Tradition

Ah, fellow college freshman, we’re home for the first extended period of time.  It’s a bit weird, amirite??  Even though I came home to find the furniture the same as always and my boxes of tea in the pantry right where I left them, it’s clear that something (actually, many little things) has definitely changed. 

But it’s the holidays, and the holidays are full of traditions, and nothing will make you feel at home and at ease quite like tradition. 

Every year, my mom, brother and I make Christmas cookies and invite our closest friends over to decorate them with us.

The recipes we use have been in our family forever.  They’re written on index cards, now a little yellow and with splashes of vanilla extract and smudges of butter on the edges. 

We make molasses and sour cream cookies. 

The molasses cookies are spiced and flavorful, and the sour cream ones are soft and pillowy.  Neither type is very sweet on its own.

That’s why we can decorate them with buttercream icing and lotsa sprinkles!

It’s a match made in heaven, really. 

The icing is simple: just butter, powdered sugar, and a splash of milk creamed together.  The secret ingredient is a dash of extract…  we usually do lemon or orange.  The citrus notes are very nice, especially with the spiced molasses cookies. 

We save some plain white icing for spreading, but divvy up the rest and mix in dabs of color.  We add that to piping bags and are ready to decorate. 

I’m not going to say we resist the urge to just ice and eat a few cookies on the spot, but we DO take our time to carefully decorate most of the cookies.  That’s the fun of it! 

And at the end of the day, we send our friends back home with tins full of their works of art, and tummies full of sugar. 

Now that’s a sweet tradition.

In December, drinking horchata

I for one have never tried horchata, but as an avid Vampire Weekend fan and amateur foodie, I decided this winter break would be the perfect opportunity to experiment. If you don’t understand the connection between horchata and Vampire Weekend, take a listen to their catchy song below while you make this yummy drink.  Horchata is a traditional Mexican drink, made with rice, milk, vanilla and cinnamon. There are other variations made with ground almonds, sesame seeds, rice, barley, or tiger nuts. So experiment with new flavors and textures, and let your tastebuds decide for themselves! I thought I would try something new myself, other than my usual Starbucks lattes and Kung Fu Bubble Milk Tea. Here we go!

Lola's Horchata Recipe

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ready in: 3 hours 10 minutes

Level: Easy

Directions: 

1. Pour the rice and water into the bowl of a blender; blend until the rice just begins to break up, about 1 minute. Let rice and water stand at room temperature for a minimum of 3 hours.
2. Strain the rice water into a pitcher and discard the rice. Stir the milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar into the rice water. Chill and stir before serving over ice.

Et voila!

Ella

While Sacramento certainly isn't a mecca for cuisine connoisseurs, there are plenty of quirky, upscale restaurants that satisfy just about anyone's need for fresh California cuisine. 

Among one of my personal favorites is Ella, a dining room and bar located only a few blocks from the State Capital. Since the menu changes seasonally, it's not hard to order a completely different entrée each visit. On their current menu, you'll find dishes like Hog Island Oysters and Croque Monsieur. If you're feeling more adventurous, try their bone marrow appetizer or Honey Badger cocktail (while I obviously haven't tried the drink, this video comes to mind…so I know it must be pretty good).

 Of course, no meal is complete without their house-made soda (Thyme Limeade, my favorite, is pictured above), or Sticky Toffee Pudding. 

Much love,

Emily

Crossing the Pond to London

all photos courtesy of Melissa Budicini, Rachel Moroknek, Emma Glubiak and Claire Glubiak

In sixth grade my twin sister, our two best friends, and I made a pact: the summer after we graduated from high school, we would travel to London together. We immediately told our parents our brilliant plan and were obliviously not taken seriously, as we were eleven years old. And yet, this summer, ten days after the last one of us had turned eighteen (all hail European drinking ages!!), we took off for London. And it was the experience of a lifetime. If you're planning your own travels to London read on. We also traveled to Dublin, but I will save that for another post. Here's the one stop shopping for a damn near perfect trip. You're welcome in advance.

