Crazy Ates

By: Marcia King-Gamble

 www.lovemarcia.com 

So I thought I would put a different spin on this month’s topic Crazy 8’s, and talk about some of the craziest things I’ve eaten while traveling.  Hence, Crazy Ates! Most of you who have been following me on this blog, know that I’m crazy about world traveling; the more exotic the country the better. Nothing gets my adrenaline pumping more than a trip to some foreign part of the world.  If you are going to venture afar, you should be eating like the natives do.

Ready?

The below picture is from my most recent adventure, arriving into the airport at St. Vincent (the mainland.)  Note the 'prop plane.' We're off the beaten path, folks.

This trip took place less than two weeks ago.  Unfortunately, it was a sad occasion. My dear uncle had passed away, and because of his prominence, a state funeral was his send off. I had not been back in fourteen years, and for another sad occasion; to bring my mother’s body home. It had been her desire to be buried in the family plot, in her native land and my birth place, St. Vincent, in the Southern Caribbean.

Foodie that I am, despite the sad occasion, I  looked forward to eating well. I grew up on foods like crab and callaloo, bakes (known as Johnny Cakes to some,) codfish and dumplings. Then there were delicacies like fried breadfruit with jack fish, and loads of fresh fruit with no preservatives.  Fruits like golden apple, plumrose, Bequia plums and soursop.  Because of this, most people are healthier than the proverbial ox, and not at all weight challenged. Walking is not considered an exercise here, it’s something that people living on small Caribbean islands do, whether they have a car or not. Roads are often narrow and winding, so why take out your car when you can get a breath of fresh air and your neighbor is a stone's throw away?  

While on the mainland of St. Vincent I consumed my share of callaloo soup (tastes like spinach,)  see picture below. This time there was chicken added to it and not the customary crab or pig’s tail. Bakes were served with freshly caught fish, and on the island of Bequia (the Grenadines,)   the owner of one restaurant, an enterprising young woman, decided I couldn’t leave without gifting me papaya (locals call it paw-paw) and a bag  of freshly picked Bequia plums.

The markets on St. Vincent offer up sapodillas, and newly hatched chickens for sale. As a special treat, when visiting an old friend’s home, I enjoyed a healthy serving of Pelau and buljol (codfish stew.)     See below.

In terms of more crazy ates, last October I had the pleasure of visiting Malawi, a city in Southeast Africa. I sampled Nsima, a staple made of ground corn, served with side dishes of meat, beans and vegetables. The country is also known for its fish or usipa which reminds you of sardines. Yum!

In my travels, I have eaten delicacies such as roasted iguana (which tastes just like chicken,) frogs legs that really are delicious, and turtle eggs, more flavorful than that provided by any chicken. Some might consider my choices crazy,  but I  believe when visiting a country, visitors should do as the natives do, and turtles are not considered an endangered species in these countries.

Another funny  discovery I made, was  KFC and McDonalds; food chains that I  normally would not patronize there or here, considering them such an American thing. But on the urging of a friend, I tried KFC on the island of St. Vincent.  Wow! What an experience. The unique Caribbean spices  made KFC  tastier than the norm. In fact, I went back in search of more, even putting up with lines that wound around the block. I'd had a similar experience at McDonalds in Frankfurt, Germany with burgers that tasted like they came from an gourmet chef.

All this to say,  when visiting foreign countries, don't miss out on an unbeatable culinary experience.  Step out of your cultural, comfort zone,  and experience the region's food. A crazy ate, is a dining experience  you're guaranteed to remember for the rest of your life.  And just might be food for the soul.

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook:http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Be sure to join her mailing list.

   

Let the Magic Find You!

By: Marcia King- Gamble

www.lovemarcia. com

Happy Holidays to you and yours!  It’s that time of year again. A time to reflect.

For those of you who’ve been following me over the years, you know that I always start off the new year by creating a vision board.  So, isn’t it fitting to end the year looking back at the highs and lows of 2018? 

