In 2019, home was Asia and Oceania, or the last place where I kept my suitcases for more than a month. In 2020, life brought me back to the Americas, and for three months home was Brooklyn. A month ago, I crossed the bridge and finally landed in my village (the East). This list honors the little somethings that me feel at home in multiple homes.
Coconut madness to go: Laotians have a rich, tasty, and everything goes street food culture. A month in Luang Prabang meant lots of Bamboo Chips and Khanom Kok, bite-size coconut pancakes (recipe).
Spells and charms of post-colonial living: Pondicherry, a French, Tamil, South Indian town on the coast of Bengal, is an environmental, spiritual, party town that embraces foreignness and tradition, even on its name. My friend Aditi, wrote a beautiful book about it, and it all starts with its name (A short excerpt here.)
Zen teletransportation to an animal kingdom: Aotearoa’s birds are known for their distinctive and friendly tweeting. Wellington celebrates them in Zealandia, hear them here, meet them here.
Immortality for the single letter avenues: I have had a decades-long affair with the East Village and Alphabet City, my home-based, and while I was away Netflix produced Russian Doll, a female-centric comedy that made the vibrant night of the hood and Avenue A and B protagonists.
May you feel at home with the world in your home this week!
Hey! I am glad I took the time to read. Thanks for sharing all of this. I really love this website. Thanks for introducing me to it. https://mynoise.net/ Great to block the unwanted noises of the city.
I love this Angela! I recognize the picture from Luang Prabang. Funny that I’ve been to all of these places, two of them with you. In Laos it was you and Aaron that made me feel at home, but the Khanom Kok were one of the yummiest treats ever! This is such a wonderful journey. I’m following all your links.