Lately.......

"I have had the strangest feeling....." Not to imitate the style of one of my favorite bloggers Penny, who often finds just the right lyric or quote for her various posts....

But lately I've been finding myself fading away at certain times, just "wool gathering". I'll be doing a post....you really can't call what I do writing or composing....it's really just "doing". And my mind just sort of wanders. Maybe off to the cobblestone streets of Cusco. Perhaps I've just been working too hard. But I'm starting to get that feeling again. I think we need to head off, to where, I'm not quite sure yet....

It's a funny thing, some of the nicest, most memorable meals we've had on trips, have ended up on the "PWTSDS" ("putdz" - Places Where the Sun Don't Shine) list. That would be the mmm-yoso photo scrap heap. And yet, these were meals we really enjoyed. So without further ado, I think maybe it's time for those "ugly duckling" photos to shine.....so if you'd just put up with me!

Anticuchos in Cusco (Peru):

I believe this was right after our dinner at the Chicharroneria. We were walking down Avenida del Sol, when we spied a crowd on the corner of Avenida del Sol and Ayacucho. A woman was making Anticuchos, and if the crowd was any indication, it was very good Anticuchos indeed!

Seeing the crowd, and breathing in the scent of grilling meat restimulated our appetites, and suddenly we just had to have some Anticuchos. But how to deal with the mass of humanity? Just as in all of our travels, whether in a confused state in a train station in Hanoi, or getting Anticuchos, we met our Guardian Angel. This time, an older gentleman saw the Missus trying to edge Her way forward. He immediately took control of the situation, and waved the Missus next to him. He quickly yelled out for some Anticuchos for the Missus, and even looked them over.....just to make sure.

The Missus said these were the best Anticuchos She ever tasted, and at Un Sol (about 33 cents), it was more than a bargain.

I'm sure the kindness of the Gentleman made them taste even better!

Pardo's - Miraflores (Peru):

As we noted, we stayed at the huge Marriott in Miraflores before returning home. Right across the street is a mall, Larcomar, which is built into the cliffs overlooking the ocean. And in the mall is a location of Pardo's Chicken, the largest Pollo a la Brasa (rotisserie chicken) chain in Peru. There seemed to be a Pollo a la Brasa shop on every street corner in Lima. People here are crazy about it.

We were headed home the next day, and were bushed, and Pardo's seemed to fit the bill. As good as the chicken was....

It was the Papas Fritas (French Fries) which we enjoyed the best. The potatoes were a nice yellow in color (Papas Amarillas - like Yukon Gold), which tasted like the soul of a potato. I can still taste them.......

And with a dip in the Aji Sauce...sort of like an Aji Aioli....man was this good. There's something to be said for having just the right food, at the right time.

Which takes us to Siem Reap and...

Maharajah Royal Indian Cuisine (Siem Reap):

After a day of hiking among ruins, and tired of Fish Amok, we wanted something different. An acquaintance of mine had mentioned that the Indian Food in Siem Reap is not half bad. And we just stumbled into Maharajah.

Gotta love the "spicy scale" provided on the menu....

The unfortunate thing about the restaurant was the lighting, it was a horrible "bug killer green", which made everything look pretty unappetizing.

The Missus enjoyed Her Special Vegetarian Thali (meal set - $3/US), which was an absolute bargain!

I got the most expensive item on the menu; the Mutton Thali ($6/US). And yes, it was indeed mutton, very gamy, and pretty tough. But the Dal was very good.

It was just the right meal at the right time. In fact, the Missus wanted Indian the following night as well.

It's funny how these meals stuck in our mind. Just the right thing, at the right time. Our memories of these places are quite varied as well. For all of the photos of Inca Treasures....

And the magnificent temples of Angkor.....

It's the photos of things like this dog "scratching an itch" in the fresh grass in Calca,

or the children learning traditional dances at school in Cusco,

And the children in Siem Reap.....

With smiles that are priceless..... that we remember the most.

Funny thing, it's the people, and our experiences with those people that the Missus and I discuss the most. The kindnesses of strangers, the stories of the folks we encounter, the understanding that we are all more alike than different.

