Wagas Cafe, Donghu Rd, Shanghai

Fresh from a recent trip to Shanghai and Nanjing, author Walter Mason writes a guest post for Noodlies, Sydney food blog.



Let me just say at the outset that no-one is more committed to the glories of the 5 Star hotel breakfast buffet than I. The heaven of coming down to groaning tables of things you’d normally never eat, even at midday, is just about the best part of any holiday. But at the same time I am, by nature, an abstemious type. I come from a Methodist family, for heaven’s sake. So unless I am travelling with the famously indulgent Mr. Noodlies, I tend to stay at a more humble class of hotel where, even if breakfast was included in the tariff, you wouldn’t want to eat it. I remember once staying at a “boutique” hotel on Suriwongse Rd. in Bangkok, and when I came down for my all-inclusive “Continental” breakfast the young man staffing the front desk made me some toast (at the check-in counter), poured me a glass of tetra-pack juice and waved me off to my busy day.

Lunar New Year Love

It's easy to take for granted the people you love the most.  I have because they're so giving and unselfish, I forget to stop, and just tell them "I love you". 

My father turns 90 this year, a wonderful, kind and gentle man that still worries he's putting me out by asking me to translate the latest Centrelink letter or to take him to the airport.  And I forget the sacrifice he made when he fled Vietnam without knowing a word of English, just so his son can have a better life.

And my step mum, a truly generous and loving soul that's looked after my father so wonderfully.  How can I thank her enough?

Then there's my partner, Walter.  This year marks our 21st anniversary, we've been together since he was in his teens.  I can't even begin to recount how he's made my life so wonderful and worthwhile.

But that's the wonderful thing about Chinese or Lunar New Year.  This year, I've taken the day off to think about my family and really value the wonderful, unique fortune that they are part of my life.

I thank the universe for all the special people in my life and pray for love and healing in the world.

Happy new year.

Top Vegetarian Restaurants in Cabramatta

By Noodlies, Sydney food blog guest reviewer, Walter Mason: author, dreamer, food blogger.

Vegetarianism has a significant place in Vietnamese culture. The observance of vegetarianism on the Buddhist Sabbath (ram) and on other key religious festivals is one of the most common forms of popular religious expression in Vietnam, and on such days the vegetarian restaurants can become quite packed. Even non-Buddhists in Vietnam can become enthusiastic observers of occasional vegetarianism. It is also an essential part of the indigenous Vietnamese religion of Cao Dai. In my book Destination Saigon I write about my friend, an enthusiastic body-builder, who I discover is from an old Cao Dai family. When I ask him if he still observes his ancestral religion he says:

“No – it’s so hard, and so boring. And so many days to be vegetarian! You know I go to the gym every day – I could never afford to eat vegetarian food so often. I would lose condition.”

Vegetarianism is frequently observed as a part of religious vows and pledges, special periods of prayer and devotion undertaken for specific personal reasons, or during times of sadness and difficulty such as the illness or death of a close relative.

Seng Do Boo: Korean Tofu - home made

Very spoilt, Walter made one of my favourite korean dish, seng do boo, simple fresh tofu, cucumber, shallots in sauce. Yum!

Author of Destination Saigon Votes for Sydney's Best Pho

Walter Mason, author of Destination Saigon votes in Sydney's Best Pho today.  Fairfield Advance, Wednesday, 11th August 2010

Destination Saigon

Nice chapter about vegetarian restaurant in Vietnam "Monks and Movie Stars" by Walter Mason in his new book Destination Saigon.

Published in Australia by Allen & Unwin. 

Fantastic cover.  Great publicity so far.