After the pho, I am incredibly happy. It was delicious and my stomach has settled a little as well, which is a good thing when faced with such strange dishes yet to come.

As I wait for the waiter, who has become busy, I search the faces of the other diners. On some, there is shock. Not sure if it is due to relief or revulsion, however. Others look happy with their choices, and I wonder if they too had the wonderful pho.

Finally, the harried waiter gets back to clear my dishes, with a smile on his face. Though he is busy, he is very pleasant and I feel I am the only customer when he speaks with me. After scanning the list again, I decide to have the balut. I have heard of it before and though it is strange to me, my curiousity is peaked. He smiles, nods, and steps toward the kitchen to deliver my order.

Soon he comes back my way, with a small tray. On it are a small, unadorned dish holding the egg in a little broth as well as smaller dishes with salt and vinegar. I ask the waiter to explain the process of eating the balut. He tells me to first drink the broth, then to peel the egg slowly, also drinking any broth inside. Then I can sprinkle on salt or dip it into the vinegar before eating it - all of it, chick and attached yolk. I smile, rather nervously, and he sets down a beaker of beer "to wash it down with" then he walks away leaving me to my work.

I swallow hard, then tip the dish to my lips to taste the broth. Again, I am pleasantly surprised by the wonderful flavor. I put down the dish, and gently lift the huge, bulging egg. It is sort of lop-sided and I get a wave of nausea thinking what is to be found inside. But remember! I am a brave adventurer and as such I can't hesitate for long.

Peeling back the shell, some broth slops out and I drink it up, with eyes tightly closed. Hmmmmm, it is good! This makes me even braver, so I work at the shell until all is revealed. Setting the duckling and its yolk onto the dish, I sprinkle on some salt and at the last minute some vinegar too. Bringing it to my lips, I bite in. The bones are not hard, but are firm on my teeth. There are no claws nor feathers yet on this young duckling, which is a relief. Swallowing is a bit rough, as I am still taken aback by the look of the food, but it isn't too bad. The waiter walks by as he heads to another table and nods at my progress, happy to see me consuming the egg. It was better than I had expected, though I am not sure I will order another.