CENTURY EGG, mmMM THAT SMELL

Pidan or Century egg

 What is it? Has it been berried for a millennium, 1000 years or a century?
No, the process only takes a few weeks to a few months. Although the unique look and scent of this egg has earned it a few of those nicknames and Khai Yiao ma in Thai which translates to "Horse urine eggs." A common misconception due to its pungent ammonia like scent, but urine has a pH of 7.5-7.9, whereas a century egg has a much higher pH. The curring process of the egg is  transformed by alkaline salt that slowly raises the pH of the egg from 9 up to 12.

Traditionally the egg (duck, chicken or quail) is covered in a a mixture of clay, ash, rice hulls, and quicklime that hardens around the egg and stats the curring process. The mixture and length of time depend greatly on location and method of processing.

The result, an soft cheese like texture of the black egg yolks and pungent flavor with a jelly like egg white.

Serving and eating Pidan is different depending on the culture and region. I went a traditional Cantonese congee direction  following The Woks of Life recipe in order to try this odd ball of a egg properly.

Guess what! I liked it! Its not nearly as strange as I thought it would be. I have tried Swedish Surströmming and Icelandic Hákarl. This one is much more palpable. It had a silky texture and chicken stock flavor packed yummyness! So GO AHEAD give it a try! I dare ya!

Get yourself:

• Makes for 4 large and 8 small portions 
• ¾ cup (washed and frozen for 8 hours)
• 4 ounces pork shoulder, sliced thin (matchsticks)
• ½ teaspoon cornstarch
• 2 teaspoon oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 7 cups chicken broth(water + 1.5 bouillon cubes)
• 2 Century eggs
• 3 slices fresh ginger (matchstick)
• ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
• Salt to taste
• Chopped spring onion for garnish and texture

Instructions

1. Wash the rice, drain, and transfer to a freezer-safe container. 
2. Marinate the pork with the cornstarch, oyster sauce, and vegetable oil
3. In a medium pot, bring 7 cups of stock to a boil. Add the frozen rice (no need to defrost) and bring it to a boil again, stirring the rice to prevent sticking. Reduce the heat to a low simmer, and cover and cook for about 15 minutes. Periodically check and stir the congee. 
4. While that’s cooking, dice the thousand year-old egg and set it aside. Very thinly slice the ginger. 
5. After 15 minutes, it’s time to add the julienned ginger, pork, and thousand year-old egg. Stir and simmer for another 5 minutes or so. Finally, stir in the white pepper and salt to taste. Serve hot with chopped spring onion. 

Let me know if you try this and what you think! Have fun! 

  

To travel in (piggy) style

ATT! 1st post of  my life #trippin2018away 
I just made about 40 USD (after all expenses paid) driving almost 700 miles (1000+ km)!
I just found a pretty furry "travel hack" and here is how;

Every country has "Ride share" Facebook pages, here is one for Sweden, New Zealand, and USA . There are even ride share groups for universities like UCLA California and many more. All to save emissions or cut down on travel cost while gaining a few friends along the way. 
I was posting in just such a group in Sweden and got an interesting suggestion back. How about giving transport for animals that need a new home? I obliviously jumped at the opportunity to hang out with some fuzzy fluff pals while hitting the open road. 


I got invited to a animal transport page for small critters. Its a place where you post where you are driving (just like a ride share page) but instead of people you get small animals to come along. 
I was lucky enough to get 10 transports guinea pigs from lovely and friendly people along the way. I also had to have 4 of them spend the night with me before I continued to my final destination (I charged a bit more). 


For this particular page the base price for any cage or box is 100 sek (about 10 USD), OR whatever the transporter and receiver agree upon.  I took 200 sek for those who spent the night and 150 sek for other boxes (some have more than one animal). I asked about care needs for the little ones and made sure to keep the car at a comfortable temperature. 

There were long haired, sort haired and NAKED guinea pigs! Big, small and baby floffs.

