Gallimaufry#159

Just a gallimaufry of AI-generated photos, real photos and ramblings 📸

SHADOW SHOTS

Found some unexpected shadow shots on my phone—little surprises from moments I didn’t even realize were being captured. Funny how the camera sometimes sees more than we do. Accidental art?

I use the voice-activated option to take photos, and sometimes a loud sound triggers it without me realizing. It’s funny how the camera can capture those spontaneous moments I don’t even notice—feels like little surprises and unexpected art in the making!

I’d love to believe that those tiny AI mice were the ones behind the camera, capturing these moments with their little paws.

"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness." – John Muir

ANTS CLIMBING A HILL

The Chinese dish , Ants Climbing A Hill,  has a vivid and imaginative name that perfectly describes its appearance. The dish consists of glass noodles (vermicelli) stir-fried with minced pork in a savory, spicy sauce. When served, the small bits of meat cling to the noodles, resembling tiny ants crawling up branches or vines—hence the poetic name.

THE STORY BEHIND THE NAME

One popular folk tale explains how this dish got its name:

Long ago, a poor woman in Sichuan province wanted to prepare a hearty meal for her family, but she only had a small amount of ground meat and some dried noodles. To make the dish seem more substantial, she cooked the noodles with the minced meat, stirring vigorously so the meat clung to the noodles. When she served it, her family noticed how the tiny pieces of meat looked like ants climbing up thin strands, and the name Ants Climbing a Hill was born.

Another possible reason for the name is that Sichuan cuisine is known for its poetic, metaphorical dish names, often drawing inspiration from nature and daily life.

STICKS BEATING THE COW

Yes! The dish is called Sticks Beating the Cow or Poles Whacking the Ox in English. The name comes from the visual similarity between the long yardlong beans (which resemble sticks or poles) and the act of beating the beef as it's being stir-fried.

It's a classic Cantonese stir-fry where the beef is tender and juicy, paired with the slightly crunchy texture of yardlong beans. The dish is often cooked with garlic, soy sauce, and sometimes fermented black beans for extra umami.

Chinese cuisine is full of dishes with funny or imaginative names like this. Instead of straightforward names, they often use humor, vivid imagery, or wordplay to make dishes more memorable and colorful. It’s part of the culture’s love for creativity in everyday life — even when it comes to food!

FROM THE TRAVEL ARCHIVES

Spotted at Fétiche Patisserie in Ljubljana: the stunning Buruberi (€7.90) — a blueberry-inspired dessert that looks more like modern art than something you’d eat.

Christmas magic that never clocks out