Posts made in May, 2011

egypt – the food tales

Posted by Sharon Pakir on May 31, 2011 in Travel | 0 comments

Halfway along our Egypt trip, Gabriel messaged me.

“Hope you guys are having a great time – what is the strangest thing you have eaten so far?”

I think this random message just about perfectly sums up my relationship with food – I eat most things, and cannot honestly say that there is ANY food I downright dislike. There are foods I prefer, for sure, but definitely nothing I would outright say no to. I’m also enthusiastic about eating new foods, and even if I’m feeling squeamish about them, will never say no to something at least the first time. So, basically, it’s established that I’m NOT FUSSY about food.

When I’m travelling though, it’s like the ravenous belly of curiosity is opened, and I want to try EVERYTHING I see. ESPECIALLY the street food, the local food, the food the grandmothers cook at home. This proves sometimes a little trying for S – he’s very much more cautious, careful and might I whisper with a lisp, sensitive, about the various belly issues one sometimes encounters with street food in strange cities.

Yes, I am calling him a wussy belly.

Anyways, being in Egypt was no different to normal. Here S is, taking me on a fabulous cruise down the Nile, and there I am whining about the lack of authenticity in the meals (“If I’d wanted Western fine dining, I’d have stayed in Australia!”) the lovely crew provided.

SO off I went looking for local food, and opportunities to make S groan at my culinary choices.

By the end of the trip, I’d sampled a bit of Egyptian food – and have to say, it was pretty tame. It was DELICIOUS, but not strange – it’s pretty similar to Lebanese, Greek and Turkish food, and seemed like a particularly YUMMY cross between all of them.

Case in point – here was the first meal we had upon arrival. See? Very standard and NOT STRANGE AT ALL (but still VERY delicious and chomped down with pleasure).

yumminess

Still, food doesn’t have to be strange to be exotically delicious and mind bogglingly memorable, and in our time in Egypt, couple of meals truly stood out for me.

Firstly, ON the cruise, our chef gave us a lovely cooking lesson in how to cook a classic Egyptian dish – Kushari.

And I fell in love with it PRETTY IMMEDIATELY.

“Kushari, often transliterated as koshary, kosheri or koshari, (Egyptian Arabic: كشرى, [ˈkoʃæɾi]) is a popular traditionalEgyptian national dish. It consists of a base of rice, brown lentils, chickpeas, macaroni, and a topping of Egyptian garlicand vinegar and spicy tomato sauce (salsa). Fried onion is commonly added as a garnish. Koshary is normally avegetarian and usually a vegan dish, possibly reflecting the meatless diet of Coptic Christians during Lent[citation needed]and other fasts and/or the high cost of meat for the lower classes. It is becoming common to add fried liver or shawarmameat as an additional topping.Koshary is one of the most popular, inexpensive, and common dishes in Egypt, and many restaurants specialize in this one dish.”

mmmm. now imagine with the tomato mix on top. AHHH.

Basically, it has rice, noodles, a tomato based sauce and lentils. It’s like my perfect meal, with Chinese, Indian and Italian influences! SUPER WIN! It’s such a SIMPLE meal, so utterly effortless, so rustic, earthy and homely, and yet, a taste that had me craving for it for days after, and curious to replicate in my own kitchen at home. I guess it’s like the Egyptian version of fried rice, or spag bol, those meals you just whip up, but for me it was heavenly. And perfect.

The other really memorable meal for me, and that has me smacking my lips at the thought, was where our driver decided to be our escort for the day in the bazaar. For lunch, he wanted us to have the Egyptian experience, and led us to a dinghy little Egyptian restaurant, filled with smoke and meat smells, with large, clear plastic bags of raw meat sitting open lazily on the counter tops waiting to be cooked in the 44 degree heat. Egyptian old men sitting about watching the afternoon go by in the market, weak fans barely stirring the heavy air. Slightly unhygienic looking. AH, MY KIND OF PLACE. My tummy leapt with excitement with the dodgy-ness of it all.