The Generator Hostel 

First of all, the gross stuff, the bane of every traveler's existence, and every teenager or college student's travel hindrance: the money. Traveling is expensive. Flights are expensive. Saving is hard. And if you're going to Europe from America, at least right now, the exchange rate is not in your favor. While a trip like this will still need lots of saving, there are some ways to make your budget go as far as it can. One way is by staying in a hostel. We chose the Generator Hostel and I cannot recommend it enough. It was clean, safe, and very well priced. The front desk had discounts for most of the touristy things in the city and the hostel itself is in a great location, 5 minutes from a tube station and 10 minutes from Kings Cross Station if you want bigger excursions. The Generator also has locations all around Europe (HINT HINT Dublin!).

http://generatorhostels.com/en/

Planning in Advance

An important an exciting part of travel is waking up and seeing where a new day and a new city will take you, but there is something to be said for planning activities and excursions. By planning in advance you can look for the best priced options before you take off. It also gives you a little bit of structure and forces you to get up and out every morning. Here are the things that we planned in advance:

Melissa, Rachel, and I at the tube station closest to our hostel

The Tube: 

If you plan on using public transportation in any new city, check it out online before hand. Lots of cities have passes for tourists. Since we were in London for six days we got a seven day travel card that gave us unlimited access to the London tube (the subway system). The tube has different zones that span further and further out of the city. We each bought a 7 day pass for zones 1 and 2 which covered all of central London and anywhere we were planning on going for the week. It was about 30 pounds each which ended up being truly a bargain for the amount we used the tube. 

Here is more information about your oyster options: https://www.tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/ticket-types/on-oyster

Afternoon tea at the Berkeley Hotel 

Tea: 
Would it really be a trip to London without afternoon tea? I think not! When it came to our tea, we were delighted by the fashionable and delicious experience we had at the Berkeley hotel. Thanks to a gift certificate (can you say best friends ever) from two pals who would not be crossing the pond with us, my sister and I were able to dine in style for free. Gift cards to fun places in your city of choice are a great way to get friends and family to donate to your travels. "Hey Aunt Susie, I'd love a gift certificate for tea in London!" sounds a lot more appealing than just asking for money. So go ahead, ask for tea, a dinner, or even tickets for theatre on the West End. Speaking of which....

Nothing like the West End on a Sunday afternoon.

Theatre:

Thanks to a lovely treat from Rachel's grandmother, we were able to see a show on the West End (the London equivalent of Broadway). And what's more British than Roald Dahl? "Matilda" was a wonderful throwback to childhood. I highly recommend taking something in on the West End in your time in London. If you don't have an incredible gift from a friend's grandmother, the ticketing system in London works much like the one in New York. That is to say there are ways to get cheaper tickets day of. Here is more information: http://www.theatremonkey.com/buyingforless.htm

Does this even need a caption?

The Day Trip:

While London is a gorgeous and wonderful city, there is something to be said for venturing outside of it for one day. We chose to do a coach bus tour that took us to the Stone Henge and the city of Bath (with admission into the Roman baths) in one day. It was certainly not glamorous, full of midlife crisis and fighting families in sneakers, but it was cheaper and easier than traveling to both of these places on our own accord. It also helped that we fell in love with the city of Bath. Like head over heels we want to get married there sort of love. Here's the tour company we used: http://www.andersontours.co.uk/alltours.asp and below is a picture of stunning Bath

Saying goodbye to London

Travel:

There are two ways to get from London to Dublin. One way is by taking a train/ car and then a ferry. The other is flying. After comparing prices, both options seemed to be about the same. While the ferry was the scenic route, we chose the faster and less likely to make us seasick flight. We flew on Ryanair, which is a cheap option for flying many places in Europe, especially if you don't have a bag to check. 

The Unplanned 

One thing that I learned about traveling with friends is that you will get lost. And thus you will argue about directions, but the destination, whether intended or not, is more often than not a more beautiful memory than the trouble you had getting there. Here are a few adventures we went on in London:

The view from the London Eye

Our first evening in the city, we decided to take a ride on the London Eye. There was truly no better way to get excited about the city that we were going to be spending the next week in than a birds-eye view at sunset. We chose to spend the afternoon walking towards the eye (with a pit stop in a pub for dinner and our first legal beers) and exploring the city a little. Before going to to buy tickets for the eye, be sure to check at your hostel or hotel for any discounted tickets they might be able to help you get. 

