...China (Dirty Noodles and Pheonix Claws)

In a country so vast and full of such bizarre and wonderful eating potential, it must seem silly for me to dedicate a post to what, in western eyes, is just an immoral and dirty snack. Well the pot noodle here reigns supreme, especially on long train journeys where hot water is readily available and at any time on a journey the smell of spicy noodles stings the nostrils and the sound of contented slurping rings in the ears.

For those of you who have never had the pleasure of experiencing one or who have mentally blocked out the experience, here's how it works: Pot+noodle+hot water= pot noodle. The Chinese are masters of eating them with maximum noise at ridiculous speeds. I on the other hand take 10 minutes, break out into a chilli induced sweat and don't make a peep (I tried to eat one with my mouth open in order to fit in but it was physically impossible, thanks mum for instilling such good manners in me).

We are yet to mess around with the standard pot but watched in horror as our fellow journeymen added vacuum-packed meats, liver sausage and pickled fengzhia to theirs. Fengzhia translates as 'phoenix claws'. Isn't that wonderful? You are eating the talons of a mythical bird! Actually, no you're not. You're eating pickled chickens' feet.

The image of the feet being munched down stayed with us, though apparently for different reasons. Rather than seeing it as a very real and very live horror show, Finn saw it as an opportunity to try some weird stuff for the blog. So here you are, Finn eating a chicken's foot. Just the one mind. Who knew they were so big?!

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=UtfVNN65GdM