A Special Meal And Biology Lesson

Last week, the staff from our Chinese supplier took me out to a "special" restaurant.  Apparently, I would be the first customer that they have ever taken there.

And, I'm most likely the last.

We started the meal off with snails.  The snail animal had been taken out ground up along with some herbs and then, stuffed back into the shell and finally boiled in a thick broth.

The fish appeared to be standard fair, but it was cook such that the meat and bones could only be separated as you chewed.  The Chinese are experts at this, I almost choked to death.

Next came my selection - duck.  I was expecting something like a Peking Duck.  No such luck.  This duck arrived caramelized and with most if not all of the meat missing.  Granted, it had a nice flavor, but all that was left was cartilage and skin - and a head.

The next dish looked like a traditional chicken curry.  No such luck - Frog curry.

All complimented with a Budweiser beer.

Fortunately, this puppy was the one animal that was not on the menu.

Should Have Stayed Home

Apparently, it was not my week for going in and out of countries.  This was the line for immigration at Pudong airport in Shanghai. 



Better Than Sliced Bread

This may be old news, but on my recent trip to the UK I discovered these new Heinz ketchup packets.  Not only do they hold a few more grams than the original packets, but their easy to tear off tab and pre-formed pocket means you don't need ten packets to get through a box of fries, and you don't end up making a mess of things trying to squeeze out the last drop.

Worthy of a Nobel Prize if you ask me.



Seagull Resort

On a recent Sunday, Nuch and decided to visit the Bangpu Seaside Resort.  There are a few bungalows where you can stay, but most people come to take a walk on the pier and feed the seagulls. 

I know it doesn't sound like the most exciting way to spend a Sunday afternoon, but these seagulls kick a$$. 

In the picture below you can see Nuch's outstretched arm as she tosses up a juicy morsel for the seagull.  Simple enough, but if you take a closer look you can see the seagull catching it in it's mouth.  In fact, anything thrown up generally gets caught. 

These seagulls were amazing - the were Willie Mays shagging flies, rarely dropping anything.

In a flock, they would fly in a holding pattern, coming up the length of the pier, eventually veering off to the East, then back to shore, where they would turn around and make another run.

So, what is a seagulls preferred snack, you may ask?

Deep-fried pork nuggets.

They're a bit greasy, so after you've finished, the vendors have provided a water basin to wash your hands.

When the tide is out, the end of the pier, which is about a quarter mile long, is left high and dry.

This dog decided it was a good place to enjoy the cool, wet sand.

This fish, perhaps one of our ancestors, has feet and can walk around when the water is too shallow to swim in.

Some other pics from the afternoon.

   

Royal Dragon

Sometimes too much is a bad thing.

On a lazy Sunday Nuch and I tried Royal Garden's all you can eat dim sum buffet.  In 1992 Royal Garden was the world's biggest restaurant with 5,000 seats.

 

So big that the waiters took to roller skating to save the soles of their shoes.

We had the all you can eat dim sum buffet. 

but passed on the chicken's feet.

You may be wondering why this bridge does not run straight across the lily pond.  It's done this way to protect yourself from wayward spirits.  Apparently, ghosts can only move in straight lines.  I'm not making this up.

Here are some more pictures from Royal Garden. 

This waiter was walking and talking on the phone while carrying a tray of steamed buns.  Here she is putting them back in the tray after she had tripped and spilled them across the ground.  I'll just assume they ended up in the trash and not back at the buffet.

Seaside View

It's not the first time I've blogged on Rabiang Talay restaurant, but it was another beautiful day, so worth posting some pictures. 

Fortunately, you can't catch the scent of the leather tanneries just up the road.

My only complaint was that the ladle did not fit into the fire bowl-thing - so you can never get the last few ounces of soup.  It's the same everywhere in Thailand.  I swear it's a conspiracy between the soup and the soup bowl makers - like the hotdog and hotdog bun makers in the US.

Towards the bottom you can only get half a ladle.