Tropical Travels

Meet the Basils

2010-05-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite herbs, and one of the easiest to grow in tropical and sub tropical climates. It always puzzles me why basil is hardly ever grown in the Caribbean.

Above, the classic, Genovese, the best tasting for pesto and with tomatoes.

The variations in the varieties of basil are so great its like growing more than one herb. My marvelous discovery of this basil growing season has been Blue Spice basil, which lives up to its description of smelling “fruity with vanilla”. It’s the most delightful smelling basil. It tastes like it smells, too, so its nice in fruit salads and drinks.

Blue Spice with its slightly fuzzy leaves

Thai basil

I sowed Johhny’s Queenette-Thai basils are so aromatic and totally necessary for certain Asian dishes. Great also sprinkled on pizza and pasta. Queenette ties with “Siam Magic” as the best Thai basil I have grown. You can keep Thai basil plants going for a couple years in warm climates. Many Asian recipes in the American media which call for cilantro actually use Thai basil in the original.

I also sowed from “Johnny’s Bouquet mix” though I really can’t tell for sure which types came up (except for the Thai, purple and lemon varieties) and but all plants are wonderfully fragrant, with tasty leaves .

The best lemon basil I ever had was from a plant grown from a packet of Samen Mauser brand seed I picked up in Geneva. It was the first lemon basil I ever grew, so I did not know that all others were not as equal, hence I did not take the time to save seed. The plant lasted for about two years.

Lemon basil

A complement to basil in dishes, this one is grown all over the Caribbean-habanero pepper-this particular one wickedly hot. One pepper pod equals use in an entire week's cooking! I use a tiny chip when making pesto.

Rural scenes: SE Asia

2010-05-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

Lyrical rural scenes, taken by friends, Phouc, Mini and Aoth's friend in SE Asia: rural Laos, Vietnam and Phi Phi islands.

Kamm's Engagement

2007-06-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Boom's Wedding

2007-06-23T07:42:00.000-07:00

Year of the pig

2007-04-04T06:35:00.000-07:00

A friend's celebration of the Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

Caribbean Seascapes

2007-02-26T20:53:00.000-08:00

Laos Art

2007-02-26T20:47:00.000-08:00

Trinidad Carnival

2007-02-07T19:36:00.000-08:00

Carnival season is heating up again. Pics from previous years. From top: Individual Mas 06, Chilling at the beach, Having so much fun in Poison, Panorama finals, Dimanche gras show

More of Mick's paintings

2007-02-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

Here are some new ones, still in Mick's house, always a delight to view!

Lao Elephants

2007-01-22T20:10:00.000-08:00

The elephants in "The Protector" reminded me of these Lao elephants, so sweet...

Bangkok's Golden Buddhas

2007-01-22T19:00:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I saw the movie “The Protector” and I enjoyed it partly because I could relate to so many details- it was very reminiscent of several trips to Laos and Thailand. These included the elephants, water boats and the design styles. The golden and red colours reminded me of these Buddhas from the well known temples in Bangkok: Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew and Bangkok Wat Traimit.

I guess most people should know that one should be respectful in religious shrines, but it was very rather disturbing to witness, last month, an English tourist using foul language on the old lady collecting the $1 fee at the Wat Xieng Thong in Laos.

Favourite Lao artist

2007-01-21T17:43:00.000-08:00

My favourite Lao artist is Mick Saylom, a charming guy with an equally charming young family. I first met him in 2005 and between then and now he's become quite well known, with his work being displayed in the new galleries of art in Vientiane.

Wat Xieng Thong

2007-01-21T16:27:00.000-08:00

Wat Xieng Thong is the most beautiful and wondrous wat of Luang Prabang. Originally built in 1560 by King Say Setthathirat, it survived numerous invasions. The "red chapel" contains a rare old statue of a reclining Buddha. The glass mosaics on the external buildings were commissioned in the 1950s and depict of popular folk tales and Buddhist history. One building contains the royal funerary chariot of King Sisavang Vong with its seven-headed naga, carved by venerated Lao sculptor Thid Tun. The doors have beautiful carved and gilt portrayals, and other Asian art sculptures and Buddha carvings are to be found inside.

Royal Ballet of Luang Prabang

2007-01-21T15:41:00.000-08:00

The Royal Ballet of Luang Prabang was revived in 2003. The troupe was formed to re-establish the ancient Lao Ramayana or pharak pharam ballet of Luang Prabang.

Dancers from the provincial performing arts troupe were brought together with students and a several older musicians and performers to revive the nine episodes of the Lao Ramayana. There are performances several times a week on the grounds of the Royal Museum which are very colorful and vibrant. I was privileged to see performances in December 2005 and 2006. The one in 2006 was a special performance done in front the temple.

Museo de Arte de Ponce

2007-01-21T15:27:00.000-08:00

The Museo de Arte de Ponce boasts the most extensive collection of European and Latin art in the Caribbean and contains the second largest collection of religious art in the world. Puerto Rico's former governor Luis A Ferre donated the museum, which contains noteworthy pre-Raphaelite and baroque works. The museaum contains works by Puerto Rican artists such Francisco Oller; Latin American painters such as Bartolome Murillo; and Europeans such as Peter Paul Rubens, Auguste Rodin, and Thomas Gainsborough. The signature painting of the Museum is Flaming June, by Frederick Leighton,