chowing down while walking

eating while travelling is quite a topic. it is exciting, and sometimes downright sketchy/dangerous. haha.

since i came back, ive been cooking. i realize that even at grocery shops, i was buying cooking materials than ready-to-eat-things.  as an extension of cooking my dinner at 10pm in toronto school days, i do take much joy in making food for myself and others. it's nothing fancy but i like it, and it tends to be good for my system (certain element repetition makes it easier for body to work with it).

when i thought of being away for 40~ days, one of the first thoughts were: crap, what am i going to eat.

i do enjoy the variety and the wealth of choices for food when im travelling. yes, it is one of the big joys of being away.  however, it can be quite tiresome- all that sugar, salt and fat, all the time.  especially in commercial, quick food.  as nice as it is to eat out 'quality' food at a great restos, it is simply not feasible (budget-wise and mentally).

and perhaps i should be eating what the locals are eating, and however they are eating.

in my 20s, i did seek out to try all the specialties and local 'favourites,' whether it be hole-in-the-wall, or michelin-starred places. and then in 30s, it did start to cool down. the peak was when we were in tajikistan, though.

in the middle of the mountains, in hard situations (often there were no water/electrical grid in those little villages), the families of homestays, they just brought what they had.  and often, we knew that whatever we do not eat (for various reasons), the family will take it away, then eat it themselves.

i still remember, a long day on the road, and as the dusk set in, mom and the daughter, bringing small bowls and a pot of lamb soup- one chunk of carrot, potato, and a lamb piece, in broth. and that was dinner.

we were all kinda left hungry i think, but we all knew that it WAS dinner. and that there was no more to be had.

in this eastern asia trip, it was interesting to consider 'chasing' after local food. but being in toronto, i felt that i could get any of these food at home (which is true), and that it is often better made in toronto as well (better animal welfare, higher attention to hygiene, etc).  and it quickly became very difficult to find food that was plain, normal and not so high on fat/sugar/salt.  in fact, i found lot of food to be too much for myself- salty, spicy, etc...

i was lucky to enjoy so many local choices, and i am grateful that so many people shared their knowledge and love for eating together.  however, im happy to be back at home, making completely 'normal' food, food that i have made for myself.  and i already feel a bit better.

nourishment is quite a different word from gourmet, or foodie (dear lord, i hate the word 'foodie' from bottom of my heart).  and some food i had was for fun, some were social vehicle. but i am glad that i was nourished and i had plenty to experience, everyday.