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.