Trip Tips: Hidden mountain-jungle gem Quillabamba

A few months ago, a friend and I had planned to take a short weekend trip. The destination we'd planned didn't work out since we didn't bring our passports, so we brainstormed other options. Spur of the moment, we hopped onto a van to Quillabamba, the closest jungle city to Cusco. The van was about 35soles.

At the highest point of the mountains, it was very eery as the fog and cold encircled us. My mom would describe this type of fog as ''thick as split pea soup''. The descent was a dramatic change in climate....

              From split pea soup

to 

                                                                     lush, tropical mountain-jungle.

We finally arrived the city of Quillabamba, after a 6 hour trip (1 hour because the road was closed for construction). I noticed the humidity and huge variety of fruits being sold. We found a hotel that was central and decently priced. Then we wandered around the town.

One thing I immediately noticed and loved was how green it was. Especially, parks and plaza were full of plants and flowers. Also, the abundance of fruits growing. We came to the conclusion that people wouldn't go hungry living in the jungle.

Lotssss of bananas!

The next day we went to explore. We heard there were piscinas (pools) and waterfalls so we headed out of the town to find them. After about 45 minutes of really bumpy roads, we got off where the waterfalls were. A local man pointed us in the direction of the free non-touristy ones. They were breathtaking (and way too cold to go in).

The hidden waterfall we were pointed toward, Huaynapata

After we took pictures and found cool bugs and plants, we met a woman who had a store and lived there. She offered us coffee, bananas, and avocados. Her 'yard' was full of these and she offered to take what we wanted. Across the road, we invested in coconuts and cacao pods.

Stopping for some snacks :)

Then we headed to the little town of Echarate, where we were told the piscinas were.  

Entering Echarate from the backside.

We walked and walked, and met a warm man and his son who were setting out cacao to dry. By the time we got to the top of the hill, we were glad to arrive at the pool. It turned out to be like a community pool and there were lots of families there. Echarate was a nice little town. We found a delicious little restaurant too.

Cacao drying

Coca leaves, sponge-like thing from tree, honey, coffee, pure chocolate

After this short 2 day 
adventure, we stoked up on a few essentials from the jungle and headed back to Cusco. 

>>>The essentials >>>

It was a lovely little trip with good food, nice and helpful people, and lots of beautiful nature. (The only downside was that the mosquitoes think I'm their friend hehe) 

Have you been to a jungle? What's your favorite thing?

Recipe: Sweet potato croquetas

This croqueta recipe comes from a new Latin cookbook my friend gave us for our wedding. Then I kind of tweaked it around and re-invented it. Ohhh, this makes me miss Spanish food (even though the book recipe is from Cuba)! 

Croquetas!

Ingredients:
~ Pinch of salt and pepper
~ Pinch of cayenne powder
~ 1/3 cup flour
~ 2 lbs of sweet potatoes (or regular potatoes)
~ About 5 slices of ham
~ 1/2 of medium sized white onion, diced
~ 1/3 cup of diced zucchini
~ 1/4 cup of diced olives (I used purple salty ones they have in Peru, but green will work fine too)
~ 1/3 cup of cheese
~ 1 1/2 cup bread crumbs
~ 1 large egg
~ vegetable oil for frying
*cut all veggies, ham & cheese very tiny (about 1/4 of a dime size). They will be the filling.

Chop it

Directions:

Mash it

1. Peel and boil sweet potatoes. Let cool and smash with fork until smooth. Mix in egg, flour, and spices.

2. Cube and cook onions and zucchini.

3. Cube ham, olives, and cheese.

                        4. Mix cooked and raw filling ingredients.

Flour may help it not stick to your hand

5. Now take a spoonful of your dough mixture and flatten in your hand. Place a dime size amount of filling and seal up.  Roll in bread crumbs.

Ready for frying

Just a few at a time

6. In a deep frying pan, add about an inch of vegetable oil and heat. Place a few in at a time and make sure all sides are well browned on all sides. They should take about 5 minutes each.

7. Repeat process until they are complete, or save the mixture in the fridge and make more later.

            8. Set on plate with paper towel to absorb excess oil.

                    9. Voila! Serve as an appetizer or even a side dish.




A few helpful tips:
 * All filling ingredients should be chopped very finely, since they will be inside the small croquetas.
 * Opt for oblong, not circles. After a few trials, I found that oblong shapes cook more easily than circles in the frying process.
 * While I like my marshmellows lightly browned, that's not the case with these ones. You know they're done frying when they're a darker brown color. Otherwise, the cheese doesn't melt and there's not a flaky exterior.
  * This recipe is said to make 20 croquetas. Maybe I made them small but I could have gotten about 40!

Expat to Expat Q + A: Travelin'

Happy weekend! Thanks to Belinda and Bailie who are hosting Expat to Expat link-up we have a new theme for June: travel! And a few of my questions were even added in at the bottom, cool! Here we go...

1.  Which airport would you like to never see again? 
I recall Florida is pretty crazy. My parents just had to go through there with a short layover, but luckily made their next flight. Phew what a relief after running across the airport frantically!