Here was the menu:

did someone say STUFFED PIGEON?

I really really really wanted to try the ONE STUFFED PIGEON, or at the very lest, the rice with liver. But S just gave me disapproving looks and I knew to stay safe, or I would be ignored with no sympathy should I incur Cairo belly.

FINE.

So we ordered some very regular fare, with the guidance of our lovely driver.

salad, hummus, baba ghanoush and egyptian flatbread

The flatbread was interesting – very dry, and also very hard. Like a cross between chappati and rye toast. As we ate, Muhammed explained to us the flatbread’s cost and method of baking, and also how the government provides it to the poor subsidised. This was VERY standard Egyptian food.

Of course, I had to have some more of that spectacular rice-noodle mixture.

HELLO BAYBEE. YOU HAD ME AT HELLO.

Oh and then, because my name IS SHARON of the “ate almost a kilo of meat at that Churresca in Brasil” fame, we also had some meat. SOME MEAT. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

OH HELL YEAH.

Ok, we ordered a kilo of meat, of variety – there was kebab meat, kofta, some kind of rib… lots of variety. But it wasn’t just meat – I’m starting to realise that though we are spoilt with quality of meat in Australia, I’ve never quite tasted the exquisiteness that comes with skilfully prepared meat in countries like Brasil and Egypt. TRULY (well ok, except that wagyu steak at Rockpool, that was a legend). This meat was physical – it dripped with juiciness, was tender yet robust, and tasted of smoke, bacon and rare meat ALL at the same time. It was perfection, and we chomped our way through its magnificence RATHER happily. Oh god. That meal. *shakes head*

So that’s it folks, the best meals I had in Egypt. Tame perhaps, but certainly exploding with flavour and memories.

birthday month update: date night!

Posted by Sharon Pakir on May 30, 2011 in Lifestyle, Love | 1 comment

Yup, here’s another birthday month update, wherein I let you know how my extravaganza of turning older is going. The answer? SWIMMINGLY.

I’m actually about a week behind with posting the glorious activity, but hey, life’s tough when you’re celebrating the various groups of friends you have, the coming of age (shudder), owning a business or two, and trying to cook all the detox food your man needs to not starve to death!

So last Tuesday, S took me on my birthday dinner date! It’s a bit of a ritual, birthday dates – or rather, dinner dates in general. S and I are believers of keeping the romance alive and one of our favourite things to do is to get frocked up, go to an exciting new restaurant, take walks hand in hand under the stars, drink wine, and share a few priceless hours.

Get frocked up we did – me in a new dress that my mummy got me when she was here, and him in a wonderful pink shirt that I just adore him in.

And whilst we’re here, I’d just like to put in a plug for the lovely boutique Zampera – ’tis where I got the lovely dress above from, and was totally styled by owner and personal stylist Maria. Maria’s a great friend of mine, and honestly, she has that magic touch that makes you feel just wonderfully glamourous, pretty, whilst staying comfortable and dressed to a budget and style that suits you. I mean, I don’t mean to brag, but that night was one of the few nights this past year I’ve truly felt pretty enough for S to wine and dine me so:

styled by Zampera

If you have a special occasion, or just need a wardrobe makeover or consult, go see Maria at Zampera. You will NOT regret it.

/plug over

SO ANYWAYS.

S took me to Cumulus Inc, in Flinders Lane.

And wined me.

And dined me.

And indulgently encouraged me to order more oysters when I’d lovingly polished off the first batch with googly eyes and incessant drooling noises, like a truly classy lady does.

batch #2 for a greedy oyster loving girl

mmm. see the googly happy eyes?

So there we sat, dear reader, (yes, I really did get all Bronte sisters on you there), holding hands across the table, giggling and chatting, imbibing and nibbling on yumminess.

love!

