The $3000 cup of tea

One of the things I love about traveling is how my favorite memories, the ones that really stick with me, almost always are things that I never could have anticipated.  At least for me they tend to be the little moments in my travels.  Tasting guava sorbet for the first time in Bali, having a rhinocerous approach me on safari, walking the side streets in Chartres on a religious holiday and hearing scores of children chanting.  It’s never the big things that I’ve flown so far to see that define my trip.  It’s nice to have seen the Hermitage et al, but that is not what I take away from the trips.

What I find myself remembering lately is the ginger tea I had in Vietnam.  We stayed at two Evason resorts – one on a secluded island off Nha Trang and another in the mountains in Da Lat.  Both served this amazing, spicy ginger tea.  I’ve been ill lately and have been attempting to recover by drinking lemon and ginger tea.  Must say that it is a pale comparison to what I tried while traveling in Vietnam.  No kick whatsoever.

These memories have kick-started my desire to travel back to Vietnam.  Crazy, really, as I want to return to Nha Trang and have this tea.  I think instead it might be better to go to the grocery store, buy some ginger and steep some on my own.  Well, maybe not better.  Definitely cheaper, though.

November 12, 2008 - Posted by Oscar and Etta's mom | travel