2. What is your travel nightmare? 
Missng a flight is never fun. Or loosing things like bank cards, wallet, or phone.

3. Would you rather stay in a fancy hotel and do less activities or stay in a hostel and do more activities?
Hostels and local activities is way more my style! I like to explore and find the hidden little spots to feel like I know the place.

This hostel was so neat because it was full of hammocks and mosaics.
Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.

 Also, I love couchsurfing.com and WWOOFing when possible!

The volunteer house at a wonderful farm I worked at in Costa Rica.

4. Do you have any pre-travel rituals?
I usually have a little type of reunion with friends and family. I also try to savor every last luxuries about the states, from baths to homemade food.

5. What is your favorite airline to fly with?
Whichever is the cheapest, which definitely doesn’t equate to top-quality. In Europe: Ryan Air. South America: LAN, TACA.

6. If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I’m dying to drive across the US and explore the state parks!

Roadtripping around Washington and Oregon

7.  How do you survive long haul flights?
Books, music, notebook, and a pillow.

8. What is your favorite stamp in your passport and why?
Hmmm…I suppose Chile and Colombia because they’re multi-colored :)

Questions from Lisa at Meanderings, Adventures & Crafty Inspirations (me!)

    1.    What are your top 3 necessary items for travel?
A large scarf: it’s so versatile! It can be a sling bag, a blanket, head-wrap, first aid bandage….the list goes on.
Notebook and pen: to write contacts, notes, and collect little papers in a new place.
The right shoes: I think we know why this one’s important.

 2.    What is your favorite off the beaten track trip in your current home?
This is a tough one, because there’s so many. I loved my trip to Quillabamba and wandering around the non-touristy towns outside of the city, finding waterfalls and all kinds of tropical vegetation! A blog on this trip is comin’ soon.

Thanks for joining and looking forward to seeing everyone else's responses!

I'm back, with a new prefix!

Hey all, so I've been on blog hiatus the past few weeks because a lot was going on: wedding crafting, coordinating and organizing details, friends and parents flying in... It all turned out wonderful and I am so excited to announce that Rafa and I are now married!

So, I am back and trying to post more frequently. Very unfortunately, my camera was stolen last month so you'll have to excuse any low-quality pictures until I find a better alternative. 

More posts comin' your way, have a lovely day!

Expat to Expat Q+A: Yummy food!

Cusco, Peru

Hey all! I’m excited for this 2^nd expat Q+A hosted by Bailie from Hemborg Wife and Belinda at Found Love Now What. And the theme is a yummy one that we all love…food!! Here comes my sweet tooth...

1. What is your favorite food tradition in your new country?  

Ohhh there’s so many good postres (desserts)!! A few favorites of mine include:
Picarones – basically fried dough with a honey cinnamon infused syrup.
Mazamorra y arroz con leche – this is a warm, pudding-like dessert. Part is made from purple corn and fruit. Mix with arroz con leche and you’ve got a perfect combo.

Peruvian version of doughnuts, picarones!

Also, it’s very typical to have soups with meals and I kind of like this tradition. This one below was a typical one from the selva (jungle) made with a type of banana!

Banana soup!?

2. Where have you traveled to that you thought had the best food to offer?

I love the food in Costa Rica. Platanos fritos (fried plantains), rice and beans are very common. And always lots of fresh fruits and juices.

Tapas and gelato in Southern Spain!

A typical Costa Rican dish, casado. Soooo yum!

And the wide array of international variety in San Francisco.

3. What is the typical breakfast where you currently live and would you eat it back home?

Huevitos – it’s basically potatoes and a hard-boiled egg with a special green sauce called ocopa(made from a herb, huacartay). I would eat it back home but it’s really not as good without the sauce.

4. What type of restaurant, either style or type of food, do you think is lacking in your new home?

Gelato food art, Granada Spain.

Let’s just say that for as ‘international’ of a place Cusco is, it lacks this variety in food. I soooo miss a good burrito (my bf and I found one place, claiming to be Mexican. It’s not, but still is delicious so that’s my sub for Mexican food). Also, I wish there were some affordable Asian restaurants – Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Indian. There are a surprising number of chifas (Peruvian Chinese food) but unfortunately, I can’t highly recommend them.

Missing me some coconut soup and curry!

5. Do you think your home state/city/province has a food everyone should try?

Deli sandwiches with all the good stuff!

6. What is your favorite dish to prepare that you would never have made back home?

Believe it or not…crepes! My roommates taught me how and I’ve been able to practice quite a bit. Not your typical Peruvian food, but definitely delicious. The trick is getting them so thin, which I’m still perfecting.

7. What is the oddest food in your new country?

They really eat all parts of meat…stomach, feet, head, yep. The textures and smells tend to weird me out so I stay pretty far away from them. My boyfriend thinks it’s weird I get queasy seeing all the raw meat parts at the market. Cuy (guinea pig) is also a delicacy here, but it’s enjoyable. Read more here.

8. If you could have a crate of one type of food sent to you from your home country, what would it be?

Dried fruits and all kinds of nuts, spreads and sauces!

