Le linguiste s'intéresse à tout ce qui touche à la langue --Antoine Meillet
Food is an important part of everyone’s everyday life, but it especially becomes a thing of importance to the world traveler. At home, I would rarely give thought what I was going to eat for the day, (1) because everything is familiar (I know what I like, what I don’t, what’s cheap, etc.), and, (2) because, at least where I’m from, food is everywhere all the time and there are always a whole myriad of choices. As you travel, food becomes a central concern each day on the road. In each locale, you’ll need to figure out what you like and what you don’t like, what options are inexpensive and which are not so much? What are the healthiest choices? And in really remote destinations, where will you find food at all? Will there be food there or will I need to pack your own for a few days? From France to the Philippines, from New Guinea to New Zealand, finding and understanding food and the culture around it can be a task of its own. “Figuring out food” as you might call it and the troubles and issues that I’ve had (and still have at times) with it is why I decided to share this part of my travel experience. Also understanding food as an important aspect of culture and, of course, language is good way to really dive deep and gain something substantial from the places you visit. A trip to the market, for instance, can be a great way to get to know a country or region’s culture(s). The vibrant sights, intense smells, varied textures, and diverse sounds of words and things can put you right in the middle of a destination’s social make-up. Here I place my world food and market adventures, discovering something new with each visit. I’ll share my adventures as I gobble up around the globe the language, culture, and eating practices of each country and region.
“Why Isn’t This Well Known?”: On Cambodian Food
It was my last day in Vietnam, when I met a hostel friend from Japan who had spent a few months on the road like I had. She started in Africa and now she was doing her Southeast Asia trip as she made her way back home. One of the things we began to discuss was food and immediately the thought of Cambodia filled our minds and mouths. My Japanese friend said, “I don’t know why Cambodian food isn’t well know.” I unquestionably agreed.
Fish Market at Pasar Sanggeng
Visiting the fish market at the Pasar Sanggeng or "Sanggeng Market" was a curiosity-inspiring little trip that welcomed the eyes, but turned back the nose. Fishing is an important industry for the region. As fish are plentiful and an important part of this pacific land's diet, a walk through this area of the Pasar Sanggeng is a great way to get to know West Papua.
Sneak Peek Photo Gallery
[gallery type="rectangular" size="full" link="file" ids="2231,2234,2233,2232,2230"]- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -***Just a few things to mention about the comments. If you liked this essay or have anything to say or add, please leave a comment below! Even if your comment is critical of the information or opinions presented (I invest a lot of time and research into each article, but sometimes I may still miss the mark!), please feel free to comment. Most of what I place here is done so in order to start a dialogue. More accurate, complete, or up-to-date information will in the end only serve to enlighten us all. With that said, keep in mind that any profane remarks, spam, advertising, trolling, or grossly irrelevant, distracting comments will be summarily deleted.