Hot Chocolate Anyone ?

@Bunniekins I can't give up my wine... tea yes, wine no...

@Smc I really wish I could cook Asian food... then again we go out to eat it so I don't have to cook it 🙂

@Former-Member I like it! Heading into a heatwave today, so it hits the spot! Have a good one.

Good morning everyone,

Trust you all have a pleasant day, family day out here.

@Bunniekins @YTT, I enjoy cooking, and we're in a country town where the only takeaway is your average fish and chippery. So if I want Chinese, I need to cook it myself. We do buy it as takeaway or occasionally as a sit down meal when we're out and about too.

Like I said, I've got Chinese friends, and between them and a few short visits to China, I've realised that what we get in Australia is a very small sampling of their food choices, and a lot of it is changed somewhat to cater to Western tastes. The reverse is true in China- their "Western Style" food isn't really great. Much better taking the plunge and enjoying the local food. Problem is ... when I get a hankering for SW Chinese eggplant, for example, it isn't available here unless you live in one of those suburbs that are more Chinese than Chinatown. So I learn how to DIY, or go without.

@Smc I'm going to Vietnam later this month, I can't wait to have some yummy food 🙂

Morning everyone, just got back from a two and a half hour walk 🙂 Love being on holidays so I've got the time to walk!

Good morning everyone .....

Great walk @YTT ....!

We have a couple of travel threads on the forums, or you could start your own if you want to log your travels .....

@YTT, my trips have been to Guangxi Province, which is on the northern border of Vietnam. There's some similarities in their food, but some differences too. That part of China has fewer of the dominant Han race Chinese in it, and a lot of the minority race Zhuang and Yao people, plus some Miao people. Guangxi is officially a Zhuang Autonomous Region- they have a degree of independant political power, but are still subject to overall Chinese government. Each race has its own traditions, costumes and foods, although with increasing technology and state education, the differences are slowly blurring. There's good and bad in that. State education can make a real difference in quality of life, and tends to come in a package with meals and accomodation where needed; but the educational content needs to be standardised, and delivered in Mandarin rather than their local dialect. It's not uncommon for older village people not to know Mandarin, and for a lot of the younger people, it's their second language, with the local dialect being the first. I hope they manage to maintain their own racial distinction. It's a big part of their history, and therefore identity.

@Faith-and-Hope, I haven't come across the travel forums. Could you tag me or put up a link please?