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The Foods Of Southern Mexico

by Anil Polat | Aug 1, 2013 | Culture, Food | 16

mexican breakfast

Mexico is a large country with whose cuisine varies regionally. In its southern half many dishes rotate around the fundamentals of corn tortillas, white meats, fruits we think are vegetables, and cheeses introduced by its colonial history. Every time you think you’ve seen it all, a dish appears under your nose with a new colorful combination. Last week I told you why Tex-Mex isn’t Mexican food and the southern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca are especially far from the burritos and fajitas of Texas.

Tlayuda

This stack of refried black beans, lettuce, avocado plus shredded meats (vegetarian options replace those with egg or squash) sits on top of a fried corn tortilla. Tlayudas are a native of Oaxaca so it’s not surprising the key ingredient is Oaxaca cheese – something of a blend between feta and ricotta – which quickly become one of my personal favorites.

tlayudas

Chapulines

Another staple of Oaxaca and potential tlayuda topping is chapulines. A seductive word for spiced, cooked grasshoppers, the taste is nearly as seducing as the name… although my mind couldn’t completely get over crunching sound. Before you dismiss the consumption on insects however, keep in mind they might be the solution to world hunger. Yum.

chapulinas oaxaca mexico

Artisan Sweets

The names of which I admittedly can’t remember; being too busy in San Cristobal de las Casas snacking on some to jot it down in my notes. You could shape this sugar and molasses amnesia-inducing dessert into grasshoppers if you wanted, but they wouldn’t be as cute as these candy birds.

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Quesedilla

You’ll find these all over Mexico but they’re hardly the Tex-Mex version of obese cheese blimps. Mexican quesadillas are a simple snack: tortillas (usually corn in the south), with a bit of Oaxaca cheese lightly grilled. If they do have any other ingredients, it’s typically only one, such as chorizo (pork sausage), squash, or mushrooms as pictured below.

mexican quesadilla

Tortas

Large, flat sandwiches that are cooked anything you want that the kitchen has. Cheese is a requirement with optional meat (chicken and pork are most common), avocado, lettuce, tomato, and sometimes tuna. The best torta is one that’s steaming hot and bleeding grease.

Mole Negro

Oaxaca is known for seven types of mole, a sauce that’s a complex mix of multiple chili peppers, spices, fruit, vegetables, and usually, chocolate. (Thought to have been created by the Mesoamericans in this area around 4,000 years ago. Whoever you were, thank you!) The negro version of mole isn’t sweet or spicy. Rather, it’s a taste all of the ingredients individually and at the same time – a psychedelic experience for your tongue.

mole negro oaxaca

Huevos Motulenos

More common to the Yucatan Peninsula but popular in Oaxaca and part of my Mexican breakfast on most mornings, the picture below isn’t it. That’s because I’m usually so hungry in the morning, this happens. So, the eggs and black beans below will give you a start and you’ll have to use your imagination to add the defining tortillas, cheese, and salsa beneath them.

huevos motulenos

Sopa Azteca And Alambres

The former is a tomato-based broth filled with fried corn tortillas, avocado, and chicken or pork. Depending on how full you are it can be a meal or a starter to the latter, alambre. Basically alambres are a fried mess of onions, peppers, mushrooms, shredded (insert dead animal here), and if you haven’t gotten it by now – a stack of corn tortillas on the side.

sopa azteca alambres de pollo

A Rainbow On Every Plate

Mexican dishes are colorful, resembling a form of abstract culinary art before they’re enthusiastically consumed. Tortillas are everywhere but aren’t required if you don’t appreciate starch’s effect on your waistline. Otherwise, follow this local advice I was given: never accept a tortilla that isn’t served warm. Then, buen provecho. In Mexico, that’s translated into enjoy your meal, which locals will warmly tell you, no matter what food along the local spectrum you’re eating.

The Best Travel Laptops Of 2013

by Anil Polat | Jul 30, 2013 | Money, Tech | 37

best travel laptops 2013

We’re in the technological period of the year where hardware manufacturers have announced their latest upgrades and laptops are beginning to adopt them. Because of the hardware announcements in late spring, geeks like myself have a pretty good idea of what improvements will begin appearing in newer laptop models late in 2013. Whether you’re on a budget or looking to go all out, these are some of the best travel laptops of 2013 you can buy right now.

