One Beachy Sunday

What a beach, B-E-E-C-H! It was a beautiful Sunday morning and we made a road trip to a place called 福隆 (Fu Long), about 45mins train ride from Keelung. Our Taipei distributor went back to visit his in-laws so I tagged along.

We took the 台鐵, the more historic of the trains (right: a classic must-take railroad photo).

Breakfast? Two 7-11 Wasabi-Tuna 飯團 (NTD25 each). Love em.



Healthnut Rating:

Comments: I'm paranoid on the carbs, so can't score higher.

After a good swim, a solid tan from the baking sun, it was some sandy-playtime with my distributor's cute kid. (Cute? Just one of the many things he said that I couldn't answer. He said this in all innocence: "Uncle, why do you need to wear sunglasses? All you have to do is close your eyes more and not look at the sun" He's gonna put Raybans out of business!)

Lunch: A 12-course seafood extravaganza! Yes, 12-COURSE. The more exciting dishes? A butt-ugly fish that must have weighed at least 3kg *steamed till it just comes apart in your mouth* (so good!), a mountain of steamed prawns *sweet,fresh, crunchy* (so good!), sweet & sour deep-fried eel (so good!), fish-roe with seaweed (totally foreign to me) sea-urchin omelette (what?!), tuna sashimi (So Good!) & two full grown lobsters (SO GOOD!). and then there was your fried rice, noodles, veges and what not.

We were 3/4 through the meal before I even remembered, oh yah, I have a blog to update. (hence the photos of everything half-eaten). Managed to get a closeup of the lobster.

Ten Green Bottles, hanging on the wall *sings* What's the beach and a seafood meal without BEER? *burp* Between three people, we had ten bottles of Taiwan's finest.

Good conversation continued into our "dessert". Mr Paulo the Octopus =) Oh yes, I had a gigantic Paulo tentacle for my palate cleanser. I've been eating as much octopus whenever I can. Damn you Paulo for being right on Spain Vs Holland!!!

Healthnut Rating:
Comments: The sheer amount I ate & the beer rates this meal half a nut, but, So Good! I must have drank a whole brewery and disposed of an entire aquarium! (Poseidon himself would have been after me)

I could barely move after lunch. The rest went for their afternoon nap which would have been the natural, unhealthoholic thing to do. My conscience wouldn't let me.

I hurried down to the beach to find ANY way to work off all those calories. The bikini babes did get my heart-rate going a little. I saw a kayak expedition about to push off, I tried my luck with the coach. Luckily he agreed to take me on his kayak but we only had one oar.

Anyhow, a three-boat expedition into the Shuang Ling river in Fu Long sounds like a good way to spend the afternoon. Two pairs of Taiwanese couples, one coach and a fat Singaporean. At least I got to reinforce my tan.

We navigated about 1hr upriver, before U-turning. The scenary and wildlife was serene. I could feel the calories melting away *Ahhhh* Well, the coach threw a surprise at the U-turn. He told us that he'd get off there and a lorry would drive him back to the start. I get the kayak to myself! The three boats then drifted and slowly made our way back, stopping for a brief swim in the river, made new friends. Glad I didn't just sleep the afternoon away.

The day had to come to an end, but of course, not without dinner. The 福隆便當 (NTD50) is synonymous when talking about 福隆. And just like our Katong Laksa, the rows of 便當 stalls proclaim themselves as the real deal. Luckily I had a local born-bred in 福隆-er with me, so we headed straight to the 老字號 to buy our 福隆便當. Still stuffed from lunch, we ta-paoed and boarded the train home.

Three hours later... Dinner & the unveiling of the 福隆便當. Consisting of: One stewed egg, half a Taiwanese sausage, two slices of stewed pork, fried cabbage, preserved vegetables, Ngor Ngyong, bamboo shoots. For a Taiwan bento set, that's probably as good as it gets.
Healthnut Rating:
Comments: Bento sets are meant to fill and it did its job beautifully. Might have scored higher had I not had the seafood meal fit for kings. Just wasn't hungry enough.

What a way to spend a Sunday. Tanned and happy, I must run on solar energy! What a day...