Monday, June 23, 2008

Up to No Good

Finally got around to trying betel nut. I'm not entirely sure what it is, but there are shops all over the city where women sit all day wrapping these things in some sort of leaf, glued together with what I hope is butter but suspect is something way more nasty.

Working class men seem to be the only ones who chew them, and you never see women buying any. They're supposed to give you a mild narcotic high, but all I got was orange teeth and a desire to brush my tongue.

Ready to chew...




About 5 seconds before I decided to spit the whole thing out. It tasted like grass. I'm confused as to why they wouldn't try wrapping the damn thing in something more tasty. Like chocolate.




Anyway, after that we went bowling and after THAT we went to a hookah bar and smoked mint. Much nicer than betel nut.




My best smoke shot.



What else have I been up to? Well, I'm not working much this week because the Dingo Snacks have been quarantined. One of my boys got this horrible and contagious disease that's going around Taiwan at the moment, so the class is canceled until further notice. Ah booo! I'm relieved to say that he doesn't have the strain which is fatal, so he's just sick and waiting it out.

This is what happens when you don't wash your hands, people. I'm talking to YOU, Taiwan.

1 comment:

noeintracy said...

I had a look at all these photos on facebook. That nut thing looks nasty!
Actually, smoking mint sounds nasty too. But when in ...Taipei...
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T