Cambodians and Their Food: Part II

One thing I've never understood is eating on the floor. I simply can't do it. Bending over to reach my food always puts my stomach in knots and undoubtedly my legs fall asleep in any variety of positions. Had I grown up eating on the floor, I guess it wouldn't be a big deal now. But given the choice between a comfortable chair and a table or sitting on the floor, the former wins hands down.

But in Asia eating from the floor is like when you want to go for a run, but you have to decide which route you want to take and what kind of run you're going to go on. Is it a fast run? Is it a hill run? A long run? Then you have to make sure that your contancts are lubed up with conditioner so you won't have to stop if a bit of dust gets in them. And before that you have to decide what to wear. If it's hot, do you go for the tan, or do you wear heavier clothes to promote more sweating? If it's cold, do you wear a long sleeve shirt knowing that you'll have to take it off at some point when your body warms up, or do you endure the inital chills so that you don't have to worry about carrying your shirt during your run? If it's sunny do you wear a hat, knowing that if you get too hot you will have to carry that too? Then you have to decide if you want to bring music. Will there lots of traffic, and will the music be dangerous? Is there enough power in the music player to make it through an enitre run? More importantly, what music will you listen to? Then you have to drink water so you're hydrated enough, but not too much so that you get cramps durning the run. Then you have to make sure you have the keys to your house so that you can get back in. And then you can go for a run.

Eating on the floor for Asians is just like preparing to go for a run, you know - normal.

~ J-Dub

Cambodians and Their Food: Part I

I smelled something absolute putrid coming the kitchen today. Hoping not to see a dead animal (which is what it smelled like) I went into the kitchen only to find a frying wok full of crickets.

While not uncommon for Cambodians to anything they can catch, these fried crickets were particularly foul. If you have never smelled this aweful stench, consider yourself lucky. I mean, it smelled like a wet river otter batheing in moldy sour cream.

The thought of the smell still makes me cringe.

~ J-Dub

The Thais and Food

So it's been a while, but what better way to get rolling again than to talk about something we all enjoy everyday. Food. As friends and family well know, I'm a big fan of food. I relish the act of eating and manage to pack away unusual quantities of the stuff. But when it comes to the love of all things food, I just can't keep up with the Thais.

I just got back from the International THAIFEX Food Expo. Dear Lord. I never knew so much food existed (both in variety and sheer quantity) on this Green Earth. The convention center is the size of 8 football fields all under one roof, undivided, and the place was packed wall-to-wall with various food vendors from around the world... and plenty from Thailand alone. But that didn't compare to the masses of people that flocked to the event. I believe it was estimated that a third the population of the planet was there today. And not a soul left the exhibition empty handed or empty stomached.

After wandering around for a while, I realized that I had no idea what most of these edible morsels were. I had the pleasure of sampling every variety of fruit, meat, grain, herb, vegetable, and ??? known to man. I tired several things that were so uterly alien that I have no idea if they were made from plant, animal or plastic - but boy were they good! In the end, I ate a six course meal from samples alone and bought a sickening amount of new and unusual foods. Yet a 5 year old passed by with three times as many bags, then turned to me pointed and just laughed - and that cut deeper than words. I guess I can't even hold a candle to these people and their obsession with sampling, buying, discussing, preparing, remenessing, sharing, and eating food. And the best part about this expo is that there is one much like it at any number of different convention centers every weekend in Bangkok - and every weekend it is packed with eager hungry Thais.
~Bear

Quote of the Week

"Well, welcome to Asia, land of harmony where the Thais hate the Burmese and the Cambodians, the Cambodians hate the Thais and the Vietnamese, the Vietnamese hate the Cambodians and the Chinese, the Chinese hate the Vietnamese and the Japanese, the Japanese hate the Chinese and the Koreans and the Koreans hate everybody." - From the Tales of Asia Blog commenting on ridiculously insensitive new Thai film Ghost Game.

Bonifide Advertisement

I kid you not, this is an actual advertisement in Asia for a skin cream product that helps improve moisture retention in your skin with the aid of milk. At least I think that's what the product is for.

~ J-Dub

From the Archives

This may be Johnny D's first beer ever recorded on film, circa 1998.

Picture taken at Bizno's Beach House, the same night Dylan Creedon slapped the PUMA at which point a minor brawl ensued only to be broken up by Bizno, Jeff Tutton, and myself.

~ J-Dub

Shave Everywhere

Thanks to The Actress for showing the Cali Thais this link (via Bear who never posts anymore). I have a feeling this won't sell well with the Asian market.