Trying weird foods

Headed out to the area around Apiat (the souvenir shop collection) where I bought nothing as I don't believe in bringing home junk. Nor do I have room to put stuff simply just for display. I was hoping to get some shoes and maybe clothes from vendors in the area, but I only managed to get one pair of flats. I have yet to find myself a pair of flats that fit very well and doesn't hurt me after an extended amount of time. After I bought the shoe, I wanted to try it out, so I found a semi-deserted street and then changed my shoes. It was very comfortable, but by the time I made it home a couple of hours later, my pinky toe was hurting, along with my heals, although there were no blisters. Still, the shoe is very comfortable and I am debating whether or not to go back and get another pair. I didn't get any clothes or jewelry; I don't really like shopping, though I do like going shopping in other countries, but whenever there are a bunch of shops that sell the same thing, I get too lazy to look.

I found a market, but I didn't know if this was what Kevin said we should not go to ourselves w/o our host mom, so I just took a picture and left. Mom & Dad, these chickens have the eggs we used to eat with pho. I wanted to eat some =)

I also walked myself to a street with amazing smelling food, and bought myself something to eat, although I had still have no clue what it is, but here is a picture. I tried it because it reminded me of Soondae, tastes nothing like it though, and it is nice and greasy. I asked the vendor what it is, and she told me something I didn't understand, so I just asked her if there was meat inside. I should stop asking what things are in Spanish, cause people then assume that you understand Spanish then proceed to reply with an answer spoken way too fast even if my Spanish was half way decent, which it definitely isn't. This wasn't bad, but dear Soondae, my heart still belongs to you!

People like to clutter together to sell the same things here, just like in Korea. Makes no sense to me. The shops are the same way, all clustered together to sell the same thing. I ate from the stand the man ate at. The vendor at stand to my right kept trying to get my attention, by constantly repeating "China.... china (no, not pronounced like the country, but "Chi - na,"  refering to Chinese female) but I completely the man. Surprisingly, other than being identified as Japanese about 49% of the time, most people have correctly identified me as Chinese on their first try, which is something that never happens in the States. People in the US usually don't believe me when I tell them not only am I Chinese, I am full Chinese, not mixed whatsoever. My parents even came from the same place!

Other food items at the stand that smelled amazing that I wish I could have tried but didn't have enough tummy room. (You know, my dear COW friends, I could use that extra stomach right about now, when ever you decided sharing one with me, please hit me up...). All of this is put on a bed of the large Peruvian corn (I don't know what it is called) and some salt marinated cabbage on top (<- I am sure they marinate it with something else, but like everything else in the country, it is salty, so there has to be salt in it).

The souvenir place that sold mainly shoes. I don't understand why....

Ghetto shopping center...

I ended up strolling around and trying weird foods so that I would know if they were good enough to bring back for my family to try. It is quite a problem when you have a salty tooth, that is very loyal to salt, and certain individuals in your family prefers sweets. ;) Nonetheless, I still found and ate a few things that were quite delicious. There were also somethings I bought but didn't try because I know I wouldn't like it, like Peruvian peanut candy. I hate the Asian kind and I can't imagine I would like the Peruvian one either; I'll let my family be the judge of that one.

I came home at 5pm or so, and Mama Rosa was very nice to let me eat my lunch then. Haha. it was amazing, avocado salad with fish and lentils. SOOO yummy! I kind of wish I was vegetarian so I could have avocados almost every day, but then again, the meat dishes are also so amazing...

DAD, this last picture is for you, I found another meaning to PhD =)

Oh, I also managed to get home without getting lost; that is quite an accomplishment for me =) I also didn't get sick from eating random street food. Thank you stomach of steel (to my brother: eating off the ground as a kid has done me well in foreign countries)