Christine Daley's Page

I would like to share a little story about what happened yesterday. My sister and I went to a village on the border of China and Vietnam to meet with a family that gave their daughter up for adoption. The family in the states who adopted her gives the birth family money and our job was to go to this little village 6 hrs away from where we're staying and deliever the goods.

We get there and no one has seen a blonde before. I made a baby cry when she looked at me - no joke. But we get to a house that has the grandparents and their three sons and daughter and all their kids kids. So basically it's a tiny little home with dirt floors, no beds, and tons of people who are nothing but sweet. There are water buffalo in their yard, chickens, pigs and dogs everywhere and they make us tea to say thank you and show their appreciation. The grandmother then offers Alex and me "whiskey" at 10:30 in the morning. It's rude to say no so my sister fakes it and I drink this "whiskey". It burned and felt like death going down my throat but it did make me warmer I guess??? Yes it's freeezing in nothern Vietnam - a detail we didn't plan for AT ALL!

Later, the grandfather was explaining to Son (our main man translator) how he makes this whiskey. Son then explained it to me. Imagine my surprise when he said "Christine and Alex, this is a huge honor. The grandfather goes into the jungle and catches the king cobras. Then when he comes home he cuts the snake open and puts it in a bin with rice and vinegar for a year to ferment. Then strains it and saves it for special occasions like this."

Basically the moral of the story is that I drank Cobra Juice. More fun adventures to come....