Is it hot in here?

So the first official day of the tour has passed us. Hundreds of additional fanatics slowly made their way through the turn stiles to be anointed as HQ Durban representatives. They came from all over, they came with one common goal, and most of all they came with a thirst....as a matter of fact, I’ve got one now!

It is still a little hard to comprehend the prices for food and drink. At HQ it costs a fanatic around the AU$9 mark for 4 beers. Ah I remember those days. In fact they are the same prices of which greet you at the local establishments no matter where you go. The food is a much similar situation, and at this point I have to say that I have certainly consumed my fair share of the local product. Durban itself is very influenced by Indian culture, so to say that spice is a part of everyday life is probably fair.

Now of course, like many others I have the attitude of “when in Rome....”. Hence yesterday the 4 of us challenged ourselves to simply ensure we each had a different meal to compare. So at lunch time off we trot. Walking the local streets for the first time was met with caution, however it was fantastic to see the smiles on the locals faces and the manner of which they warmed to the aussies about the town. The stroll down to the beach guided us to the doors of one “Joe Cool’s”. Joe’s is very very popular amongst tourists, so of course it was time for Joe’s to meet the aussies head first....Unfortunately for yours truly, Joe’s 1, David 0.

Around the table the orders are placed, and given my pure inability to quickly select from a menu, I select a dish of which I have no clue about whatsoever other than a description of that it “has spice” and that the friendly natured waitress would talk to the chef to process the dish as mild. The dishes are presented and it looks to one as a chicken curry looking dish. I then ascertain that it is chicken sautéed in brandy with a curry style sauce accompanied by 3 descent sized toasted bread pieces. As you have probably now guessed, this is where the adventure begins. With a dip of the bread in the curry, the first mouthful is consumed and a taste of delight filled my body with pure satisfaction. As simple looking as it was, this dish was absolutely divine...until.

Now normally one would associate the fine red specs scattered throughout the meal as...oh I don’t know, maybe Chilli? Not this little duck! Slowly the cooking process begins, if one oven wasn’t enough within the establishment, then maybe turning me into one was suffice? Every mouthful consumed was like another log to a fire. The taste so overwhelming that I would not allow such a simple looking dish with a little heat to get the better of me. The crowd around me began removing their jackets, and by this time news outlets had started to report an apocalypse was occurring as it was never before seen of the sun sinking in the East?!

I still to this moment declare that it is the finest tasting curry of which I have ever taken to task. And I reminded that to many at 9pm, 11pm, 3am and 6am this morning........Just like Johnny Cash, ” I walked the line!”

Oh and by the way, I am sincerely hoping to hear news from home that someone recorded my interview on TV Vietnem. Of course it is just so great to hear that Kim and Janet have been on channel 9 some 4 or 5 times now and that they are now the stars of football in Australia, but for crying out loud, come on, surely someone has TV Vietnam at home?