It was a great trip and knowing I wasnt spending any money extends my travel that much longer... how else can we safe money and have a unique experiance while traveling? Ill update what I find along the way, this the year of #trippin2018away 

FUN FACTS: No! Guinea pigs and pigs aren't even really closely related- although both are mammals. Guinea pigs are rodents, pigs are a type of ungulate (hoofed animal). More facts about the Guinea pig. <<<

Demented Icelandic Santa Clauses

The Yuletide-lads, Yule Lads

Are figures from Icelandic folklore who in modern times have become the Icelandic version of Santa Claus. Back in the day on their number and depictions varied greatly depending on location, with each individual Lad ranging from mere pranksters to homicidal monsters who eat children.

They would be hanging by your window or sniffing around when you’re cooking smoked lamb. Instead of kindly requesting a glass of milk, Stekkjarstaur would steal it from sheep, possibly leaving the family without nourishment. Kertasnikir (Candle Beggar) would eat tallow candles, leaving the family without light or warmth in the endless Icelandic winters.
Leaving the family to starve or freeze if you were a bad child. 

Then the Christians came, after the King of Norway decreed everyone should be Christian and sent missionaries to convert the island. The yule lads merged with Christian traditions, and diluted them. The Christians were none too taken with the idea of thieving trolls roaming the mountains. In 1746, a public decree was issued prohibiting parents from scaring their kids with stories of the Yule Lads. they ruin everything don't they, do not even get me stared on India. 

In 1932, the poem "Jólasveinarnir" was published as a part of the popular poetry book "Jólin Koma" ("Christmas is Coming") by Icelandic poet Jóhannes úr Kötlum. The poem reintroduced Icelandic society to Icelandic Yuletide folklore and established what is now considered the canonical thirteen Yuletide-lads, their personalities and connection to other folkloric characters.

They put rewards or punishments into shoes placed by children in window sills during the last thirteen nights before Christmas Eve.
Every night, one Yuletide lad visits each child, leaving gifts or rotting potatoes, depending on the child’s behavior throughout the year.

The Yuletide-lads are traditionally said to be the sons of the mountain-dwelling trolls Grýla and Leppalúði. They would trek from the mountains to scare Icelandic children who misbehaved before Christmas. Additionally, the Yuletide-lads are often depicted with the Yule Cat, a beast that, according to folklore, eats children who don't receive new clothes for Christmas. So I hope everyone gets a pair of socks for Christmas 

FUN FACT 2ND EDITION, The protectors

Landvættir  pronounced (Land- vi-tir) with an emphasis on, vi, are spirits of the land in Norse mythology 

Iceland is protected by four great guardians

According to a saga in Heimskringla a king of Denmark, King Harald Bluetooth Gormsson intending to invade Iceland, had a wizard send his spirit out in the form of a whale to scout it out for points of vulnerability. Swimming westwards around the northern coast, the wizard saw that all the hillsides and hollows were full of landvættir. 

The dragon (Dreki) in the east

The Griffin (Gammur) in the north

He swam up Vopnafjörður, intending to go ashore, 

but a great dragon came flying down the valley toward him, followed by many snakes, insects, and lizards, all spitting poison at him. So he went back and continued around the coast westward to Eyjafjörður, where he again swam inland. This time he was met by a great bird, so big that its wings touched Breiðafjörður. 

There he was met by a huge bull, bellowing horribly, with many landvættir following it.

The bull (Griðungur) in the west

 The giant (Bergrisi) in the south.

He retreated again, continued south around Reykjanes, and tried to come ashore at Vikarsskeið, but there he encountered a mountain bergrisi,a giant with his head higher than the hill-tops, with an iron staff in his hand and followed by many other giants (jötnar). He continued along the south coast but saw nowhere else where a ship come in, "nothing but sands and wasteland and high waves crashing on the shore.

The four landvættir are now regarded as the protectors of the four quarters of Iceland, and are portrayed on their coast of arms and their money. 

Fun Icelandic Facts

Þetta Reddast!

Pronounced (Th-eh-T-a Red-dast) Icelandic motto that means “It will save itself” or “It will fix itself.”, “Everything will work out” or “Don’t worry or be afraid. It will be okay.” the words fall off the tongue with a grin and a shrug of their shoulders. Similarly to the lion kings Hakuna Matata Its a wonder phrase!
Life on this Island could often be a bit harsh, so Icelanders developed a carefree mentality when faced with hardship and maintain a belief that things will work out. 



