Calm before Storm

Folks, we are safe!

I woke up to several messages and missed calls from family and friends hoping we are okay (thank you so much once more) as they saw on the news about some bad damages caused by the tropical storm Erika which was actually in the Commonwealth island of Dominica before it reached us in the Dominican Republic a few hours later. Erika hit our town yesterday afternoon but not that hard as we already expected. However, schools were cancelled, we got "Alert Red" messages and even have been advised to go and get emergency food and be prepared but it was basically nothing, at least in our mountainous town. We had wind and rains enough to make the poor plants very happy after months and months of dryness. The weather cool down, the air was clean plus my hubby got to come home early as his university was also closed. These are the things to thanks Erika for.

Nonetheless, please keep the countries and those who are affected by Erika, in your prayers.

Before Erika

During Erika

Post Erika

Wish everyone a lovely weekend and if you are under preparation for this storm, good luck!

Tuesday is Chiefsday: "OMG" I Can't Believe It

O.K. so I have some blog posts to finish but instead I went swimming, sea shells searching, romantic strolling along the beach, playing with the children and now I am sitting on the hotel balcony looking at the wondrous blue atlantic ocean and drifting away. However I wouldn't change a thing there - great quality time with the lovely family is the best. 

Lost myself to the sound of the giant waves, it got me thinking sometimes I really can't believe that I am actually here. 10 years ago, the idea to be somewhere close to the sea was very scary. It always looks so mysterious so vast that my head automatically says once I go in, I would never get out alive again. And back then I couldn't swim. But being on this caribbean island for almost 6 years, I am now familiar. The country itself is familiar. It is not so much different from my home country.

All of this reminding me one of my forever favourite songs "Oh my God" from the greatest Indie-Rock band which I am a die-hard fan of, the Kaiser Chiefs. Their music has always been with me since the release of their album "Employment". They lyrics in "OMG" say it all really. It has the connection of my life when I was a teenager in Cambodia who always tried to get out of the badly corrupted country (sad because it's a beautiful small country) to find better student and private life opportunities somewhere miles away and to finally settle in my early twenties. I can always relate to every words in song. Well quite. Except the part "sucked more blood than a backstreet dentist". Haven't sucked anyone's blood. Yet. Only been sucked blood by the many many mosquitos here.

And now it is indeed, "Oh my God" I can't believe it, I've never been this far away from home. Dominican Republic and Cambodia. A complete opposite side of the globe.

die-hard fan

Take a listen if you can relate! :-) Lyrically it is quite an emotional song but watch out for the beats! This is by an indie rock band from LEEEDDDSSS!

Cheers,

 

Sakura Festival in Dominican Republic

For centuries, Cherry Blossom festival is a spring celebration that is very much loved and annually celebrated in Japan and other countries can be as far United States, Canada, and in some European countries like Germany, Denmark. There is almost nothing more joyous than having a good time eating, drinking, reading or simply chatting, getting to know others under the cherry trees that are proudly boasting their fragile yet beautiful blossoms. The festival usually also includes other activities like cultural events, exhibitions, lots of foods and drinks, entertainments, children-friendly activities.

As suspicious as it might sound, about this festival in the Carribean where the weather is warm all-year round, the Japanese club over there did manage to make it happen although it is more a low-key type and rather small compare to the celebration in Japan or USA but you are guarenteed to still find the sakura flowers. Thanks to the absolutely beautiful mountainous town Constanza which situated in the central range or Cordillera Central at 4000 ft (about 1200 metres), in La Vega province where it is blessed with a rather 'cold' temperature. Well-known for its agriculture and crops production it is just right to house the cherry trees. The "Festival del Cerezo" opened to public for the first time in 2013. Due to its apparent success it becomes an anual festival taking place every January. Just like how the others are doing it, you can get traditional Japanese foods (yes, included Sushi - hell lots of Sushi!), drinks, performances, exhibitions, products sale and of course the cherry blossoms sight-seeing. 

I didn't take any photos of the stalls or the entertainment though. I didn't feel good already during the nauseous ride along the valley and my children got a little grumpy and wanted to go to see the nearby carrot fields instead which we did. I was hanging around mostly near the trees - quite refreshing. 
It has become one of my favourite festival, my husband's too. We intend to join again but it will be in Hamburg, Germany then. 

You can check out the Constanza festival's Facebook page here for more photos. 

And Hai, arigatou gozaimasu!

Cassava Arepas

We are the lucky ones, we are often invited for a visit and lunch at our friends' place up the mountain. Ysabel is a very fine Dominican lady and she definitely can cook. She cooks the best Dominican sancocho soup among others. While she was preparing lunch I noticed the new dish was in line to be cooked that I hadn't seen the whole time in this land. It consisted of a mixture which half a bowl is shredded cassava (Yuca is what they called it here), some beaten eggs and some seeds which I initially thought it was cumins (duh!). After an investigation and interview, I obtained the recipe! She mentioned about varieties of this dish too but I'll repeat what she did for now. Thanks a lot Ysabel!

