Dateline: Jakarta, Indonesia, Summer 2010
Every day was overcast, blistery hot and humid, but this was only surmised through condo windows because during my entire 12-day stay, I was outside but once–a trip to the Grand Indonesian Shopping Center (where they again checked vehicles for bombs).
A few days prior though, I wrote to family and friends:
It ‘s pouring buckets, sheets of rain, at least 2 inches in a 1/2 hour and it may rain for hours, I’m told. As if clear skies, a soccer game continues though the field is more mud than grass; grass that hosts a herd of goats every day that no doubt leave somethings behind that are now floating in the ankle-high mud that the players are running through. And remember, this is all taking place in the middle of the country’s capitol city.
Between interviewing, writing, and researching, I’m eating in the formal dining area of the complex where the dishes are equal to any Western 5-star restaurant. I’ve limited myself to one or two a day because they are SO delicious, and I don’t want to have to buy another seat on the flight back because I’m 50 pounds heavier.
Spinach ravioli in an orange colored creamy sauce, not sure what it was other than very tasty! Ceasar salad last night–baby cos lettuce, shaved parmesan, garlic croutons and basil Caesar dressing. Even though anchovies have a face and I’m known here as “Angela who eat no meat–nothing with face,” I ate it anyway–delicious. Yummy creamed spinach and cauliflower.
And Ike (an amazing chef who came from Sydney, Australia, where she served Mel Gibson, et. al, her fanstastic creations) made me a special “chef’s pie” with a delicate pastry surrounding peas, carrots, zucinni, dressed in some kind of fabulous light sauce. Perfect penne pasta another night. Dessert always, Panna cotta to die for, which I did 3 times! Gee, I think I used up all the adjectives I could think of describing her meals, and still didn’t do them justice!
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Liquid Sunshine 