Birthday Fish Eyes

Last week was the 10th birthday of a friend of Anna's, Intan. She was invited to join their family (along with me, Lindsey) to go to a well-known local fish place where fish is grilled right after it's caught in the ocean over an open fire and then you eat it on tables outside at the beach. It's a really fun place to go.

We arrived right around sunset with rain beginning to fall and enjoyed the view of the fishing boats and sellers crowded around the beach.

After the fish was ordered Intan's mother, Yayuk, began to make her own hot sauce (a little like a really hot salsa, which is eaten on everything here). She added peppers, salt, sugar and tomatoesi and toned it down a little bit for me. The meal was delicious -- but the best part was when little Intan stated that the best part of the meal is eating the fish eyes (yes, the fish is served whole!). She dug into the eye sockets with her fingers, pulled out the eyeball and popped it into her mouth. Completely disgusted but keeping my tone so that it was only slightly amazed said, "Intan! What does that taste like??" I expected a salty or slimy comment but all she said was "rather hard."

Intan and her sister then tried to feed Anna an eyeball which I kinda watched with amusement. Anna clammed shut her mouth but not before a little greyish eyeball gook got on her mouth. Eyeballs, who'd a'thought?