The Potala Palace is breathtaking in beauty and spirituality, so when we were offered the opportunity to eat there, we jumped at the chance of sharing food with all the Buddhist pilgrims. There is no breaking of the bread here, it is steamed momos. Bite size pieces of yak wrapped in dough.
One son and I quickly scanned the kitchen to work out just how to purchase our momos for lunch. I followed a Tibetan pilgrim in front of me. I got my small recently washed plastic bucket, emptied the water out of it. And helped make an orderly line where the momos were being steamed. It seemed civilised enough. I was second in line.
More and more peace loving pilgrims lined up behind us. A few cheeky ones had jumped in front, but that was o.k, we were after all in the presence of holy people. However as the huge lid was lifted off the bamboo steamer indicating a couple of hundred momos were cooked, there was a sudden surge of hungry Tibetan pilgrims and we were caught up in a mass of pushing, shoving, yelling and arguing. Now at this stage I was shoved with fully open palms back down the line. I was totally bewildered. But not for long!
I handed the money for our momos to my accompanying son, and yelled to him to cover me from behind. Elbows out, I began waving them back and forth and in and around the bodies that had so unceremoniously shoved me back. Plastic bucket in my right hand held over the cue jumpers in front of me and counting out twenty with my left hand, the Momo Master filled my bucket.
Obtaining the accompanying chilli sauce was just as traumatic an experience.
When I arrived at the table where we were seated, bits of momo dough hanging from my recently pulled hair and chilli sauce spilled down my disheveled clothing and splashed over my shoes, my husband's first comment was "awh, you forgot the chop sticks and tea!"
With as much sweetness as I could muster I replied "Oh I'm sorry, could you be a love and go and get them please." A wife's small revenge is sometimes rather sweet.
x Lisa
Hey Lisa, remind me not to get into a tussle with you. Ha, ha. I can just see you fighting your way towards the Momo Master, this would have made a wonderful movie. Its called a mothers desire to obtain nourishment for her family. Good for you, I am really proud of you Lisa, you go girl. Love from all of us.
ReplyDelete