Cocktails and dinner in Shoreditch 

One evening, we headed into a neighborhood called Shoreditch in pursuit of a restaurant that's specialty was crepes and cocktails. Unfortunately, after a long search, we found the crepe place at the end of a dark alley, closed. However, Shoreditch did not disappoint. We found happy hour and got cute matching cocktails and then found the real gem and one of my favorite parts of the whole trip, an outdoor food market. There was everything from quesadillas to steak. I ate the best pad thai I've ever eaten. I still taste it sometimes in my dreams. The whole trip was worth it after one bite.

Paella in Covent Garden

Covent Garden and the streets surrounding it are a fun way to spend an afternoon, especially if you're nearing the end of your trip and you want some souvenirs. There are cute shops, chain stores, outdoor craft tables, and most importantly, delicious food. My sister and I got adorable handcrafted candles for our family and friends back home. We also had crepes and paella. Crepes and paella? You may be thinking, this is London, not France or Spain! But, as my dad would say, London is closer to France and Spain than we'll ever be in the states, so why not indulge? And both the crepes and the paella were incredible, in case you were wondering. 

And so, after six days, we said goodbye to London. We were pounds heavier both from the good food in our bellies and the goodies in our suitcases (We all measured in just under the Ryanair limit!). We left British soil and landed on Irish land what felt like moments later, but that is a story for another day.

Happy travels!

xoxo,

Claire 

A Taste of Morocco

Looking to impress your family with your culinary chops this winter break ? 

Try out these easy recipes with bold, Moroccan-inspired flavors.

Moroccan Carrot Soup (with ras-el-hanout yogurt)

2 tbsp butter

½ medium yellow onion, diced

1 pound carrots, cut into ½" wide pieces

1 tsp cumin seeds

2 ½ cups chicken (or vegetable) stock

1 tbsp honey

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

½ tsp lemon zest

¼ cup heavy cream

salt + pepper

¼ cup plain yogurt

1 tsp ras-el-hanout *

In a small pan, toast the cumin seeds until fragrant, then grind in a spice mill and set aside (alternatively, use ½ tsp ground cumin). In a large saucepan, melt the butter and sauté the onions until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the carrots, cumin and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 20 minutes or until carrots are tender. Run the soup through a blender in batches until smooth, then return to pot. Whisk in honey, lemon juice, zest and cream, and season generously with salt and pepper. To serve, stir ras-el-hanout into yogurt and drizzle some over each portion.

Fennel Bruschetta

1 baguette

10 cloves garlic, minced

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil + some for brushing

2 medium bulbs fennel, sliced **

¼ cup golden raisins

¼ cup toasted almonds, crushed

2 tsp whole coriander seeds

1 tsp orange zest

¼ cup fresh orange juice

a pinch of saffron threads, crumbled

Slice the baguette into long, diagonal slices. Brush generously with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, then toast in the oven for 6-8 minutes at 350, until edges are golden brown. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and brown garlic, about 1 minute. Add fennel and continue to sauté, about eight minutes, before adding remaining ingredients and seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. To serve, top each slice of baguette with fennel mixture.

*ras-el-hanout : a North-African spice blend; if you can’t find it in the store, make your own !

** fennel : you’ll find fennel in any regular grocery store, it’s a large white bulb with green stalks and                      fronds. The stalks should be discarded, only the bulb is edible.

bon appétit, 

henri

recipes adapted from epicurious.com

Mom's Café

photo courtesy of yelp.com

Mom's Café

University of Utah - Salt Lake City, UT

Guest Blogger: Monica Goff

Somewhere between moving in to my dorm and having finals at the forefront of my mind, I found comfort in the bottom floor of the Marriott Library in Mom’s Café. It isn’t the most glamorous or unique place to grab a coffee, but there is a real sense of comfort in this little corner of this gigantic campus. I’m not religious, but I always say a little prayer hoping that by the time I get there after classes I will a) get there on time to purchase a delicious ham and cheese croissant, warmed up at your request, before they are sold out; b) manage to catch the one barista who makes iced mochas so brilliantly that I have yet to find a viable replacement within walkable distance of my dorm (and I will walk great distances for a good mocha— she is a god among men); and c) snag a spot next to one of the two unoccupied outlets in the entire café (seriously, this place is lacking in charging options. I need a working computer to, you know, work.). My favorite time to sit here is on a Friday afternoon- firstly, if you come late enough, the pastries will be slightly discounted, and secondly, no one is there. And, yeah, I’m probably crazy to do work on a Friday afternoon but it’s comforting to see a usually vibrant part of this campus being unusually quiet. I still don’t really know who Mom is, but I’ll thank her if I ever meet her.

