|
|
|
|
Laos may not be a place when we think of Matsutake,
as Southeast Asia has never been famous for this rare mushroom. Fortunately,
Japanese tourists have eventually found it as a new destination to experience
this special menu, which is very much cheaper with equal quality.
"Kua lao" restaurant is the place offering their "Today Special
-- Matsutake", which costs 20 times cheaper than that served in Japan.
"I had heard about this mushroom from Japanese tourists for 5 years.
It's rare mushroom and very expensive in Japan." Manola, the restaurant
owner, told us about her Today Special menu. "However, today we can
buy this mushroom from villagers in Xieng Khoung for just 7-10 dollars per
kilogram, to serve as soup and sauteed dishes at 5-8 dollars."
Upon the pine-tree hills in remote area of Xieng Khoung, 400 kilometers
north of Vientiane, people go up and find this mushroom for food and sometimes
for money.
"My husband was a bus driver. He saw people selling this mushroom,
as called "Hed wai" in Lao." Sichan, a Xieng Khoung villager
told us. "After that, we went to the hills and picked up the mushroom,
which could be sold for 60,000 kip per kilogram in Phonsawan market. I'm
very surprised it's so expensive in Japan. I sell it here in Laos very
cheap." She added as being amazed by the price of Matsutake in Japan.
In Japan, imported Matsutake sold in supermarkets costs 400-500 dollars
per kilogram. The better quality ones can even cost up to 1,200 dollars.
Matsutake is the common name of a kind of mushroom in Japan. It usually
grows up under pine trees and is hidden beneath fallen leaves. As never
growing up in the same place, each Matsutake commits unique flavor of its
own. In Laos, Matsutake grows only twice a year in May and during early
weeks of August. This mushroom is hard to be harvested, therefore it is
very expensive.
|
| Are We There
Yet? |
(by
Toy) |
|
As Bangkok is one of the busiest cities, traffic is always the biggest problem for local people and tourists. It's bad everyday and it could be worst in rainy season. In real bad traffic day, it could take 2 hours for just 2 kilometers driving.
Here is a good sample,
Our driver dropped off our reporter at the airport. That reporter arrived Chiang Mai (800 kilometers north of Bangkok) 2 hours (airport check-in plus flight duration) later, the driver still couldn't reach the office that is only 25 kilometers away from the airport.
|
| The
Motorcycle Diaries |
(by
Toy) |
|
|
In heavy traffic, we, Bangkokian, use motorcycle taxis. They're faster, they're everywhere and they can go anywhere.
It's easy to spot these traffic heroes. They wear orange vest uniforms with numbers at the back. You might see them ride their 2-wheel vehicles zigzagging traffic on the roads or waiting in front of crowed areas to be called.
These heroes don't need telephone box to change their cloths. They wear orange vests not red underwear. They ride not fly. But they are Superman to us when it comes to traffic.
|
|
|
