Not suitable for delicate stomaches...

When considering all the food options for this trip, there was one item that made me a little queasy. It's called Balut, and essentially is a fertilized duck/chicken egg with a nearly developed embryo inside (caution, do not click on the link unless you want to see what one looks like). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut_(egg) Yes.. it looks very nakakakilabot! So one night at the home of PP Albert Lee & his wife Suzzette Lee I was presented with a big bowl of at least 20 balut eggs (really, Suzzette... exactly who in our group did you think was going to eat this many?!) and watched fascinated while their son ate one. After 3 shots of tequila I was persuaded that no trip to the Philippines would be complete without trying one. I have to say, it tastes like a succulent chicken McNugget, but when I turned it over, I then noted that I bit off the head. I. Bit. Off. The. Head. I almost lost it at that point, but I persevered and now am able to maintain bragging rights. I'm not sure if this is necessarily a good thing, however, most Filipinos seem happy to hear that I have tried it. I know Albert has some good pics that are not too graphic for our weak-stomached American friends, which I will try to upload in the future, but in the meantime I will leave you with Cindy's expressions which are priceless enough...