Hallowed Grounds

photo courtesy of www.change.org

Hallowed Grounds

University of Chicago - Chicago, IL

Guest Blogger: Margaret Lazarovits

Yeah, the lighting’s kind of shitty, but it adds to the ambience in the classic, college coffee shop way. It’s more of a blanketing glow, as opposed to the harsh lighting found in most classrooms. Plenty of windows offer natural light, stimulating caffeine-hyped brains to work or socially engage, to create. After sun the goes down, when the Chicago city lights are just as faint as the stars in the sky, the glow is contrasted by the cool blues outside, warming me from the outside in. The white noise of general social interactions is occasionally and harmoniously shattered by the sharp clack of pool balls. The gothic architecture of the grand fireplace at the back wall gives weight to this café’s sacred name, yet the pool tables in the middle of the room hold the center of the maturely colloquial scene, effortlessly blending all the sensually appealing features of the space: the soft, alternative music, the faint yet pervasive scent of coffee, the wood furniture gleaming in the light’s glow and the cozy stuffed chairs. This scene is so needed to escape the everyday droll of dorm life. Personally, here is where I can come to polish an essay or challenge my friends to pool. And in both cases, I will end exhausted, either in my mental capacity to get my all my ideas on paper or in my physical energy from laughing too hard at how many calculations I put into each shot and how disastrous each turns out. Nonetheless, Hallowed Grounds is a place to be, bond, or build. And the coffee’s not bad too.

Beginnings

Let's talk about beginnings. 

Merriam-Webster defines it as taking the first step in a course or process.

 Speaking from experience, we at Quaintrelle believe that this first step is often the hardest step to make. Choosing to seek a new beginning not only requires confidence, but determination and will. 

Regardless of its significance, new beginnings are often scary, but exciting. Coming to college, for both Helen and I, held a great amount of promise, but, at the same time, a great amount of uncertainty. Who did we want to be? How did we want to represent ourselves in the Northwestern community? This new beginning forced us to grapple with these tough questions, and, while some of our answers weren't what we were expecting, the idea for Quaintrelle was born as we started to formulate answers to these questions.

Our goal for Quaintrelle is to give our writers and photographers a voice; an uncut and unedited opportunity to express their creativity, opinions and passions to the rest of the Northwestern community. Through this, we wish to portray a witty, fresh and stylish commentary to college life and style.

We hope you enjoy our first topic for the month of December, which, not surprisingly, surrounds the concept of new beginnings. 

Much love,

Emily

Coffee Exchange

photo courtesy of Caroline Turner

Coffee Exchange

Brown University - Providence, RI

Guest Blogger: Caroline Turner

The first few weeks of college I ventured in and out of several local coffee shops. Right on campus there are a few chains, but Starbucks Coffee tastes more and more like piss every time I order there. Providence, of course, is littered indie cafés. It was not, however, until several weeks into the semester that I made real use of one other than to satisfy my latte cravings. I went to Coffee Exchange to isolate myself from the regular campus buzz and friends with whom I can’t resist ample conversation. Coffee Exchange’s location is perfect because it isn’t littered with students, but is still busy enough that there are always people working (and let’s be honest, nothing will discipline like social pressure). It can be painful to pay for food and drinks when you’re on a meal plan, so save the coffee shops for when you need to seriously focus. Find one with a variety of drinks and treats to keep something in your life exciting (because often times the work you’re trying to accomplish is not). Coffee Exchange has multiple original brews, teas, seasonal drinks, and baked goods. When it comes to studying at a coffee shop, treat yourself. Buy the largest size, use whole milk instead of skim milk, order a cookie, and make sure to tip friendly baristas (I promise these will all make you happier).

PS- Go to local shops, not chains. Their quality is better, they’re usually cozier, and shopping local is good for the economy (You can’t be a real college student if you don’t rebel against the corporations, right?).

The Crafted Kup

Photo Courtesy of Vassar College.

