Somlor Jaray-ung K'nao

Battambang province, Cambodia - July 5, 2015 - There are many foods and ingredients never used in Western societies in this part of the world that are... for want of a less cliched term... nutritious and delicious. I'll just pretend I never said that. But the facts are that stuff you might think is gross, or discard in the bin as "inedible" is in fact - THE BOMB. This is a less common, homemade Cambodian dish called somlor jaray-ung k'nao, translating to jackfruit rag soup. Bittergourd, morning glory, fresh chili, garlic, and dried fish is simmered with the "rag" of the jackfruit - the part that surrounds the fleshy, readily edible pods within the jackfruit's rugged shell. The two main bowls are same soup, and you can see on the right-hand side that it is served with the incredible ombul bok (see my post on what ombul bok is and how to make it here).

A Conference in Penang - Episode 3

Penang Island, Penang province, Malaysia - 16 November-23 November, 2014 - We just spent the rest of the time traipsing around Georgetown and getting lost on buses.

English colonial architecture is one of Georgetown's hallmarks.

Penang from above.

Street art smothers Georgetown. Whether that it looks nice or not...er, well, you decide. Here's a local artist at work anyhow.

The Indian quarter.

A Chinese temple.

Recommended place to stay in Penang: Hotel Island City.

The outside is a facade! Luxuries await you inside - I PROMISE.

Please don't be sorry for not cleaning the toilet ALL the time. That you clean it at all gives you my genuine gratitude.

Advertisement for spiritual healing at a bus stop.

Indian restaurant.

Squid eggs, mutton, fried chicken, fried fish, squid curry. Perhaps I ordered too much?

Ain't nuthin but a thang.

Pomfret, Chinese style. Amazing. I reiterate: Penang is one of the best places in Asia for seafood.

A Conference in Penang - Episode 2

Penang island, Penang province, Malaysia - 16 November-24 November, 2014 - After conference and seafood were over we continued our holiday. We spent a day at Taman Negara Pulau Pinang, otherwise known as Penang National Park.

What better way to start the morning?

Before we went hiking, we need to equip....

BUM EQUIP. (Only sold to the homeless and destitute)

Tiny fishing village off the coast of the park.

The jungle is full of interesting stuff. Living things. All jungles are like that, y'know.

Jungles, oh jungles. You know 'em. Great places for hiking and the like. Getting bitten by ants. Stuff like that.

Where is that damn sex tree at?

The park contains a meromictic lake. At the time of year we visited it was all dried up. And ugly as shit.

Kerachut beach ("turtle beach" if you're white and stupid) cannot be swam in, due to these highly poisonous jellyfish that can be seen everywhere. The beach is visited for its proximity to the meromictic lake and its turtle sanctuary (pictured below). These jellyfish are part of the turtles' diet.

Teluk Duyung (literally "mermaid bay" in Malay, although has been named Monkey Beach for the many stupid white people that visit it) hides some nasty pollution.

What is it?

Oh. It's a friend.

Actually, Teluk Duyung doesn't hide the polution that well. These are supposed to be some of the best beaches in Penang, too.