Pastry Fail
How Not to Start a Pastry Project While Backpacking
Before you dive in:
I know what you’re thinking: “Another plan, Petterik?” Yes. Multiple. Always. But this time, the Universe had a different agenda. This blog contains: one cheap-ass mixer, one passive-aggressive oven, one disappearing supermarket, and a whole lot of feelings. Spoiler alert: I just wanted to bake something. I ended up soul-searching in the yoghurt aisle. Read on. Laugh. Cry. Shake your head lovingly. 💛
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The Cheap-Ass Mixer & the Vanishing Yoghurt
(a.k.a. The Universe Had Other Plans Again)
You’re not going to believe this.
Although honestly, it won’t surprise you that I always have multiple plans swirling around in my head.
Duh.
Focusing on just one?
A serious challenge — especially while backpacking.
Because I have to share everything with other travelers.
Or maybe it’s the other way around: they share everything with me.
Especially if it benefits them.
Like sneakily stealing my eggs.
Anyway.
Starting something new isn’t as simple as it sounds.
So, I began with a bit of field research.
Which means: I went shopping.
Just to explore what’s possible.
You probably remember the drama with that old KitchenAid mixer.
That poor thing was so poorly maintained, I couldn’t even calibrate the whisk anymore.
Tragic.
The boss said he could get me another one.
But if I had to wait for that, I’d still be here at Christmas…
In the year 2030.
So I went looking for a mixer myself.
I found a cheap-ass one at Lulu hypermarket.
Only RM70. About 14 euros.
I thought, this could be a fun challenge — can I make macarons with a cheap-ass mixer?
Right? Why not.
But then I thought: okay, mixer’s one thing. But what about the oven?
Every time I ask when I can use the oven at Timothy Café, I never get a straight answer.
The staff always smiles kindly, but pinning down an actual agreement?
Not so easy.
So I didn’t buy the mixer just yet.
I did already find an induction cooktop in the little hostel kitchen.
And Vanessa (sweet angel) already brought me a core thermometer.
Now I just needed the right induction pan.
My idea: I could prepare the batter upstairs in the hostel kitchen, then pipe it downstairs in Timothy onto the baking trays.
Solid plan, right?
Alternative option: bake macarons (or cookies) in the hostel microwave.
Which… yeah. Doesn’t even have an oven function.
So that’s clearly a mission impossible.
Or… maybe I should just try it once anyway…?
Last night I decided to go back to Lulu.
They change their stock often, so I secretly hoped to find a little oven.
You know: cheap-ass kitchen pastry challenge.
Fun idea, right?
I took the escalator to the first floor.
But instead of fully stocked shelves…
I found mostly empty ones.
Like, a lot of empty ones.
I asked one of the staff if they were restocking.
“Yes, we are closing,” he said with a smile.
HUH?!
Wait! What?!
That’s when I noticed —
Half the store was already empty.
Clearance sale.
But no more kitchen gear.
💔 Sigh.
Disappointed, I took the escalator down.
Still wanted to grab some Greek yoghurt.
But that’s when I noticed even the supermarket was half empty.
Jesus.
My favorite supermarket is literally disappearing.
Before I went to Thailand, their shelves were always perfectly filled.
I mean, immaculately filled.
If you know what “facing” is — these people were Olympic-level shelf facers.
It always looked like a toy supermarket from a children’s museum.
And now?
Half the shelves: completely empty.
Like I’d accidentally walked onto the set of a bad Bollywood film.
This is wild.
And of course — Petterik has another idea.
But guess what?
The universe clearly had other plans.
This path wasn’t meant for me.
Said the little optimistic cookie monster inside me.
So what now?
New idea.
Or actually: pull a different one from my way-too-long idea list.
Curious how many ideas (or should I say concepts) are floating in my head?
I could ask Janet to make a list.
You can join in the chaos if you like.
For now, I’ll be sitting in a dark corner.
Crying a little.
Love 💛 Petterik
“New here? Find out [who the EEB is].”
