Eclectic

Sunday mix - an eclectic collection of images starting with Pau buns (of Bao buns in some transliterations).  About once a week they appear on the breakfast buffet here.  I 'braved up' and tried one. I have no idea what they use to make them green, but have seen similarly green bread rolls in a corner shop here (tan on top like bread but evidence of the green showing where they are torn apart).  These ones had some kind of green jam inside.  Indeterminate flavour.  The texture of the dough was a bit over refined and quite gluey.  Overall inoffensive, but as breakfast goes I find granola/mueslei more interesting.

This picture is for Boud who asked about plantains.  They are most like the chunky bananas on the bottom left. Unfortunately I didn't put an example of the ubiquitous Cavendish banana in here (the one most grown and transported around the world and sold in supermarkets everywhere) for size shape comparison, but it would be about the length of those biggest ones - less fat.  The little ones are about as round as Cavendish, but altogether more tasty.  I have eaten a few dozen now - in the interests of reporting you understand - and have finally decided to describe the flavour as fresh banana dipped in apple juice.  Best bananas I have ever tasted.

 

Janice mentioned Meccano in a recent blog post and the very next day I was fighting my way along Orchard Road and noticed a shop window display with Meccano creations holding out the (inordinately expensive) handbags. (Rubbish photo behind glass).

And Lynda - chokos - You mentioned having seen them years ago in NZ - I reckon you could grow these on Poros.  I saw them growing in Dubrovnik last year.  They are a vine that had been trained up over a frame and provided delightful shade.  My aunt (in NZ) always used to steam chokos but I have discovered that you can eat them raw.  They are the texture of a wood cucumber and have a mild flavour not unlike cucumber but with the merest hint of something floral.  Very nice, very refreshing.

Lizard, 21 floors up, on the outside of the glass fence... reflected.

Another breakfast buffet photo - we are approaching Deepavali and I wonder if this is related.  The round things look like truffles but have the texture of something 'meaty' coated in coconut, and when bitten into have a liquid centre. I couldn't identify any particular flavour and the unsettling texture made me wonder if I could describe them as eyeballs leftover from the Halloween party and coated in coconut to make them do an other turn.  Unkind.  Just disconcertingly unexpected.

A bike stand turned up outside out hotel apartments this week.  I must ask what the deal is - maybe I can go on Sunday rides.