Traveling the World; No Plan, No Problem....
Episode 14: I took notes so you didn’t have to….We talked about the following in this episode….We are talking the wonderful Joe Buppert about his travels and how the hell he did it without a plan?!?
I love traveling. I truly live to travel. I will work all year to take one or two really exciting vacations every year some where else in the world. I am not the type of person who could get a time share and go back to the same place over and over again. There’s nothing wrong with that at all and as I always say, “You do you”. But to me, time is the most precious thing I have in this world and I want to use it to see and experience everything I can!
My guest this week, Joe Buppert has done more than just “travel”. He has truly immersed himself in the experience and his stories about these experiences are incredible. He had a moment in his life where it all made sense. Leaving everything he knew and that was comfortable, picking his life up and throwing himself out there in the world just to see what happens. He had no plan other than that first plane ticket but knew he wanted to travel for a year, knew he wanted to go to a handful of places but that was it. So he packed a bag (literally 1 bag, I know my mind is blown as well), bought that plane ticket and he was off. Over the course of about a year he traveled to Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Greece, Georgia (the country), Armenia, Germany, Amsterdam, France, England, Scotland and back to the US.
There is something that happens when you travel the world and something even bigger when you do it alone. Everyone’s experience is different but for me when I traveled solo it pushed me outside my own comfort zone, it sparked emotion growth in aways I never knew were possible and made me appreciate what I have and didn’t have even more in the sense of love, friends (new and old) and the absolute kindness of strangers who were only strangers for a split second just to name a few things.
In my travels and in Joe’s, we have learned a handful of things….
Bring layers, you want clothes that you can layer up or down depending on the changes in the weather.
Don’t over pack, you can ALWAYS buy something you need when you are traveling and then, if it’s something you don’t love, donate it when you’re done.
For me, an international plug is key, for Joe, not so much
Joe loves bags locks, especially if you’re staying in a hostel.
Have some money on you in the currency of the country you are traveling too. You don’t need hundreds of dollars but have some. You NEVER know when you’ll need cash but don’t keep a huge wad of it on you as it could catch someone’s eye.
Try to blend in, don’t be a tourist. I.e. LEAVE THE SELFIE STICK AT HOME! And have some confidence.
Joe loves to bring a jar of Peanut Butter where he goes because in a pinch when you’re hungry…Peanut Butter goes great with everything.
No matter where you are traveling to always check with the consulate of the countries to figure out if you need a visa, how long you can stay and what you need to do ahead of time before going to the countries. I.e. vaccines, visas and if there are any other restrictions you should be aware of. I.e. don’t think about bringing gum into Singapore.
Joe decided to do programs like Couch Surfing and Workaway. He also took advantage of these programs in another way, he befriended the people he stayed and worked with. Talking, being friendly and showing other’s kindness will go along way when you’re traveling. I think this helped enrich his experience even more. I know it has for me when I travel. Like for example when I was 19, I picked up everything and moved to Ireland for a summer and I was able to convince a very good friend of mine to come with me.
We didn’t have a plan, didn’t know anyone, didn’t know where we would live or what we would do for work but I knew we could make it work. We originally planned on living in Dublin. But the country was in the middle of, what they now refer to as, The Celtic Tiger. In Dublin at that time finding a flat (apartment) was impossible. The economy was in a massive boom period and jobs were being created and taken instantly, flats were near to impossible to find at any price let alone a decent one and time was ticking. So we were sitting in a pub one day trying to figure out our next move and someone mentioned a town called Galway on the west coast of Ireland. We hopped on the first train the next day and went to Galway. Got out of the rail station and (We both smoked at the time), lite up a cigarette and just looked out at the city in front of us. A girl, about our age, asked me if I had a lite. I lit her cigarette (this is one of the times that smoking worked out for me) and she asked what we were doing here. If you know anything about me, you know I LOVE chatting with people. So I explained everything and when I was finished she said, “My boyfriend and his flatmate are looking for two roommates! You should come by tonight, have dinner with us and look at the flat!” Just like that, we had new friends, a place to live and all because I was friendly and a smoker. No really, it was because I was friendly, don’t smoke, it’ll kill you. So the moral of the story, be kind and always carry a lighter.
Ok back to Joe! So let’s talk about food. Joe and I talk a lot about his travels through Southeast Asia and both of ADORE the food from this region of the world. There is something so special about it so we wanted to include some recipes below that we both really like and hope it inspires you to go cook something yummy, travel to this region of the world and above all else SHOW SOME KINDNESS AND SUPPORT TO ANYONE IN THE ASIAN COMMUNITY!!!!! Speak up and support the #StopAsianHate, Support your local Asian Markets, Food Bloggers, Cookbook Authors and show some love! Hate and fear has no place in my world, be the best human you can be in this world. Support and uplift everyone around you.
Below is written by Joe:
I like to have fermented products around and one that I really enjoy is Kimchi. And besides just eating it plain I find it super versatile. A favorite snacking dish that its great in is Kimchijeon (Korean Pancake) I ate a lot in Korea. There's many versions of it often with seafood, pork or just kimchi in it. You can literally eat it all time of day. Make a big batch the night before reheat the next morning like a waffle with an egg and avocado or have it for lunch. Here's an iteration of it that I like to make. If your snacking on it at night try some Makgeolli (not fruited version and drier if possible)
https://www.koreanbapsang.com/kimchi-jeon-kimchi-pancake/
-Seafood or meat products not necessary or can try this.
