Category: international

culture · international

An Unforgettable Army

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A few days ago, I got to return to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to spend some time with the exhibits. When I found out that the museum was featuring statues from the world famous terracotta army (the 8,000 Chinese sculptures created to accompany China’s first emperor in the afterlife), I knew I couldn’t miss it.  The exhibit, Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China, appealed to my love of Asian art and history. Since I didn’t see any of the terracotta soldiers during my trip to China in 2016, this exhibit was the perfect chance to glimpse into the first Chinese empire.

You all may recall a few months ago I visited VMFA to see the Yves St. Laurent exhibit. I felt awful about only going once: I wish I had visited several times before the exhibit left.

I learned my lesson well. I gave myself enough time to see this exhibit more than once.

Just as a heads up: this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime exhibit. VMFA states, “More than 40 objects in the exhibition have never before been on view in the United States.  Terracotta Army is the first exhibition the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has presented in its 80-year history that is devoted to the art and archaeology of ancient China.”

If you can’t make it to see the artifacts in person, never fear! I took LOTS of pictures. I can’t promise that you’ll feel like you were there, but at least you can imagine . . . First, the small artifacts and information posted throughout the exhibit:

And now, the soliders (I’ll share 5 of them in this post):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was awestruck by the artifacts and am so happy that I get to share them with you all. The true treasure, however, is the HISTORY behind each artifact. The Qin Dynasty was revolutionary and set all of the groundwork for Chinese unification. It’s amazing how much Qin Shihuang accomplished during his less than 50 years on earth.

Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China will be at VMFA until March 11, 2018. I implore you to go if at all possible: you won’t be disappointed!

international · music

Currently Listening To . . .

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A few weeks ago, I went to Charlotte, NC to visit one of my friends and to attend a kizomba weekender. You may have seen that in my post and wondered when the follow-up would be posted . . . Well, here you go.

I love kizomba and, while I’m a beginner, I really enjoyed learning the history and technical aspects of the dance. It’s sensual, elegant and so much fun. Not to mention, it made me very aware of some areas where my life could stand some improvement. More about that in another post. . .

So today, this is technically a “currently listening to AND watching” post. I found this kizomba tutorial and I’ve been using it to practice my moves. The position and fluidity of the female dancer’s body is what I’m watching closely: I want to make sure that I’m holding my body correctly while doing moves. I can already tell that I’m improving!

Are you all familiar with kizomba? Let me know in the comments below!

food · international

An Ethiopian Feast!

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On Sunday, I was inspired to cook an Ethiopian-inspired meal. I’ve been slowly gathering my supplies: teff flour, cardamom and coriander, turmeric and lots of vegan butter and olive oil, etc.,. And this weekend felt like a good one for jumping into some authentic Ethiopian cooking.

I absolutely love Ethiopian food, and have been a big fan of the cuisine for quite a few years. The truth is, I could eat Ethiopian food every week. And that would be a fabulous option, except I actually enjoy cooking. Instead of spending money on lots of takeout, I chose to try my hand at authentic Ethiopian dishes: misr wat (red lentils), tikel gomen (only cabbage) and potatoes and carrots alicha, and injera.

Here’s the finished product:

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Don’t be deceived: it may not look appealing, but it was so delicious. Now, I’ve definitely tried preparing these dishes before (all except for the injera: this was my first time trying my hand at that). Many times I’ve attempted to prepare Ethiopian food but the seasoning was just OFF. What I eventually learned was that my berbere seasoning (a spice blend I purchased from Amazon) was way, way too hot. And I’m not heat-shy at all: I love spicy foods, and I couldn’t handle the overwhelming heat of Frontier Seasoning’s berbere. In all of my time eating Ethiopian food, I’d never had anything as spicy as the berbere mix that I was using. I had to find another way.

It was time to make my berbere from scratch. And, to paraphrase Robert Frost, that made all of the difference.

Everything was DELICIOUS. The berbere was perfectly balanced and not too spicy. And no, I didn’t write down what I did AT ALL. But, I’ll share the websites I used to make everything. I did a mashup of a couple of recipes, so nothing on my plate is 100% from any particular website.

