Thursday, September 17, 2009

Toilet Post#30 .. Bonus: Breakfast provided at Nan Fang Hotel, Xi'an

Actually, just got back from a week in bblrrrr cold Perth. But I still have posts & posts of my adoi hot China trip ..

Bused into the walled Xian city from the airport. Walked to our budget hotel. It was RMB150 per night. RM75. A far cry from the published rates of RM2,000 at this palace. However credit to my friend who did the research and booking, it was everything we needed. Clean, safe and with a hard working air-conditioner.And conveniently located within the busy area of the city. And breakfasts were provided. Ah, breakfasts. Cold dishes of oily greens were served. Believed the greens were boiled then mixed with salt, mild spices and chili oil.Noticed the other local patrons were enjoying the oily greens with steamed dumplings. Tight dough dumplings. The meagre fillings were sweet lotus paste or red bean paste. Every morning is different but same-same (a lingo describing very minimal variation). Oh how I missed my piping hot nasi lemak or a bowl of steamy noodles. Of course this is just me. The disadvantages of being born with very localised tatsebuds. =,(

No coffee no tea. Hot plain soya bean milk anyone? 2 of us dunked our 3+1 coffee mix into it and wala, a delicious newly discovered beverage was born!
PS. It was summer. Did I mentioned it was summer? Summer in China? Landed right smack in the extreme sunny July summer! A summer so hot that hair fizzles and bottoms sweat. *note to self: Never travel to China during their summer months!!*

So most dishes are either prepared or served at room temperature. These are called cold dishes (len-chai in Mandarin). The initial 6 meals, I tolerated. Then the persistent appearances of sliced raw cucumber and celery tossed in chilli oil got to me. So if the later posts sounds unappetising or sluggish, please understand that I'm a Malaysian who loves hot food served hot even in our all year round hot weather.

14 comments:

Kenny Mah said...

Top points for ingenuity! 3+1 coffee mix in fresh soya milk. Who woulda thought of that? :)

No wonder they say necessity is the mother of invention, huh?

Tummythoz said...

Life for Beginners, u are just too kind. =P

worldwindows said...

You have your AC-powered showered. This is neat compared with China hotel's fondness with gas-powered shower.

Selba said...

Heard how about it is in China when it's summer... very hot and stink! :D

HairyBerry said...

woah, cold vegetarian breakfast ar? interesting la. but of course, like u, i prefer something hot. like greasy hokkien mee. :)

Hazza said...

Lol, looks like aiplane food!

wmw said...

Don't take this the wrong way, each time I see an interesting toilet - I think of you! LOL!

Jason said...

Yes, don't go during summer!

Ciki said...

Hot plain soya bean milk ..? euggh! haha.. smart of u to add coffee;)

Tummythoz said...

worldwindows, however powered is ok as long as the warm water flow is consistent, no? =D

*nodding wisely with Selba & Jason*

Nic(khkl), u moi soulmate-lar!

Hazza, it's a more like a detention center canteen when we need to line up with those platters (for want of a better name) in the mini buffet line.

wmw, so thot of me lots in SF? *hands out for souvenirs*

Cumi&ciki, on another day it was 3+1 Milo mix. =P

UnkaLeong said...

I can see how it would work, soya bean milk as a substitute for real milk with coffee. Heheheh ;)

Tummythoz said...

Gymbunny Unkaleong, shd be healthier right?

Julian Si said...

Heh heh ... nice blog on the TOILET :-)

Tummythoz said...

Julian Si, thx.

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