Makes 1 large pancake
1 cup Kimchi (well fermented preferably not fresh from the market, but you've had it for a little while)
1/2 cup all purpose flour (some like to add some cornstarch or potato starch in this measurement for crispiness.
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup chopped scallions
neutral oil for frying
Squeeze juice from kimchi over bowl and top with liquid brine from jar or ice cold water to get 1/2 cup.
Roughly chop kimchi
Add flours and salt to bowl with 1/2 cup kimchi juice liquids. stir to combine, let sit for a few minutes. Then add kimchi and scallions stir/fold in with chopsticks
Heat a tablespoon to a Tablespoon and a half in non stick skillet or very well season skillet over medium high heat
Pour batter in and spread with spatula to thin it out. Let cook 4ish minutes, flip and cook 3 minutes longer.
Cut into triangles and and dip into equal parts of soy sauce, rice vinegar and filtered water mixed together with a touch of toasted sesame oil.
Drink some Makgeolli, shoot the shit with friends and watch a sports game or something
Other favorite Kimchi easy DIY dishers recently include:
Toast up your favorite plain bagel or toast, spread a little butter on it then layer it with sliced avocado, add some chopped kimchi, then top with a fried egg and sesame seeds. If you have cheese and that tickles your liking throw that on there too! Maybe some cheddar. Feel free to build your anatomy depending on textural preference as well too. Toast, butter, avocado, egg, kimchi, cheese. Kimchi grilled cheese! Do it.
-Find some good bread
-Make sure kimchi isn't super cold from fridge
In many parts of Asia sweet potatoes were a very popular snacking item (Japan and Taiwan). Oftentimes at convenience stores or road side stalls you'd see them over a bed of coals or in the convenience store in a case sitting on some warm rocks. You'd pick one up, they'd wrap in foil, you could add seasonings and you'd be off for a nice mid morning breakfast snack or whenever.
To replicate at home. Easy! When you get up in the morning before shower or coffee. Preheat your oven to 400F degrees, scrub a few Japanese sweet potatoes (they are starchier and fluffier almost) regular sweet potatoes work to but try Japanese ones if you can. Poke a few holes and roast for 50 mins or so. Pro Tip: Throw a few extra in for dinner purposes are to use later on. When done let cool slightly wrap in foil and take on your morning commute or just carry around the house with you. Dress to your liking, but don't add too much let the natural flavor come through as there's a lot!
I think we can also confidently say I'm a huge fan of Shawarma too and there are many different versions to the dish which are awesome depending on where in the world you are eating it. A decent recipe to start with is from NYT Cooking. I'd tone down the oil a bit though. Serve with whatever you'd like but next day make some tortillas or Lavash and role leftovers and toast up under broil or in the pan.
https://littlespoonfarm.com/sourdough-tortillas-recipe/#wprm-recipe-container-4418
Someone once described this as the hamburger of Thailand as it's highly available everywhere and at most roadside stalls and food markets. Pad Krapow Kai, Spicy thai holy basil with chicken. And always add a fried egg on top! Use holy basil if you can find it other thai basil works great. And don’t try other rice options unless your diet requires it. Sometimes trying to change to many elements of a dish then saying it doesn’t taste good when they never attempted how it was written or what it should’ve tasted like. The white rice is meant for a reason in a lot of dishes and works as an element in one way and changing it can throw out the balance. Like in this one it’s the heat, the rice helps cool your palette down. It accompanies the flavors of the stir fry like a well written book.
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/257938/spicy-thai-basil-chicken-pad-krapow-gai/
And more recipe ideas:
If you want to learn more about woks, wok cooking the expert for me is Grace Young. She has written some BEAUTIFUL books and recipes. Start here for sure!
Get a Carbon Steel Flat Bottom Wok and remember to season it.
The food blogger, Wei, from Red House Spice, has some INCREDIBLE recipes on her blog. I made her hand pulled noodles and used them in her Dan Dan Noodle recipe. My god were they AMAZING! Here’s a link to her more popular recipes but I challenge you do more with her site too. Her recipes are fool proof and come out AMAZING!
If you like Thai food as much as me then I challenge you to stop eating just Pad Thai or Drunken Noodles. Do more! Make this green papaya salad or this Tom Kha Gai, oh or wait, what about this Massaman Curry.
What about ANY of these incredible Vietnamese Recipes or these!
Korean food your jam? Great! Check out these recipes or these!
We could both keep going and going but here’s our point, go out and eat some of this amazing food. Does it intimidate you to cook it? No problem, find a spot local or not so local spot that makes one of the dishes that sparks your interest and go eat it from an expert. Appreciate the time, love, generational history and thoughtfulness that went into creating that dish for you and most of all challenge your palette to eat something new. You’ll be better for it in the end. I promise.
Now go forth and cook some amazing food!!
Beth Fuller is a Boston based Food, Product and Lifestyle Photographer. One of the best ways to support the podcast and Beth is to write a review wherever you listen, like the podcast on your favorite platform and please keep Beth in mind for any photography projects as a gal has got to pay her bills!
If you have a question and want it to be featured on the podcast please email either the question or a voice memo to letsgoonafoodadventure@gmail.com. Are you on instagram? Tag me in your food adventures, @letsgoonafoodadventure. Do you want to work together with food and product photography, drop me a line here!
xoxo
Beth
