April 2008

California Makki, prawn tempura, miso soup, medium pepsi.

I terribly missed Japanese food.  I miss Tokyo Tokyo in People Support Building, our just around the corner food hub during busy season.  I miss Rai-rai Ken in SM Megamall, aack! basta sobrang namiss ko Japanese food!

After almost 3 months, I found it in Al Wahda Mall yesterday.  One of my burp-y nicest lunch ever!  I throroughly enjoyed wasabe.

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The Firm held its annual party in Al Sahra Dessert in Dubailand (they started calling it that way instead of plain Dubai) the other night.  I came in with so little preparations, a summery top, a vintage necklace and eyebags on the side… and yeo, ready to go!   Jumana Show:  The Secret of the Dessert was the highlight of the annual party.  It aired for 65 minutes.  More photos here and video here.

The dinner was set in an arabic ambience and food was more of a combination of a little oriental and persian.

I enjoyed exploring the sweets that I met the first time in my life, except for the fruit salad (which I explored too, since it got a twist of strong wine in it, tasted great!).

The dance floor was throroughly occupied and while the DJ mixed 80% of indian songs that night with reggae on the side, other nationalities have blended so well.  It is quite interesting to discover other moves in the dance floor, with a Mc Donald’s step, hulabaloo and such that Filipinos are mostly influenced by western moves. 

We were back home at 3am.  While the highlight of the party is the Jumana show, for me it was each minute spent with all the Filipinos as those from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai offices gathered.  It felt so much like home.  

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My first indian taste in the Philippines was an exploratory one.  While my first few bites here happened during the inductions and trainings.  Until one day, I was “expectedly unprepared” (weird, huh!  expectedly because I knew that was coming, unprepared because I didn’t know it would happen that fateful day) to have lunch with my closest indian officemates (that time) in one of the indian restaurants nearby.  I didn’t beg off because one of them was leaving then for good.  So, it was like my first and last bonding with her. 

In that especially chosen nearby indian restaurant I had this “tortang talong (scrambled eggplant)” look-alike for lunch.  We had the same orders (intentionally, with a choice that they thought I can manage) and just when I perceived mine was spicy, theirs was too much.  I had to put butter on it ala-pancake eating to lessen the spicy feel at tongue.  While they suggested as they enjoyed eating it with yogurt, I can’t imagine and didn’t try.  I am just not too ready, where’s the adventurer in me?   We ate with our hands (without washing first, that’s standard).  When you’re in Rome, do what the Romans do, as they say.  So I was the only Filipino in that restaurant, I tried my best to act and feel that I am among them, just one of them.  Well, that “torta” was so filling.

And the adventure didn’t end there.  Since Indians generally do not brush their teeth after each major meals, they normally have these grains ala-breath freshener in each restaurant.  I was so surprised when I was given a handful of that.  And they asked, “is it good?”.  “Yeah”, I replied.

At the end of the day, it is really interesting to learn and experience new culture.  And I strongly believe that aside from the language barrier, the spices and/or food makes a big difference. 

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Well, aside from that it is a cost-effective protest:

(a) Nowadays you can’t find anything that is not made in China.  But take note of those made in Taiwan, India, Mexico, Indonesia, etc.

(b) So, the fat guy is made from where?  Lol.

(c) However, just because people want a free Tibet they cannot use Chinese goods?  Millions of people hate the American government but they still use American goods.

(d)  Whatelse? 

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