Vietnam - Hoi An

Hoi An is hands-down Vietnam's capital for:

- Beaches
- Resorts
- ...and Tailoring?

You wouldn't believe it until you see it for yourself. Hoi An boasts the most tailors per square metre of anywhere in the world, and I wouldn't argue with that.

Not only is the main street littered with tailoring 'shops', but in the bowels of the town there's a large warehouse which is brimming with tailors.

I can't help but feel that the word 'tailor' is used pretty loosely there though. I mean, does a person sitting at a table with a sewing machine count as a tailor? And what about those 'stores' that have been variously busted as fronts for sweat-shops with child labour?

Anyway, I had some shoes and apparel custom-fitted and designed to my specifications, for 1/3 of what they would have cost in Australia on a conservative estimate.

Back to the Beaches!

After landing at Danang Airport, we were picked-up by our resort's personal driver and taken on the 40 minute drive down the beach to the resort. All the way along the beach is just resort after resort, with construction sites for new resorts everywhere else.

We got slightly scammed on the way though. Our driver took us to his cousin's pottery and jewellery store on the way, as it was at the bottom of the Jade Mountain and so I thought I'd purchase a little jade for my Mum. But it was soon apparent that they were just ripping-off 'wealthy' Westerners. Honey, I had just finished school... I'm not exactly rolling in $$$

Now onto the Food/stuffing my face at every opportunity

If you haven't worked it out yet, I love my noodles.

Sweet Potato Cakes

Banana Crêpe (French colonial overhang?)

Pineapple Crêpe

Roadside Bun Thit Nuong

Local Draught Beer

Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City

*So after a long MASSIVE break, you're probably more inclined to call me 'Infrequent Foodie' - I'm back now!*

After studying Vietnam in History class at school, I started developing an interest in the country, it's history and people. But it wasn't until I saw Luke Nguyen's culinary adventures throughout Vietnam that my plans go actually go there started to crystallise. And I'm so glad they did, because my 10 days there were some of the best of my life (thus far)!

It would be futile (and somewhat offensive) to try to condense the entirety of Ho Chi Minh City down to 2 Blog posts, so I'm only going to shed light on but some of Saigon's culinary and cultural delights.

Let's start with the shopping.

The main streets are dotted with massive department stores, which attract the richer tourist clientele, with top-ranged brands like Ralph Lauren, Gucci and Louis Vuitton having a firm hold. Since $10,000 handbags aren't really my 'thing', I opted for the (much) cheaper street-vendors and markets where most of the locals do their shopping.

Though the gutters scream "EFFLUENT" and the department stores boast "AFFLUENT", I had a great time haggling prices down and shopping up a storm.

On the way, however, I was stopped by a gentleman selling freshly-cut coconuts and drinks, who was more that happy to pass his heavy baskets on to me. I look pretty authentic, right?

Mmmmm all that shopping had made me hungry! What better way to satisfy those cravings than with once of Saigon's specialties, Bun Thit Nuong! This delectable bowl of rice vermicelli topped with mounds of fresh herbs, grilled pork and Nem (spring rolls) never fails to hit to spot.

Dear Reader, you must be starting to think I am always hungry and gorge myself on anything and everything. And you'd be right! Particularly when meals are (conservatively) $3 and each consecutively seem to be the best meal you've ever tried while there, you can forgive me for indulging!

Saigon comes to life at night with its Night Markets. The massive Ben Thanh Market was only a short stroll away from our hotel, so I often found myself haggling, buying and eating there. The large fires (see above) cook hundreds, maybe even thousands, of fish, prawns, crepes, meats and noodles every night. Cleverly, the cooks have large fans set up to blow the mouth-watering aromas throughout the entire market.

I couldn't pass up this opportunity to try Saigon's famous Banh Xeo - a crispy rice crêpe with a mixed filling of bean sprouts, prawns and other vegetables. The crisp crêpe goes down nicely with a bottle of Saigon Export beer!

xx

Vietnam - The Land of Pho, Ho and Woah!