9. What three foods remind you of summer?

Watermelon, popsicles, and BBQs.

10. What food from your country are you surprised to enjoy?

Potatoes…there are thousands of varieties and colors here. And the best part, they’re real aka GMO-free. Nope, no grapefruit sized potatoes here!

Bonus: Where was your favorite place you ever took a summer vacation to?

There’s a bunch, but I’ll just pick one: road trip on the US Northwest coast. Firstly, because I just love roadtrips – being with friends, blasting music, and hair blowing in the wind. Secondly, because driving along the coast is so gorgeous.

There you have it, folks! I think I broke some rules because I have trouble picking favorites, oops...What's your favorite cultural food?? 

Photographic Ode to Creatures

Welcome to the second photography series. I noticed that I started taking animal pictures after my 1st trip to Costa Rica. Probably because the creatures are so huge and different than any I had ever seen before. Now I always try to capture interesting creatures on camera. (All photos are taken and edited by myself, unless otherwise noted.)

* * *

Costa Rica 

A little monkey eating fruit up in the trees!

These bright red, purple, and black crabs were
everywhere on our off-the-road adventure in Santa Rosa.

BIG bugs!

* * *

Hawaii

There were a bunch of turtles that came onto shore for a few days. 

California

On my visit home, I took lots of morning walks in the hills. Pulgas Reserve.

Kisses! Vivid memories of Girl Scout Camp and Outdoor Ed.

Lovely little bees in Sonoma County.

This guy looks like a grump. A day in Muir Woods.

Beautiful dragonfly resting, Silver Lake.

* * *

Peru

Cusco and nearby

Family mule, Luquina Chica family homestay.

Rooster of Choquequirao.
Photography: Megan Boyle

Cuy castle in Pisac - read more

Land of llamas at Huchuy Cusco. Photography: Diane Patterson

Gorgeous parrot at Ccotahuasi Animal Rescue.

Puerto Maldonado - Quillabamba (jungle)

We almost stepped on this guy, hanging out under the orange trees.

The tarantula that was in my shoe (and didn't want to come out).

Just a little snack ;)

Aren't creatures magnificent? Hopefully you had as much fun seeing these as I did creating this. Do you have a favorite animal? 

Stay tuned for next Photographic Ode to Funny Things!

Expat Q&A: Seasons and All Their Glory

Hey all, happy Sunday! Today I'm doing my first link-up with The Hemborg Wife and Found Love, Now What?. It's a bi-monthly link-up called Expat to Expat Q&A, today's theme being weather and seasons where I'm living, in Peru. Here it goes...

A bit of my expat background: After studying abroad in Spain my junior year in college, I've got the travel bug. So I traveled to Peru, hoping to find work teaching English. I not only found that, but an amazing group of women and my love (and husband-to-be), Rafael. I've been living in Peru since October 2011, but am originally from California Bay Area. 

1. What was your favorite season back home and is it the same now; why or why not?

I love most seasons in California, but the one that sticks out right now is Autumn because of the beautiful colors and feelings that it bring. In Cusco, there are really just 2 seasons, dry and wet. I much rather prefer dry season, and it's not so cold around July-September.

2. Is there a place you would want to move to based solely on the weather?

Yes - a tropical jungle! I'd love to live in Thailand, Indonesia, or central Africa for awhile.

3. What is a piece an article of clothing that you had to buy for your new home due to the weather? i.e. galoshes, winter coat, etc

Boots, mittens, and a big down coat. And lots of layers, as it can go from a hot day to really chilly evening. 

4. Have you found the weather stereotypes of your new home to be true?

Well, I supposed that there would be more warm beaches. I was surprised to find out that each region has it's own weather because the geography is so varied. So it could be hot and humid in the jungle, cold and rainy in the mountains, and moderate on the coast at the same time.

5. Is there somewhere you would never live based solely on the weather?

Although I'm really attracted to Nordic countries because of their social care and pacifism, I don't think I could handle so few hours of daylight for too much time. I do really want to visit though!

6. What are you looking forward to most this spring?

Our wedding! It's going to be outdoors in a beautiful garden full of flowers. I'm looking forward to celebrating with friends and family. I'm also glad that the rain has let up and we can do more outdoor activities like hikes, picnics, etc.

7. Where you live, what is your go to outfit for spring?

Skirt, top, scarf, and a jacket for the evening.

8. What is one thing or event that you miss that happens back home at this time of the year?

My family has a lot of birthdays in April so I miss our celebrations, BBQs and live music.

9. If your hubs could bring home a bouquet of any type of flower, what you pick?

Orchids are very beautiful. Also, honeysuckles or jasmines because of their gorgeous smells. 

10. What does your perfect Saturday look like?

Making breakfast at home with my fiance and singing along with fun music, then a walk or little hike, followed by girls night crafting or chatting.

Bonus:  Are there any special holidays in your new country in the month of May?

Mother's Day is on May 12th this year. This day is hugely and commercially celebrated here, as mothers play a huge role in the family. Also, nearly every other day there is some celebration of a saint or religious procession.

Thanks for checking it out!