We had been driving quite a long time that night. There had been plenty of stops for snacks etc but I really wasn’t that hungry. Tend not to be when travelling by car.
As we approached a small town my sis-in-law suddenly said something. No idea what it was, but our car stopped by a street-side food vendor.
Kuya, do you like boiled egg?? She asked.
Ha ha, now you all know where this is going..right?
Well I had noooo idea.
Yeah, I just fancied a boiled egg. Why not? (for anyone who still has no idea, just read on …I’m going to reveal all soon)
So we bought a bag of boiled eggs (neatly wrapped in newspaper) and a small bag of salt.
I started to eat mine, everyone was very quiet. It tasted kind of funny and seemed a bit ‘rubbery’ yet with some crunchy bits as well. I carried on chewing.
How’s you egg kuya?? Asked sis-in-law.
I needed to be honest (yet also polite) so I said it was OK but didn’t really taste like boiled egg, seemed a bit chewy.
That’s the time when the silence was abruptly broken with howls and howls of laughter and lots of words followed again by the really loud uncontrollable laughter.
Even I was laughing, and I had no idea what on earth was funny.
No thanks, sis, I don’t want another. I’m full now (polite eh?) Again another round of the same uncontrollable laughter.
Ok something’s going down here. So I asked my wife. She told me it’s just a joke and she will tell me next morning. Just that I had eaten something funny, but not to worry there’s no problem. In fact it’s good for my health.
What,.. boiled egg!!
NO! It was Balut!!!!!!!!!!!!
At this point I have to say if you are of a nervous disposition better not read on. Just ask your asawa.I am going to describe Balut.
For those still blissfully ignorant non-Pinoys out there, is a fertilized duck egg.
It’s meant to be healthy and an aphrodisiac, although I can’t imagine anything more likely to dispel sexual desire than chewing on a partially formed baby duck swimming in fluid.
The embryo in the egg comes in varying stages of development, but basically it is not considered macho to eat one without fully discernable feathers, beak, and claws. Some say these crunchy bits are the best. Others prefer just to drink the so-called ’soup’, the liquid that surrounds the aforementioned feathery fetus...Sorry;
How do I know so much detail?
Well the following morning my wife cracked open a balut and displayed the contents on a small plate.
The day anyone sees me eating another balut, please call immigration and ask them to issue me a Filipino passport.