S couldn’t care less whether he eats in a 5 star restaurant, or home cooked food at home – but he knows the good gastronomy really pleases me. He actually says half the fun is watching my coos and squeals escalate as a good meal goes on.

On the other hand, I think the best thing about date night with S is not about being taken out or being wined and dined (though they are certainly rather LOVELY aspects of it all) – but that for those few hours, we are in an elevated state of love. Date nights, because it’s a formal appointment of love, seems to put both of us in a great mood and on our best behaviours – he is the ultimate gentleman, and I am his adoring lady.

adoring!

Not that we NEED a date night to be good to each other – far from the contrary. I think S and I have a wonderful relationship when we’re “on” and “off”, whether we’re lolling on the couch in pyjamas or out having a social event. But when we’re on a date, it’s like the curtain is closed on any issues or stresses we may be facing in work or externally, and our focus is JUST each other. It takes us right back to when we were courting, giddy with excitement and feeling like the world faded away when we were in each others’ presence.

And that’s nice, and important to keep alive in any relationship. And why date night is important.

With S, I don’t mind when we emerge from the restaurant into the freezing cold, because I’m hand in hand with my best friend. And with him, I love walking down a cobbled Melbourne laneway, because it feels like we’re in a musical and sauntering along to imaginary music.

So, anyway.

I hope you’re still reading and not spewing into a bag somewhere. Got a bit carried away, didn’t I.

After dinner, we adjourned to the Sofitel,  for dessert. Up we went to the 35th floor, and the Atrium Lounge was just stunning.

And came complete with a gasp-worthy view from the ladies rooms.

the WHOLE city at my feet

I also had no idea that the Sofitel Atrium Lounge was RENOWN for its creme brulee, but rather happily, it was what I ordered (with some “grandfather port” which was heavenly).

Was the creme brulee good?

OH MY GOD. It was so creamy and good that I am still dreaming of it, almost a whole week later. DREAMING. AND DROOLING. IN MY SLEEP. Yes. Truly.

We cosied up on the couch that that rather perfect, quiet, peaceful bar overlooking the city, and just savoured the last hour of our date night whilst feasting on delectable treats.

happy bliss

Was it a perfect birthday dinner date? Yes, I think so. But having a lovely man as I do, he tends to make all of them perfect. And I’m a lucky girl for it.

Thank you darling, it was a beautiful night. The company was exquisite, as was the experience we shared. The conversations were immeasurably lovely, and the way you make me feel? Just as electrifying as our first ever dinner date.

xx

A very spoilt birthday girl

turning 30, and feeling lovely about it thanks to him.

healthier habits: the detox diet

Posted by Sharon Pakir on May 25, 2011 in Health | 0 comments

I’ve never been a fan of “detoxes” – whenever I hear of people doing a lemon juice, herbal tea, or nothing-but-juices diet, I cringe. I wonder what traumatising your body like that actually does, and most of these detoxes are highly acidic, leaving me to wonder what it is they do to your insides!

I’ve been reading a lot about “resetting” diets though, detoxes that involve a sensible amount of protein and small amounts of complex carbohydrates, that don’t leave you with gnawing hunger and ridiculously low energy levels. Being more healthy is something I’ve been trying to strive towards lately, with searching for my “perfect” fitness regime and adding supplements to my daily routine. These sound good, reasonable, and for heavens sake, healthier eating is an attractive mindset to have!

Note that dancers often, ironically, have woeful diets. With odd training times (I don’t usually eat dinner till 10.45pm), a body that craves constant fuel, and crazy travel schedules, it’s difficult to maintain 100% positive track records for healthful eating. When in full training mode, my need for carbs and milk rise dramatically, as well as rich foods, otherwise I lose too much weight.

So ANYWAY, this week, S and I have embarked on a detox diet. It’s not the BEST week for it, since I have several birthday celebrations coming up, but we wanted to get started on it and not procrastinate. This was more S’ idea – he wants to get fitter as he’s had a punishing work schedule lately and been unable to live as healthily as he likes. We’ve used the guidance of 2 books – by Susie Burrell and Michelle Bridges respectively.

