I went out to dinner with Iris and her extended family tonight.
We always go to these nice Chinese restaurants where they have these large round tables
and in the center is a rotating glass platform (lazy susan they call it in the States) so
you can spin the wheel until your favorite dish is in front of you. Love that idea.
There are 7 hardcore Chinese eaters there, including the 90 year old matriarch, so guess what?
Im eating at a Chinese restaurant tonight. Hmmmm...
Sure...some could say: "Anthony - Pack an avocado in your pocket and eat in the bathroom while no one is looking. Or...just bring your own salad." Well...this is the real world, and many people have NO clue what this raw food lifestyle is all about. They all think that Im this hardcore vegetarian, so at least they order alot of bok choy and kale for me. You cant get it raw, and actually, I think because of bacteria issues, Id prefer it cooked.
There has to be a threshold. I dont want to eat it, but what do you say?
"Sorry everyone...just going to sit here and watch you all eat and totally make you all feel strange....dont mind me at all...I just think you and your eating habits are so wrong."
This is basically what Id be conveying. I avoid this. I'm giving in, but again, I'm over here once a year and we go out to eat like this once a year, so if I have to go through a runny nose while visiting with these nice people, than so be it. I'll recover.
We cant all cling onto 100% like it was the last cacao smoothie of our lives.
They all ask me how I can look so healthy with only eating plants. It totally stumps them.
However, they always ask me for diet tips and exercise advice though...
so its cool that they show some interest.
I was lucky enough to talk with them about Chinese medicine, and the grandmother knew so much. Ive been looking into Ho Shu Wu lately, and she said thats its really good for the kidneys, and especially the hair. One of the uncles was like..."Why would you want to take it? Your hair is so dark and thick!" Of course there is more to Ho Shu Wu than hair regeneration, but that is the main concept of it over here.
"Why not take action now?" I replied.
Here is a picture of three generations. Ages 90, 55, and 26. The grandmother was VERY active too. My grandma looked like that around 65, and then went downhill pronto after that. By 80, she was a withered old shell of herself. This wonderful woman was the exact opposite.
They all love the fact that Im into gojis and gingko nuts too.
Im trying my best to represent over here, people!
Chinese medicine is 5000 years old, so I must give it much more respect than the sterile, synthetic, and profit-motivated systems of the west.
I woke up at 530 am to get one last post in...Im off to Cambodia in one hour.
The pictures are going to be INSANE I guarantee you. Have a wonderful weekend everyone, and have a very non-commercial and meaningful holiday season.
Give the gift of companionship and non-judgemental love and acceptance.
Let your loved ones know that you support them and cherish them more than any
new electronic gadget or wardrobe. We have to really break out of consumerism if we expect to have deeper and more purposeful lives. Save your money for a trip maybe?
Or........
Buy fruit trees for everyone! Now THAT is a gift that really keeps on giving.
Gifts for liberation. I like it.

Anthony