Life got you down? lose your passport? cant find your keys? Þetta Reddast!
I get tattoos in every country I spend more than a month, and I think I have just found my Icelandic tat. 

líkar ekki veðrið bara bíddu bara aðeins

or If you do not like the weather just wait a minute.

Due to its location WIND IS A THING! In Iceland it can be what would be considered REALLY windy anywhere else at any time of year. This is a thing constatly, Chicago ait got shit on this place.  People spend time attached to the fences  and signs being too scared to move off because of the wind. But this also means the weather changes, FAST! One day I spent being blown around in hail, snow, rain and in the sun, all with in 2 hours. So if you wait for nice weather before going from point A to point B, take your chance when you have it! and hope the wind is in your favor. 

What the SHIT

On my 2nd day in Iceland and first day of my internship at Dill I was learning some recipes and techniques in the prep kitchen when I get handed some smokes trout to d-bone and cut up. Me being the snack attack of a human being that I am, I chop off a small bit and taste it. It was a strange flavor I just couldn't put my finer on. It was defiantly smoked and it was defiantly fish but, there was something else.

Dances with dung

What is this smokes with I ask myself, this is not a wood flavor i recognize, so I ask. Sous chef Muni walks in and I ask him, "what type of wood is this smoked with?" and as the answer rolls off his tongue he says it like its the most normal thing in the world....

Iceland, No trees 

"Its not wood, it is smoked with sheep shit." I was sure I had heard wrong, sheep shit!!!WHAT! But yes, As he explained that the literal bi-product of feeding sheep for food what poop and it was free, unlike wood which on this volcanic rock of an island, is few and far between. Smoking is a method of preservation and before refrigeration nordic countries had many methods for food storage, hang drying, smoking, curing and fermentation like Hákarl ... but that's is for a later post.
to read more about Dill's uses of dung-smoked fish  click Here 

Iceland, MMMMmmmm that smell

Reykjavik, Iceland 

The first day, I have only been here for a few hours, long hours of traveling and little to no sleep doesn't make for a stable mind. As I get off the plane and proceed to grab a smoked lamb and egg salad sandwich (first time for any combination) I walk out to catch the airport bus to the city.
1 quickly learn lesson, don't buy coffee its not allowed on the bus, and chugging coffee IS. NOT. FUN! But once i throw it back I think about the strong stench coming off my sandwich like, damn I just brought egg salad on the bus people are NOT going to like me! But, alas I am hungry it doesn't seem to smell like it has gone off so, why not. Wafting through the air the smell sticks around and that is when I remember ( I was tired from the trip remember) this is the smell off the 261 toll road in southern California on a summer trip to the beach and I am on a surfer dioxide spewing volcano. Hekla or "Gateway to hell" she is also knows as, is said to erupt at any moment. What fun adventures!
The air, the shower water, the smell is distinctive and its here to stay! fun first hours, everything is so new, next update coming soon.

To read more on the volcano click here
Icelantic volcano ready to blow

COUCHSURFING

Couchsurfing International Inc. is a Delaware C corporation based in San Francisco that offers its users hospitality exchange and social networking services.

Couchsurfing was founded in 2004 and sold to the private for-profit corporation Better World Through Travel in 2011. The website provides a platform for members to "surf" on couches by staying as a guest at a host's home, host travelers, or join an event.

As of January 2012, the website had 3.6 million members. In March 2013, the website had 6 million members in 100,000 cities worldwide.

Free to register. Members are encouraged to provide information and photos of themselves and of the accommodation they offer, if any. More information provided by a member, and other members, improves the chances that someone will find the member trustworthy enough to be their host or guest. Security is measured in a variety of ways, including member references, verification and the vouching system. Members looking for accommodation can search for hosts using several parameters such as age, location, gender and last login.

Homestays are consensual between the host and guest, and the duration, nature, and terms of the guest's stay are generally worked out in advance. No monetary exchange takes place except sometimes for compensation of incurred expenses (e.g. food). It is common practice for guests to seek non-monetary means to show their appreciation, such as bringing a gift, cooking a meal or teaching a skill.

Couchsurfing provides groups where members may seek travel partners or advice. Members organize activities such as camping trips, bar crawls, meetings, and sporting events.

The website features a searchable database of thousands of upcoming events organized by Couchsurfing members.