Whilst both books are called “Losing the last 5kg”, they both advocate sensible eating, as well as good exercise regimes. As a dance professional, I love this advice and embrace this mindset. They are both also extremely easy reads, with conversational tones and simple to follow schedules. The best part? The recipes all look delicious and easy.

Our goals:

• S’ goal is to lose the few kilos he’s put on recently, and get into a habit of healthy eating.
• My goal is to incorporate a lot more fibre and vegetables into my diet, and not rely on comfort/processed foods so much.
• S is also going to cut caffeine so he’ll stop being reliant on it. I don’t imbibe a whole lot of caffeine so I’m comfortable with where I am.

Whilst we both will never become completely anal about our diets, it’s nice to consider it and feel great about the choices we’re making.

We’ve started this week with Susie’s detox soup plan – and then will move onto Michelle’s month long recommendation. The detox soup is surprisingly yummy considering having zero salt added, and is very hearty.

Susie Burrell's Detox Soup

Detox Soup Basics (from Susie’s blog)

Serves 6-8

birthday month update

Posted by Sharon Pakir on May 24, 2011 in Lifestyle | 0 comments

My birthday MONTH is going swimmingly well from my last update about it – I’m feeling altogether EXTREMELY loved, and all the lovely celebrations are doing their duty of making me forget about the topsy turvy final year of my twenties, and focus on all the blessings and happiness I have in my life instead!

Highlights of the birthday month so far:

Being utterly spoilt, as promised, by my wonderful man on the best holiday either of us have ever been on -you can read more about it here, here, and here for now, and there’s more tales to come as I slowly sort through our million photos taken! The best thing about the trip was spending SO much time together – S and I never tire of each others company, and this trip just brought us even closer together and gave us the relaxing that we needed from a stressful and busy year!

nothing better than sailing with your darling!

Then there was the amazing few days in Singapore where I got to see my lovely dance partner’s new business venture and be INCREDIBLY proud of him and his team, and have a long long catch up with Wei, one of my oldest friends, with whom time seems to stand still as we grow up in our lives together yet apart. I also got to spend some amazing quality time with my sister (whom I’m lucky enough to be besties with), my family, and especially, took my daddy swimming lots.

Then there’s my beautiful extended family. I come from a large but close knit family and living away is sometimes painful – I miss out on all the birthdays, weddings, and celebrations that I most times find more fun than partying with my friends because we are truly just a fun-filled extravaganza every time! Well this time I got in a steamboat dinner with my cousins, and also, we had a little bit of a Pakir Party at our house to celebrate my birthday! YAY!

clapping along to the birthday song!

It was just awesome, I felt like a little kid again, with my aunties and uncles and everyone singing and clapping along around me, and being asked to MAKE A WISH before blowing out the candles… PEOPLE, I have lived away from my family for 10 years now – it has been a long time since I’ve had a GOOD birthday cake with MAKING A WISH OR TWO!

my gorgeous mummy and i having a giggle.

The GLEE is apparent! It was a truly swell moment and makes my heart glow with happiness.

Here’s everyone who came:

so much love!

It was a lovely night, and I was thoroughly spoiled with pressies I didn’t expect, an Egyptian clad boyfriend (!!), members of my family from both my Indian and Chinese side, great food, and lots of laughter. WHEE!

As soon as I got back last week, I was blessed again to have my mummy visit me for the weekend, and ALSO just look after me and do those magical things that mummies do! She fed me, stocked my winter wardrobe, and we had a whale of a time just hanging for 2 straight days. Gotta treasure those moments with a great lady.

It’s all been SO good that I’ve even not been feeling sad due to this awful chest infection I’ve got going. It’s a mere trifling, with all this good cheer around me.

