I have this problem where any time I travel anywhere that isn’t the US I’m like “why don’t I live here” and then 90% of those places don’t have decent Indian food and it’s like “welp can’t live HERE”
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
With the right combination of skill, knowledge, equipment, energy, and time this can be true — but Indian restaurant food and Indian homecooked food are so different that this feels like saying “mangoes are better than pineapples.” Like maybe they are but sometimes you want a pineapple, y’know?
Also I have never encountered homemade dosas that are as good as professionally made dosas, if you have please introduce me to the person who makes them!
That sounds deliiiiiiicious, and also explains your statement! In many other places it’s hard to get the right equipment and ingredients, so even a very skilled home cook has limits to what they can make (and my Gujarati grandmother was a VERY good cook)
As many Americans do! Often with disastrous results, but if you treat people and places with respect, learn local culture, and put aside American individualism and learn to give more than you take (VERY difficult for Americans who are conditioned to consume) it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Spent 2 monts over 3 trips in the last 12 months there. Making sure I knew what I was getting into from weather to food to language (I can learn Bahasa) and more.
Malaysians can simultaneously be friendly and curious about where I'm from but the devoutly respectful of borders (the last thousand years of their history has been building towards that.)
Respect and smiles are treasured and are currencies to be passed on
My first job out of college was in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a town with many mountains and delicious food and zero Indians. I did not at the time identify super strongly with my Indian heritage — I’m super mixed — so I did not think I would mind the total lack of desis.
I mostly worked in the villages around Chiang Mai, and I met many people of many ethnic groups and only a tiny handful were virulently racist / Islamophobic so that was a nice change from the US! I met only one other brown person but that seemed fine!
And then I went to Penang, Malaysia to get my visa renewed. Penang is a beautiful island with many many Indians. I walked into little India and they were playing a Bollywood song. Dear reader, I BAWLED like a TINY BABY in that sari shop.
I ate roti and curry every day and I went back every four months; I would have moved there if I’d gotten a visa (I had a job offer and everything.)
Not coincidentally, my first long-term apartment when I returned to the US was in Jersey City, the first and last heavily desi place I have ever lived.
We’re from England and struggle to find the Indian food we know and love. We’re in NJ now and it gives us a reason to go home 🙂 On our first trip in 5 years we ate Indian food 5 times in 2 weeks.
I admit to not liking the English version of Indian food (the Indian food in Jersey is much closer to the Indian food in India, at least if you go to the right places) but I’m glad you got to enjoy it on your trip!
This anecdote brought to you by: I am visiting Croatia, it is stunningly beautiful, the food is perfectly pleasant in a boring way, last night I had proper Indian food for dinner and was practically happy-crying. The sheer joy! Of biting into a thing! And tasting multiple spices!!
Comments
You will not be disappointed.
Just don't expect great burritos or a Glatt kosher deli.
I have my apartment in Miri set.
I am running to as much as from. Fingers crossed.
Terima Kasih
Malaysians can simultaneously be friendly and curious about where I'm from but the devoutly respectful of borders (the last thousand years of their history has been building towards that.)
Respect and smiles are treasured and are currencies to be passed on
Not coincidentally, my first long-term apartment when I returned to the US was in Jersey City, the first and last heavily desi place I have ever lived.