Establishing trust

There are three methods Couchsurfing that increase security and trust, which are all visible on member profiles for potential hosts and surfers:

1. Personal references, which hosts and surfers have the option to leave after having used the service to comment on what their experience with person they are leaving a reference for was like. It is also possible to leave neutral or negative references if it is deemed appropriate and negative references are taken very seriously.Negative references are sometimes removed by the site when they are deemed to have been done in a retaliatory or unfair manner. Members tend to rely heavily on references when trying to determine whether another user is "safe" or not.
2. An optional credit card verification system, allowing members to "lock in" their name and mailing address by making a credit card payment under any name and entering a code that Couchsurfing mails to an address of their choice. The verification program is the principal source of revenue for Couchsurfing. In an effort to increase economic fairness, the verification fee is based on a sliding scale, taking into account the Purchasing Power Parity andHuman Development Index of the country of registration. The verification system is widely viewed as heavily flawed and often ignored, since in the end, it only verifies that there is a name attached to a credit card and mailing address. No background safety check is ever performed and information does not need to be updated when someone moves.
3. A personal vouching system, whereby a member that had been vouched for three times — originally starting with the founders of the site — might in turn vouch for any number of other members he knew or had met through Couchsurfing, and can trust..

Here is an example page from Sweden 

https://www.couchsurfing.org/n/places/gothenburg-sweden

Rafters

Rafters- located on Old Mammoth Rd, in Mammoth Lakes CA. With eloquent American cuisine this mammoth landmark has refined the mountain life's pallet, and given the locals a taste of the good life, serving the best happy hour in town, in the laid-back bar and lounge. From $2 Rafters Honey Blond beer, brewed just for Raters by the Mammoth Brewing Co. to half off appetizers and selected dinner menu items. Chef Kerry Mechler has his best foot forward with his exquisite menu paired with an extensive wine list sold by the affordable glass to the aged and refined bottles. Come check out this Mammoth Jewel and rock out every Friday and Saturday night with its live music and rocking staff.

Fruits and Markets of Thailand.

In order to taste my way across Thailand I have happily picked off street carts (and once passing by some locals in a tree) prickly fruits, smelly fruits and indescribable by sight and smell foods. At the top left you see Durian... a fruit so pungent most wont dare open it indoors, It taste like a mushy mango with a stringy texture. On the bottom right you have Snake fruit, the street name for Salacca, due to its unique outer shells texture and feel. it has a funky aroma but with a unique sweet and sour taste that I can not possibly compare to anything well known.   

 On Koh Phangan, the island of the famous Full Moon party, they also have the Night Market on the northern part of the island just a short walk from the main pier....where local vender's come together and cook the local and fresh cuisine, drink, and sell their creations from sculptures made from car parts and unique handstiched bags. Its locals that cook for locals so it is by far the most Baht friendly food and people.

 Longan, it comes on a vine like a grape but you have to peal the tough skin back to reveal its juicy insides that remind me of a tiny Honeydue melon but with a more translucent meat.                       

Mangosteen, its the purple fruit that you should cut open very carefully no not ruin the meat inside or have a go at peeling it just make sure your not wearing white. It has a grape flavor that's light and refreshing but with an, already pealed grape texture, and like grapes look out for the bitter seeds.

THAI MASSAGE

Something as simple as a massage, the first thought that comes to mind is relaxing orsoothing. taking from my massage experience in Indonesia I figured the same thing when it came to all of south east Asia. First day in Thailand, I reminis on the Indo price or ~$7 for an hour long full body massage, and cant wait to get one after my long flight. Too bad we decided to end up in some random part of Bangkok called Siam(the original name for Thailand) where everything was expensive and no one spoke English. It was l local business area with high rise buildings and suits that crowd the streets during the day and African pimps and Thai hookers run the streets at night. Oops, next day we found our way to Khao San rd(a Thai Bourbon street if you will) where we eventually found our way to the islands after a few days.