The Big Improvement Of 2013: Haswell

Intel’s 4th generation Core chips, codenamed Haswell, were officially announced back in June. They feature a number of improvements on their predecessors but shine in one area travelers are generally most concerned about – battery life. Although Intel claims they’ll be able to run a laptop for 24 hours on one charge, so far the results show about a 60% increase in battery life. Still, it’s a significant jump and high-end laptops (e.g. Macbook Air) are already beginning implement the new Core i3, i5, and i7 chips. If you’re not in need of an immediate laptop upgrade, this technology bump may be worth waiting for, especially if you’re shopping for a Macbook Pro. (They’re rumored to get the new chips sometime in October.)

How Often Should I Upgrade My Travel Gadgets? As many of you know, I purchase all of my laptops refurbished. But even if you do the same, waiting for the new Haswell chips to hit the market in numbers (likely October-December) may give you even better deals on used laptops as prices drop on current models.

The Best Ultrabooks For Travelers

This growing category of laptop have flourished as tablets have effectively made netbooks go extinct. Ultrabooks are essentially slim, light laptops, usually less than 2.5cm thick and weighing less than 1.5 kilos.

macbook air 11 inch

Macbook Air 11 and 13-Inch (~$1,000-1,200) – If you’re not diehard about using a Windows machine, the Macbook Air is the best ultrabook you can buy. Apple has equipped them with Intel’s 4th generation processors (“Haswell”) and you’ll get the added battery life and vastly improved graphics they provide.
- Size (for 11-inch model): Height: 0.3-1.7 cm, Width: 30 cm; Weight: 1.08 kg; Battery Life: 9 hours

Toshiba KIRAbook 13 i5 (~$1,599) – A PC laptop that’s comparable to a Macbook Pro, with a display on par with Apple’s Retina. You’ll get double the storage capacity of a Macbook Pro (256 vs 128 GB) in the standard build but for this price, but touchscreen would have been nice. If that’s an important feature for you, that upgrade costs $200.
- Size: Height: 1.77 cm, Width: 31.59 cm; Weight: 1.22 kg; Battery Life: 6 hours

ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A-DB51 (~$849) – The latest Zenbook Prime series of laptops has a loyal following who rave about its high screen resolution, responsive keyboard (an oft neglected consideration), and incredible slimness. The Zenbook Prime’s major weakness is its relatively poor battery life.
- Size: Height: .76 cm, Width: 32.76 cm; Weight: 1.31 kg; Battery Life: 5 hours

Honorable Mentions:

Samsung Series 9 NP900X3C-A05US (~$989) – Somewhat underpowered but stylish and gives you around 9 hours of battery life.

Toshiba Satellite U845T (~$1,099) – None of its specs standout, but combined, make for a solid 14-inch touchscreen.

Budget Laptops Under $600

In no particular order, these are some of the best travel laptops to take a look at if you’re looking to save money.

us dollar bill mouse

ASUS VivoBook X202E-DH31T (~$460) – A solid overall Windows 8 laptop with an 11-inch touchscreen and larger-than-average storage capacity for its price range (500 GB). Its biggest drawback is poor battery life.
- Size: Height (2 cm), Width (20cm); Weight: 1.9 kg; Battery Life: 3.5 Hours

Acer 11.6 AO725-0687 (~$320) – Relatively heavy but with a good amount of battery life considering the price range this 11.6 inch Acer is in. You won’t be blown away by this tough laptop but it will reliably meet your needs on and off-road.
- Size: Height 2.28 cm, Width 28.44 cm; Weight: 1.2 kg; Battery Life: 5.5 hours

HP Pavilion G6-2235us (~$410) – One of the better budget laptops with a large screen for those of you who prefer 15-inch laptops. Its major drawbacks are its average screen resolution, bulky frame, and anemic battery life.
- Size: Height: 3 cm, Width: 37.59 cm; Weight: 2.47 kg; Battery Life: 3 hours

Also, in case you can’t seem to pry the thought of netbooks from your memory, you can still get an ASUS 1025C-BBK301 Eee PC Netbook Computer for around $380.