The mixture was devided and formed into some kind of balls (almost), when they are done, the colour is golden brown and they taste so good. Quite addictive too! My children also love it. This goes on the plate together with your lunch or just like how we prefer, as snack. 

Ingredients:

2 medium size cassavas

4 eggs

1 tsp anise seeds 

1 1/3 tsp salt

2 cups vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Peel the cassavas, I don't recommend to use the peeler since the peel is very thick. The best way to take the peel out without damaging or wasting the root is running a sharp knife horizontally on it and tilt the knife left right as you go. You'll hear cracking sound then you can peel it off using the fingers or with help from the knife depend on the roots you have. See how clean and smooth your cassavas are!

2. Using a fine shred side of the grater to shred the "shiny" cassavas. It should yield five cups full. Bring it to a mixing bowl

3. In a seperate bowl, beat the eggs lightly and sprinkle some salts

4. Pour it over the shredded cassavas

5. Lastly, put the anise seeds and remaining salt. Mix well

Cooking:

1. Heating up the oil in a skillet on medium heat

2. Using two table spoons, one spoon scooping out the mixture and using another to shape it a little bit

3. Once the oil is hot, put the scooped mixture in. Leave some rooms between each piece

4. Do not turn until you're sure the colour at the bottom turns golden brown. It usually takes about 10 minutes. When both sides are done, transfer your arepas to the plate with paper towels. Continue with the remaining mixture. And then reward yourself a bite or two of the crispy arepas! :-)

Some beautiful D.R. events hosted by mother nature

My day usually gets extra special when I am welcomed by nice shows display in the sky. Sometimes it is also very comforting to see them after a rather tough day running errands and doing tasks that seems to never can finish. Many a time, I grant a gift to just sit by the windows in my bedroom with my little ones while waiting for my 'little' big one to come home and looking at the sun goes down in the Occident or to be at the balcony to scan through the sky finding different cloud figures. Some day, on extraordinary day we would just lay low and being greeted by the rainbows which occur quite often here. If I have to go out, as a person that never underestimate the nature, to be certain I wouldn't miss the unexpected views and to have them saved not only in my memory department but my SD cards too, I always make sure I have my camera with me or the smartphone at very least. The nature's theatre unfolds its spectacular innocent shows for us at no costs all we need to do is taking the time to go or simply roll up the window blinds and see them. 

Below are some of my favourite views. They have not been heavily enhanced - I only blackened out what appeared slightly dark and lowered the white/hightlights levels.
 
ATTENTION: Slideshow contains audio. Check your device volume before starting.
Click letter "i" on the slide for photos' infos. :-)    

Take me to your cafecito! Take me to your cappuccino!

I am going to talk a tiny bit about coffee since I am on a coffee island and I just had one cup. At this time, my parents and friends in Cambodia just had a cup, parents-in-law, relatives and friends in Germany, France will wake up to a cup, so do our friends in Denmark, the Netherlands and worldwide. If you're having one right now, well, HOLLER!

Most of us love coffee, don't we? So let's begin with a coffee history. According to National Coffee Association USA, "In the Ethiopian highlands, where the legend of Kaldi, the goatherd, originated, coffee trees grow today as they have for centuries. Though we will never know with certainty, there probably is some truth to the Kaldi legend. It is said that he discovered coffee after noticing that his goats, upon eating berries from a certain tree, became so spirited that they did not want to sleep at night. Kaldi dutifully reported his findings to the abbot of the local monastery who made a drink with the berries and discovered that it kept him alert for the long hours of evening prayer.  Soon the abbot had shared his discovery with the other monks at the monastery, and ever so slowly knowledge of the energizing effects of the berries began to spread.  As word moved east and coffee reached the Arabian peninsula, it began a journey which would spread its reputation across the globe. Today coffee is grown in a multitude of countries around the world. Whether it is Asia or Africa, Central or South America, the islands of the Caribbean or Pacific, all can trace their heritage to the trees in the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau."