I finally find my massage. Same price and I think I'm in heaven... until the massage lady get started, if you are an advanced yoga student you could twist into the positions these lady's put you in no problem, but if your an unsuspecting person who wanted to have a relaxing massage it might be a bit more difficult. The massage practitioner leans on the recipient's body using hands and usually straight forearms locked at the elbow to apply firm rhythmic pressure. The massage generally follows the Sen lines on the body—somewhat analogous tomeridians or channels and Indian nadis. Legs and feet of the giver can be used to fixate the body or limbs of the recipient. In other positions, hands fixate the body, while the feet do the massaging action. A full Thai massage session typically lasts two hours or more, and includes rhythmic pressing and stretching of the entire body; this may include pulling fingers, toes, ears, cracking the knuckles, walking on the recipient's back, and arching the recipient into bhujangasana (or cobra position). There is a standard procedure and rhythm to this massage.

           After having had a few of these we mat some friends while we were headed to Koh Phangan, Grant Perryman and Hei Tung M. Grant(not having had a Thai Massage before apologized ahead of time for falling asleep during the massage. When the rest of us heard this we knew it was his first time and laughed with a sarcastic "good luck" tone.... he was in for a treat.

      

          Even though parts of you will crack you didn't know could, you will feel great after just don't expect to fall asleep and remember to stay loose and just go with it.

WINTER IS OVER

WALPURGIS EVE

APRIL 30TH

Throughout winter we all tend to pack on things, from wight to objects, from house project to weeds in the gardening.  In Sweden we celebrate the coming of spring by throwing all the junk we have acquired throughout the winter on to community wide bon fires all over the country and melt away the long winter. 

The current festival is, in most countries that celebrate it, named after the English missionary Saint Walpurga. As Walpurga was canonized on 1 May, she became associated with May Day, especially in the Finnish and Swedish calendars. The eve of May Day, traditionally celebrated with dancing, came to be known as Walpurgisnacht ("Walpurga's night"). Valborgsmässoafton in Swedish, and Vappu in Finnish.

Bonfires and singingFor students, Walpurgis Eve is freedom. On the last day of April, the students sport their characteristic white caps and sing songs of welcome to spring, to the budding greenery and to a brighter future. Choral singing is a popular pastime in Sweden, and on Walpurgis Eve virtually every choir in the country is busy. In every village and neighbourhood, bonfires are lit at dusk, and everyone has experienced that rosy red glow in your face from the heat of the fire and the freezing cold at your back. The spring sun may keep you warm, but when it sets the nights are still chilly.

A dish to warm you up at a time like this is nettle soup. Nettles are, of course, a weed. They quickly appear when the snow melts, contain large amounts of iron and are best when young and fresh. 

Party or May Day demonstration?

Walpurgis celebrations are not a family occasion but rather a public event, and local groups often take responsibility for organizing them to encourage community spirit in the village or neighborhood. 
Once the fire dies, many people move on to pubs and restaurants or to friends’ parties. The fact that Walpurgis Eve is followed by 1 May — a public holiday in Sweden since 1939 — means that people are not afraid of partying into the night. 
Those who wish to can sleep throughout the following day(thats what i did), while others mark this traditional workers’ day of leave by joining one or other of the May Day demonstrations that parade through the streets of their town or village, beneath banners carrying slogans of a classical or more topical nature.

LAST NIGHT IN THAILAND

 My last nIght (and now alone) In ThaIland. 
I have decIded to do all the thIng you can't do wIth others, or If you do It's stIll and IndIvIdual thIng to do. I pamper the crap out of myself lIke the gIrl I am.
     let me just say thIs and get It out there, I almost crIed a few tImes and deffInetly screeched quIte a bIt. 
      For one In ThaIland they have a fIsh spa, you put your feet Into a fIsh tank and a bunch of tIny fIsh come and nIbble on your feet untIll all the dead skIn Is gone! It tIckled so much I couldn't help but let my joy slip out In bursts of laughter fIlled screams. although I must say after 15 mInuts my feel feel lIke a baby's ass.
 

     Next I decIded to get a full facIal, though whIch I went on a rollercoster of emotions  ThIs only beIng my second one In my lIfe(the fIrst when I was 14). I was relaxed wIth the oIl, scrub and face massage, on the verge or tears whIle they scrapped my pores for dIrt, about to drowned on land from the vapor fan they use to open up your pores and hungry once they put all those fresh cucumbers all over my face. 
      Why women pay so much for thIs I'll never understand but thIs whole evenIng set me back about $12.50. And that I don't mInd.