Midsize Laptops With Screens 13-Inches And Larger

These machines are thicker than ultrabooks and generally heavier, often with additional ports and options like DVD drives.

macbook pro retina

Macbook Pro With Retina Display 13 and 15-Inch (~$1,500-2,800) – Although I mentioned you may want to wait until fall to see if Apple adds Intel’s 4th-generation processors to this line, you won’t go wrong buy purchasing the current model if you need a laptop sooner than later.
- Size (for 13-inch model): Height (1.9 cm), Width (31.4 cm); Weight: 1.62 kg; Battery Life: 7 hours

HP ENVY TouchSmart 15t-j000 (~$899) – Unlike the Macbook Pro, this 15.6 inch HP ENVY TouchSmart comes loaded with Intel’s newest 4th generation chips. Combined with 8GB of memory and a 1 terabyte hard drive (not solid state however), the 15t-j000 has a lot of power for an excellent price.
- Size: Height: (2.99 cm), Width (25.06 cm); Weight: 2.54 kg; Battery Life: 9 hours

Samsung Series 5 Ultrabook (~$899) – There are several incarnations of this touchscreen laptop that feels very sturdy in its metal exterior. At its lower price the main point travelers should notice is the 500 GB hard drive. For around $150 more, the Series 5 Ultrabook comes equipped with a 128 GB solid state hard drive. You’ll notice the difference in speed and find it more reliable than the spinning disk version.
- Size: Height: 1.52 cm, Width: 21.84 cm; Weight: 1.67 kg; Battery Life: 5 hours

Use Your Hands And Ears To Find The Right Laptop For You

Picking up a laptop can tell you a lot about it, whether you’re computer saavy or not. Laptops that feel flimsy usually are, so pay particular attention to the areas that will see the most wear: display hinges, keyboards, trackpads, and any external moving parts. Display models at stores are usually fondled enough to show how these parts will hold up over time. Finally, consult online reviews by looking at the average scores and remember most people who leave product comments either love or hate what they just bought. Filter out the noise by consulting a few online stores and look at laptop reviews by established sites like PC World and CNET.

To further add to the discussion, I’d like to hear what kind of laptop you’re using and how it fared on your last travels. Would you recommend your particular laptop to others? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below – I look forward to reading them.

Why Tex-Mex Isn’t Mexican Food

by Anil Polat | Jul 25, 2013 | Books, Culture, Food | 13

loncheria el amigo casiano valladolid mexico

Many of us travel to eat and if you’re skipping out on a trip to Mexico because of your familiarity with Tex-Mex, you’ll never be able to appreciate how distinct those two cuisines really are. Although they’re cousins, they aren’t interchangeable, and a lot of that has to do with the Tex part of the name.

The Name Says It (Almost) All

Tex-Mex is an increasingly popular type of food, spreading across the United States, Canada, and many parts of Europe. Perhaps because many people around the world like to dismiss America as not having its own cuisine, everyone seems to forget the “Tex” next to the Mex. Tex-Mex is an “American regional cuisine,” according to Robb Walsh, author of the book, The Tex-Mex Cookbook: A History in Photos and Recipes. A cuisine evolving over the past 300 years, combining north Mexican food fundamentals with Texan meat, bean, and cheeses.

texas state capital building star

This mutation of cheese, tomatoes, and spice was the result of Mexican immigrants to Texas, native Texans, Spaniards, and local indigenous groups naturally mixing their traditions in the best place possible – on a plate.

Tortillas On Steroids

Mexico is a large country, the world’s 13th in terms of area and 11th by population, so it’s not surprising that their food is hardly uniform. The Mexico-Texas border region isn’t particularly fertile agricultural land and why you find Tex-Mex is heavy on ground beef, flour (not corn) tortillas, and dairy. Tex-Mex dishes are also much larger than those you find in Mexico, remember, everything is bigger in Texas.

