09 · 12

Food poisoning and turtles

The shell of a red abalone

Image via Wikipedia

All of Saigon gets food poisoning once a year

Well, my heading is a little misleading. The article says around 8 million Vietnamese suffer food poisoning every year from the result of poor choices and bad hygiene.
That number just happens to be approximately the population of HCMC.
I've had a few little stomach complaints here and there, but that's probably more to do with too much chili (I never ask for chili, it just turns up in my bowl unannounced), or unusual foods I haven't eaten before.
http://www.lookatvietnam.com/2009/09/eight-million-vietnamese-get-food-poison-annually.html

Speaking of food, I've been exploring all sorts lately. Abalone finally made it onto my plate - we can't afford it in Australia. It's really quite delicious. Kind of like calamari in texture but with a marlin steak consistency and flavour. At least, that was my reading of it. I've also eaten a bunch of different mushrooms, some crocodile and most of the contents of the South China Sea.

My new favourite dessert is called bò bia ngọt.
IMG_6635.jpg

It seems to be shredded coconut, sugarcane sticks and some black stuff that lives in a shaker, inside a thin crepe. It is SCRUMPTIOUS!

850 rare turtles repatriated

images1856239_1.jpg

http://www.lookatvietnam.com/2009/09/850-turtles-released-back-into-sea-in-khanh-hoa.html

This is an unbelievable situation. Have a look at the size of these turtles. Then imagine 85 of them in a cage. This guy in Nha Trang had 850 of then in 10 cages when he was finally caught. Thankfully they are all back in the ocean where they belong.  I want to know what he was doing with them!

Related articles by Zemanta

Zemanta helped me add links & pictures to this email. It can do it for you too.