Yes, I think soon it'll be time to get on a plane and go somewhere....not quite sure where yet, but we'll be sure to let you know. And hopefully I'll finish all those Cambodia posts before I head off on another vacation.

You know, my week has suddenly gotten better. I hope you have a great one! If you've hang around till the end I thank you.

Comments

[Wandering Chopsticks]

Kirk,
I really loved this post. Sure seeing the sights and eating are fun parts of traveling for me. But it's the interactions with people that make it memorable. And having someone to share those travel memories with make it even better.

[penny]

Aww...jeez Kirk, way to make my day - i'm flattered! :) Thanks again for the link & compliment, I mean, I lurk...uh read Mmmyoso pretty much every day and I love that Cathy and Ed post here too-there has been many a day that this site has brought on a sudden case of the munchies via the stories and photos. It combines the best of the best; descriptions, pictures and funny/interesting anecdotes. I've also found other really great reads here like Cathy @ Passion for Food and Oishii.

Speaking of wool-gathering tho'; I would dare any blogger to say that they don't keep a notepad where they jot down what they want to talk about and rarer still to find one who just opens up a posting page and starts writing. It's normal to compile then post - it's either that or a running dialogue that makes no sense ala (and I'm totally being mean here) a teenager's xanga page. So keep goin' man!

[foodhoe]

oh man, I was just saying I'm having travel envy and am looking forward to more vicarious thrills Kirk! I like the history, travel tales and people tales as much as the food porn in your posts.

[Sandy]

I like the spicy grade chart! It conveys a lot more info than the usual scale of 1 to 10.

[Carol]

Hey Kirk, you know my favorite pic has to be the dog. Then the smiling kids. :-D

[Kirk]

Hi WC - Thanks for the kind words! It is about all the wonderful people in this world.

Hi Penny - Just my way of letting you know how much I enjoy your blog. You may find it hard to believe, but there are no notepads...many times I'll organize my photos, and the story writes itself. I'm a one pass kinda guy.

Hi FH - Thanks so much...I'm glad you enjoy our posts!

Hi Sandy - It does let you know where it stands when it comes to "heat" doesn't it?

Hi Carol - That dog was in a state of pure "good grass" bliss...it was a joy to see!

[kat]

the smiling children were priceless! I can't wait to hear where you and the Missus will be off to next!

[[eatingclub] vancouver]

Lovely stories and thank you for sharing. I enjoy travelling vicariously through your posts.

[ed (from Yuma)]

Great post (like that's news?). Anyway, youhave brightened the morning. Again.

[Kathy]

"mmm-yoso photo scrap" - I know exactly what you mean! Those countless photos and experiences that never got blog, not because they were not special, but for precisely the opposite reason. You've covered a lot of traveling ground this year! ^_^

[EB]

Such great pics! Thanks for the roundup!

[Kirk]

Hi Kat - We've kinda made a decision...but it's still up in the air. Does that make sense....well maybe not.

Hi js - And I enjoy vicariously eating through your posts!

Hi Ed - Thanks...I'm glad to know you enjoyed the post.

Hi Kathy - I guess we have gotten around a bit.....

Hi EB - Thanks so much!

[Maggie]

You know what's funny? I regularly check this site, and the first time I got to check back on this site since I got back from my vacation on 8/25 was this one! And guess where my vacation was!?! Peru! I was so surprised to see this post! :) I was at Lacomer and I totally took pics of the beautiful Marriott. We ended up eating at Tony Roma's that night, though. And we also went to Cusco and know Avenida del Sol well. We tried out different restaurants there too. I just thought that it was such a coincidence that your post on the places I just came back from happened to be just when I came back! :)

[Kirk]

Hi Maggie - Now that is some coincidence. I hope you had a great time in Peru.

[Jeff C]

Kirk, you totally could be a Globetrekker correspondent. I'm always surprised by your travel pics but, hey, I shouldn't be. Your quite the renaissance man and as with your taste in food, eclectic. Looking forward to your wonderful perambulations with your Missus.

[Kirk]

Hi Jeffrey - Thanks....though I'm not quite sure about the Globetrekker thing.....