For me there were many.  But despite the best laid plans of mice and Marcia, life got in the way. The one thing I’ve learned is to roll with it and deal with whatever is thrown at me. A prominent theme  this year on my vision board is to allow myself to enter the “Zen Zone.” In other words, be more relaxed and open to what life hands me.

Overall, it’s been a promising year, and one in which I’ve learned to make lemonade out of the sourest of limes.  In the whole scheme of things, as one friend constantly reminds me, "Ours are first world problems.” 

I saw how true that statement was when I visited Malawi in October. I had the good fortune to be selected as an Ambassador to UNICEF. Many people there earn thirty-eight cents per day.  At least here in the United States, while we might moan about our income, we have a minimum wage.

 This rare opportunity, though unplanned, was the highlight of my year. Travel is always highlighted on my vision board. But I thought for sure I’d be back in Europe or maybe New Zealand.  Never in my wildest dreams had I expected to be in Africa; a place I’d not been to in several decades. This is a country that required inoculations and the taking of malaria pills.  The journey was hardly a vacation, and definitely an eye-opening experience. For me, it was a much-needed reality check, making me grateful for what I have.  In so many ways, comparatively speaking, I am rich. My wealth goes way beyond money, especially when you see malnourished children greatly in need. 

Giving back to the craft is always on my vision board. This year, I had several opportunities to present workshops; the focus being aspiring writers. I conducted several on self-publishing and marketing yourself on a shoestring. A most recent  workshop focused on how to get published in a tough publishing market.

 As you all know, the publishing market has undergone changes. It's become survival of the fittest, making it even tougher for newbies to break into our world.  Many of these workshops are free and sponsored by the local libraries. As an author, it’s gratifying to conduct them and see how grateful the attendees are to receive tips from a published author.

This was also a year of getting back to work in an industry I enjoy. After taking a long hiatus from the travel industry,  I’ve, returned to a career that is every bit as fulfilling as writing, and equally as rewarding.  I realize just how much I missed it.   It's a business that sparks ideas. Since I’ve always enjoyed meeting people of different cultures, and traveling to exotic lands,  the rewards are that I have to do limited research regarding settings. I usually write about places I've been to, so the smell and the feel of that country or city is authentic, at least from my point of view.  

Another constant theme on my vision board is ‘letting the magic find you.’  By that,  it means remaining more open to possibilities. I tend to be a planner, and at times, way too self-focused. By allowing the magic to find me, I was able to write a book for a series that was a new world to me, and one that I had been resistant to at first. Not because I disliked the concept, I’d just never considered writing about a small, Southern town, as that lifestyle is foreign to me.   

The end result, however was  Magnolia Moments, the cover above. The story is set in the small Southern town of Eighty-Eight. My hero, an executive recruiter comes to town in search of the mother who gave him away. My heroine is in town trying to piece together why her father, a retired doctor is mysteriously getting ill.  Her dad, recently widowed, is now remarried. At the urging of his new wife, he takes out out a huge insurance policy, and then starts getting sick.  Look for Magnolia  Moments, out as an eBook on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, in the next few days. The Eighty-Eight series was created by author, Bettye Griffin.  

In the last several years, Bettye and I have collaborated on the Holiday Sparkle Series; a collection of novellas, focusing on a special red dress that changes lives.  These are the perfect holiday "feel good" stories. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X6BYMFQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_4yMdCbTDA7KVD

Next up, is a novella titled Ring in the Holidays, also being released in a few weeks. Ring in the Holidays will be found on the same platforms.

Overall, it has been a year of opportunity. Many unseen, and many unplanned. Staying in the Zen Zone allows the magic to come to you.  All it requires is acceptance and an open mind, and your dreams can come true.

Happy Holidays all!  Remain humble and remain grateful.  I so much appreciate you!