The Crafted Kup

Vassar College - Poughkeepsie, NY

Guest Blogger: Adam Spiegelman

           My discovery of the Crafted Kup was not merely by choice but by necessity. It was the morning after the first Mug Night of the year and I woke wrapped in the sweet scent of vodka and some unremembered number of cigarettes. My phone said it was 7:50 but I refused to believe it. Across the room I could make out the silhouette of my roommate in blissful slumber. I closed my eyes and adjusted the covers to no avail. I was wide awake and had nowhere to go. I ran through the brief list of places I knew on and off campus that might be open at 8 am on a Saturday morning but came up empty handed. Frantically I opened Google Maps, typed in “coffee shops” and, without fail, a little red pin labeled ‘The Crafted Kup’ appeared a few blocks down Raymond Avenue. Grabbing my stupid Metropolitan Museum Store Balthus tote bag, a nearly empty pack of cigarettes, and my wallet I wrenched on the nearest pair of pants and strutted out of my room.

Stepping out into the grey haze of Poughkeepsie mornings in early September, my not-sober-ness hit me hard. I stumbled embarrassingly across the deserted quad, burning a hole in my sleeve accidentally, and struggling to keep erect. In the moment, I attributed it merely to exhaustion—I have never been a morning person—but as I would soon discover, that was hardly the case. I made it to the Cup just as it opened and, thankfully, there were few other older patrons inside to witness my intoxicated tomfoolery. I squinted up at the menu, ordered a cappuccino, and plopped myself down in the nearest velvet armchair. Before I had the chance to relax, however, my nausea blindsided me, I strode with self-conscious calmness to the restroom in back, and promptly vomited. I sat on the toilet and peed to justify the journey to myself, Instagrammed a selfie in the bizarrely cracked mirror, and, on cue, vomited again. Returning to my seat, I took a few sips of coffee, rested my head on the table, and lay there in defeat for what felt like half an hour but was, in reality, probably no more than five minutes. At that point I tried to take another sip of coffee and wretched. I looked around and could’ve sworn someone had snickered. In my mind nonexistent gifs of my parents shaking their heads and rolling their eyes in disappointment were playing in a loop and I knew it was time to go.

Trying to draw as little attention to myself as possible, I poured out my coffee, placed the dishes in a bin and left, muttering apologies under my breath as I went. The trip back was graceless and hurried and by the time I tucked myself into bed it was as if I had never left. Campus was still silent. My roommate was still soundly snoozing. The only additions were the shame pressing into my aching shoulders and throbbing temples, and my empty stomach’s deep, deep craving for a cup of hot coffee. 

The Cosmic Cup

Photo Courtesy of Cosmic Cup.

The Cosmic Cup

Lafayette College - Easton, PA

Guest Blogger: Emma Glubiak

I discovered the Cosmic Cup because I heard a cool upperclassmen on my floor talking about it. Being the sheep of a freshman that I am, I went there the next morning. I typed the address into Google Maps and headed on my merry way. My journey was short because it turns out the Cosmic Cup is 30 feet from my dorm. I even get their wifi in my room sometimes. I pushed open the door and was immediately hit with the welcoming smell of coffee and fresh baked bagels. The eclectic wooden tables were littered with the Monday morning crowd of hung-over college kids and perky middle aged moms. The speakers played a soft mix of Radiohead and Kanye West. I approached the counter while frantically scanning the drink options. I don’t even like coffee but the choices of teas and smoothies and hot chocolates were overwhelming. The girl behind me must have seen my panic because she smiled and said “Get the Mexican hot chocolate, I live in Mexico and I swear by it.” I nodded gratefully and ordered a small Mexican hot chocolate. It was unbelievably delicious. I’m not even exaggerating when I say my life is divided into two parts: the time before I tried the Cosmic Cup’s Mexican hot chocolate and the time since that fateful day. I’m a changed woman, after my first sip I almost packed my bags to strike up permanent residence at the table by the window. I've tried studying at Cosmic, but I found it to be detrimental to my wallet. Plus I enjoy eavesdropping far too much to ever study in a coffee shop. Instead I reward myself with hot chocolate if I finish a particularly tough paper or if I've had a long day. In fact, since I wrote this, I probably deserve to head over there now…

Southeast Asia on a Budget

What college student isn’t afflicted with a painful case of wanderlust ? Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the money or the time to travel as much as we would like. If you’re looking to stretch your dollar as far as it can go (we’re talking $2 meals) without sacrificing beautiful sights, rich culture and delicious food, there’s no place better for you than Southeast Asia. Here are a few recommendations based on my most recent backpacking trip.

vietnam việt nam

Vietnam boasts some of the most beautiful natural landscapes of Southeast Asia, as well as some of its most bustling, metropolitan cities. Start in Hanoi, exploring the narrow alleyways, hearty street food and chaotic night markets. Next, escape the cacophony of the city for the nearby sanctuary of Ha Long Bay. Kayak through the local fishing villages, explore Cat Ba island, or navigate the intricate networks of caves. Vietnam is a truly beautiful country, it’s worth stopping by.

