July 2007 Archives

I may be the first man to have wandered into the first class lounge at Manila International covered ankle to thigh in mud, but they couldn't rightly stop me; I have a pass (it's genetic, I can't actually afford to fly first-class) and a strong urge to check email, and there be computers here!

The last few weeks have been even busier than before, including lots of archipelago hopping on overnight boats (one came with a typhoon, which was... novel), travelling on top of cargo on trucks and, of course, climbing mountains -- just as well since I'm here to do just that.

Amongst all that, our happy trio has discovered three new species of plant, and rediscovered one not seen since 1908. That discovery involved imprisonment for three days, but since this was voluntary and a prerequisite to finding the plant in question, it was borne with much joy. That's what happens when a plant grows in the grounds (by "grounds", we're talking many thousands of hectares and about five mountains) of a prison colony for murderers and violent criminals -- bureaucracy and fear of the inmates keeps the sensible botanists out. The mad ones turn up eventually and have a ball.

Did you know that there's a dish eaten all over the country that consists of partially developed duck embryos? Yup, yup, incubate that fertilised duck egg till it has a heart beat, bones and small feathers, then nuke it. The unsuspecting tourist peels the egg to find a baby, egg-shaped bird, wrinkles his nose a little, dips it in salt, and presto, scrummilicious! It's even tastier than hu-hu grubs and fried maggots. I really will eat anything. It's called balut - see it for yourself.

Inspired by my own words, I'm off for a fluffy little snack.