Traveling & A Clothes Purge

Hey there!

So, I know that there haven't been many actual "travel" posts recently. I just want to say that the travel is coming. If things work out the way I want them to, then April, May & June are going to be something of a whirlwind. Yippee! In the meantime, indulge me while I write some "travel related" posts.

Maybe it's a Caribbean mother thing, but my mother never allowed guests to see her home looking a shambles. I have inherited that, so it is even shocking to me that I am revealing what my closet and bedroom looked like when I did some spring cleaning and clothing purge last year.

EEK!!! My bed eventually did recover.

I just want to say that I feel as if I've grown as a person by showing this picture. :)

While I was aggressively performing my twice per year clothing purge, I finally decided to let go of some items of clothing that I'd been holding on to. Many of them reminded me of travels that I've taken or were bought while I was away.

Although the pic doesn't really show it, this is a black corduroy blazer that I picked up in South Africa. I arrived in Cape Town in late August, which is the end of winter/beginning of spring there. It was cold. Yes, South Africa is on the African continent, but it can get VERY cold. I was wearing a coat for my first month there. I bought this at a cute boutique a few blocks away from my internship's office. I think the women who owned the store loved me because I would drop money when I went (more like the equivalent of $20 or $30 USD, but at the time that was a lot of rand). It was nice being a student with access to US dollars when the rand (South African currency) was trading at $10USD to $1R. For a variety of reasons, I did a lot of retail therapy when I was in South Africa (breaking up with someone half way around the world deserves a shopping trip or three).

Status: At the Salvation Army. Hopefully someone bought it.

Until recently, these Merrell walking shoes were the only real outdoorsy gear I owned. I now forget when I actually bought them. Husband J grew up being very outdoorsy, so he gets a little excited when I buy outdoorsy things and resemble an L.L. Bean catalog model. I used these quite a bit during our trip to Turkey. These will get a lot of use this year.

Status: At the bottom of the closet, rearing to go.

I bought this shirt in a souk in Morocco. I obviously had much shorter hair then because I often don't wear this shirt because the sequins catch my hair. I'm always having to pull my hair from out of the sequins. I think I bought this and a longer dress-like thing for my Mom. She still wears hers.

Status: Not sure. It's probably gone to the Salvation Army.

I usually buy clothing and shoes with the intention of wearing them. What was I thinking even buying these? I love a nice, sexy shoe but I can't believe how high shoes are these days (Yes, I am an old lady). I can't wear this. I wore them for a little while during my trip to Las Vegas. I figured that I could look scandalous there, and it would be okay. I've never worn these again. They are so uncomfortable. I feel awful because it was a wasteful purchase, but I hope they get new life on someone else's feet.

Status: Salvation Army or on someone else's feet

I got this green pullover the first and only time I've been to Martha's Vineyard. Menemsha is a smaller fishing village on the island that doesn't get as many visitors as Oak Bluffs, Edgartown or the other more touristy summer towns. Husband J and I drove out there and enjoyed how quiet it was compared to the rest of the island.

Status: Still in the closet. I like this shade of green

By the end of the afternoon, my closet looked normal again.

I've always had my own closet since living with Husband J. I am convinced it is the key to a happy marriage. ;)

Do you have any clothes, shoes or other garments in your closet that remind of you places you've been or shopping you've done there?

All I Want For Christmas Is...

The holiday season is here, and I have to admit that I have been having a hard time thinking about presents for other people, much less for myself. I really don't have any pressing desire for much of anything this holiday season other than good company and fun times. Is this the onset of my ever imminent "old lady syndrome"? Is Christmas only for kids? Pass me the Geritol.

I thought about a few things that a travelling foodie or food-loving traveler might like this year. This is mostly an unoriginal list of things I wouldn't mind in case someone (**COUGH** Husband J**) is reading. Most of this is way too expensive for just one Christmas, but it's fun to dream, right? Here it goes....

I have been wanting to read Lucky Peach magazine since its first issue came out earlier this year. David Chang of Momofoku fame, writer Peter Meehan, and Zero Point Zero Productions, which produces Anthony Bourdain's shows (he has written for both of Lucky Peach's issues thus far) have collaborated to produce this magazine. The magazine is about food culture, experiencing food, food and art and then some. It looks at food from a perspective that I like. As if I don't have a ton of magazines to read already....It's quarterly, which would help me read through it much more easily.