+ where to go : Hanoi / Ha Long Bay

+ what to eat : nem rán (crispy fried spring rolls)

+ what to drink : vietnamese iced coffee

+ where to stay : Hanoi Backpackers Hostel (8$ per night)

+ what to see : Museum of Ethnology, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Soi Sim Island

estimated budget for one week : $200 - $400

laos  ລາວ

After a week or two in the chaos that is metropolitan Vietnam, you’ll be ready to escape to it’s laid-back neighbor, the little-known Laos. Laos is a landlocked country nestled between Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, and is home to some of Asia’s most beautiful mountain landscapes and jungles. For $50, take a 30-hr bus ride (the misery is worth the adventure) from Hanoi to Luang Prabang, a small town in the center of the country famous for its plentiful Buddhist temples and monasteries (most of which have free admission). Visit Kuangsi National Park, where you can climb and swim in waterfalls and visit the Asian black bear sanctuary. In town, grab a $2 buffet style dinner in the alleyway food market, or stop by one of the many crêpe stalls that dot the streets. In the evenings, sip on a Beer Lao (no drinking age !) on the banks of the Mekong and watch the sunset. Luang Prabang may be small in size, but it’s laid back charm makes it one of Southeast Asia’s gems.

+ where to go : Luang Prabang

+ what to eat : whole grilled fish (fresh from the Mekong river)

+ what to drink : tropical fresh fruit smoothies

+ where to stay : Kounsavan Guest House ($6 per night)

+ what to see : Pak Ou Caves, Kuangsi Park, Phousi Hill

estimated budget for one week : $150 - $300

 cambodia  កម្ពុជា

For a country with such a dark history, Cambodia has emerged in the twenty first century as one of Southeast Asia’s most popular destinations – and for good reason. Besides having some of the regions most important historical sites, the rich and fascinating Khmer culture will make you never want to leave. Take a bus or plane from Luang Prabang to Siem Reap, where you’ll find vast networks of night markets, Apsara dance performances, and steaming pots of Khmer curry. If you’re feeling brave, take an hour to have fish nibble at your feet in one of the many roadside “piranha massage tanks”. Siem Reap’s biggest draw, however, is its proximity to the giant Angkor temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site well worth the $20 for a day pass. No trip to Southeast Asia is complete without a stop by in Siem Reap.

+ where to go : Siem Reap / Angkor

+ what to eat : amok (curried fish wrapped in banana leaf)

+ what to drink : anchor beer

+ where to stay : Angkor Park Guest House ($10 per night)

+ what to see : Angkor Wat, Bayon, Floating Village, Apsara show

estimated budget for one week : $150 - $300

indonesia  indonesia

If you have the money to spend on an extra plane flight and an extra week of travel, it’s well worth a trip to Bali, one of Indonesia’s most scenic islands. Get away from the crowded tourist scene in the south and instead head north for the jungle town of Ubud. Home to a number of artisans, Ubud’s quirky shops and restaurants will add something new to your Asian adventure. Stop by the monkey forest, take a walking tour of the rice fields and watch a gamelan performance. Indonesia is a diverse country, and Bali is one of its most stunning treasures.

+ where to go : Ubud

+ what to eat : nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice)

+ what to drink : es alpukat (frozen blended avocado, coffee and chocolate)

+ where to stay : The Happy Mango Tree ($10 per night)

+ what to see : Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, Monkey Forest, Agung

estimated budget for one week : $300 - $500

Traveling on a budget is hard, and ultimately it will take a lot of work to save up for a trip no matter where you go. But if you’re looking for great value and incredible experiences, I highly recommend backpacking through Southeast Asia - you'll never forget it. 

bon voyage !

- henry