Local specialities from Trị An!

I used to go to Singapore every month. And one day I decided to buy a good digital camera.
Learning the shopping experience in this country, esp. for the electronics, I was very clear which model I need, but by somehow a Singaporean-Chinese sale guy was able to convince me to buy another one, more expensive ...just by saying few words "we have only one life, it's short so don't regret the money!" I laughed and accepted his suggestion!
That's true! We have only one life to live! So what we want to do, just do! I did! But ironically I paid a high price for that! Believe in destiny or not but it seems everything happen in our life as it has been planned in advance!
Yesterday I went to Trị An with a friend whose the destiny was no lack of "sudden incidents"!
After many turbulent years in his life, he may prefer a quiet place, where he & his family can do what they really want despite any severe laws of life or destiny!

I heard about Trị An long ago because this's the first hydroelectric dam located only 65km away from Saigon, its huge water reservoir and the hunting activities for wild animals around this area!

After a quick swim in the huge water reservoir which looks like an ocean, we went to a huge simple stall but totally empty, right on the shore. Here they serve only those things they catch from the water reservoir and the forest nearby! We call "local specialities"(đặc sản địa phương)!  

        

     The 1st local speciality - tiny shrimps (tép) stirred in green onion, black pepper ...

    and wrapped in rice paper with rice noodles, veggies, dip in sweet fish sauce! Something new to me!

      The 2nd speciality - grilled deer meat!  

        grilled deer meat is sweet, tasty, nice texture, dip in salt & chili mixed with lime juice!

      The 3rd local speciality - grilled "Chạch Lau", a fish looks like an eel but shorter with nice pattern
      on the body. This grilled fish is served also with grilled okra!

        The 4th local speciality - steamed boar (wild pig) with ginger & lemon grass!
        The texture of the boar's skin is very nice, crispy, chewy! Dip in fish sauce with ginger!

           The 5th and the last local speciality - a hot pot with fish's head! Cá Leo! 

           As habit the last dish we order is always something with rice or rice noodles...

      but we were so full, we touched only the fish's heads! Actually, we didn't expect the head was that
      big, it looks like a scary snake's head!

Back to my friend's future, after those unexpected incidents in his life, now he may set down here, next to the lake of Trị An. The incredible quiet and peaceful view to his shelter on the other side...in the sunset!

And the huge water reservoir, where many local specialities come from!
My trip to Trị An would continue another day with the promising exciting overnight hunt!