July 11, 2010

Anybody out there?


It’s been over a year since my last post so you’d all be forgiven for thinking I was never coming back. I wasn’t sure that I would either, but here I am so I’m going to give it a go. With that in mind, it’s going to be a slow start to ease myself back into the process. When I stopped writing my blog it was for a combination of reasons but mostly because it had stopped being fun and had started to feel like an obligation. My blog was supposed to be my creative outlet and instead it was draining. At the time I was working long hours at the restaurant as we were coming into the busy season and that didn’t leave much time for cooking at home, let alone photographing, writing and blogging about what I made. One day I just stopped blogging and to my surprise, instead of feeling guilty about it, I felt like a weight had been lifted. I continued to enjoy reading other blogs, though I admit, it was with less frequency and my commenting nearly stopped altogether. I should have put up some sort of farewell post but I’ve never liked goodbyes so I simply made a clean break and quit the blog altogether. For a while afterwards I would still think about blogging meals that I made but it didn’t happen and in time I felt less of an urge to do so. But I never stopped making new things, (or writing) and my love of food has become stronger if anything.

Since I stopped blogging, there have been a number of changes in my life. For one thing, I now live on the other side of the world, in New Zealand. I quit my job and 9 months ago I decided to embark on a whirlwind adventure that has largely been unplanned and has taken me to 8 different countries. Along the way I’ve eaten a lot of amazing food but haven‘t been in one place for long enough to have my own kitchen or do very much cooking. Until now. I have just moved into a new apartment where I’ll be for at least the next few months. To get back into the swing of blogging and to give myself a little extra time to get my kitchen stocked I decided to post some of the food photos I’ve taken throughout my recent travels.


To kick things off are a few shots of some Malaysian street food I got from the Chinatown district of Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur was my introduction to South East Asia and it was certainly different than anywhere I’d been before. As I wandered through the city I felt enshrouded in a combination of humidity, smog, noise, lights and new smells. It was almost overwhelming. As food is one of the best ways to get to know a new place, I dove in head first, (with total disregard to my Westernized stomach) and pulled up a plastic chair to a street vendor selling noodles. Few words and lots of pointing were exchanged. I learned very quickly that it was much easier to order what I saw other people eating than to try and figure out if there was a menu and whether or not I could read it. I had mostly success with this method and rarely came across something I didn’t care for. I took to eating all my meals from street vendors, from fruit in the morning, (sometimes with a sweet, like the sesame ball pictured above) to rice and noodles throughout the day. Whenever I was at a loss for what to do in the city, a new culinary adventure awaited. And so it continues with my return to blogging and many more culinary capers to come...

24 comments:

The Trinigourmet said...

*happy smile* welcome back :) blogging should never come in the way of living :) Sounds like you've been doing a lot of the latter, and for that nothing but yays! :)

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

What a very pleasant morning surprise, Brilynn's back!
You've turned things upside down and right side up. Excellent indeed.
Welcome back.

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

How great to hear what you've been up to - very exciting! Looking forward to learning more about your culinary capers!

Gay said...

Hey welcome back! That's a new adventure in eating and cooking you're going to have. Looking forward to your posts.

creampuff said...

This is a happy Sunday indeed! I have missed you but it sounds like you are having a tremendous adventure. Good for you! I know all about blog fatigue so you did the right thing in stepping back and getting some perspective. Selfishly, though, I must say I hope this means more blogging ahead!

kat said...

Wow, can't wait to hear about more of your travels!

Susan @ SGCC said...

Welcome back, Brilynn! I missed you! I'm glad that you left because of an exciting adventure rather than something bad. New Zealand? Wow! Hope you're loving your new life! Can't wait to hear more.

CM said...

I had wondered what happened to you... In any case, welcome back!
Definitely looking forward to hearing about your adventures :)

kickpleat said...

Welcome back & continue on with all your adventures (which sound totally exciting and I can't wait to hear more).

K and S said...

Nice to see you back! exciting to hear what you've been up to.

c. said...

Glad to have you back

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Your culinary capers are always a pleasure to read Brilynn. I am sure we all look forward to your new taste adventires in New Zealand.

Joe said...

Welcome back, you!

Lunch Buckets said...

Looks like there's a couple of us out here, welcome back :)

SteamyKitchen said...

Missed ya!

Bruno said...

Welcome back! I was wondering what happened to you. Glad you're blogging again.

Karen Baking Soda said...

Welcome back! Happy to see you again, it sounds like you had a wonderful time, can't wait to hear more!

emzeegee & the hungry three said...

Wooo Hooo and welcome to the Antipodes! I never get to hear about people moving in my direction - mostly they move away (and sometimes to Canada, lol!) Welcome back to blogging and welcome to the Southern Hemisphere!

Jessica said...

Welcome back! I'm glad to see that you've found a good place to be. Hope to hear more from you in your new locale. ;-D

jessyburke88@gmail.com

steph- whisk/spoon said...

oh my gosh--so happy to see a couple new posts from you! sounds like you have been having great adventures. hope you are enjoying life in NZ.

Sara said...

yay! so glad to see you back! i admit, i had given up on you....even taken you out of my bookmarks. don't know what made me check today but so glad i did. can't wait to read more of your adventures (new zealand......omg, jealous.)

Helene said...

Yeah for being back! I have missed you :)

Hope you get your computer issues fixed up a.s.a.p!

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Welcome back! So good to hear from you again. New Zealand, huh? Wow! Can't wait to hear all about your adventures in food and life.

Maggie said...

Pleased to see that you are back on the blogosphere.
What an exciting time you have been having!