Dominican Coffee

is of Arabica species and the common varieties are Typica and Caturra. It is of course Dominican national non-alcoholic drink. Everyone we know drinks coffee. In the supermarkets, you'd find the stands with folks from different companies inviting you to try coffee. In some hospitals you'd find a lady or two walking around with a thermo bottle almost as big as the fire extinguisher to distribute coffee to the nurses or patients or whoever waiting around. At universities, staffs also get their cups in order to keep them awake. Never seems to work with my husband , though! And I have a proof. :-D Coffee here is known as very strong and very sweet because it is commonly being served with a great amount of sugar. It is the standard way for the Dominicans drinking their coffee. Drinking it bitter is a rare case. In the restaurants, cafés or even in the colmados (small stores) if you come from a country that drinking coffee with milk and not with sugar, you'd have to ask especially for it otherwise you'll get the standard one. At some places they will look at you as if you are an alien because of what you order. But better to be viewed as alien rather than having your eyeballs pop out because the coffee is too strong even to sip if we are not used to it. Extracted from an article found on the dr1.com website (massive thanks for a great article), it stated, "In the Dominican Republic, a simple cup of coffee manages to cross all barriers of class and wealth, and is equally revered and adored in the wealthiest mansions of the sophisticated urban rich as it is in the poorest rural campesino shack, as well as everywhere in between. In fact, caffeine's properties as an appetite suppressant and a stimulant probably accounts for much of its popularity among the poor, but everyone, whether they own a mule or a Mercedes Benz, can testify to the richness of the taste. Visit any Dominican household, and however poor it may be, you will always be offered a cup of coffee at the very least, and it is not customary to refuse it, even if you are not usually a coffee drinker. If you are a coffee lover but are averse to so much sugar, you will still need to drink at least a couple of token sips in recognition of your hosts' hospitality. In the humblest houses this is often all your hosts can afford, and therefore an important point of pride. To refuse an offer of a cafecito is seen as ungracious at best, and sometimes downright unpatriotic!"

No longer a coffee virgin

I had my first coffee in 2005, I needed it to stay awake to study for the exam. I made myself a cup of that Nescafe instant coffee. After the first few sips, I began to feel sick, hyper, my heart raced. I decided me and coffee (yeah that isn't even a coffee right?) aren't sympatico. I stood by my decision and refused anything that has something to do with coffee even the irresistable taffies. But it changed in 2008 during my first trip to Germany as Jens introduced me to his family. Every three o'clock, is coffee and cake o'clock at his parents' house. You might predict the story now :-). You are in love, you want to show to everyone on your boyfriend's side that you are kind of lioness yet an easy-going person, you are in front of his folks, the last thing you want to do is to refuse any nice offers that are laid on the tables before your eyes. At least that is what most of us Khmer people do. I heard some dare not even coughing or sneezing or literally even breathing in front of their boyfriend's or girlfriend's family. :-D They didn't force me, often they said I don't have to drink if I don't want or can't, they can bring tea or juice but you don't want to give your future in laws extra work when you can just swallow that damn thing and toss a piece of Erdbeertorte in your mouth afterward. I was aware of my smell-good enemy, I filled my cup with milk so basically it was more milk than coffee ;-) so everything ended up less embarassing. I continued sipping coffee every day for a month, I reduced the amount of milk-cheating gradually and here we go, now, I can down two espressos at a time. Guilty pleasure! By the way, who says coffee is addictive? I drink everyday and I don't have that problem. (Get the silly joke? O.K. you are good!)
When Jens came to the D.R. he often boasted about good coffee the country has to offer which I would like very much to try therefore he had to bring me to it. Hmm a cup of cappuccino using Dominican coffee beans. Good idea!

The first year as a new member in this growing society, I was very lucky to be able to live in a residencial area up in the mountain a little bit outside of the town. We rented a beautiful three-bedroom house surrounded by royal palm trees (Roystonea hispaniolana) which is endemic to this island. The view down to the town was simply stunning and idyllic especially in the night. You don't usually hear any noise pumped up by human, instead only by the crickets and sometimes that of cicada insects around the house. Everything for us back then was in a tranquil status even after our daughter was born. Babies cry at certain moments but that's it. It was still the joy in the household which we wouldn't count it as unpleasant noise. Only until two years later when we moved out of 'our' mountainous house to live in a barrio near the town.

Somebody once said "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone". This quote gives a meaning to what I encounter next. Living up in the mountain and only once or twice a week being whisked away in a car to jump in the supermarkets and back to your comforting home didn't really give you deep or wider insights. You could see the chaos on/along the roads but what is it like to live in the chaos? In the village of our second house, people seemed to never sleep. You'd see or hear them every flipping time walking around or screaming from house to house even to borrow an egg or so. They'd sit on their plastic chairs and yell. On one occasion I thought they have heated argument because of their tones in their conversation. But if you bother to listen carefully they were only discussing about which hair net or hair roller are the best or which lawn mower or grass cutter should they mess with at 8p.m. at the weekend. Please don't get it wrong, they are actually kind people. We met and continue to meet many friendly locals, it is just that was how they do. Sometimes I can't help but thinking, whether it is logical or scientifically correct or not, it might have something to do with their year year long habit of drinking coffee, so long that it becomes natural to be so full of energy and eyes wide open. Also, usually they don't have many activities in their daily life, not doing anything enough to drain themselves out, so it only need a bit of coffeine to wake themselves ... and everyone up. 