I must admit, I'm not really one of those party-obsessed types who spent the entirety of my last year of school pining for Schoolies.

'Schoolies', for your information, is the party period after the HSC when a lot of school leavers descend on certain places near beaches, drink themselves silly and stumble around the place hungover, often after being arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

(Photo from trailsurfers.wordpress.com)

Not really my scene...

So rather than blowing my money on overpriced booze and crappy accommodation, I decided to travel to Vietnam for 10 days with a mate, who felt the exact same way!

And I'm so glad I did! 'Why?', you may ask?

Firstly, the food was amazing! Everything is so fresh (thank the lack of refrigeration for that) and tasty! I made it my goal to try as many regional specialities as possible... Followed by 1 bowl of Pho per day. I'm proud to say that I succeeded, but you'll read about that in my later posts. ;)

Secondly, Vietnam possesses a rich and diverse culture and history, steeped in centuries of war, trade and religion. I don't profess to be a scholar on Vietnam (yet), but I was particularly taken by some of the Museums and exhibitions on the War and Women... as well as experiencing first-hand how Vietnam is coping with modernity.

Lastly, I couldn't help but feel like I was living some chaotic spectacle! There's so much energy and activity that one could be easily overwhelmed, whether in the bustling markets or the roadside restaurants.

So now that we've got that straight, let's get on to the trip!

Sydney Airport For The Sweet Tooth!

My cousin recently returned from a trip to the Gold Coast, where she carved up the amusement parks!

While waiting for me to pick her up, she took these awesome photos of the confectionary bar.

I'm glad I wasn't there to see it myself - I probably would have bought the entire shop!

New Caledonia - Entry 6 - La Fin

Well, the holiday was quickly drawing to an end and we were up bright and early to ensure we didn't find ourselves stranded on a tropical island. Actually, I dont think I'd particularly mind being stranded on THIS island, but unfortunately it was time to go.

Our 'ride' came in the form of a covoy of relatives, who gave us lovely parting gifts in an attempt go send us over the Air Calin baggae weight limit. Of course, the aforementioned airport renovations involved an extensive upgrade to the Duty Free shopping areas.

While my travel partners were checking out the perfumes and designer luggage, I couldnt help but gawk at these beauties:

Mmmm... Cant you just feel it go straight to your hips?

In hindsight, that probably would've made the perfect comfort food - it's not easy to say goodbye to them all. But I'll be back next year!
Oh, and I was leaving for Vietnam in a little over a week!!!

New Caledonia 2012 - Entry 5

Alors, presque la fin de mon voyage en N-C!

I had been promised a "light lunch" so that I would have room for a large dinner, however that quickly went out the window when I ordered my meal!

I'm a sucker for seafood - particularly when it's so fresh and flavoursome! The grilled salmon, jus and green salad that arrived at my table was nothing short of mouthwatering.

The combination of slightly salty salmon and mild jus an absolute pleasure to eat. Without a pesky bone in sight, the most dangerous part of the whole meal was trying not to stuff myself silly with all the salmony-goodness on my plate!

In a not-so-rare event, one of my Grandma's cousins (Read: Matriarch) mustered the collective side of their family for a special night out.

This time, we went to quite a remarkable restaurant. If it weren't for the fact that it's located on a pontoon about 250m out on the reef, the large open floor in the middle of the restaurant ensures a clear view of the seafood below. Once you get past the initial intimidation of sharks swimming by while breaking your bread, you feel quite spoilt by the whole experience. Alternatively, the drop down to the reef could make a convenient way for the staff to dispose of non-compliant customers...

(Photo: ile-de-nouvelle-caledonie.com)

Le Roof restaurant - minus its Anglicised name - offers up some unbelievable French dishes, with an equally unbelievable price tag! As in 'extremely high'. BUT, it was a special night out and everything was delicious and well-presented!

For example, this Tuna Risotto-type dish was a fusion of local produce, freshly-caught tuna and expertly-cooked risotto. The only downside was that it was all fairly similar in colour, but it more than made up on that in taste.

