Barbie at Kings Park...

There is a well known phrase that the rest of the world affiliates with Australia: let's put some shrimp on the barbie. It turns out, there is a multitude of barbies all around Perth. If you go to the beaches, people will have coolers filled with beer and grillables. When you are tossing a ball around in the park, more likely than not, there will be a bunch of people with sausages or roo patties grilling away. It is truly a cultural experience and I am a strong advocate of it.

Lets not be fooled, these are not the common barbecue we know and love in the US, Instead of charcoal or propane burning beneath steel grates, there is a solid, concave metal plate that has a drainage hole in the center. To heat the plate, the only thing necessary to do is press and hold a green button until it beeps and begins to electronically heat itself. there are no heat settings, only on and off. The simplicity of the entire production is incredibly enticing. So please, I urge you, go out and barbecue with some friends or loved ones. Make it a communal "thing". What else in this world is more important than friends and family?

The Beaches of Perth...

Someone once told me that one of the most incredible things to do in Perth is to sit on the beach in the middle of the night and try to find the separation between land and sea. This was, by far, one of the most grounding experiences I have had. Sitting on the cusp of falling off the earth, listening to the waves beat the ground was indeed humbling. 

These beautiful white sand beaches with freezing crystal clear water are more than breathtaking. You can swim out until you can't touch the ground anymore and still see the sand below you. It proves that with a little bit of care towards the earth, we can have such beautiful sights to reward us. I sincerely hope and will work towards maintaining this scene for many years to come. 

House of the wombats...

Perth... The most isolated city in all of Australia. Arriving here begins a new chapter after an incredible and unforgettable month in Thailand. As I am driving down the streets in the back of an uber, a chill of excitement Runs down my back. After more than a decade of hoping and dreaming, I am finally here. This is the place I have been yearning to explore and I will not hold back anything. Get ready Australia, it's time to play. 

Hostel Family Meal #3...

The world loves food. If there is any type of gathering, whether positive or negative, food is always present. The main reason why I cook is to bring people together for happy occasions to celebrate life and family. This is why hostel life has been so kind to me. 

We decided to invite our friends from the Laguna to dinner to return the favor of our last meal together. This time, it was going to be my menu and my treat to them. Our hostel mother brought me to the market and helped supply the food for the feast to be. This was an incredible place to be. 

All of the stalls had fresh and bright produce, some of which I have never seen before. There were three different types of cabbage, two types of ginger and 30 different leafy greens. To say the least, there were not enough options. 

We finally lug all of the produce back home and it's show time. As it turns out with most hostel cooking, utensils and equipment are scarce. So, it was time to improvise. I only had one wok and one pot for pasta. After the linguini was cooked, I mixed my Thai pomodoro into the same pot back with the paste. It was 3 pounds of saucy glory with chicken. 

In the wok, I stir fried carrots with mustard greens and kefir leaves, baby corn with Chinese broccoli and oyster sauce and Napa cabbage with mushrooms and mung bean curry. It turned out to be a success but definitely reminded me about how to be resourceful with minimal everything around me. It reminded me to always look for another angle. 

Sunrise to Sunset...

Two of the most beautiful things in the world are often missed due to our "busy lives". I'm not talking about anything man made, this is all natural: sunrise and sunset. They are early in the morning and  at the end of our day. Each one is like a snowflake in the sense that none are the same, ever. 

Jenny and I started our excursion at 4:30 in the morning to get to the top a mountain before the sun rose. It was dark and cold and part of the journey included riding through a farm in a tiny dirt road. Finally we arrive at the top of the mountain and we are standing in front of a Chinese pavilion with a few tables and chairs all around. The only sensible thing to do is get some pastries, a pot of tea and sit at a table to wait. 

As the sun peaks over the mountain ridges across the valley, the sky explodes with gold and light reds. The light enhanced the beautiful haze that sat at the bottom f the valley. It was a beautiful sight and well worth waking up so early. 

Throughout the day, we explored a few waterfalls and some farmlands. All of these led to the Pai Grand Canyon. We hiked up about 200 stairs to see these beautiful spines that had a about a hundred foot drop on either side. These overlooked an incredible expanse of jungle filled land. 

Once we hiked around and found a great spot to watch the sunset, we set up cameras and started throwing rocks into the valley. With all of the clouds shattered around the sky, the sun lit up the clouds a brilliant deep red and orange. It cast fingers of light all throughout the sky and created an amazing contrast with the valley below. This is one of the most memorable days I have had on this incredible journey. Sunrise to sunset: a full day indeed. 

Hostel Family Meal #2...

There is something great about being able to meet people traveling. You never know who is around the corner or at the other end of your table. We met a group of people who have become like a family to each other. One of those family members happens to be a chef from Scotland. What a coincidence. 

When I offered my help, it was very well received. This was a family meal of course, and the greatest thing about that is everyone lends a helpin hand. This was not my menu so I only offered what chef would accept. Slice an onion, purée carrots, grill the eggplant and help set the  table was mostly what was needed. The nice thing about it was that there was no rush. When the food was ready, it was ready. 

