Performers on stage outside one of famous restaurants in Changsha, China
Yes, I have returned to the big city. I am enjoying western toilets, air conditioning, and running water.
Oh, the foods I ate. I sampled a Hunan delicacy: Stinky Tofu (not to be confused with Snarky Tofu). For the unenlightened: Stinky tofu is marinated in a mix of fermented milk, Chinese herbs and spices, and other goodies for several months. Honestly: It smells like raw sewage. Get a single whiff and you’ll never forgot it. In Hunan, China, it’s fried until black. Served, it looks like a charcoal briquette. No, not appetizing. Strangely, it doesn’t taste bad. The smell disappears when the tofu is cooked.
Other treats included:
- Boiled Peanuts
- Flower Pork
- Crispy and Spicy Fried Duck
- Mao’s favorite food: Hongshao Rou (braised, fatty pork)
- Assorted Noodle Dishes
- Food with Peppers (eggs and peppers, pork and peppers, beef and peppers)
- Dried Smoked Fish (with peppers).
- Squid and Oyster Mushroom Soup
My stomach was not the only casualty. My Canon 40D is pretty much dead. It succumbed climbing Mount Hengshan. Ironic – I’ve only wanted to climb the mountain for four years and didn’t bring my spare DSLR body with me.
I have no idea what happened. Yes, it got a few raindrops on it, but it’s (supposedly) weather sealed. The copious amounts of my sweat may have leaked into the wonderful machine’s innards. I called Canon support in Hong Kong and was told to “bring it in,” with no possible explanation for the camera’s strange behavior. I guess I’ll be shooting with my Canon 400D for a few weeks.
Stay tuned for more photos and tales. After a month off I’m a little lazy but looking for to new challenges and adventures.
Very colourful photo, striking. Sorry to hear about the demise of your beloved camera. Prayers for its ressurection are already being chanted by a cadre of Buddhist monks parked outside the HQ of Canon.
Your culinary adventures are legendary.
Rory, thanks. I’ll leave it to the monks.
hoo boy. i love noodle dishes.
SO SORRY abt your camera! YIKES! rory’s comment is too funny.
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I love boiled peanuts, and smoked dried fish, but can’t believe you ate stinky tofu. They had a show about making it on PBS. Nasty!
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Shawn: It’s not as nasty as it looks.
Awww… that sucks! I’m sorry to hear you’re having camera problems. So, was this picture taken with your 40D or your 400D?
I’m a big Stinky Tofu and Snarky Tofu fan. You can’t go wrong on either.
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I haven’t had boiled peanuts in forever. I like them. I also like the name Snarky Tofu.
I’m so sorry about your camera.
Wonderful photo. I love the colors, as well as the light and shadows.
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Thanks, Robin.
I would try most of that. It sounds good the duck.
The duck was good. Thanks for stopping by, Mike.