Thai Indulgences

If I lived in Thailand, there are some things I would indulge in without hesitation.

Such as:

• Daily enjoyment of creamy delicious Thai Tea
• Thai Massage or a Pedicure
• Bananas cooked in a creamy coconut soup - weekly, perhaps

The Beggars and I

Face-to-Face with Begging. South Africa. Guatemala. Thailand.

How should we respond to the beggars?
when they become aggressive?
they are relentless?
they make threats?
when you've seen where they come from
and know they have better opportunities than this?

South Africa especially shook me.
One Beggar in particular, approached us three times.

(Guidebooks, tourguides and locals advise against giving change to beggars. They DO have other options, They DO deserve greater dignity than living the life of a beggar.)

We ignored. We walked on. We gave Pringles.

He followed. He moaned.

He claimed he needed bread for his baby.

He threatened...crime...using his knife on us.

A flood of thoughts: he must be addicted to something, no beggar is this persistant...

A day later,

A group of Beggars

sleeping on the sidewalk

waking for the day.

Gave them a few

cookies.

They sang their

gratitude.

How should we respond to the beggars?

How do you respond?

Food Secrets: Guatemala

I LOVE food...this should not come as a surprise.

Eating is a HUGE reason I love to travel.
I get to discover "food secrets".
The trick now,
is to remember and share those secrets.

So, from Antigua, Guatemala three lessons I learned that make food EXCEPTIONAL!

1. Should you ever be required to use powdered milk frequently, whether because of location or position, this will help to make the milk a little easier to swallow:
add CINNAMON.

2. Need the perfect, simple salad dressing for your lettuce leaves, avocado and large chunks of tomato? Try to work this masterpiece out:
Fresh Lemon Juice, Water (to taste), Salt and a few Onions
DELICIOUS and SO FRESH!

3. The perfect tostada requires very few ingredients, work or time:

Crispy corn tostada
Topped with fresh Avocado, Cabbage (soaked in some vinegary mix which I've yet to determine) and of course a slightly spice picante to top it all off...Super-Wow!

Don't Lose It.

Don't Lose It, she said.
You have a nice structure.
You know what I mean?
You have a nice form.
It's African. You have an African shape.

Words from our township hostess.
I'm finding comfort in them.
Especially as I walk the streets of Asia.

Beauty from Ashes

If the world wasn't broken, the goodness of humanity wouldn't have a chance to shine.

The goodness of humanity is God's marking on His people, His children.

Written on a table @ Wild Spirit Lodge near Plettenberg Bay, South Africa:
"People travel to WONDER at the
height of the mountains, at the
huge waves of the sea, at the
long course of the rivers, at the
vast compass of the ocean, at the
circular motion of the stars, and yet...
They Pass by Themselves without WONDERING."
~St. Augustine

Re-Purpose.

I thought I'd just let this blog die out.
But, I didn't want to delete it. Too many favorite recipes and stories.
So now, a new purpose.

A place to share with friends what I share over a cup of tea.
Not simply the day to day happenings.
Rather. Emotions. Thoughts. Joys. Challenges.

A distance is taking shape. Literally.
The other side of the world.
But, a cuppa tea I can always have.
You, my friends, can always have.
The distance doesn't have to be so drastic.
For my relationships.

teawithmelissa.blogspot
New Purpose. Maintain relational depth. Emotional depth.
A place for ME to learn. to grow. to share.
My emotions. My experiences.
Your company. Your support.

Will you join me? For a cuppa tea?