In defense of Kyay-Oh

“It is just another asian noodle”, uttered 20-something traveller  with a thick European accent, in response to my suggestion to eat Kyay-Oh, while she was in Yangon night market.

“Blasphemy”, I thought internally, while probably doing a terrible job at hiding my mortified face.

“What??? Kyay-Oh is not just another asian noodle,” said my accompanying friend from the States, half-chucklingly, with an obvious-but-failed intention to diffuse the heat.

Make your own ramen noodle

Disclaimer : None of the following is true. I think. Take whatever I say with a bucket of salt.

I don’t believe much in palm tracing, crystal ball gazing or tea-leaf reading, but I cannot say that I don’t totally believe in fortune-telling. For instance, I proudly say there is no such thing as ghosts, but then again, I would pee in my pants if I were forced to walk by a cemetery at midnight alone. What if I see something remotely similar to those crazy pale, longhaired ghosts in white dresses from Asian horror films?

Hainan chicken and the most aromatic garlic ginger rice

People to thank for this recipe

This Hainan chicken and rice recipe is from my good friend Chelsea’s family. Watching Chelsea and her grandmother cook together, and patiently communicate with each other, despite language barriers, inspires me to write the following story, which is dedicated to unsung heroes in my life.

The story

While growing up with 22 people in Yangon, everything I had ever wanted was my own room, and the freedom to not answer everyone whenever I go out.  Try answering to at least 5 people every time you go somewhere, especially when these five people are strong, stubborn single Asian aunts, who take no bullshit.  Guilt often builds up fast. Even a casual hang out with a friend starts to feel like you are committing an adulterous act. Hence, I am entitled to blame all my current problems to the fact that I grew up in a big household. Why are you late for class? I grew up with 22 people. Why did you run red light? My aunts were overprotective.