Well I am in Thailand now. Bangkok feels just like west palm beach Florida. (see: http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER/as/Thailand/BangkokVTBD.html)
back to the past:
I have been on a mission to find flavored food in Taiwan. I decided to make Strawberry Daiquiris, French Toast, or Hamburger. Problem number one: no strawberries, I have been told in Asia there are no strawberries except in May. #2 cinnamon and vanilla these are impossible to find (isn’t cinnamon a Chinese spice?) so there goes French Toast. #3 Hamburger, this seamed the most hopeful, it has two ingredients beef & bread! I went on a search for buns, guess what they don’t exist, I settled for my French Toast bread. Next, the BEEF, I went to the markets asking for ground beef, they give me sliced beef, finally I convey the need for mushy type beef. I get minced beef. So I go home with my minced beef I mold it into a patty (13oz). There was no pan only a wok… IT CAME OUT HORRIBLE!!!!
Now just the other day the typhoon hit Taichung, it was my first one. It was actually quite pleasant, it reminded me of they weather back in Illinois, strong winds and strong rain. The winds were around 90 miles per hour and the rain drops the size of grapes. Thursday there was no rain only wind and around 75 degrees, beautiful.
So I found out that an airplane crashed airport late Wednesday night, this was not encouraging. But my visa was to expire Thursday so I had to leave. I call Royal Dutch Airlines and they tell me that the plane is on time (4:30 for a 7pm flight). I get to the airport and check my baggage, then they tell me that there is a delay of undetermined length. And I say as long as you get me out by midnight I am happy. Going on they give me a coupon for dinner at the cafeteria. I go up there the line is the full length of the terminal, after getting to the food counter I notice roaches crawling all over the walls and counter. I go back downstairs and ask to speak with the supervisor. I inform him that I am wholly unsatisfied with the food conditions and I want a decent meal, he replies that this is the only thing he can offer as they have an “arrangement” with the cafeteria. Now I have been told that the food at the airport hotel restaurant is good, so I tell the supervisor I want to eat there. He replies that he cant do that, I say bla bla bla, he says ok. Well no I am in the hotel restaurant, I order filet minion (sp?), onion soup, salad, fresh lemon juice, black “wood” cake, and several drinks at the bar. all in all a fifty dollar+ tab, courtesy of Royal Dutch Airlines!
Now that I am in Thailand, the food is sweet and spicy, and I love it. I LOVE THE FOOD!!!!, I have had excellent curry, sushi, samushi (sp?), and great BBQ. They have sauces that are like molasses on fire.
Oh, and Thai voices are so pleasant. They all sound like cooing birds.
Going on I met this family that makes candles, like those 40$ types. So I got some free candles. I like them. Also today I won some tickets on the radio to a lingerie show.
All in all I really miss Baltimore!
Hope to be back soon
-jp