(source)

A LeCreuset French Oven for braising and stewing. I've heard these are fabulous, and they are definitely not cheap. :( I'm not sure if I want to be receiving kitchen and other household gifts from Husband J or really anyone else. At least not yet. :)

(source)

I like this color.

The Serious Eats Cookbook. I usually don't want or ask for cookbooks, but I think I might make an exception for this one. Serious Eats is one of my favorite food blogs because it's a good balance between the Eater and Cooker phenomenon I once wrote about. Their cookbook is no different. There is still the usual recipe fare, but there's also excellent food photography and sections about the best eating experiences across the U.S. Many of their recipes are simple, and they make you feel as if you've made something restaurant quality at home. This is definitely my kind of cookbook.

(source)

Some kind of luggage. I am due to get some new luggage. Old Betsy II, my 21 inch carry-on suitcase, who replaced Old Betsy I, is really ready to retire. There is this ugly big black blotch on her. I prefer soft-sided suitcases because they are more flexible and can squeeze into the overhead compartments more easily.

Maybe not orange for me, but at least you can see it in a sea of black suitcases.

(source)

Pimp my phone?

A glittery IPhone case

(source)

The 2014 World Cup will be here before you know it. It might be time for a return to Brazil. This time it would be nice to be able to understand Portuguese better (I speak better than I understand. Isn't that odd?). I've heard mixed things about Rosetta Stone, but it would be quite nice to have the practice, so that I could develop an ear for the language.

(source)

Aaahhh...A DSLR. I have been hemming and hawing over whether to get one for the past year. If there was really anything that I would want this year, it's a suped up camera. There will be a post about this. I know everyone has an opinion about the "DSLR vs. No DSLR question" and which type of camera to buy. I'm just warning you, in case you hate those types of posts. I probably would need to research this purchase, so I wouldn't even get it on Christmas.

(source)

Also other random things I'd possibly want:

-A gift certificate for climbing lesson at the new indoor climbing spot, Brooklyn Boulders

-Fancy new workout clothes. I've heard nice things about Lulu Lemon, but some yoga pants for $98?! Really. As my mother would say : "But you can't even wear that to church." LOL! I hear they are worth the investment though.

-Amazon gift certificate to stock on up books for my Kindle like the Best Food Writing 2011 and Grant Achatz's Life on the Line biography.

-An easier 2012 :)

What about you? Are you having a hard time thinking of what you'd want for Christmas? What are you wishing for this year?

If I Didn't Travel, I Would Have No Home Decor

I do love pretty design and great living spaces. I get my daily fill at Sugar and Spice Living and Bien Living Design, but I thought I would do a little design post myself with a bit of a travel twist.

I present to you, the TAO living room.

Please don't focus on the deformed sofa pillows. :(

I guess I would call our living room "modern ethnic," if I was going to categorize it in any way. The ethnic part really comes through in many of the accessories we've used to decorate our living room. The majority of those have come from traveling. I wish I could say that we have these museum worthy "pieces," but they're just things that we've picked up throughout the years.

Our ledge of stuff: Zulu basket, a berimbau, a little Buddha, another basket, calabash instrument

I bought this basket below in South Africa. It's called a ukhamba or a Zulu beer basket, and it's traditionally used to serve sorghum beer at Zulu ceremonies. I have yet to try to put any beer in here. :)

I also bought an mbenge, another example of Zulu basket weaving, and they hang on one of our walls. I thought they were bowls, but they are actually covers. I hang them convex side to show off the designs.

For years, I had these sitting in a box because I lived in apartments where I couldn't hammer anything into the walls. :)

I bought these baskets at Ilala Weavers, which is a craft and curio collective in the small town of Hluhluwe in the ZwaZulu Natal province of South Africa. They hope to keep Zulu craft traditions alive while allowing the residents of the village and surrounding areas to have a viable income. I'm glad I was able to support such a worthy cause.

Shifting gears, my berimbau from Brazil now lives on the ledge too.

Here I am learning how to play it in Salvador, Brazil. It kills your fingers. What you're expected to do with your pinky alone is enough to make me cringe while playing. If I take up capoeira like I want to, at least I know I'll have strong fingers.