As the Mexican immigrants stayed in Texas, over generations, their culture diverged from that of their ancestors. Tex-Mex has become something more Texan, and ultimately, American over time. This is what happens to foods all over the world – from Moldova’s boozy Germanic mix to Georgia’s Persian-Baltic blend – and our appetites are better off for it.

Common Tex-Mex Foods That Aren’t Mexican

I had always known that Tex-Mex was related but not a replacement for Mexican food, yet for some reason it never occurred to me that some dishes I was familiar with were completely Tex-Mex in origin. These are just a few dishes that weren’t born in Mexico.

baby white donkey

Burrito – In Spanish, burrito means little donkey. In Texas, it means re-fried beans, cheese, and sour cream wrapped in a warm tortilla. It’s exact origins are not known but it was likely created in the early 1900s.
Fajita – A make your own soft-taco, they’re likely not older than the 1960s and may have been invented by Sonny Falcon in Kyle, Texas.
Chile Con Carne – Often spicy and literally translated “chili with meat,” it was created during the late 1800s in San Antonio and is Texas’ official dish. Jalapenos, the Texas official pepper, is an optional ingrediant.
Tortilla Chips And Salsa – This Texas official snack was invented in Los Angeles sometime in the 1940s by the practical Rebecca Webb Carranza. That was around the time that conveyor belts spit out tortillas one by one, with misshaped ones usually thrown out. Carranza, instead of wasting the food, cut the deformed tortillas into triangles and then fried them.

Carranza’s story is symbolic of the Tex-Mex’s mixed background. She was born in Durango, Mexico, to an American father and Mexican mother. They later moved to El Paso, Texas and then Los Angeles. Many other common Tex-Mex inventions like chimichanges have similar multicultural tales.

The Differences Don’t Have Clear Borders

Although you can point a finger at some Mexican foods like quesadillas in Tex-Mex, almost all aren’t the same on both sides of the border. Despite the similarities, Tex-Mex doesn’t represent Mexican food or all American food for that matter. After visiting Mexico, you’ll have appreciation – plus an appetite – for the differences.

How To Protect Your Communications From The NSA And Other Spy Agencies When Traveling

by Anil Polat | Jul 23, 2013 | Security, Tech | 6

gold padlock

The Internet is our lifeline to family and friends when traveling but many of the services we use track us at best; at worst: provide email metadata and video calls to intelligence agencies like the National Security Agency (NSA). And it’s not just the United States participating in mass, warrant-less surveillance, many governments have been working together to undermine your privacy.

Start At The Source

If you understand your digital rights as a traveling in the free world, you know that your laptop and other gadgets are considered imports, making them subject to searches. Your passwords won’t do much good either, since in many countries not giving them up can land you in jail. To work around that legality, set up Truecrypt hidden folders to protect your laptop from customs agents.

mac os x filevault

Use Hard Drive Encryption – Encrypting your entire hard drive with BitLocker (bundled with certain versions of Windows Vista, 7, and 8) or Mac OS X’s built-in FileVault will keep your data safe if your laptop is stolen.

In case of theft of confiscation, previously mentioned Project Prey, has an option to remotely wipe files and folders if recovery isn’t feasible.

For Your Inbox Only

A standard email is the digital equivalent of a postcard, anyone along the transmission path can read its contents. The free Chrome extension SecureGmail or Firefox’s Encrypted Communication plugin will password-encrypt messages sent from a Gmail account. For other email providers, Mailvelope is a solid solution but requires more setup.

Search Securely – Google shares a lot of data with the NSA, alterantive DuckDuckGo doesn’t at all.
Social Media – Gizmodo has a good guide on locking down your Facebook privacy and Lifehacker shows you how to opt-out of Twitter tracking.

Depending on where you are in the world, you may also want to consider covering your browsing tracks. The previously mentioned Tor keeps you anonymous online and HTTPS Everywhere will protects website connections when possible.

Video Conferencing, Chats, And Texts

Although Skype is a good way to send large files and encrypts your chats, Microsoft can and has decrypted your messages and video calls for the NSA. (Keep that in mind next time you make a call.) If you’re worried about your chat privacy, a client like Pidgin (with the Off The Record plugin installed) or Cryptocat can be secure alternatives. (But only if the other person is using an OTR-enabled client.)

