Malena loves candy. And travel. And both together. And thus, this site was born.
So I talk mostly about traditional candy here on this blog, for a variety of reasons. First of all, in most developing countries, the traditional candy is more interesting. Also, sweets like goat milk caramel or coconut milk jellies aren’t available everywhere, and sometimes reflect back in interesting ways on the country I’m visiting. Mass-produced stuff is almost always imported from overseas, and is generally pretty similar from country to country. I’m not sure reviews of Snickers bars and Skittles are what people are expecting from this website! However, while I haven’t written much about the candy aisles of grocery stores or gas stations (where most of the mass-produced candy is located) I’ve certainly spent a lot of time looking at it, thinking about it, and occasionally eating it! (more…)
This was a delicious gelatinous candy that I bought in the markets of Bangkok. I believe it is made of rice flour and coconut milk and had a sweet, pudding-like texture. The coconut flavor wasn’t strong, the texture was soft and squishy, and the candy was actually a bit bland. Still, it was strangely addictive, and I actually much preferred this candy to later, similar looking ones I found in Northern Thailand with much stronger tastes and textures. (more…)
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Well, I’m back in Thailand again after spending several weeks biking through North/Central Laos. Crossing the border from Laos to Thailand, it’s easy to see the wealth differences between the countries. Seeing so many bright, shiny new cars on the road was a bit of a shock, as were all the international brands and air-conditioned stores along the highway! In Laos, you find air-conditioning in banks (and as a result, many local people seem to spend all afternoon just hanging out in the bank enjoying the cool air!) I liked Laos, but it’s nice to be back in the land of fast internet, at least for a little bit. (more…)
Notorious for being Southeast Asia’s sleepiest country, little landlocked Laos has been quite an adventure so far for me. I’m jumping ahead in the narrative a bit (I know, I know, a cardinal sin!) but I’m hoping to give everyone a little taste for cycling in SE Asia. I’ve spent a bit over a week in this country: a few days on the river ferry to Luang Prabang and another day after my arrival enjoying the increasingly upmarket colonial town, then a quick (ha, ha) cycle south to the spring-breakesque Vang Vieng. Add on more time in this land of Simpsons reruns, banana pancakes, and internet cafes than I like to admit, and you get more than 1/4 my total allotted visa in Laos… but first, let me tell you about the cycling trip. Warning: If you’re my mom, you may want to skip this entry! (more…)
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