GET THE LOOK

What words can I use describe the many temples of Bangkok? Grand, colorful, beyond opulent, simply magnificent. During my South East Asia travels, I spent a full day taking in the Bangkok temple scene
and soaked up every last drop of opulence and history I could manage. My favorite, Wat Suthat, is pictured here. Not nearly the grandest of the temples, its white washed walls, mosaic touches, countless airy archways, and gilded accents were a welcome dose of decor inspiration. It was also less crowded than the more over the top neighboring temples—ideal for quiet reflection, endless daydreaming, and of course, a photo shoot.

Photography by Lauren Bayton

Featuring Le Spec Sunglasses // Kin Lab Collective Scarf (worn as a head wrap)

To my surprise, one of my favorite experiences while in Cambodia was a cooking class along the Siem Reap countryside. Like most days while in Cambodia, I awoke bright and early, this time to make my way to the market where I would learn about each of the ingredients that would go into the food I’d be preparing later that afternoon.

After finishing up at the market, my group headed to an outdoor kitchen tucked away in the countryside of Siem Reap. There we spent hours preparing spring rolls, amok (a traditional Cambodian cuisine) and a to-die-for pumpkin custard under the supervision of the warmest and most seasoned chefs one could hope to learn from. Between the vibrant market, beautiful countryside landscape, kind instructors, and beyond flavorful foods, it was an authentic and memorable experience that my heart (and stomach) craves to have again.

Keep scrolling for a very simple recipe for this glorious pumpkin custard!

Urban Outfitters Top (love this latest crop top find) // Pants found in Siem Reap market for $4! (try these or these) // Ray-Ban Round Sunglasses // Artemis Shoulder Bag

SHOP THE STORY

CAMBODIAN PUMPKIN CUSTARD

Preparations: 20-minutes

Cooking: 1hour and 30minutes

Serves: 5 people

INGREDIENTS:

– 1 pumpkin (medium size)

– 6 eggs yolks

– 2 cups coconut milk

– 1 cup palm or white sugar

– 1 tsp salt

• Using a sharp knife, carve opening at top of pumpkin to create a lid.  Remove seeds and fibers in the inside, leaving a layer of flesh on pumpkin sides. Keep the lid for later. Rinse out pumpkin and leave to dry.

• In a saucepan on low heat, gently whisk eggs, sugar, salt and coconut milk until well combined. Avoid creating air bubbles.

•  Pour mixture into pumpkin and cover with carved pumpkin top.

• Place pumpkin in a steamer in a large pot and seal to simmer 1-hour on low to medium temperature or until custard feels firm enough to spoon out of the pumpkin (use a knife to check that it comes out clean). Alternatively, bake in the oven for 40-minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit.

•  Leave to cool completely for at least 45 minutes, as this will also allow custard to set in the pumpkin.

• Serve and slice like a cake.

GET THE LOOK

I recently did some country hopping around Southeast Asia. It was the furthest I’d ever been from home and vastly different from cultures I’d experienced before. Of all the cities I visited, Cambodia stole my heart. Our first stop upon arriving was a visit to the ancient temples surrounding Siem Reap. I set out for the temples at 4am before the sun came up to see the sunrise over the grandest temple, Angkor Wat, then spent the day wandering through these vast works of art. I was captivated by the intricacy of design and history behind each detail. If you’re not a design enthusiast, the sheer grandeur of each structure will draw you in. For a day of temple wandering, I opted for a breezy jumpsuit reminiscent of traditional Cambodian wear and perfect for climbing the many, many temple stairs. My go-to J.Crew Panama hat guarded my face from the day’s sun rays and a large suede shoulder bag comfortably fit my Canon 6D,  a scarf to cover my shoulders in modesty while inside the temple walls, and any trinkets I picked up at neighboring street markets along the way.

Silence + Noise Oversized Jumpsuit // Artemis Suede Shoulder Bag // J.Crew Panama Hat // Soludos Espadrille Platform Sandal