DIY History | Transcribe | Iowa Women’s Lives: Letters and Diaries | Eve Drewelowe's journals, volumes II-III, 1950s

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Eve Drewelowe's journals, volumes II-III, 1950s

Page 079

88. in my mouth". While we were travelling in the Philippines a Filipino friend in the government service dined us at a native eating establishment in Manila. I recall the place but dimly - somewhere on the harbor, I believe -, and the food not at all. But so sharply do I remember the acute abdominal pains that followed. Regurgitation and distressed recurred for hours after. Definitely this was an allergic case with perhaps chemical and mechanical disagreement of food. Being totally unfamiliar with Filipino dishes and with the method of preparation it was impossible to put a finger on the direct cause. for such a violet reaction. However, the offence must have been multiple. The native dish must have been a mixture completely disguised with peppery concoctions added for flavour. People of tropical countries do enjoy "hot" dishes. It takes so little condiment at any time to upset my digestion in an altogether too thorough a manner. In a native eating-place there perhaps was little choice of other food and as a guest there was no choice. From the delicious food of the table of the Manila Hotel - the food was so thoroughly approved of - and the beautiful classic dinner concerts, we reluctantly but anticipatingly sailed away for Singapore. My memory retains no digestive discomfort contracted in our two-weeks stay in the Strait Settlements. I do recall, however, the two-day Christmas celebration; the wine that flowed freely; the flaming-plum pudding

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88. in my mouth". While we were travelling in the Philippines a Filipino friend in the government service dined us at a native eating establishment in Manila. I recall the place but dimly - somewhere on the harbor, I believe -, and the food not at all. But so sharply do I remember the acute abdominal pains that followed. Regurgitation and distressed recurred for hours after. Definitely this was an allergic case with perhaps chemical and mechanical disagreement of food. Being totally unfamiliar with Filipino dishes and with the method of preparation it was impossible to put a finger on the direct cause. for such a violet reaction. However, the offence must have been multiple. The native dish must have been a mixture completely disguised with peppery concoctions added for flavour. People of tropical countries do enjoy "hot" dishes. It takes so little condiment at any time to upset my digestion in an altogether too thorough a manner. In a native eating-place there perhaps was little choice of other food and as a guest there was no choice. From the delicious food of the table of the Manila Hotel - the food was so thoroughly approved of - and the beautiful classic dinner concerts, we reluctantly but anticipatingly sailed away for Singapore. My memory retains no digestive discomfort contracted in our two-weeks stay in the Strait Settlements. I do recall, however, the two-day Christmas celebration; the wine that flowed freely; the flaming-plum pudding