Text encryption is a bit more fluid, the $.99 iOS app Text Fortress or free Android app TextSecure makes the process nearly seamless. Along that same vein, Hushed lets you create disposable phone numbers in over 40 countries if you want don’t want give out your real digits.

Proxy Around Censorship

I’ve talked about proxies many times before and two that work well to protect your privacy are Hotspot Shield and TunnelBear. Those tools obfuscate your web browsing from eavesdroppers and reroute you around Internet censorship.

Surfing At Internet Cafes – Hide My Ass is an effective browser-based proxy service.
Share Files Safely – When sharing files using a service like Dropbox (a company that also shares with the NSA), use Truecrypt to encrypt your uploads or consider a service like Spider Oak.

For now, it might not be prudent to encrypt every email or chat you have online. Yet when traveling and crossing into various jurisdictions, implementing some basic precautions can help keep your privacy under your own protection.

6 Iconic Chains To Look For When Searching For Free Wifi Worldwide

by Anil Polat | Jul 18, 2013 | Food, Tech | 33

downtown tokyo at night

Although free wifi isn’t too hard to find in some countries, in other places like Western Europe, Internet access sucks. Instead of wandering aimlessly around a city searching for a wireless signal by poking your head into every cafe along the way, save the frustration and look for some of these chains. Iconic locally and available globally, most of these restaurant, cafe, and other international retailers to offer free wifi at many of their locations.

1. McDonald’s

Despite what you may think of their food, most of us can agree that McDonald’s serves a decent cup of coffee. A beverage that goes great with the free wireless access the $32 billion company provides at many of their locations worldwide. McDonald’s policy also doesn’t require customers purchase anything to make use of the wifi.

mcdonalds logo selective coloring

2. Starbucks

Hit or miss and sometimes bundled with paid service, Starbucks has enough pull with local wireless operators to team up with them. The result being free wifi at their cafes in many countries around he world.

starbucks seatlle

3. Costa Coffee

A major competitor of Starbucks, Costa Coffee is often found in more widely in the third-world and most have free wifi. Given a choice between the two mega-cafes, I’d bet on Costa Coffee to get online. As for a drink, well, that’s another debate.

cup of black tea

4. Apple

They don’t really advertise it but many Apple stores have wireless access available. I’m pretty sure you won’t be able to sit at the Genius Bar for hours and Skype your mom but to quickly check your email it might not be a bad choice – especially if you’re using a Macbook.

colorful apple logo

5. IKEA

Maybe you’re very lost or simply want to buy some fyrkantig as a gift before your trip back home. Whatever reason you’re in IKEA, it’s hard to pass through the world’s largest furniture store chain without stopping by their restaurant. Want 15 Swedish meatballs with a side of Internet? You’ll probably find it there.

ikea maskros pendant ceiling lamp

6. Burger King And Sometimes KFC

The former fills its customers with questionable cow meat and free Internet at over 2,200 of its locations in 12 countries. KFC recently expanded free wifi service to its restaurants (can we really call them that?) in the UK and other select locations mostly in Europe, South America, and Australia.

burger king home of the whopper

What’s The Chain With Free Wireless To Visit In Your Country?

To further extend your search before leaving your hostel, try using foursquare tips to get wireless passwords or extending your laptop’s wifi range to widen your net. None of the places listed above or below are sure bets but they can shorten a frantic search for the Internet by narrowing your options. I’m sure there are many similar local chains in various regions and am curious to find out the one you recommend? We started off with a good conversation on my Facebook page but would like to extend it here:

Colombia: Juan Valdez Cafe
Costa Rica: Rosti Pollo
Egypt: Cilantro Cafe, Gad
France: Quick
Netherlands: La Place
Turkey: Simit Sarayi
- [List updated: July 19, 2013]

Let me know in the comments below with words or a photo! (Simply copy and paste in a link to the picture.) I’ll keep updating the list by country so we’ll all know where to experience local fast food while downloading our emails.

About Anil Polat

Hi, I'm Anil. foXnoMad is where I combine travel and tech to help you travel smarter. I'm on a journey to every country in the world and you're invited to join the adventure! Read More

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