On another note, being here we also have been blessed with some really good friends. One of our favourites is the Wallace family, Chad and Krista are partners in the "Ecological Reserved" Spirit Mountain farm with their friend in the US. Beside being a sustainable agro-forestry project, with eco-tourism, forestry, environmental and university research components, this farm produces organic certified coffee and honey. Located about 25 km from Jarabacoa town, it is one of our few favourite destinations for enjoying family time at the weekend. Any visitors we had, were brought there and everyone had a good time and some new experiences. Last year we had an opportunity to invite our nephew who just finished his high school in Germany to come over and doing voluntary work: coffee roasting/packing for Spirit Mountain coffee which he enjoyed very much. Spirit Mountain coffee is slowly becoming recognised in niches of differentiated coffee market locally and internationally under the highest quality standards. In the recent event of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), held in Boston in April, 2013, it was selected among the top 18 specialty coffees from 7,000 participating farms from all over the world. Their coffee has been shown to the public during the Cupping for Quality for Sustainable coffee. With certainty, there are many types of good coffee products here in the land but Spirit Mountain coffee has been our most favoured. Beside being brewed almost daily in our kitchen, it has places in our life journey, from being given to guests as Thank-You presents on our wedding to drinking myself to death in order to stay awake to watch football. :-) For your interests, you can find out more about Spirit Mountain coffee on their official webpage http://www.spiritmountaincoffee.com/


 Now comes some photos

Freshly roasted SM coffee beans.

Young coffee experts!
Well not really. Just collecting and eating coffee berries off the shrubs

SM coffee (orange packages with white label) for our guests on our 
wedding day in Germany

>>Proof<<. "Coffee? What coffee?" Said Jens.

MINE. 

Quote for today: "When in doubt, tell the truth brew one cup." :-)

I am having my cappuccino now, and I am happy. It is better to be happy than to be "Despresso" right? ;-)

Note: Some sections in this article are expressed based on the author's own experience with certain group of people, time and place(s) and isn't in any way being directed as a generalisation to the Dominican Republic and its people.  

Saludos,

Third Land: សាធារណៈរដ្ឋដូមីនិក, Dominican Republic, Dominikanische Republik, Republica Dominicana

Dom. Rep. or D.R. are the common abbreviations for Dominican Republic. The D.R. is located on Hispaniola, an island belonging to the Greater Antilles, in the Caribbean. It shares the island with Haiti. D.R. is, after Cuba, the second largest nation in the Caribbean. It’s size of about 48.000 km² is a bit less than that of Costa Rica, and a bit more than that of Denmark. Population is more than 10 million, thus slightly more than Sweden or Hungary.

With Pico Duarte, D.R. has the highest point of the Caribbean, reaching an altitude of ~3170m, and with Lago Enriquillo as well the deepest point of the Caribbean at ~40m below sea level.

The D.R. has a huge range of ecosystems, and thus a huge biodiversity, including the highest percentage of endemic plant and animal species in the region. One of those, a strange looking mammal about the size of a cat, is the Solenodon, which has been on earth already in the era of the dinosaurs.

Agriculture produces all, from products known more likely as from northern countries, to typical tropical ones, from potato to cocoa, all within this small country. D.R. has valuable timber species as well, like the real mahogany, or green ebony. Hurricanes pass around occasionally, so do earthquakes.

Hispaniola was the first stronghold of the Spaniards in the New World, and for long time the main hub for silver and gold shipped from the Americas to Europe. It’s said that in the waters around the island are about 400 ship wrecks from that time are buried. In its capital, Santo Domingo, the D.R. has the oldest cathedral of the New World, the oldest fortress of the New World, and the oldest university of the New World, among others.

A unique gem of the country is the blue amber (bluish under UV-light) which is not found anywhere else in the world, while Larimar, with its also unique blue color, is considered as being the “national” stone. Other specialties, albeit not here exclusively are known as well to be typical for D.R., such as cigars, cocoa, coffee and rum.

According to some travel guides, there might be various places found in the D.R. which are known from TV, such as the “Bacardi Island”, or a waterfall seen in “Jurassic Park”. Strangely enough, such things are “known” from being in other countries too, so it might be doubted. However, besides Caribbean and Atlantic beaches, there are many attractions and activities be found in D.R., such as whale watching, rafting, canyoning, paragliding, mountaineering, and horseback riding, among others.

An idea to where D.R. is (not in Africa or Europe ;-) )

Blue Amber

Jens with Cambodian flag on Pico Duarte, the highest point of the Caribbean

Hispaniolan Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) © Eladio Fernandez

Salto de Jimenoa, Jarabacoa

Love,