Like many coastal cities, Vung Tau is known for its seafood. It's fresh and plentiful. One can't help but eat lots of it.
Today, our Vietnamese counterparts took us out to lunch. We were really scared. That could only mean an alcohol-fuelled meal which wouldn't be a good idea. Alcohol and sunlight don't seem to go well together.
Our hosts were very hospitable. Besides drinking ALOT of beer (3 crates), there were a number of dishes placed on the table to go with the beer. Think grilled squid with garlic, dried fish with assam sauce and chilli, vingear-soaked sliced pig's stomach with kiam chye.
We also had lots of prawns and a crab each. Woah. At the rate we're going, we've completely busted our cholesterol intake for the month.
I couldn't very well say no to a prawn that someone helpfully peeled for me. It wouldn't be seeming to reject it. So I had two. I stared at my crab with a little tinge of dismay. Ummm....I don't know how to dissect a whole crab. I don't quite eat crabs. So the skilful colleagues came to my rescue and cracked it open. I was rather ginger with it. Using the nutcracker, I managed to open a little claw and palmed off the rest of the roe and all to the Singaporeans. Our counterparts probably had a good time laughing at this city girl who doesn't even know how to appreciate a delicacy.
Between the photo-taking and the shouts of '100%' to down the mugs of beer (with ice), I surreptitiously popped an antihistamine pill! I couldn't afford to let the eyes or fingers swell. It's not a good idea to be sent to the hospital.
2 comments:
So you are allergic to crabs and prawns? I encountered the same problem some times back as well, the itchiness will come to me soon after I've taken it.
But, dun know whether an allergic is a curable symptom. I am cured, with no pills at all :)
celcilia: i've had the allergy since i was a kid. the allergic reaction was worse when i was younger. not so bad now. but still i shouldn't eat all these!
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