The last piece on the ledge worth mentioning was this little Buddha we bought in Bali. I really wanted to get a nice one from one of the many art galleries in the center of Ubud. Husband J wasn't on board. We stopped into a small shop on Jalan (jalan means "street") Hanoman, one street over from the main commercial strip of Jalan Monkey Forest. Crafts and really anything were so much cheaper just one block off the main strip, in case you're shopping some time soon in Ubud.

The last item in our living room is also our most recent purchase. I think I may have talked a little about Turkish carpets before, but what I failed to mention was that we bought one. Mental note: If you want Husband J to buy something, put him in a room, whip out some raki (licorice tasting Turkish liqueur) and start taking out carpets of different shapes and sizes. We had a really educational tour at Bazaar 54 in Avanos, Turkey where all of the carpets are handmade by local women (they showed us how to recognize ones that were not handmade).

Our carpet. This is a traditional Ottoman design from the 18th century

We actually needed this carpet. We have been arguing about carpets since we began living in the same space. Either Husband J doesn't like the one I pick or vice versa. This is the only carpet we don't fuss about.

I really appreciate all of these items because they help make my our living room look great, and they are reminders of some of the places we've been.

Do you have souvenirs or special objects in your home from your various travels or life experiences?

Guest Post on Glitter & Ganache

I guess I've been busier with guest posts than I thought.

Come Friday we'll really be in the swing of the holiday season. Fashionista foodie extraordinaire Tabitha of Glitter & Ganache (I very rarely use the word fashionista, and she definitely deserves the designation) approached me about doing a short food gift guide for New York City as a part of a series of posts to encourage folks to shop at small, local businesses this holiday season. I came up with a few ideas including some personal favorites, so please check it out here.

For those of you in the U.S., this weekend is Small Business Saturday. Go out and shop at your local, small businesses, and give them your support!

-T

What is your favorite local small business?

DeKalb Market

Have you ever heard the phrase "curiosity killed the cat"? Well this weekend, curiosity almost stifled me with heat! I wanted to pass through the opening of DeKalb Market in downtown Brooklyn so badly that I endured another hot and humid day to walk there. I thought that the heatwave couldn't be that bad anymore...WRONG! Luckily, we're over it for now.

Does Brooklyn need another market of local producers plying their food and other goods? Probably not, but this particular area of Brooklyn is in need of some cheer, and I think DeKalb Market will totally help to make it feel more neighborhood-y. :) The area has been experiencing a boom in residential and hotel development recently, and this 7 day per week operation will give this area much needed attention and retail diversity.

What makes DeKalb Market different from any market I've ever seen is its layout. All of the stalls are old shipping containers. Really...

It's just a little bit of grass, but this busy intersection needs it!

Each vendor has its own little small store in a way. Some containers have entrances for shoppers to enter while others are a little more open air.

Joe: The Art of Coffee, a popular local coffee chain

Of course, one of the main reasons I was there was to check out one of the food vendors, BUT I did stumble onto the Dafnei table (not all of the vendors rent out containers). I fell in love with her purses handmade in Haiti. We had a short discussion about how Haiti was doing and about her mechandise. I want to do a post about her business another time. Husband J, take note for birthday/Christmas. :)

One of the clutches I admired

I was primarily there to check out Robicelli's cupcakes, which I have been wanting to try more of since the Taste of Brooklyn event earlier this year. They don't have a brick and mortar store, and most of their sale locations are not convenient for me. This one is. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. :)

It was way too hot to eat the cupcake(s) there, and Robicellis deserves their own post on this blog. I will show you their chicken and waffle cupcake.

That's a piece of CHICKEN on a cupcake. Brilliant!

They've also got cupcakes named after all of the actresses on the Golden Girls...more brilliance! I took home the Bea Arthur and will be writing about that. I may need to try all four, except I don't think there's one for Betty White? Hmm...I'll research, and get back to you on that.

I'm really happy that DeKalb Market will be adding something new to downtown Brooklyn, and I hope it grows. Good luck to all of the vendors!

Touring Turkey - Some Things You Might Not Know about Turkey

I know that I've shown you a lot about Turkey's food, landscape and history, but there are probably some things that you might not know about the country.

Cappadocia is a wine-making region.

I didn't know Turkey was a wine producing country, but it is. The wine is pretty darn tasty wine at that. Apparently, Cappadocia is know for its white wines, but Husband J and I enjoyed the reds much more. My personal favorite Turkish wine was from Kocabag, a winery right outside of Uchisar. We didn't make it there, but we did get a chance to visit Turasan, another popular local winery.