Since I didn’t adhere to any singular recipe, I’ll put out all of my other disclaimers and advice, too:

  • I didn’t let the injera dough ferment for four days, as recommended. I had an alternate recipe that recommended that fermentation could occur in as little as one day, which was the case for me. The sour flavor wasn’t as strong as it would have been, had I let it sit longer. But I was still pleased with the outcome.
  • Fenugreek is a critical spice for the misr wat, and I didn’t have it. I found out later that it’s pretty hard to find in most grocery stores. But one website conveniently compared fenugreek to a mix of celery salt and maple syrup. So I threw in a little celery salt, and I was delighted with the result.
  • The misr wat looked nothing like what I was used to (when I purchase Ethiopian food), but I loved the flavor. I’ll tinker with some more recipes and post my results in the future.
  • I still have to perfect my injera technique, but I liked the overall result. I used teff flour only (no wheat or barley flour added), so that created the super-dark coloring. It was mildly sour and tasty, albeit a bit thicker than most restaurant-style injera.
  • The cabbage was done more like a stir-fry, since I didn’t want it cooked to mush. Since I cooked it a bit firm, it reheats wonderfully (it isn’t too mushy).
  • Save yourself some time and just cut up several onions and start sauteeing them initially. Then, just portion off the onions you need for each dish into a separate pot or pan, add some more butter (in my case, Earth Balance butter substitute) and olive oil, and resume cooking.

These are the websites I used for my recipes:

Caroline’s Cooking (Ethiopian Injera and Tikel Gomen)

Hapa Nom Nom (Misr Wat and Berbere Seasoning)

AllRecipes (Ethiopian Cabbage Dish)

How to Cook Great Ethiopian Food (I looked up a bunch of different recipes on this one)

Daring Gourmet (Injera recipe)

Have any of you tried cooking Ethiopian dishes? If so, let me know how that worked out for you, or if you have a favorite Ethiopian dish that you’ve perfected!

 

international · travel

Dreaming of Costa Rica . . .

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With this recent string of cold days (what other weather would I expect in November in Virginia? I digress), all I’m thinking about is getting away to somewhere warm and sunny. Somewhere like . . . Costa Rica.

expedia costa rica

(photo courtesy of Expedia)

I’ve dreamed about a Costa Rican vacation for well over a year now. Aside from the tropical weather and beautiful water, I really want to see the sloths.

I mean, what’s cuter than a baby sloth?

dailymailsloth

(photo courtesy of Dailymail.co.uk)

The Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica makes it possible for visitors to tour and learn more about sloths in a safe, protected environment. I can’t wait to visit!

I won’t be going to Costa Rica this winter, but I may make it happen during the early months of 2019. I have a different adventure planned for this upcoming year (specifically, February 2018). I’m staying mum on the details of trip until after I’ve purchased the tickets, hotel rooms, and travel visas.

I can’t wait to share that with you! But in the meantime, just dream of Costa Rica with me . . .

Talk to you all tomorrow!

 

beauty · international

Review: Korean Bath Mitts

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Let me tell you all: I *will* be enjoying baby soft skin this winter. Of course, that’s my decree every year. But this year, I have a new tool in my arsenal:

I ordered these Korean bath mitts from Amazon and was kind of confused over how to use them. Fortunately, the customer reviews were invaluable: kudos to the reviewers that gave tips on using these.

Here’s the short version of how to best use these:

  • Don’t use these on your face! They’re far too abrasive for the delicate skin on your face. I’ll admit: I tried these on my face initially, because the photo on the package depicts a woman using it on hers. My skin behaved just fine and yes, my skin even looked better after using this twice a week. But, I noted that my skin felt more sensitive – not uncomfortably so, but it was noticeable – so I stopped. The reviewers on Amazon advise against using this on the face, and I’ll second that recommendation.
  • These shrink up – a lot. The smaller size makes for a snug fit on the hand, so just expect the shrinkage and you’ll be fine.
  • The best way to use these is to soak in a tub for ten minutes, then rub the skin with the mitt while wet. That removed the dead skin gently and effectively.