Chef decided to plate up the meal banquet style. We started with a swoosh of carrot purée. Where the dollop was, we put the grilled mix vegetables. At the tip of the purée, we placed 2 slices of beef, seasoned and grilled to perfection. Next to the veggies, we had grilled onions and sautéed oyster mushrooms. For a garnish, fresh picked pea shoots and a beef jus. 

The best thing was when we all sat down to eat, the whole table was quiet except for the tapping and scraping of forks and knives. And to top it all off, we had a delicious chocolate cake with strawberries and chocolate buttercream. What a great meal. We all had to get rolled back to our beds. 

Life in Pai...

There are places in this world that seem to be frozen in time. The farm life is thriving, transportation is limited to bycicles and scooters and the native inhabitants are always smiling. Pai, a region in the northern part of Thailand, is exactly as described. 

Our ride north to Pai was a cramped, 3 hour journey on a road with more curves than a snake. We felt like a can of sardines that was put in the washing machine. But we eventually got to Pai and what a relief that was. With only 4 main roads, it is a small but homey town. Renting out motor scooters was quick and then we were off to Buzzas, the best hostel in Pai. 

One of the main reasons why Buzzas is so good mainly ties to the beautiful rice paddy across the street that rolls into a postcard horizon of mountains. The second reason is simply because of the hammoc setup out front of the hostel. At that moment, I knew this was going to be an incredible stay in the Northern Territory of Thailand. 

Chiang Mai cook life...

One of the most exciting parts about being a cook is that you are always learning new flavors and techniques. And there is no better way to celebrate this except to cook with native cooks. It turns out that there are many options in Chiang Mai. 

I signed up for an all day Thai cooking class at a farm just north of the city square. We began the day walking through the market, identifying all of the produce and different types of rice and noodles. Strolling through the aisles of fresh vegetables and aromatics brought me to a world of tradition and love. Every single vendor was smiling from ear to ear with squinted eyes and a pep in their step. We were walking through the agricultural spread of Chiang Mai. 

Once we arrived to the farm, our chef interactive brought us around Ye lay of the land. There was a pavilion that housed the kitchen next to a small pond with scattered hammocks. In the field behind the pavilion, rice stretched skyward in the small paddy. Passion fruit was growing around chili peppers and spicy basil. It was such an intimate farm yet everything seemed to grow with ease and beauty. 

As the class moved into the kitchen, we had the choice to of 7 different dishes: sprain rolls, curry, soups, salads and noodles. Everything that was on our menu had its own identity and procedure. The flavors may be similar but each dish had a distinct difference. Tom Yum is sour and spicy while the clear pork was salty and fresh. Even the noodles were all different with its added garnishes. It was really something else to learn such a delicate and unique style of cooking. 

Mauro's last meal...

After driving through the rain on scooters,  the black moon party, two crazy long bus rides and some wild Bangkok nights, it was time for Mauro to say farewell. We had spent an incredible 10 days together in Japan and Thailand, it would only be right to have a great, memorable last meal for him. 

Walking down Silom Soi 9, we found a cart in the aid of the road that sold hot pot. For those who may be a bit confused, hot pot consists of a boiling pot of broth where you cook your own protein and vegetables. When done right, it is one of the best family dishes. 

After sitting down and ordering, we receive a large, oval plate with beef, pork and chicken. Another plate comes right behind it with vegetables, rice noodles and an egg. Then... The pot comes; filling the air with a sweet licorice aroma and the slow burning of red hot charcoal. At first Mauro was skeptical. 

After taking one bite, we devoured both plates and all of the broth. Once our plates were locked clean, we sat there for another hour talking with other diners and contemplating the great trip we had together. A great meal with a great travel companion. What could be worse?

Hostel family meal #1...

Hostels: a place where travelers stay to meet other travelers and party. These affordable and minimalistic dorms serve an incredibly important role in a backpackers life. They provide a sense of familiarity in an unknown world. Without them, solo travelers would have a hard time meeting others that are on the same path in life at the moment. 

Luckily, we have them and with time spent in these wonderful places, small families are formed. Bonds that have an unspeakable strength bring our true selves out so we can truly be open with each other. So what is family without food? Some would say hungry. 

At places like Vagabond, anyone is welcome to pickup some food and cook family style for the entire hostel. I decided to give it a go being it has been a bit too long since I have cooked. Mauro, Monica and I went to the market to pick up some goodies. We ended up with a cart full of food and three brains full of ideas that were going to burst out. 

We decided on tender porkbelly with a seasoned pork broth, vermicelli rice noodles with some of that rich broth, baby corn and green onions and a few types of stir fried veggies with chili sauce that was hot and sour. Everyone was thankfully blown away and there was a minimal amount of leftover food. 

But that wasn't it, we had dessert as well. This was fun. I caramelized coconut milk fat and mixed it into Nutella. This was then smeared over a dumpling of banana and coconut. With such a great team and a great vibe, it all came out successful and delicious. And to think this wouldn't happen is quite unthinkable. This is exactly why hostels exist. So we can have fun and make each other happy. I know I was extremely happy. Everyone ate.