Since the start of the pandemic, one of the things I’ve missed the most is traveling to different places. Being able to visit new countries, try local cuisines, and interact with people all over the world is a privilege I won’t take for granted anymore. Which is why, when I had the opportunity to visit South America for the first time, I was very excited to plan my family’s trip. As we were considering various places to visit, we kept in mind that my family was not the kind to sit on the beach and read. Rather, we were the kind of people who enjoyed hiking, trekking, camping, and other outdoor activities. With all of those criteria in mind, we decided to head to Peru!
When we arrived in Cuzco, Peru in late December, the weather was incredible. Since it is south of the equator, we were visiting in their summertime, a season unusually unpopular for tourists. Being the extremely organized and Type-A person that I am, I had already planned out the activities my family and I were planning on doing during our time there.
On our first day, we spent the time hanging out in our Airbnb, getting used to the altitude. If you didn’t already know this, Cuzco sits at an elevation of 3,399m above sea level. For reference, Chicago’s elevation is 182m above sea level. Many people who visit Peru talk about the altitude sickness and unfortunately, my family and I did not escape its effects. For that reason, we decided to cook our meals at home. Although our Airbnb had some amenities specifically for cooking, we were limited in the ingredients and utensils we had. This was the perfect opportunity for us to make the first of our meal kits from The Cumin Club! We ended up making Punjabi Kadhi, Paneer Butter Masala, and Bhindi Masala. All three meals hit the spot and we ended up thoroughly enjoying the meal reminiscent of home, with an incredible view behind us.
After getting a good night’s rest, we got ready at 3:45 AM the next morning to hike to Lake Humantay. Although a strenuous but very rewarding hike, we thoroughly enjoyed the view at the top and sat near the lake eating sandwiches filled with The Cumin Club’s coconut chutney. When hiking or trekking, having meals that are convenient, quick, but still filling on hand was a must for my family. We honestly could not have done without The Cumin Club on this trip and each part of the meal, especially the sides, became very important for our long journeys. That night we visited one of Cuzco’s vegan restaurants for dinner, enjoying the inspired takes on local Peruvian food. As expected, we all slept extremely well as we were exhausted from the hike and excited about our next day’s trip to Machu Picchu.
It was finally the day we were meant to visit Machu Picchu. Unlike some of the other tourists in Peru, my family decided against doing the Inca Trail, a 7-day trek that involved camping along the mountains before reaching Machu Picchu. Instead, we packed up our Mint and Masala Pohas at 4:00 AM that morning and headed with our lunch in hand to our transportation. We took a van, then a train, then finally a bus to reach the top of Machu Picchu. We were stunned by the city the Incan people had built in Machu Picchu, reveling in all its beautiful architecture and artifacts. Following our visit, we headed with our group to a local Peruvian restaurant. Although some Peruvian restaurants do cater to vegetarians and vegans, most Peruvian food is centered around animal products. As a vegetarian family, who loves to travel, The Cumin Club’s meals saved our day! Something about eating a satisfying meal that tasted like home after a strenuous hike, really hit the spot.
Being able to visit Peru was such a rewarding and extraordinary experience. Both my sister and I realized how much we had been missing culturally by having not visited South America before. It’s not always easy traveling as a vegetarian around the world, but The Cumin Club’s meal kits were the perfect addition to make in a pinch while satisfying our cravings for home-cooked meals. Next time I know I won’t have to search for South Indian food anywhere, especially if I have my Idly Sambar from the meal kits. From now on whenever I visit somewhere new, there are two things I won’t leave at home, my camera and The Cumin Club.