I’m enjoying these mitts, even though I was surprised by the shrinkage and used them on my face when I shouldn’t have! I tried using them the recommended way and I loved how soft my skin felt, as well as how my skin responded to moisturizers afterward. I’ll be purchasing more and keeping these in rotation during the months to come!

 

food · international

Review: Miyasaka Miso Soup

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Happy Sunday, loves! I hope you enjoyed a satisfying weekend, and are feeling prepared for the week ahead!

Earlier this year, I found myself craving miso soup. But, since most commercially available miso soup mixes contain fish, I decided to hunt down a vegetarian version. Enter Amazon. After a little hunting, I found a miso soup mix that seemed like a pretty good bet.

I was excited to find a vegetarian miso soup mix, because I really wanted to continue eliminating animal product from my diet. This soup mix by Miyasaka was reasonably priced ($14 for 12 packets) and available via Amazon Prime.

So I ordered. And here’s what I have to say about it.

This soup is a pretty good substitute for traditional miso soup. However, the flavor is not nearly as full-bodied as traditional miso soup. The traditional base – dashi – is made with kelp and bonito flakes. This soup mix doesn’t have dashi, because bonito flakes are actually fish, and that would, by definition, make the mix non-vegetarian.

So, I learned that no bonito means less robust flavoring. But that’s okay: after all, I regularly alter my recipes and omit meat/animal based ingredients when I am looking to minimize my meat intake. And truthfully, the soup is still tasty, just not quite like the traditional version.

I did learn a little trick for making the flavor more intense: use less water. I did that a few times and I enjoyed the more concentrated version. So if you try this soup and find yourself missing the flavor of dashi, try adding a little less water.

Any other fans of Japanese food out there? Let me know in the comments below

art · culture · international

Haitian Embassy Tour

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Back in May, I participated in the Around the World Embassy Tour event in Washington, DC. This is part of the annual Passport DC event, which allows visitors to tour various embassies during the month of May. Generally speaking, the first weekend of May features African, South American, Caribbean and a couple of Asian embassies, the second weekend of the month is the European Union Open House weekend, and the following weekend is the Festival of Asia.

I’d never toured the Haitian Embassy before, so I was excited to visit this year. Funny enough, I’ve been to Haiti when I cruised with Royal Caribbean in the past, and I always loved the island. In fact, I’ve stated on multiple occasions that Haiti is my favorite Caribbean island. So it’s a marvel that I’d never gone to the Haitian Embassy until this year. In any case, I was eager to go. And the embassy DID NOT disappoint.

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I think the thing that I found most incredible was the prominence of Black mermaids in Haitian art. As a born-and-bred American, the mermaid image I see most frequently is the Disney version, with porcelain skin, red hair and blue eyes. Seeing the Haitian depictions of Black mermaids was deeply moving. These depictions are far more accurate to the creatures that Christopher Columbus reported seeing in his travels, and they also predate Hans Christian Andersen’s tale. Of course, practically every culture has stories of merpeople, but seeing the image of magical brown-skinned beings was surreal.

The embassy is a stately, breathtaking building, and the art that lines every wall is stunning and memorable. It looked more like an incredible museum than a political office space! It has multiple floors, and, sadly, I only toured one level.

My biggest regret? Not allowing more time to tour. But no worries: I will return next year!

 

international · luxury

Fine and Rare Wine Auction at Sotheby’s

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As a wannabe sommelier, I love to learn all that I can about wine. So, on a hunch, I decided to look up wine auctions. Lo and behold, Sotheby’s London will be auctioning fine and rare wines on September 20, 2017.

Screenshot 2017-09-14 at 10.01.50 PM - Edited

(This 62+ year old The Dalmore, The 12 Pointer, is expected to command more than $66,000 USD at auction. Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s.)

I’d never heard of many of the brands, but I was in awe of the prices that some of these wines were expected to fetch. Some lots were expected to go for upwards of $66,000 USD. I’ll never cease to marvel at the concept of wine as a collectible asset!

