Yunnan Travel Notes: Do you dare to eat the "dark cuisine" from the southwest border...

This morning before we were about to set off, we met Angkor, a RV rider from Kunming. Riders from all over the world belong to the same family. The enthusiastic and knowledgeable Angkor brought out his own collection of Pu'er to entertain us. We all sat around the table, basking in the sun, and chatting about the world.

I think this is the most attractive part of traveling. Every day we meet new people and encounter new things. Full of curiosity and yearning for tomorrow.

Brother Xiaochen, the young man who chases the wind

Angkor also took us to visit the RV camp he is about to start building. It is located in Boai New Village. It is a newly built village after the earthquake and is full of Dai characteristics.

The village also retains some earthquake ruins

There are many Dai sacred trees at the entrance of the village, which are commonly known as banyan trees. The majestic and ancient big blue tree at the head and tail of the village is regarded as a sacred tree. During festivals, people go to the big blue tree to offer sacrifices and pray for the health of people and animals and a good harvest.

The crown of the "sacred tree" is like a giant umbrella, blocking out the sky and the sun. The trunk is so thick that even five or six adults can't hug it. The bunches of aerial roots scattered on the tree trunks are like giant pythons, burying their heads deep into the soil, as if they are sucking the moisture from the earth.

The little snail parked next to the tree also looks extremely petite

Next to the quiet banyan forest is the beautiful Dai village. Walking in it feels like walking on the streets of a foreign country.

The villagers are also very enthusiastic. When they see us looking around curiously, they will invite us in to visit.

We were supposed to be making notes for lunch, and the enthusiastic Angkor wanted to treat us to a taste of authentic Dai food, so it would be better to obey than to be respectful!

Lemongrass tea has the effects of soothing the stomach, refreshing the mind and relieving pain. One sip will be unforgettable. In Angkor’s words, it smells like Fengyoujing. I think it’s Fengyoujing with some lemon water added...

Lemongrass is a spice that can be found in many dishes in Southeast Asia.

Here comes the point! Sapi!

"Sa" is translated into Chinese as "mixed with raw materials", and "氪" means bitter intestines mixed with water. Therefore, "Sapi" means bitter intestines mixed with water and mixed with raw materials.

The preparation of this dish is relatively complicated, and many of the condiments are only available locally. Therefore, if you want to eat authentic Dai "Sapi", you can only go to Dehong to get the full meal.

This dish is the authentic traditional "bitter water". I only tasted one bite and I didn't have the courage to take the second bite...

Let’s take a look at where the bitter water here comes from.

First of all, a special piece of intestine taken out when the cow is killed is the bitter intestine! (The part of bitter intestine that enters the cow's intestines from the cow's stomach). The earlier one smells like grass, the later one has the smell of cow dung. This daunting beef intestine will definitely challenge your nerves.

The contents of the bitter intestine must be boiled and fried in a pot, and then purified water is added to boil and filtered to make authentic bitter water.

Of course, in order to adapt to the tastes of more people, the lemon and spicy sauces derived later are relatively easy to accept.

The Bitter Vegetable Soup is actually not too bitter, but it gives you a refreshing feeling when you eat it.

Three needle soup, that's what it says on the menu, but the fish is the protagonist, and it has a faint Chinese medicinal flavor in the mouth. It's still more delicious if you add some water for dipping.

Spicy stir-fried beef with millet, stir-fried rapeseed hearts and stir-fried snail meat have five-star reviews! It was these three dishes that made me finish my lunch successfully.

"Mom, look, the little fish are playing with bubbles, and I want to play with them too!"

"Why are these peacocks all yellow? Mom!"

In the afternoon, we set off from Yingjiang County to Ruili along Yunnan Provincial Highway 233, a total distance of 120 kilometers. There are beautiful views along the way, and I can’t bear to sleep.

It was the first time I saw the endless sugar cane fields...

Vibrant, tranquil and quiet country roads...

On the way, we passed through Husa, the hometown of the Achang people, where the famous Husa knife was produced.

The Husa knife is also called Achang knife. It is named after it is produced in Husa Township, Longchuan County, where the Achang people live. Husajian has a long history and enjoyed a certain reputation as early as the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It has a history of more than 600 years.

Husa knife has unique craftsmanship, fine texture, sharpness and durability. It has the reputation of being "soft enough to wrap around the fingers and cutting iron like clay". It has long enjoyed a high reputation both inside and outside the province.

Last night, Sister-in-law Yin gave us two crispy persimmons. We have always eaten soft persimmons since I was a child. This is the first time I have eaten crispy persimmons that look like apples. The picture below is a peeled crispy persimmon.

There are many persimmons being dried on the roadside. You can see the whole process from fresh persimmons to persimmon cakes here.

Every once in a while you can see a building with ethnic style

When I arrived in Longchuan County, I met several Jingpo people sitting on the grass, drinking and talking happily. They were very welcoming and invited us over to have a drink when they saw us passing by. Although there are some barriers to communication, it does not affect the spread of joy between us at all.