The dessert was just what you'd expect - a classic dish... but a few times better! I thought I'd opt for a sorbet, so I selected two very New Caledonian flavours: Mango and Niaouli.

Niaouli isn't endemic to New Caledonia, but it grows in abundance there and is found in anything from drinks to food, soaps to medication. To put it into perspective, it's a bit like Eucalyptus mixed with Lemon and Coconut. Confusing? Then go try it! :D

Ma famille calédonienne me manque beaucoup! (I miss my New Caledonian family a lot!)

New Caledonia 2012 - Entry 4

New Caledonia always has something new and exciting to offer, but I always find my best experiences are had in the company of family and friends. After a massive sleep-in, we had lunch with one of my Mum's cousins. But 'lunches' here tend to last a considerable amount of time, almost as if to intentionally span the time between Breakfast and Dinner... in case I was bored by this (impossible):

Starting with a Cocktail (well, I was still only 17 so I had to settle for a Mocktail!) served with the usual bar-type accompaniments: salted peanuts and olives, I knew the day would be a super relaxed one. Given that I was there towards the end of Spring, the weather was a balmy 24º - making Cocktails/Mocktails suitable. Whilst the Menu boasts an extensive range of drinks with foreign and often unrecognisable ingredients, I settled for a Mango, Pineapple, Guava and Papaya Mocktail - très bien!

Oh look, Mum's foot photo-bombed my photo! :P

Later that day, my 3rd cousin (Yeah, we're a tight extended family!) and his partner took me out to a local restaurant which was staffed almost entirely by Kanaks from Grande Terra (the largest island) and the Loyalty Islands (Lifou, Ouvéa, Maré and Tiga). This was an unexpected opportunity for me to better understand Kanak culture and food - starting with the much sought-after Tahitian dessert, Po'e.

This mix of toasted Oats, chopped Bananas, Melon, Mint, light drizzle of Coconut Milk and Coconut Ice-cream gives a uniquely Tahitian touch to the Western counterpart, Granola. I'm not going to lie - the Sweet Potato cubes in the melting Coconut Ice-Cream were my highlight, even if the concept of a potato in your dessert repulses you! I was tempted to ask if I could keep the coconut bowl, but I had serious doubts I would be allowed to take it through Customs!

New Caledonia 2012 - Entry 3

DISCLAIMER: Okay, I know this Entry is MASSIVELY overdue, but in my defence - I went to Vietnam (expect a flurry of posts in the next few days about my trip!) and I've been celebrating my HSC results. So, with no further adieu, this is my third entry on my trip to New Caledonia in 2012!

Now, you have to put yourself in my shoes for a minute. As part of my essential unwinding from the stress of the HSC, I figured it was safe to indulge in some appropriately stress-relieving food, too!

One of the first things I absolutely needed to eat was a classic favourite - a chicken Panini! Okay, I admit... The Panini has Italian origins, so we'll call it a "toasted baguette" to keep it French. Nothing quite says 'lazzzzzzzzy day' to me more than a toasted baguette in one hand and an Orangina in the other, with an overflowing bucket of hot chips to accompany! Oh, and the scenery wasn't so bad, either. ;)

But it only seemed appropriate that I should follow that with an equally delicious dessert! Year 12 French had taught me many things from conjugating verbs in the past subjunctive and plural adjectival declensions, but nobody needed to teach me how to devour a Chocolat Liégoise! This devilish mix of ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate and coffee really hit the spot.

Let's pretend that the Clubbing later that night burned off all those calories! ;)

New Caledonia 2012 - Entry 2

Much to my surprise, Tontouta Airport has undergone some major renovations since the last time I was there! Back in 2010 - when I was in New Caledonia last time - the airport was quite literally just a big, plain-looking box with super outdated decor. Now, it's one of the newest, cleanest airports I've been to!

Unfortunately our airplane arrived late by about half an hour, but we were greeted with cheerful smiles of assorted relatives who came to pick us up.