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

A Malawi Time of Year

By: Marcia King-Gamble
www.lovemarcia.com


Today's post is supposed to be about Holiday Romance Reads. While I can think  of several including my popular Red Dress Series and the novel penned with author  Sandra Kitt. I'd rather address a more serious topic, that of malnourished kids in Africa.

  http://a.co/d/hjezZgH

http://a.co/d/fvLgB9L

As  we begin preparations  for another festive season.  It may be helpful to remember there are people who are desperately in need.  For many, this is not  a season of gift-giving, but  rather a time of surviving. So many are simply holding on and trying to just stay healthy.


As Americans, we truly are blessed to live in a country with easy access to a nourishing meal, or at least have the ability to find food; even if that means showing up at a food bank. Few people starve to death in the USA or are considered malnourished.   

That said, last  month I was fortunate enough to visit another country where many exist,  if lucky, on one meal a day. That meal is often provided by an organization, and may consist of corn meal and not much else. 

My day job, chose me along with six others as UNICEF ambassadors. What that meant was a life changing trip taking me to Malawi, Africa.  Visiting Malawi made me realize that despite the many issues we face in the USA, we are very fortunate to live here. 

Where is Malawi?  Malawi is in southeastern Africa. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. Many exist on  38 cents per day or less. The average family can easily have 8 -10 kids. Getting fresh water and adequate nutrition is a huge challenge for many. 

Here are the facts about Malawi: 

 Malawi gained independence on 6th July 1964 and was previously known as Nyasaland. It's capital is lilongwe.The languages spoken are English and Chichewa. 80% of its people are Christian and 20% Islamic. 

The currency in Malwi is the Kwacha.  The country is half the size of the UK and is considered sub tropical with a rainy season in December to May and a dry season running from, May to December. according to the World Bank, the population in  2015  was 17.2 million and is growing at 3.1 %  per year. 

45% of the population is 0-14 years old.  52% are 15-64 years old. The infant mortality rate is 44.2 deaths per 1000 live births. As of 2015, 980,000 people live with Aids. The average annual income is 100-200 US dollars. 84%  of Malawi's population live in  rural areas. The main export is tobacco.

Selfie!

This trip was hardly a vacation.  After an almost thirty hour trip, I arrived in Blantyre; Malawi's second largest city.  I along with my fellow ambassadors, were met by UNICEF representatives and transported to our hotel. We were given about 4 hours to rest before attending a briefing.

At that briefing we received an overview of what was expected of us as ambassadors. It was impressed on us that we were to be respectful, and not take photos of the police or of anyone who appeared to be distressed. We were also not to take photos without asking permission.  


As ambassadors we were up at 5 am (6am the latest) every day. What followed was a two to three hour drive into the country.

Pumping fresh water

On our second day we visited Gonda  Village and were addressed by chiefs, and greeted by many children. All appeared happy to see us. My company had donated  bicycles, mattresses and cooking utensils to this village.  We cooked  and helped screen children for malnutrition.  In the afternoon we visited the Chikwawa District Hospital and saw many heartbreaking sights. I especially enjoyed sprucing up a room that was to be used for recreation. 

Feeding hungry kids

My painting Class

Day three was spent in Neno where we visited a refugee camp and observed the early childhood development program. Kids were 3-5 years old and  we were fortunate to  participate in games and activities with kids and their caretakers designed to stimulate learning.The challenge we were told is that there were insufficient numbers of teachers to provide an adequate education.  

Class room Learning 

On day four we were off to Machinga where we visited the Kaombe primary school and put to work gardening. This school has a living schoolyard.  The idea behind this is to teach communities how to use locally available food to prevent malnutrition. At the same time, children get  to watch the transformation of barren land into a place that can now provide nourishment. We lost at a game of netball as many of the children have the making of  star athletes. It was all in good fun.

Device used to measure for malnutrition

Then began the long journey back. The memories of this trip will forever be stored in my heart. I have so much to be grateful for.

I share my experiences to remind you that as the holiday season approaches, many are simply not as fortunate as you. I urge you to reach out to a child or elderly person in need. You too can bring a smile to stranger, simply by filling a shoebox with basic necessities.  

The information is provided below. 

Give thanks all by giving back to someone who needs you. Happy Thanksgiving all!

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS