The Definition of a Bad Day

Had I known I was supposed to meet the AG today I would have worn something more appropriate, like a "Climbers for Kerry" T-Shirt.

At least I was wearing the right expression.

Pancakes in Paradise

On our second day in Yubeng Village Roy broke out a bag of Krusteez pancake mix, improvised a skillet, and made pancakes for everyone. Our gracious hosts even offered a little jam to spread on the cakes. Eating them with chopsticks in our rice bowls was a little tricky, but having a little treat from home was well worth it. Though our hosts tried our pancakes and thought they tasted fine, they much preferred their own mantou, a steamed bun made from flour, water, yeast, and a pinch of sugar. In other areas the buns are stuffed with ham, fried, and coated with onion or sesame seeds, but in Deqin County plain buns are the norm. And I have to say, I am not a fan of the mantou. They are dense, tasteless, and gluey. It is like eating an undercooked highly processed gas station bagel and is guaranteed digest as slowly as a wad of Hubba Bubba. But since every breakfast also came with an amazing assortment of scrambled eggs, rice pourage, and the most delicious ham on the planet I could diplomatically pass on the mantou.