And then I learnt my first lesson on New Cal. The have a saying, "La nuit, tous les chats sont gris!" (at night all the cats are grey), meaning that at night, anything goes! My driver most definitely embodied this with her weaving out of road lanes, talking on her phone and breaking the speed limit - all at the same time.

FINALLY we arrived at our hotel, Le Méridien Nouméa. There are 3 main things I love about this hotel in particular:

1. The quality of the hotel

One word: Luxury. From the moment you drive down the boulevard to when you enter your room, everything about it proves to you why it's a 5-Star hotel! One can't help but feel rather erudite (cultivé) when walking through the hotel. For example, there's always something 'cultural' going on, like a display of Aboriginal art. I mean, putting aside the irony that I was seeing Australian Aboriginal art while overseas, it added a little sophistication. And the gardens were a treat to stroll through.

My room was amazing. I had it all to myself! I found myself just sitting on the balcony reading and looking out at the view quite often, when I wasn't tanning on the beachfront!

2. The friendly staff

All the staff really go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your stay. Even though my Australian accent snuck through a few times when speaking French, they were all keen to speak in French with me and didn't do the usual *rude* switch to English they do when they don't think you can handle French! There's also a few Japanese staff to cater for the steady flow of Japanese tourists and honeymooners, so they appreciated the occasional Japanese phrase here and there.

In particular, the lady making omelettes every morning and the breakfast buffet waiters, Richard and Mary, were super friendly and attentive.

3. The facilities

Where do I begin? The pool was obviously a major attraction given the tropical heat, but in addition to that, there's a lot more to do around the place. Walking along the beach, swimming in the ocean and sipping an Orangina while sunbaking were probably my highlights!

I don't know if I'll ever be able to fully get over the sheer eccentricity of one night at the seafood buffet, though, when we had a Gypsy Jazz ensemble playing for us. I guarantee you, it well and truly kills any semblance of conversation when some old lady screams in Hungarian at you!

So... when am I going to start blogging about the food? Check out my next post!

New Caledonia 2012 - Entry 1

Only yesterday morning, I was laying on the beach in Noumea!

So basically I went on a brief holiday to New Caledonia to visit my family and unwind after the HSC!

Not even 24 hours after my very last exam, I was on a flight to one of my favourite places in the whole world!

 I always have this buzz when at an airport. Sure, I know that I'll miss home and everything that it entails... but it's exciting nevertheless!

(Photo: P&O Cruises)

I was surprised to see that I'd be flying Air Tahiti Nui to New Caledonia. But maybe that's a good thing. I vividly remember my first trip with Air Calin: a wedding party of Kanaks pulled out assorted traditional instruments and proceeded to play on the airplane, dancing and singing the whole 3 hours of the flight!

It kinda took "walking down the aisle" to a whole new level...

But anyway, back to the trip!

The economy *cough* "cattle class" *cough* seats were comfortable. But of course, some rude caledonienne (female from New Caledonia) must've thought she had paid for 1 and a half seats, because she was rather forthcoming in spreading herself across both hers and mine. I didn't mind at first, but when I realised it was her elbow - not the armrest - jabbing my ribcage, I was a little annoyed.

I considered the 'happy ending' to have come when her entertainment device failed to work, the air stewards forgot to serve her meal and she was the last to leave the plane. Justice? Methinks so.

Flying to Tontouta Airport - even in the evening - is quite special. As the plane approaches, you look out the window to see the start of the coral reef, which forms a turquoise barrier around the islands.

(Photo: worldaviation.com.au) This is very similar to what you see when flying in

And then we touched down! And WOAH! What a shock that was! (read more in the next entry)!

Welcome!

Well here we are! The first post of my new blog, Frequent Foodie!

I'm so excited to start this blog! 

On here, you'll find dozens of posts about culture in general, with a strong emphasis on food and travel.

Also, please check out my About Me page to get to know me!

I would love to read any suggestions you may have for things to do, see or try - with a guaranteed post about it!

Email me at: frequentfoodie@gmail.com