SO phase 2 of my birthday month is now beginning, with its Australian leg. We commence tonight with S taking me to the beautiful Cumulus Inc for dinner – we haven’t been on a real dinner date for SO long and I’m mucho excited!

Thank you EVERYONE! You’re making this the best coming of age ever!

egypt: hot air balloon over luxor

Posted by Sharon Pakir on May 24, 2011 in Travel | 0 comments

On our last day in Luxor, at the end of our Nile Cruise, S and I decided to wake up at 4am just to have a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings.

We’d both never been hot air ballooning before, and being both pretty well-travelled, there are very few things that BOTH of us were first-timers to together! We figured it was a great romantic adventure, and an opportunity to do it over the Nile and the gorgeous temples we’d been seeing over the last few days – SOLD.

So we woke up at 4am, and were taken to the field where all the hot air balloons take off from. Here’s a shot of us in front of our balloon being pumped up with hot air. No, not Steve’s head, TO THE LEFT AND BEHIND US.

It was incredible beautiful just to behold the preparations – the clear blue sky, dots of balloons already risen, and these huge majestic beauties silently ascending into the unending desert.

once they fill it with enough air, they heat it to make it rise!

We piled into the basket (16 of us in each balloon), and before we knew it, we were up up and away!

And what was the 45 minute ride like? BREATHTAKING.

the view, with our balloon's shadow in the morning light. can you spot the temple ruins?

vivid, stunning colour.

It was interesting too – to the left of the above, on the banks of the Nile, the plains are luscious and green – so fertile. Then suddenly, as you can see above, it breaks into unending, dry, harsh desert.

the Nile and its luscious fertile banks.

The most spectacular thing about the balloon ride was how silent and serene it was up there. The balloon made almost no noise, and it seemed being confronted by the amazing views lulled everyone up there into silent admiration – S and I just snuggled and took it all the magic in below us.

love!

Another shot of the sharp break from greenery to desert. Even in modern times, the desert is so uninhabitable – it’s pretty phenomenal to think that 3-4000 years ago, Egyptians not only managed to live but live incredible well in such punishing conditions.

And here’s one for you kids that wonder where camels are made – a camel farm from aerial view!

camels alongside a banana plantation

We slowly drifted towards the plantations.

even the descent was magnificent viewing!

And then it was time for landing. I was worried that the landing may be bumpy and jar my back, but it turned out, we had a fine crew of men waiting to pull us into safety, bump-free.

hello, boys!

Watching the hot air balloon get deflated was almost as beautiful as the scenery.

first they open a hole in the top to let the hot air out

then they pull it until it starts to collapse like a giant jellyfish!

It was all a rather amazing experience, and one I highly recommend. It’s an optional extra if you do a Nile cruise, and costs extra – many people in our group didn’t end up doing it. The cost is however, extremely affordable compared to what hot air balloon rides cost in Australia, and over a landscape you’ll probably never see again! Plus, the experience of overlooking 4000 years of history is electrifying – if you’ve read any Egyptian history at all, you’ll get tingles down your spine imagining what life was like on the Nile 4000 years ago.

Simply put, it was one of our top 5 experiences in Egypt.

mmm.

If you enjoyed learning more about travelling in Egypt, you can read more about our Egyptian adventures:

Giza Pyramids by Horseback

Nile Cruisin’, Temple Lovin’

DETAILS OF ADVENTURE:

We booked with Seegypt, who were very professional and also more affordable than the other companies we checked with.

Phone: +(202) 378 0972

Cost: Approx $110 USD per person (payable in Egyptian Pound equivalent or USD)

(NB, we got quoted up to $190USD pp by other companies and ended up with the same experience as all the hot air balloons take off from the same place and the tour groups get mixed all in one)

Includes: Transfer from your hotel, simple breakfast on boat to hot air balloon field, hot air balloon ride, certificate of completion, and transfer back to hotel.