Christmas is over. Thank God. Let's move on.
In this era of global warming, global villages, and global economies, it's easy to get caught up in all the We Are One hype. But I'm here to remind you that we are not one. We are separate and distinct, we are nothing like our neighbors. Unspeakable customs, incomprehensible people, and absolutely disgusting dishware can be found all over this wide, wide world.
Take Taiwan, for instance. In Kaohsiung, Taiwan, there's an eatery called the Marton Theme Restaurant. Marton is a derivative of the Chinese word matong. Can you guess what that means? 
That's right, toilet. Matong means "toilet."
I have no explanation, but Eric Wang does. He's the 26-year-old founder of Marton Theme Restaurant.
"Most customers think the more disgusting and exaggerated, the funnier the dining experience is.”
And while I would be quick to point out that he is wrong, that disgusting is not funny and funny does not make for fine dining, that eating mock shit out of a mock toilet is only slightly less horrible than eating real shit out of a real toilet, it seems the residents of Taiwan would disagree with me.
Due to its popularity, Mr. Wang was able to open a second Marton restaurant just seven months after the first.
I don't know about you, but for me, suddenly the gulf between the Israelis and Palestinians, the Sunnis and Shia, the Democrats and Republicans seems not just understandable, but inevitable.
What a world.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The Taiwanese Are Nothing Like Us
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11 comments:
Disgusting, yeah, but it points to a much larger issue; that being the inevitability of our human nature, such that we are ever driven toward more stimulation.
Personally, I'm doing all I can to go for less, much, much less. I may be left behind, but I'm long past caring.
And, I clean the damn toilet at my house - if someone served me linguine in a container even resembling it - I'd retch!!!
Shit! That's the most f'd up crap I've heard about in a while. Amazing how many people will pay though the nose for a pile of ...
So glad to get through the season of love, season of joy and onto bigger and better piles...xo-w
Just stumbled by your blog by accident in searching for a friends and I am glad I did. I lost my brother August 6, 2007 - one day after my birthday. Reading your blog helps me understand I'm not alone with my grief about my brother. I've added you to my feeds, I need a 'support' group even if it's a stranger :). My brother was my very best friend.
dear sarah, my heart goes out to you and your family. as kyle and miranda's mother, i am walking just ahead of you in the grief pathway. i have found blogging, reading miranda's blog, and reading the kind comments so many have written to both of us, to have helped me tremendously. although it is not for everyone, it is helpful for those who love to write.
every day will bring many many reminders of your brother and there will be levels of reminders and much spontaneous crying, sometimes even without a sad thought to provoke it. i found that blogging after a hard day very cathartic. blogging seems to put the incident safely away on a shelf. exactly 3 and 1/2 months after kyle's death, i became more accepting and more at peace and the sharpest pains of grief dulled slightly. i still can cry several times a day, but other days i am almost tear-free (not that crying is wrong, but it can scare people a bit). the sadness and missing your brother will always be with you, but you will learn--as i am slowly learning--to live with the loss. may you and your family have some comfort during these months. and, as kyle's friend Yuma wrote to me,
"with love and peace until we all understand." --cynthia
Ok, now I have to say I think the ice cream is a little cute. Other than that (strictly) as a strange novelty for a 12 year-old boys sleep over) I don't get the appeal. I did my senior research on cross-cultural differences in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Well you can imagine how the people who thought of this cuisine treat the mentally ill members of their population.
to Cynthia -
thanks for your kind words. My brother was 39 and died from a sever allergic reaction, really an unheard of event. He was bit by a fire ant. He left behind 2 adorable kids, 15 and 9. This is so hard for us all. My brother and I talked multiple times a day, and the events leading up to his death (several allergic reactions the year prior) were new health concerns, and I share the same allergy. It's true, the old saying 'Life is but a vapor'.
God bless, and may peace be with you and your family in you grieving.
Sarah
Mir, this is crazy
Robin and Wanda I am with you on this! Sorry Alicia but I can't find that cute, although you are right about the 12 year old boy part.
Have you ever seen that desert called dirt. Its made in a flowerpot with crushed up Oreos and gummy worms?
We had a theme restaurant in York ME for awhile, Road Kill Cafe. It was the second , there is another up by Moosehead Lake. The one in York did not last long - let me search out a link if I can find it.
Here is the link to the menu in Greenvillewww.frivolity.com/teatime/Miscellaneous/road_kill_cafe_menu.txt It looks like they sprang up all over the country at one point but I am not sure if they lasted. I think it is best to stay in their home - Greenville Maine.
(((((((((((((((Sarah)))))))))))))
Welcome to Miranda's blog. I am Cynthia's sister and Miranda and Kyle's aunt Sallie. We are all in this together, so please stick around.
My heart goes out to you and your family.
Cynthia-Sally-Miranda
I wanted to invite you to my blog... http://fariesandmore.blogspot.com - to read about my brother, the posts begin in August 2007 - then each month has a few posts about this and that...
I subscribed to your feed. I find it comforting to read along.
Thanks again for kind words of encouragement :)
Sarah
Speaking of Taiwanese cuisine, they eat dogs there, too:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTP13113220071215
Speaking of Taiwan, they eat dogs there, too:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/
idUKTP13113220071215
How the heck did you find this . . . I mean @!*% - this @!*% is disgusting!!!!!
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