Published by Swiss James on 29 May 2008 at 02:31 pm
Eating lunch
What’s wrong with this picture?
If you said something about the goofy guy in the background adjusting his tie, you are incorrect. But if you said:
“The guy on the right has green chopsitcks”
you win 1 Spy PointTM.
At Ajisen Ramen you have to pay the bill before the food arrives, a pack of tissues costs 2RMB and green tea refill requests are only granted when submitted in writing, in triplicate.
They do, however, give you a set of wooden chopsticks to eat your noodles with. Which is why I thought it very odd that this chap was eating his with a green plastic set.
I pointed this out to my boss who I was sitting with-
“Look! He’s got a little case for them” I said
“Do you think he’s going to go off and wash them?“ asked he.
We both sat in silent anticipation, watching to see what happened next. I think the guy had actually spotted us doing this because he slowed right down and started toying with his dumplings.
Eventually the time came. He used one of the tissues (did I mention they cost 2RMB?) to meticulously dry each stick before inserting them in the small plastic case.
Boss and I nodded at each other knowingly and tucked into our lunch.
Dang it. I noticed the green chopsticks, but I still went with the goofy guy.
this is the order that went on in my mind:
1. goofy guy in the background
2. purple shirt in the background (thought for a moment Woai was visiting . . . )
3. green chopsticks
Maybe he needed the tissue for when he finished toying with his dumplings?
My first thoughts were:
1. That guy didn’t have money to pay for his noodles so the waitress is asking for his shirt and tie in lieu of cash.
2. The 4 guys are 4 individuals sharing a table. They obviously don’t know each other from the way they are avoiding eye contact the way you do in the mens toilets, unless you’re George Michael.
3. That guy on the far left seems to be suffering from noodle envy.
4. Wow that guy brought his own green chopsticks.
5. Wow that purple shirt is STYLIN’ I gotta get me some of that action for the weekend. Da ladies are gonna lurve me in dat.
6. Why am I talking so strangely.
he didnt look like chinese on the photo
Does Ajisen charge for chopsticks too?
I was going to point out that the guy, second from the right, is using one chopstick to eat his meal.
Ajisen Ramen is a middle-class ripoff.
There’s only one bloke that doesn’t look like he’s at a funeral?
T- no points for you
Angie- that purple shirt was a bit obscure, good spot
Anon- and there was me thinking the dumpling thing was too obscure
WoAi- this is a lot like those inkblot tests at a psychologist’s, your answers reveal more about you than the picture is showing.
Shopgirl- he was talking Chinese, my workmate reckons he might have OCD. Which makes me feel bad about highlighting his condition really.
Colin- they would if they could I reckon
b- that reminds me of a time I was at a noodle restaurant in Manchester (UK) and there was some lady eating with the wooden chopsticks. She didn’t realise you had to break them apart first so was just sort of shovelling the stuff into her mouth.
Made me laugh *and* feel superior.
Maybe Ajisen is a bit over-priced in the city centre, but at the airport it’s one of the cheapest options.
Bazza- he makes up for the rest though doesn’t he? With his cheeky smile- I think he’s going to give her wink in a minute
Too bad this wasn’t like a “Where’s Waldo” thing.
Agreed about the “middle class ripoff”. Some mediocre bistro’s do charge for tissues, even Dai Mei, a low class Hot Pot bistro that is on Nanjing Dong Lu and a few other places charge for Ice during the summer, 2RMB per plastic cup of ice, and 1 or 2RMB per packet of tissues.
Personally I carry Purel Sanitizer, Wet Napkins and about 4-5 packets of Tissues, you get accustomed to carrying shit like this in SH, I even carry a pair of White Gloves I bought from B&Q @ Pudong just in case and a Burberry cheapo Face mask I sometimes use during rush hour. Nothin beats an American wearing a Face Mask, Oakley’s and casual clothes they ain’t use to.
no one appreciate reusable chopsticks?
That’s exactly why they don’t give out tissues otherwise everyone would be toying with their dumplings and spend far longer occupying the limited seat space. Eat your noodles and go home to fiddle with your dumplings on your own time, thank you!
“I carry Purel Sanitizer, Wet Napkins and about 4-5 packets of Tissues…White Gloves I bought from B&Q…a Burberry cheapo Face mask I sometimes use during rush hour.”
Man alive Stefan, it must take you 20 minutes to pack for a trip to the shops. Why do you need all of this stuff!?
Kermit- I’d appreciate the restaurant providing re-usable chopsticks, but not some guy bringing his own. (also, Amy? Hi!)
WoAi- you do make a strong point
maybe it does say more about me than about the photo (or your comments) but i actually like the idea of bringing your own chopsticks to a second rate kind of place . . . some people may be more “sensitive” to the idea of using plastic chopsticks that may or may not have been properly washed . . . but from the looks of the photo it appears the place provides wooden chopsticks. =/