We grabbed a bottle for later in the evening, and it was quite nice. :) I'm still a major fan of Kocabag though. I also find it ironic that Turkey is a wine producing country where many people actually don't drink wine (the Koran discourages the consumption of alcohol).

Turkey makes some awesome carpets.

Turkey also has its own style of handwoven carpets. If you're a tourist, you'll definitely encounter someone trying to sell you a carpet at some point during your trip. We'd avoided even looking at carpets until we got to Cappadocia. I actually brought a very small one home from my trip to Morocco, but was interested in seeing the differences between those and the types of carpets from Turkey.

The main difference is in the technique. Unlike Moroccan or Indian carpets, Turkish ones are double knotted as a way to ensure that they are extra sturdy.

We went to Bazaar 54, a local weaving cooperative where local women learn and hone the craft of carpet weaving so that they can have a valuable, marketable skill.

Getting some instruction!

It's a lot harderd than it looks!

Here's a sample of a traditional Ottoman wool handmade carpet (this is a 15th century design):

In Cappadocia, sometimes you'll see the darndest thing floating by your hotel window..... :)

More on the balloons another time....

Contrary to some claims, the original Star Wars movies were not made in Cappadocia.

It looks like Anakin Skywalker's home, doesn't it? Much of the filming of those scenes was done in Tunisia. Is it bad that I'd totally forgotten about this aspect of Star Wars? I wouldn't have even thought of that unless our guide, Ibrahim, mentioned it.

Have you ever learned something new and unexpected about a place that you've visited?

Touring Turkey - Beyoglu, Istanbul

I'm not sure why, but I am going to start at the end of our trip and talk a little about the Beyoglu section of Istanbul. Most travelers seeking to see Istanbul's major historic sights like the Blue Mosque (that was the first pic in my last post) and the Hagia Sophia/Aya Sofya and Topkapi Palace, usually start out in Sultanhamet, the older historic center of the city named for Sultan Ahmed (or Ahmet) I, an Ottoman sultan who spearheaded the construction of the Blue Mosque. You can pretty much spend all of your time in Sultanhamet and get to see the gist of Istanbul's sights.

Beyoglu is a totally different vibe altogether. If you make your way across the Galata Bridge passing over the little inlet that is the Golden Horn, you'll come to another part of the city that really has its own charm. While there are still some places of interest to see in Beyoglu, it's really an area where Turks come to eat, drink, shop and just otherwise chill out.

Husband J and I strolled along Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue), Beyoglu's major pedestrian artery. In the middle of the day on a Friday, these streets were packed. Later that night you could barely move.

Street tram on Istiklal Caddesi, Beyoglu's main thoroughfare

Istiklal Caddesi packed with people in the middle of the day

If anything I liked the shopping. I told Husband J that I could probably survive here in Istanbul because they had some of my shopping favorites. :)

If I buy makeup, it's usually MAC.

What I also liked about Istiklal Caddesi was peering into the little alleyways right off of the main thoroughfare. Often they were filled with cafes, restaurants, shops or further pathways containing homes. If we had more time, I think we would have explored as many of them as we could. Actually if you don't watch out, you can get lost (like we did). :)

If you walk down Istiklal Caddesi towards the Golden Horn, you'll eventually get to the Karakoy neighborhood. You'll see the Galata Tower. It's hard to miss. Standing nine stories tall, it was built by the Genoan merchants who had held a small colony on the banks of the Golden Horn as a post for trading with Byzantine Istanbul. It's also one of the best places to get a panoramic view of the city. If you have the time, there is a restaurant on the top floor with a performance almost nightly.

For some reason, this is the best shot I have of Galata Tower (head scratch).

View from Galata Tower

Ditto

We stumbled onto San Antonio di Padova Church. At this point we were used to seeing churches that had been converted to mosques, but this is still a working Catholic church. There are approximately 120,000 Christians in Turkey total.

San Antonio Church interior

At the end of Istiklal Caddesi is Taksim Square. Kinda like Istanbul's Time Square, it's where people and transportation converge as well as a major spot for political demonstrations.

The centerpiece and main attraction of the square is the Cumhuriyet Aniti (the Monument of the Republic). The front part of the monument shows Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey as well as other important leaders who aided him.

Some closeups of the statue:

We liked our afternoon in Beyoglu and wished we'd had more time to just chill and people watch. That's for the next trip. :)