Chocolate!

I am the fortunate recipient today of a gift from America—a two-tier box of See’s Chocolates, all creams or caramels, just as I like it! This may not seem a very big deal, but you must understand that they have no such a thing in Bali. What they have, masquerading as chocolate bars, is an assortment of offerings that are distinctly not chocolate, regardless of the pretense. What these are actually made of, I am not sure. They are brown, but there is where any reasonable relationship with chocolate ends. Although, to be fair, I will say that the situation has improved just a bit in the last 8 years. The Snickers bar is now generally available, and at an affordable price, and I did see 2-pack of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups the other day, although at quite an unaffordable price—about 10 dollars US! But fine boxed chocolates such as See’s are quite unknown in these parts.

Other favorites of mine that are generally unavailable include Poptarts. I get my supply of these, when possible, from visiting friends from Australia. I did see my first ever box of Poptarts in one of the high end markets here the other day, but, again, at an absolutely silly price approaching 20 dollars.

Among other things unavailable in Bali are pancakes. There are restaurants which “claim” to have pancakes, like one called “Funny Pancake”, and that’s just what they are: Funny. These come smothered in whipped cream and little decorative chewy candies, and I was once served ketchup with my pancakes as well. Yes, ketchup. Although much is  lacking in tradition western sweets in Indonesia, they are very big on ketchup, which is served with pretty much everything. Including soup.

If you want to make pancakes at home, you must choose between one available mix, a very thin, sandy stuff that is apparently mostly dried milk and sugar, or make your own from scratch (in which case, good luck with finding baking powder, baking soda, or buttermilk. In fact, forget the buttermilk. There is no such thing here).

There is a waffle place not far from my house, so that’s a step in the right direction—but it is just waffles, and Belgian waffles at that—and but a trickle of syrup is applied in the kitchen before the plate comes out, as maple syrup here is as expensive as … well, as expensive as Poptarts.

There is very little in the way of microwaveable foods (which may be because very few people own a microwave). There is, however, microwave popcorn—which I’m sure I would enjoy if I had any teeth to speak of.

Other things that cannot be had? Let’s see … hashbrown potatoes, toaster waffles, affordable margarine, normal, affordable ice cream, affordable ice cream toppings. They do have rice, however (not rice-a-roni) and it is quite cheap. And it just so happens that people here eat quite a bit of rice. Every day. With everything. In fact, with your MacDonald’s burger or with your KFC order, you receive a ball of rice wrapped in paper.

So, in any case, I am in heaven today with my box of See’s Chocolates.

I’m also beginning to have a stomachache.