Friday, March 25, 2005
Birthday Bash
I was very happy that a dozen friends came out for a meal with me on my birthday. You never know what is going to happen when you try and arrange something. Madalo one of my former classmates even bought me some red roses. That was very sweet. Felicidad gave me a Chinese calligraphy set, although my talent with the maobi hair brush has yet to appear. There is a small group of students who meet on a Monday. I sit trying to copy Rebecca's brush stokes but my output is splody and wobbles all over. I have sat for three solid afternoons of concentration and my improvement has been marginal. Very marginal.
We went to a roadside cafe for a traditional Chinese meal. Some of my European friends faces fell noticeably when Felicidad ushered us into striplight lit, cracked walled cafe with no front. I didn't want to take my friends anywhere expensive as I know most of them are on a very tight budget. The Laoban (manageress) was able to accommodate us all straight away. She had a brusk manner, pinny on, sleeves rolled up,shouting orders across to the chefs, her hair sticking up stiffly, teeth akimbo. We sat on stools round a large circular table. Ordering food took a some discussion as some of my friends don't eat pork, which features heavily in Chinese cuisine. We let Felicidad and Anna order the dishes as this was Felicidad's local and Anna can read the menu slip, and penciled in a nice selection. In five minutes xiao lum bao (small steamed dumplings with meat and soup inside), spinach fried in oil with garlic, shui jiao (meat and vegetable boiled dumplings) started to arrive. There were fried parcels several other dishes complimented with a bowl of chill pickles and soy sauce. We helped ourselves to rice from the massive steamer and passed round the bamboo disposable chopsticks. A very tasty selection, all for under one pound fifty a head.
As the street restaurants make their money by being able to have a fast turn around of guests, it is not the place where you can linger and chat, so we migrated across the road to Dante cafe with comfy chairs. The waiter put coffee tables together in a line for us so we could sit together. I like the Ji Cha, hot orange tea with halved green kumquats steeping in the transparent teapot, tastes like tart marmalade. It is always really nice when you can introduce different groups of friends to each other. Indonesian, Malaysian, British, Brazilian, Dutch, Spanish and African.
Jacqueline from Brazil was also celebrating her birthday by having her party at Bario's a Latin dance club. We caught a bus up there, Edi kindly helped me carry some of my gifts. Barrios was free to get in, down to the basement, soft red glow, sofas round the edge, plenty of tables and a big dance floor, the night was young so we sat and chatted before we got boogying. More student friends turned up in twos and threes, all very cordial. The Latin girls have really got rhythm. It was great fun.
I was very happy that a dozen friends came out for a meal with me on my birthday. You never know what is going to happen when you try and arrange something. Madalo one of my former classmates even bought me some red roses. That was very sweet. Felicidad gave me a Chinese calligraphy set, although my talent with the maobi hair brush has yet to appear. There is a small group of students who meet on a Monday. I sit trying to copy Rebecca's brush stokes but my output is splody and wobbles all over. I have sat for three solid afternoons of concentration and my improvement has been marginal. Very marginal.
We went to a roadside cafe for a traditional Chinese meal. Some of my European friends faces fell noticeably when Felicidad ushered us into striplight lit, cracked walled cafe with no front. I didn't want to take my friends anywhere expensive as I know most of them are on a very tight budget. The Laoban (manageress) was able to accommodate us all straight away. She had a brusk manner, pinny on, sleeves rolled up,shouting orders across to the chefs, her hair sticking up stiffly, teeth akimbo. We sat on stools round a large circular table. Ordering food took a some discussion as some of my friends don't eat pork, which features heavily in Chinese cuisine. We let Felicidad and Anna order the dishes as this was Felicidad's local and Anna can read the menu slip, and penciled in a nice selection. In five minutes xiao lum bao (small steamed dumplings with meat and soup inside), spinach fried in oil with garlic, shui jiao (meat and vegetable boiled dumplings) started to arrive. There were fried parcels several other dishes complimented with a bowl of chill pickles and soy sauce. We helped ourselves to rice from the massive steamer and passed round the bamboo disposable chopsticks. A very tasty selection, all for under one pound fifty a head.
As the street restaurants make their money by being able to have a fast turn around of guests, it is not the place where you can linger and chat, so we migrated across the road to Dante cafe with comfy chairs. The waiter put coffee tables together in a line for us so we could sit together. I like the Ji Cha, hot orange tea with halved green kumquats steeping in the transparent teapot, tastes like tart marmalade. It is always really nice when you can introduce different groups of friends to each other. Indonesian, Malaysian, British, Brazilian, Dutch, Spanish and African.
Jacqueline from Brazil was also celebrating her birthday by having her party at Bario's a Latin dance club. We caught a bus up there, Edi kindly helped me carry some of my gifts. Barrios was free to get in, down to the basement, soft red glow, sofas round the edge, plenty of tables and a big dance floor, the night was young so we sat and chatted before we got boogying. More student friends turned up in twos and threes, all very cordial. The Latin girls have really got rhythm. It was great fun.
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