Even more interesting was the wine catalogue: it’s more than 100 pages long and very informative. I enjoyed reading about the flavors of the wines; the descriptions are superb. If you can’t use these terms to describe some of the wines you’re drinking, then it may be time to try some different wines!

This event sounds like the perfect place for wine connoisseurs and anyone that loves luxury. Again, it will be held on September 20, 2017, at 10:30 BST, at Sotheby’s London (34-35 New Bond Street, London W1S 2RT UK). However, you don’t have to attend to bid. You may complete the absentee bid form, or register online to bid electronically.

Do you collect wine? Have you ever attended a wine auction? Please comment and let me know!

food · international

Review: People’s Bao Food Truck

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People’s Bao food truck has been on my “to try” list for a few months now. I’ve craved delicious Chinese style buns since my trip to China last year. I was blown away by the flavor of Momofuku’s mushroom buns (which I reviewed here). But I saw the rave reviews of People’s Bao on Yelp and I was eager to give it a whirl.

The truck finally arrived close to my building, and I seized the opportunity. I ordered the Portabella buns and Portabella rice bowl. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I figured that if the food was half as good as Momofuku, I would fare well.

Here’s the good, bad and otherwise:

The Portabella mushrooms were ample but not particularly flavorful. They would have benefited from marinating in a sauce that would infuse the mushrooms with flavor. Also, since these mushrooms are thicker than the shiitake ones used by Momofuku, they didn’t cook to the bacon-like crispiness of the last buns I tried.

The sauce added to the bun was spicy enough but fairly indescribable. I can’t name anything that it tasted like, other than “spice”. Also, this was another bun creation where the filling  was folded in the bun like a sandwich, instead of being fully encased in the bun bread (like the buns served during dim sum).

As far as the rice bowl? Meh. Lots of delicious, fresh veggies but, again, not a lot of flavor. I tried to like it, but I couldn’t. I eat primarily vegetarian meals but I still love flavor, and this dish came up lacking.

The best part of the meal was the watermelon garnish that I found in the bottom of my bag! I initially thought the ramekins contained a sauce to add to my entrees, and I was excited at the thought of something savory being in the bag. But, as it turns out, the ramekins contained small chunks of sweet, ripe watermelon instead. That was an unexpected treat, and a nice accent to an otherwise forgettable meal.

I’m adding some stock photos for context, but I didn’t photograph this meal, because it simply wasn’t worth it.

dcistbun

 

This photo from DCist looks exactly like the bun that I received.

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In a nutshell? I wouldn’t order again. It’s possible that this was just an “off” day, but I’d rather pay a few more dollars and have guaranteed tastiness at Momofuku. Maybe one day I’ll be adventurous enough to give it another go, but for now, I have to decline returning to People’s Bao.

international · travel

Flashback to Cruise 2016, Pt. 1

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I haven’t gone on a true vacation since last October. My current job is demanding (though enjoyable) so I won’t be able to really get away until November. In the meantime, I’m looking back fondly at my last vacation, which was a cruise to Bermuda.

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I cruised with Royal Caribbean; the ship was the Anthem of the Seas. I’ve sailed with both RC and Carnival Cruises, and I almost always prefer RC. I’ve found that the service, dining options, and overall ambiance of RC is more luxurious than Carnival. However, I’m still looking for other cruise lines to try, and I’m positive that I could have an even more luxurious experience with a different line.

The trip wasn’t very long – 5 days – but it was just enough time to recharge me. I sailed from Cape Liberty in New Jersey, USA. Two short days on the water later, and I was stepping foot onto the Royal Naval Dockyard in Kings Wharf, Bermuda. The ship remained docked there for two days before sailing back to Cape Liberty.

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I was focused on relaxation this time around, as opposed to exploring the island, so I didn’t see a lot of the island. I did take the ferry to Hamilton, which was nice. I’m including a few photos from Kings Wharf and Hamilton, Bermuda.

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Have any of you cruised with Royal Caribbean, or have you taken a trip to Bermuda? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below! Stay tuned for the next installments, where I discuss the ship, the dining options offered, and the artwork on board!