I’llneverforgetthesunnyafternoonI spentbobbingontheinkywatersof
LombokStrait,lyingonthepaddedroofofa traditionalwoodenoutrigger,trying,
invain,toreadmybookasI driftedinandoutofsleep.Crispwhitetowelswerelaid
out,beckoningustosalutethesun,aswesippedice-coldBintangbeersservedby
uniformeddeckhands.Later,weescapedthedazzlingmid-afternoonheat,enjoying
a simplelunchinourcabin:papayasalad,spicysambalandtangynasigoreng.
Splurgingonanincrediblemealalsomakesfora daytoremember.Oneofmymost
memorableholidayfeastscameinMexicoCity,whereI landeda spotat Pujol,Enrique
Olvera’sfamedfine-dinerinthebackstreetsofPolanco.I arrivedat therestaurant–
designedlikea contemporaryhouseonanupscaleresidentialstreet– readytogoall-out.
Therollingseriesofmod-Mexdishesdidn’tdisappoint:revampedtamalessplashed
withgreencurrysauce,barbecuedoxtongue,andstripedseabass.Andtheshowstopper:
darklycomplexmolemadre,agedfor 1796 days.
It willstillbesometimeuntilanyofuscanenjoyfive-year-oldMexicanmoleor
spenda daycruisingBalinesewatersbutthatdoesn’tmeanyoucan’texperiencethose
magicalmomentsthatcomefromsaying,whynot?
Whynotsplurgeonanover-the-topdaytrip?Whynotmakesomememoriesright
here at home? Here are just a few ideas to get you started for a day to remember.➤
I’llneverforgetthesunny
afternoon I spentbobbing
ontheinkywatersof
Lombok Strait.