1/13/2015. Our concierge told me to go to Chinatown before 6pm because after sunset it's packed. The kids and I took an easy subway ride there. The migrant history museum everyone raves about was closed for renovation. So we wandered through stalls of merch. It's the exact same stuff as in NYC. Except the fruit is huge because we're in the tropics.
After I bought Max a pocket magnifying glass and a book, Francesca hurled herself onto a display table of jade gewgaws because I refused to buy her any of the crap she wanted. Time to change the channel. We stepped up to a shaved ice dessert counter. I ordered the Sweet Corn Milk Ice. The guy tried to shortchange me and pretended he didn't understand English when I asked for the correct change. I pointed to a sign that said "Chinatown Business Bureau →" and he coughed up my money.
I was swearing under my breath. The kids were fighting over a seat. We'd been outside for hours in the muggy 95 degree heat. Then we dug in. Wow. All was forgotten.
Here's the guessed-at recipe:
- Shave some ice.
- Drain a can of yellow corn kernels.
- Add half a small can of sweetened condensed milk to corn, stir.
- Dump corn and milk mixture over ice.
Soon after that we found a bakery that kinda reminded me of Fay Da back home in our Chinatown. I asked what things were. "What's Mo Lo So?" The woman: "Oh, locusts." Me: "Locusts?" I made a hopping motion with my hand. "Yes, locusts." Me: "You mean lotus?" Her: "Yes, locust. You know! Flower! Locust." Me: "Ahh! I'll have two." Turns out locusts are delicious.
Rebecca Trafton
January 13
Ah, my morning gift from Jayne.
But the image of this sweet corn milk ice... the recipe... has me gagging! Good? Really?
I love to think of you riding the subway, dealing with the vendors, clarifying the locust reference.....
I love knowing what you're doing.
I love you! Each and every one of you.
Keep 'em coming, and know I'm so enjoying.
Back to my cappuccino! (What is the time difference, I wonder?)
xoxooxo
Jane B.
January 13
Oh, Jayne, I love the honesty in this post. Not every day can be magical. Some days on the road need to be normal. They need to be ho hum. And yet, and yet, it seems so romantic to have a 95 degree muggy day with grumpy kids and dishonest merchants in Singapore. Wow. I love the contrast to the cold, freezing rain and dusting of snow outside my window. And that bakery case!! I want to jump inside there and sample EVERYthing. I love the ease at which you are navigating your way around these foreign cities. Just an easy subway ride there. Just hail a cab there. Just hop on a camel over there. Oh, wait, that was Abu Dhabi. *We're* in Singapore now. No camels here 😉 I cannot wait to see a series of Our 2015 Adventure in some picture books when you get back to NYC. There will be one that Max helps you build. There will be Francesca's book. There will be the food book. The AH-mazing(!) photos book. The Glimpses of Jon book. Oh, and there will be that one page book of Jayne On Our 2015 Adventure. (Just kidding, about the one page, I mean. You have soooooo many amazing pictures already -- and you've just begun, really.) Hope you got a chance to put your feet up and cool off today. -- Love, Jane