LP: Merienda (Snack)

Isa sa mga masasarap na kakainin sa merienda ay ang mga produktong tinapay galing sa Iloilo. Masarap isawsaw sa kape or tsokolate na cacao. Naalala ko yong aking ama tuwing pumupunta sya noon sa Iloilo palagi syang bumibili ng mga ganitong tinapay para sa amin. Masaya nga dahil sa isang kahon iba-ibang klase ng tinapay ang laman. Pero napansin ko ngayon medyo lumiit na ang mga ito (kiddie size), siguro dahil na rin sa ekonomiya natin kaya nagtitipid na rin ang mga gumagawa. Pero masarap pa rin sya, lalo na gustong-gusto ito ng mga bata.

Dito naman sa Thailand kung saan mura lamang ang mga prutas, madalas prutas na rin ang aming kinakain tuwing merienda, lalo na pagdating sa bahay galing sa opisina, o di kaya pagkatapos ng bible study o kahit anong pagtitipon. Kahit sa mga coffee breaks sa mga otel, may mga prutas na rin silang binibigay kasama ng mga tinapay o cake. Sa mga ayaw kumain ng mga nakakatabang pagkain, puede na itong prutas at maganda pa ito sa ating kalusugan.

Marami pa doon sa Litratong Pinoy ang tungkol sa Merienda.

Do you fancy any of these?

A few weeks ago we went to the Agricultural Fair at Kasetsart University Kampangsaen Campus, Nakhon Pathom. Key was so excited to show me around as he was part of the organizing group for his faculty. It was kind of nice to be with people and to see many nice things, such as orchids, fish and other aquatic animals, vegetables, and many varieties of plants. It took us about 2 hours to get there as we stopped along the way for breakfast. We had a Thai style breakfast at one of the popular local restaurants. What I had was so different from the ones I usually have in the office.

The orchids were so pretty and I was quite tempted to buy a few but then I was thinking that what happens after the flowers are gone? Although some have bulbs ready to bloom but I do not have the skill and time to take care of them. I remember buying them before and after a few months I had to give them away to friends who are better at taking care of orchids. So I resisted the temptation despite the fact that the colors were so attractive.

Of course we spent more time at the Fisheries booth. The main attraction was the whale shark made from fiberglass material. They had to transport this from the Fisheries Museum in Bangkhen-Bangkok campus where it is normally displayed. Nearly every visitor wanted to take photo of the shark as well as to pose with it. I also did the same as hey, I've never seen the real one. Gotta go to Donsol, Sorsogon for that where they have a Whale Shark Ecotourism Program. I had to wait for my turn, of course as there was a small queue forming. There were other samples of fish and aquatic organisms which were preserved from the real ones.

At the fair, after moving around the booths we went to see the food stalls. They were selling all kinds of food stuff. Some familiar ones and some not so familiar ones. Do you fancy any of these crispy creatures for your snack? Maybe down it with some ice cold pop soda? This is a delicacy here and now they are being packed in cans so anyone can take them anywhere. I did not dare to try to eat them. Would you? Or have you tried them before?