitude. When the "good" parts come, like relaxing in the sun by a gorgeous blue lake,really notice it, appreciate it, live in the moment. Give thanks for everything in your life, even, especially the things you don't like. Those things you don't like help you learn about yourself, the world, and they inspire you to move on to other things when you get the chance. A good way to do this is to write down 5 things you are grateful for everyday just before you go to sleep. You can download a free pocket diary to get you started here.

6)) Know that you deserve it. Don't believe people -including yourself, who say you don't deserve to live a happy life.  Happiness is a skill which can be cultivated, however, I also believe it is our birthright. Life might be suffering, but our purpose is not to suffer. And don't worry that if you are happy, somebody else has to suffer. We all want different things, so more for you actually means more for everyone else.

7) Know that you are being guided. Have faith. Any sort of faith. Believe that angels, Bodhisattvas, guards, ancestors, fairy godmothers, whatever, are helping you along. You are not alone. They could be unseen swirls of energy, or perhaps flesh and blood people. This will give you the courage to go your own way, to take chances, to endure anything. Know that you cannot fail.

Now granted I am only 26 and hope I have a lot of life to live yet, so perhaps I ought to be writing this in a few decades, and we'll see it my life continues to unfold as a fairy tale. But I love my life now, and I thought would share a bit about how I approach life, hopefully it helps somebody else's dreams come true.

Why the Switzerland is So Damn Perfect and Why I'm Happy to be a California Girl

Okay, so maybe it's not Perfect. But it has the cleanest water, air, cities- you could even eat off the floor of the last bus I rode. The country has a history of neutrality, and therefore safety. It also offers financial safety with it's stable economy.
It's great, in a way. Paperwork abounds, but everything is done efficienty and without much delay. And of course bills come silently in the maid a few days later. But how does a whole country work like clockwork?
Up here in the mountain village, everyone is always watching everyone else, and then talking about it. People are always watching. I've had to cut down on my dancing and singing in the streets because "people are watching!". At first I was like "oh who cares? I'm free entertainment for them!" but eventually I realized that these are the people you want to hire me, or sell me groceries, or a flat, or knows some one who would have been able to hire me but then heard I was , well, wierd.
That is the whole mentality of the Swiss! Someobdy is always watching! And their system works, right? Why fix it?
To even apply for an appartment we had to go to the big Cantonal...I don't know what .Offical building. There we recieved a report card which, if we had been naughty girls, would have revealed any offense we ever comitted, be that a late payment or a parking ticket.
So I have come to the conclusion that the Swiss are so fastidious because they're AFRAID. Anything new or diffent is seen as a threat. Anybody out of line with the norms seems to challange the status quo. No one tries anything knew on the menue up here, because the same 7 dishes have always been offered.  Who needs anything even slightly different?
And that is why I am happy to be a Californian girl. I don't know about the rest of America (because honestly if it's not on the Pacific Coast, it's a foreign country to me) but I think Californians have confidence coming out their ears. Perhaps it's taken to the extreem, sometimes. But in general,  California is a place where creativity can thrive. It's a place where you can dream big, try hard, and yes, even make some mistakes! And you can succed! Yes you will indeed!  Look at Apple.
I know California has it's fair share of problems. I am always sad to see the earthly paradise being paved over for yet another computer business. Switzerland does take really good care of their natural resources, but has it's fair share of problems too,- they just hide them really well behind the towering Alps.
I thought everybody frolicked in the meadows barefoot, Heidi-style? Now I know why not every Swiss person is out with easel and paints, painting en plein air every weekend. There are some earth-loving hippies here, but they are not the majority.

Heidi - inspiration for the flower children?  

I am happy to be living here, but I am coming to realize what a gift it is to be born into a culture where anything is possible, where you are told you can achieve your dreams, where you can be who you are, even if that means you want to run around barefoot with dreadlocks, singing off key at the top of your lungs. Do thoese wackos in SF or Santa Cruz really hurt anybody? No! ( Far greater damage is done by big business in slick suits.)
 California has a history of different people living together, or right next to each other, in general peace and harmony (except for those two warfaring tribes in So Cal, but what can you expect in the desert?) Differences don't mean chaos. Change doesn't mean instability. I realize now that it's a choice to be confident, to be yourself. It takes courage. And while I am sure anyone can learn this at any age, I am soooo grateful to have been taught early, even if I am to this day working on it.